Rating: 
Summary: Down from the Mountain
Review: This is some great music and to be able to see the actual performers singing the songs is even better. However, the concert is not complete. For whatever reason the filmmakers decided not to show all the performances yet in their infinite wisdom and twisted logic, they put the complete song list in the special feature section. Brilliant. I didn't mind the shortened concert until I saw all the songs that weren't shown. I would still highly recommend this DVD but I wish I could get hold of the editors/filmmakers who decided on showing more rehearsal then actual performance. I feel cheated!
Rating: 
Summary: Great music, frustrating access
Review: The music is great, but you there isn't a searchable song menu and there's a lot of backstage stuff that should have been put in the "bonus features." Why not start with "Introduction" then have each song in the concert as individual accessible chapter? Very disappointing.
Rating:
Summary: Good, But could have been much better
Review: This had to have been a lifetime event concert to attend in person, which I unfortunately did not. I first bought the music CD, loved it, went to the theatrical presentation in a regular movie house, and lastly, bought the VHS and DVD versions of this concert. Not all the songs on the music CD are on the videos, so I know they do not include the complete concert. Plus one song performed on stage is covered over by backstage commentary (John Law Burned Down the Liquor Sto') which I found objectionable. I wanted to see the complete concert, as if I had a front row or better seat, that matched the music CD. Sure, all the backstage color is interesting, but not at the expense of leaving songs out or covering them up. I also agree that the technical quality could have been much better. Too grainy--they needed better cameras or better lighting, or both. Still, with all the flaws, it was worth buying, just to have some record of this monumental event to enjoy. Finally, after so many years, this genre of home-gown and honest music is getting the recognition it so richly deserves. Go see the "Down from the Mountain" 2002 tour if it comes near you. I missed it too, dad gum it. They need to do it again, better this time.
Rating: 
Summary: Great Bluegrass
Review: I found this CD to exciting and refreshing. Bluegrass at it's best. Equal to "O'Brother Where Art Thou?"
Rating:
Summary: Great music--flawed recording
Review: ...this is wonderful music, and the live concert must have been terrific. Unfortunately the filming is inept (out-of-focus shots, problems with lighting) and the DVD production misconceived, with too much non-music material, some songs left out, annoying cutaways during the actual performances, and needless stage chatter by John Hartford... Gillian Welch...she is among the best things in the show. Despite the flaws, this is a great collection of bluegrass music.
Rating:
Summary: Deep down American
Review: The first time I heard the CD I knew this had to be a live performance. Then I saw it was available on DVD and VHS. I rented the DVD and fell in love with it. Then I bought it. What a wonderful group. All the music is from the heart and wait till you see the Peasall Sisters. They'll steal your heart away. There are scenes from backstage, practice sessions and then the show. Plan to have a great time. The show fell "down from the mountain" and deep into the hearts of Americans everywhere.
Rating:
Summary: Could have been much better.
Review: I bought this DVD as a result of my love for the movie and its music, but after viewing it, was very disappointed to discover that the song list doesn't include "I am a Man of Constant Sorrow" or Chris Thomas King's performance of "Hard Time Killing Floor Blues", the latter is only included as an excerpt on the menu screen. A talent such as Chris Thomas King should have been given more airtime; the blues influence is just as important as important to the soundtrack as the country is, however you wouldn't be able to tell so from the DVD song selection. If you are looking for a concert video will ALL of the songs from "O Brother", this is not it. I look forward to the day when they release a version which includes ALL of the acts and songs from the original concert.
Rating:
Summary: Poor DVD navigation mars good performances
Review: First, I agree with much of what was said in earlier reviews. There is some great music on this DVD, and I wouldn't pigeon-hole it as country... its head and shoulders above what is known as "country music" today. Rather than point out the good points of the disk, I will explain why I only give it three stars. It is largely because the DVD authoring was done by complete amateurs. There is no song index. Not only is the song index missing from the DVD's navigation system, there is not one on the box. The chapters that do exist are very coarse for the length of this documentary. Understand that I'm not suggesting that this fine documentary should have been chopped up into songs... DVD authoring allows very comprehensive navigation systems to be overlaid on a film without altering the original material. It's just whoever was in charge of mastering the DVD has less imagination and/or technical ability than I could have done on my PC. It seems like they want to force you to watch from start to finish every time. The beauty of concerts on DVD should be that they allow you to do that, or to skip to songs like on a CD, since after you've watched it 3 or 4 times, you know what your favortite parts are. My kids could do better DVD authoring. Maybe if they had at least WATCHED some other music DVD before they tried to do it for a real production, they would have had a clue. Any of the Eric Clapton concerts, or Eagles, or anything.As far as the material, the only real low point of the underlying material (to me) was Gillian Welch singing "I wanna sing that rock and roll". It didn't fit the event, and it certainly didn't fit the place. And even beyond that song, in the pre-show documentary and in other songs, she comes across as an insecure dweeb. But fortunately, she's not the star of show. (The guy that sings with her should go solo.) Before this DVD, I had liked what little I'd heard of Gillian Welch. Now I can't stand her.
Rating:
Summary: Down from the Mountain
Review: A warm and friendly look at some truely great people. This is a wonderful concert.
Rating:
Summary: It Ain't Country!
Review: Whatever you do, DON'T call this country music. This is a far more humble fare. Not a sequin to be found in the entire concert. Instead, this is honest music; people who are performing for the pure love of the art with nary a thought toward commercialization (the way REAL music ought to be performed). T-Bone Burnett is commended for rounding up this motley crew and coaxing a splendid concert from them. Likewise, Pennebaker/Doob do an exceptional job of capturing the spirit, tone, and the wonderful sounds performed at this once-in-a-lifetime performance.
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