Product Details

• Actors: Dweezil Zappa
• Directors: pierrre & francois lamoureux
• Format: Color, DVD, PAL
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 2
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Razor & Tie
• DVD Release Date: April 29, 2008
• Run Time: 205 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B001502LNI
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #58,250 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow!!, June 21, 2008

By 

WillieB - See all my reviews

This review is from: Zappa Plays Zappa (DVD)

No one on this planet is composing music like this anymore. It's intricate, heartfelt, melodic, humorous, and takes talented musicians to play it. Too many people have closed their minds to Zappa's music just because of his lyrics, and that's too bad, because the music speaks for itself, and for me, lyrics are secondary.

Dweezil assembled a smoking hot band, hit the road, and now we have a document of some of these shows. This DVD has performances from two, maybe three, shows. The set list is phenomenal, although not one song from "Joe's Garage" or "You Are What You Is" (two of my favorite Zappa albums) is included. The audio mixes, stereo and DD 5.1, sound great. The video is clear and the editing is good, but there are plenty of spilt-screen shots, and the camera angle from the guitar headstock looking down on the strings, when used, doesn't show much. The video is presented in a widescreen format. Disc one is 1 hour 54 minutes long; disc two is 1 hour 34 minutes and has a ten-minute interview with Dweezil and "Cheepnis" as bonus features.

The only thing missing from this performance, that was routine at Frank's show, is the audience participation and general weirdness that was played out on-stage. And that's ok by me. I've had the pleasure to see Frank about a dozen times in concert and some of these theatrics were too much and I wished they had focused more on the music. You can only throw around an inflatable doll so many times before it gets boring. One gig I remember Frank did nothing but sit down in a chair facing the audience, smoke cigarettes, and conduct the band. I felt a bit ripped off that he didn't play his guitar or sing. But all I feel when watching this DVD is amazement and pleasure. This is such a killer DVD, the music is timeless, and hopefully Dweezil has sparked some interest for this music to a younger generation. Highest recommendation!

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars DEFINATELY his son's band, May 4, 2008

By 

Paul Beauparlant (east coast USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Zappa Plays Zappa (DVD)

Watched all of this, both discs, last night. All of it was extraordinarily excellent.
Me and my fellow big Zappa friend sat there watching this and repeatedly remarked how excellent it all was, frequently saying it was just, JUST shy of the old man's bands himself. Extraordinarily close.
Impossible reproductions: check.
Blinding fast and accurate mallot and vibes play: check.
Incredible sax solo from multi-talented Scheila Gonzalez: check.
Dweezil doing his father proud in the guitar solo dept.: check.
With Napoleon Murphy Brock singing much of the lead vocals along with his on-stage spirited personality there comes an air of authenticity that Zappa fans want. Terry Bozzio's contribution was a real treat.
The only thing I missed was Frank's patented unique voice on songs like Cosmic Debris, I'm The Slime and Trouble Comin Every Day et al.
Dweezil gives a heartfelt thank you to all the fans at the show(filmed in Portland and Seattle) for supporting his father's music.
Also the disc concluding interview with Dweezil describes the coming together of this project and of this band.
Not a Frank Zappa and band live performance but I swear there is a hair's width of difference between the two.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Job Well Done By Dweezil!, June 4, 2008

By 

John Giacchino (Kissimmee, FL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Zappa Plays Zappa (DVD)

It's not easy to follow in the footsteps of a legend! Young Dweezil gave himself a huge task to put together a group of musicians, Frank's music
and put it all together in a live performance! I probably would not have purchased the DVD if it were not for these reviews! I've seen 11 Zappa concerts dating back to 1969. This DVD is well worth the price!
GOOD JOB DWEEZIL!!!