Britney Spears - In the Zone (DVD with Bonus CD)

Rating:
Summary: ...better than I expected!
Review: I actually purchased the Korean version of this DVD(which is slightly different from but _is_ basically the same as the U.S. version), and I was so impressed with it that I just had to write a review on it here. I initially purchased the Korean version because the Bonus CD includes "I've Just Begun (Having My Fun)" and "Girls And Boys" instead of "Don't Hang Up" and "The Answer" as on the U.S. version. (There is no other way to get an _official_, _authorized_ copy of "Girls And Boys.") However, when I watched the DVD, I was pleasantly surprised and felt like I actually got my money's worth. Here are what I thought were the highlights of the DVD:

1) The ABC Special: I really liked this because all 8 songs are also included in the 16 songs Britney performs on the Onyx Hotel Tour, so you're kind of getting to see a half-version of the "Onyx" concert. The main difference is that the costumes are not the same, but very nice nevertheless. However, I thought there was actually more and better dancing than in the "Onyx" Showtime Special, where Britney surprisingly kind of just stands around swaying her hips a little too often(e.g. "Toxic"). The ABC Special also has an overall better mood, as it is performed in a more intimate setting. The only scenes I really missed that were on the Showtime Special were the "bathtub" scene("Touch Of My Hand") and the "swing" scene("Shadow"). However, the only thing that really would have made the ABC Special better is less lip-synching. Otherwise, good show.

2)The performances of "Me Against The Music" and "(I Got That)Boom Boom" live on TRL are great! Britney looks like she's really having fun onstage and she's really singing and it sounds good! (And, of course, her dancing is great as usual.)

3) On the "Love & Heartbreak" segment of the ABC Special, we get to hear Britney again(albeit briefly) really singing _and_ playing the piano! I wish she would do more of this in her concerts and do it in as relaxed a state of mind as this - she could really impress.

4) The videos of "Me Against The Music" and "Toxic" are a great addition, and the "Making The Video" segment for "Toxic" didn't hurt, either.

The only thing I didn't really like about the DVD was the interview titled "In The Personal Zone." Britney's answers to the interview questions are too vague and thus uninteresting. However, the interstitial segments on the ABC Special definitely make up for this.

All in all, I was pleasantly surprised by this DVD. I would definitely watch it again and recommend it.