Home :: DVD :: Music Video & Concerts :: Rock & Roll  

Biography
Blues
Classic Rock
Concerts
Country
Documentary
DVD Singles
General
Hard Rock & Metal
Jazz
New Age
Other Music
Pop
Rap & Hip-Hop
Rock & Roll

Series
World Music
Frank Zappa - Baby Snakes

Frank Zappa - Baby Snakes

List Price: $24.98
Your Price: $19.98
Product Info Reviews

<< 1 2 3 4 5 >>

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: I have seen this movie on vhs, and the dvd will be fantastic
Review: If you love Zappa, this will be the piece de resisance in your collection. The best concert footage you will probably ever see of the master himself. The claymation in this movies will bend your reality, altered or not. You get to see Zappa as not just musician, but conductor. You will not be sorry.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: only a Zappa fan would be happy with this...
Review: My 3-star rating is the average of 5 stars for the movie itself and 1 star for the DVD. The video is no different from the VHS pan-and-scan version (it looks like you're watching a worn out tape), and the packaging seems pretty cheap. If I had a 5.1 home theater system, I'm sure it would sound fantastic, but I only have a plebian stereo TV to watch this on. But let's face it, the fans have waited long enough for this to be available again, in any format...at least it all fit on one disc!!!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: a great movie ....I'll explain why I gave it four stars
Review: Ok I'll admit that at this time I dont own this dvd but have rented it five times (from netfilx) and watched it about ten times .
So even though I dont own it my opinion is still valid here ...

To tell the truth I thought that this was a excellant film that is full of great concert footage , some very arty claymation , and tons of screwing around back-stage . The songs performed are from what was Zappa's more current material (at that time) and includes songs from "Zoot Allures" and "Sheik Yourbouti" ...In addition to the music you get to see the band screwing off back stage , FZ's thoughts on accordions , some weird humor , and Frank being sarcasticly anti-drug.... "That stuff is real bad for you , you should throw it away ..." and "WHAT IS THAT !?...oh thats one of those dope-fiend devices . Take it away" (he also trashes Warner bros. through out the film) ...The extras include comercials and a trailer for what Im praying will be the soon to be released Roxy dvd.

I guess that the only bad the thing would be that the footage is a little scratchy in some places . And no Im not complaining about 1970s technology but that the footage doesn't look like its been restored and remastered but rather just thrown on a DVD .Another bad part is all the goofing around gets old ( chubby with the blow up doll is really stupid and boring) but these cons dont out-weigh pros at all but are just little low points . I'm still glad that this is on dvd and readily available (used VHS copies are going for $45 now)...that and the version of "black napkins" on here isnt as good as others . (I still watched the performance again and again though in an effort to learn the song by watching Frank's left hand.)

Also since Im already on here I would like to say something to that idiot "stef" . How can you say Zappa couldnt play? or complain about the claymation in here? ...Zappa was a virtuoso guitarist!He was capable of anything with a guitar in his hands! (why do you think he improvised so much)and complaining about claymation being dated ....this was made in 1979! they didnt have all the digital stuff of today... and also you self-proclaimed "expert guitarist" keep in mind that there is a reason Zappa has his picture up in music shops next to Jimi Hendrix , Jeff Beck , and Eric Clapton and you dont! also "stef" keep in mind most self-proclaimed experts usually claim to be so because they arent talented or are so talentless and unknown no one else has anything to say about them.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Baby Snakes
Review: Pros- 3 hours of Zappa!
Cons- Only 3 hours of Zappa...
If you're a hardcore fan or a casual listener, this DVD has something for you. The humorous songs, the wacky instrumentals, the extended guitar solos, the backstage footage, Terry's vocal performance on Punkys Whips, that girl in the front row...IT HAS EVERYTHING!!!! It even has white guys with afros playing keyboards! He looks like Disco Stu from The Simpsons! Believe that! If you like pointless clay animation by some stoned-out freak, it has that too. But most of all, it has Frank Zappa playing the role of musical genius, and that alone is worth the price of admission. If you work for Warner Bros., you might want to turn the sound down in certain parts, because BOY IS HE MAD AT YOU!!!!! Did you know Adrian Belew played in a crud band in Nashville? GET THE MOVIE AND FIND OUT HOW FRANK SAVED HIM FROM THE CRUD SCENE!!!! Also, there's panty throwing, if you're into that sort of thing. And a fat guy with a gas mask that washes a blow-up doll in a sink! How could you NOT want to see that? Ok, I'm giving away too much here. Buy the movie and all of this will make sense somehow.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Awful guitar player?
Review: Stef, you've got to be kidding. I notice you did not mention anywhere in your review that you are a musician. If you were, it would probably help you see what a ridiculous statement you made. Granted, everyone has an opinion, but you should be able to recognize talent when you hear (or see) it. I can admit Karen Carpenter was a talented person, even though I don't like her particular style of music or drumming.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: If you want free shipping order from Barnes & Noble
Review: The Baby Snakes DVD is great. Amazon free shipping sucks compared to other companies such as Barnes and Noble. Pay the extra 50 cents and order from Barnes and Noble. My B&N order with free shipping arrived a week ago. I had an order at Amazon, placed a week earlier and it still has not arrived.

If I was smart I would have cancelled and reordered from a better site.

Cheers,

Pete

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Dear Lord
Review: There are not enough words that I can express how much this movie is excellent. The music, the animation, the music, Frank being Frank....man this is heaven. 2 hours 44 minutes of pure heaven. I wasn't expecting extras, but the package is VERY WELL DONE, plus theres some really cool and funny easter eggs. And would you know it, theres a preview for the Roxy DVD! You gotta love this movie for another reason: TERRY "TED" BOZZIO! In my mind the greatest drummer alive. That man can beat the crap out of drums while singing and going insane. And Patrick O' Hearn, the uber-bassist that can create a killer bottom. Well thats enough: BUY IT YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: You can't do that on stage anymore
Review: There's no two ways about it, Frank Zappa is an acquired taste. For the casual viewer, Baby Snakes - clocking in at 2 hours & 45 minutes - may prove to be unendurable, but for Zappa fans it's not nearly long enough. Like an overstuffed avant-garde cannoli, its bursting with concert footage, backstage buffoonery, improvisational noise-making, nightmarish claymation and lots of audience participation. This is a unique document about a specific time & place - NYC in the late 70's - and the annual ritual that was Frank Zappa's Halloween shows. Seeing this film again for the first time since it played 24 hours a day in a Times Square theater and having attended a few Palladium shows during that same era, Baby Snakes sure brings back many fond memories. FZ was many things - composer, musician, critic & comedian - all of which are clearly displayed in Baby Snakes.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Finally!
Review: This DVD edition is the first time I've seen "Baby Snakes." Simply put, the concert (and rehearsal) footage makes it well worth seeing. Sure, everyone can find 15 minutes or so that they might have cut. Just keep in mind that this is the unedited version. As with much of Zappa's material, both musical and visual, the more familiar you are with his work, the more each piece makes sense. Accordingly, this probably is not the best place to introduce yourself to Zappa. As for the quality of the DVD itself, it sounds and looks great to me, though the volume seemed to be a bit low.

So, someone in Genoa, Italy doesn't like it? Zappa fans already know something about that place (YCDTOSA Vol. 1).

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Baby Snakes 2003
Review: This DVD is ground breaking!!! I love the 5.1 surruond! The only bad thing is...well... N.O.T.H.I.N.G!!!!!!!! It rocks! BUY IT! IT'S BETTER (& WAY CHEAPER) than V.H.S!!!!!!!!!!!
SO what are you waiting for???!!!!! BUY IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


<< 1 2 3 4 5 >>

© 2004, ReviewFocus or its affiliates