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Bruce Springsteen - The Complete Video Anthology, 1978-2000

Bruce Springsteen - The Complete Video Anthology, 1978-2000

List Price: $19.98
Your Price: $17.98
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The DVD set is amazing...
Review: I just saw both discs of the Anthology, and I am impressed!Disc 1 is the Anthology as we KNEW it. Dolby 5.1 mix or PCM Surround makes the viewing new again. Disc 2 is remarkable. From the familiar Human Touch and Better Days to the "get up and dance" Mdr. Inc. Dead Man Walking and Ghost of Tom Joad and then If I Should Fall Behind from the N.Y. MSG concerts.. bruce fans will get teary eyed.All in all,fabulous! MSG DVDS maybe this Spring----ENJOY

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: If I Should Fall Behind...
Review: I'll admit to being an avid Bruuuuce fan. I own every disc he's put out (and a few he hasn't), and seen him a number of times in concert (including his last, phenomenal tour). Though I've said that, I've never owned, nor have I ever watched the original VHS version of his Anthology. Well, now that it's on DVD, that has changed.

First things first... The track "If I Should Fall Behind" is worth the price of the two discs! It's not concert footage, but is the Jonathan Demme video recorded during a soundcheck (?) during the last tour. It's the version with Bruce sharing vocals with his band members, evoking his feelings of friendship for his long-time mates. It was a phenomenal moment during his encores, and it's an equally great moment on this anthology. It's fun to watch everyone's expression as their passing off the mike and singing.

Other highlights are the live versions of "Leap of Faith", "Spare Parts", "Fire", and "Thunder Road". All the videos are here, along with some alternate takes (these are tracks that you can pick up on a number of audio CD's), so everyone has the opportunity to find their own personal favorites.

All in all, a great set. Now let's all hope that a live disc from his last tour comes out!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The Boss At His Best
Review: If you listen and love Bruce, then this is a must have. The days of real videos being played on MTV or VH1 are over. This DVD is really well done and includes the original Video Anthology and goes on to include such hits as Human Touch, Better Days, and The Ghost of Tom Joad.

My only wish is that more of TGOTJ material was included as Bruce is one hell of a performer, even when performing alone.

A nice feature is "Lift Me Up" is played when the credits roll.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Buy it for the first disk
Review: It's great to have the Boss's music videos on DVD. The first disk is by far the best, encompasing his work from 1975-89. It starts of with a nine minute version of "Rosalita" and ends with the slow version of "Born To Run". Unfortunately, the second disk (except for "Murder Incorporated") is pretty weak . It has his lost days with the non E Streeters (when he recorded "Human Touch" and "Lucky Town")and recovers slightly thereafter. If your a true Boss fan, it's worth buying.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A much appreciated collection .
Review: Never owned the VHS version but always had those memories of the MTV videos of the past. No hesitation in purchasing the new DVD Anthology, especially in the expanded version. Also really wanted to experience the 5.1 Dolby Digital upgrade with this offering. The 5.1 is truely an upgrade sonically ! Don't put off getting that DVD machine any longer. Is great cruising through the old videos, and also seeing old concert footage --Thunderroad, both versions of Born to Run, Tunnel of Love tour footage, etc. Add the 2nd disc to the picture --brought up to the Reunion , and it nicely covers the span. A very satisfying product I must say. It assuredly is a 'must have' for the Springsteen enthusiast, collector, fan, believer. Would also highly recommend the other recent release "Blood Brothers" . And here's hoping for an additional treat with the possible release of a Reunion Tour DVD .

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Wish this was out!
Review: Now why wouldn't Sony re-master these videos for DVD, using widescreen film sources wherever that may have been used originally? Unless everything was shot only in a 4:3 aspect ratio. Oh well, I can still dream............Bruce video on DVD promises much....hope this is done in a quality way!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Not perfect, but pretty darn good
Review: Some good points made in previous reviews on the missed potential for including additional stuff (commentary, other performances, etc.)in this 2 DVD set, but it is very nice to have all the videos in this format for long time fans and newbies alike. Comments on the quality of the surround sound may be a bit overstated and compares apples to oranges when comparing it to the Eagles Hell Freezes Over DVD (that show was miked and recorded with digital sound in mind). Knowing how much Bruce cares about the products he produces, I'm sure the audio engineers did the best they could considering the wide variety of analog source material. If you have a decent home theater setup that includes an A/V receiver with a variety of DSP (Digital Sound Processing) modes, you will find one that that sounds fine.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Sringsteen's video are cinematic
Review: Springsteen's songs are so cinematic in nature, that on some levels, videos seem a good match. Sure enough, that is reflected in the titles here. We have no less than 3 videos here with film clips, all stellar films. We have John Sales directing a short story version of I'm on Fire. Brian DePalma, Jonathan Demme, Tim Robbins, & Sean Penn also make appearences in the credits.

This is a fine collection of videos, like the music, that is basic, non-flashy, and direct. It also contains many live concert videos, which, of course, are wonderfull glimpes into the magic that Springsteen brings to the stage.

The Atlantic City, I'm on Fire, Brilliant Disguise, Human Touch, Secret Garden, Ghost of Tom Joad, Streets of Philidelphia, and Highway Patrolman videos are the highlights of the non-performance selections. Of the live footage, an extremely energetic 'Rosalita' from '78, a hilarious 'Fire,' a totally reworked and beautiful 'Born to Run,' an angry 'Spare Parts,' a spectacular 'Leap of Faith,' and a moving If I Should Fall Behind are the best.

Best of all is the closing clip of Bruce reworking Born in the USA solo on guitar for the Charlie Rose show. This ledgendary athem of rage is transformed into a dying horse whisper.

This is video collection with very few misses, and a rich collection of Springsteen's quiet but successfull stroll into the world of videos.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Double DVD - Great Collection
Review: The Double DVD of Springsteen's music videos is a must-have for fans. The first DVD is basically the exact line-up of the earlier VHS release (1978-1988) which spans from the '78 "Rosalita" video and up to the "Born To Run (acoustic)" performance. There always seems something missing from this line-up, though, since Springsteen was not really making videos at the time his first several albums were released. What we get from "Born to Run" is basically a clip of "Thunder Road" from "No Nukes" and then later performances of the title track. "The River" is also only represented in a "No Nukes" clip as well (besides a '95 re-do of Hungry Heart"). Of course, there's absolutely nothing from my favorite - "Darkness on the Edge of Town". Still, you can't really blame anyone about this now - no videos were made...it's just a shame that the videos only really started to kick off in full force for the ultra-commercial push for "Born in the USA".

Disc 2 starts with some good videos from "Human Touch" and "Lucky Town" which in my opinion rank with his best (along with the videos from "Tunnel of Love"). Then we proceed through some so-so videos for some alternate projects (Streets of Philadelphia, Dead Man Walkin', Secret Garden, etc.). "Tom Joad" is represented in a video as well as live-performance and there is a superb video by Sean Penn for "Highway Patrolman" compiled of footage from "Indian Runner". Disc 2 is emotionally capped by a new video shot in 2000 for "If I Should Fall Behind" where Bruce, Patti, Clarence and Nils share time at the mike. It's a good song for them at this stage - but it's kind of sad to see that they have aged a bit - but there is no way not to notice aging especially if you are watching such a retrospective from 1978 - 2000...that's just part of life, I suppose. The only real embarrasment (well, maybe just misstep) on this whole collection is a 1995 video for "Hungry Heart". Shot in Europe somewhere (Berlin?), it's just bad all the way through. Bruce doesn't sound or look very good, the video is dumb and pretentious and the song was never one of his best to begin with. A small complaint in an otherwise excellent package. Disc 2 also has a discography which also lists each track of each album. A pre-selected audio clip from each album will play as well for app. 10 seconds before re-starting.

The digital mastering on the discs is good, although I did notice some of that annoying "shifting" going on in the background here and there. Not too bad, though, and it still looks better than VHS. Audio is in a new 5.1 surround or PCM stereo. PCM stereo was much crisper and clearer on my system.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: The Boss is in!
Review: The Minister of Rock'n Roll has yet to provide us with a video of all live performances, but if like me, you really can't wait, this is a DVD with great cuts that you shouldn't hesitate to put into your library. It's the closest thing available to a full concert by the Boss for your viewing screen. Its mood ranges from reflectively acoustic, to joyously lighthearted, to passionately engaged.

For anyone who's never seen the Boss live, there are enough such cuts here to begin converting you into a fan. As long as this world has not yet succeeded in turning your heart to stone, I believe Springsteen's unpretentious sincerity and depth of soul will speak to you through these discs.

Whether in his acoustic version of "Born to Run" or in the plugged version, the connection he makes with his audience is palpable. You'll feel what's in his gut and his concern for young people during this live rendition of "War." You'll hear an intense form of patriotism in "Born in the USA," not of the sunshine variety, but of one whose heart has the strength to suffer from the sins of his country AND who desires to do what he can to make his country better through confronting rather than hiding from its mistakes. You'll hear on the first disc his best rendition yet of "Tunnel of Love," a confidently reflective "Tougher than the Rest," and a heart-searing version of "Spare Parts" that alternatively tears and sizzles.

On the second disc, "Leap of Faith" will give the uninitiated a lighthearted sense of how this man "gets down" and connects with his audience -- a connection which for him clearly, is always a personal affair. For those of us who know already, we'll just smile and sing or scream along with him while we take that "Leap of Faith" or while he unveils the "Hungry Heart" in each living soul. Never having spent a night under the trestles, we'll still feel the campfire and the dignity of every human being through the eyes of "The Ghost of Tom Joad" in two haunting acoustic versions. When the E Street Band joins him in "If I Should Fall Behind," one can feel the heart, pathos, and hope of those who knew of what they were singing. You're also likely to draw connections in your life, as I believe only the blind and deaf of soul could remain untouched.

While nothing can compare with the live experience of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, this video includes live cuts that are priceless. Several of the taped versions are done especially well also such as Human Touch, 57 Channels, Streets of Philadelphia -- not to mention the plain ol' spirit of fun expressed in Dancing in the Dark, I'm on Fire, and Glory Days.

For those who have seen him in concert though, we won't be satisfied until we get a video/DVD compilation that simulates his live performances, not from a historical perspective, but simply of his "best" performances, available on tape.

For the uninitiated, "best" needs to be put in quotes, because the man never performs a song the same way twice. But there's a huge fan-base out here that would love to see a simulated live concert on DVD, whose company we could keep in our home, while we wait for another reunion of the Boss and the E Street Band.


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