Rating: Summary: KISSseizures - Sound is a 5/Editing is a Zero!! Review: The audio on this is great to hear 5.1 remix of the show versus the CD. The documentary is interesting, seem to show that Paul/Gene really do run the show with Peter/Tommy (hired guns?) absent from the development stages with the arranger. Might have been fun to let Tommy play Hold on to 18 (Black 'n Blue with an orchestra, could that be next?) The editing is unforgivable, they should re-release it without the seizure producing quick change artistry. It is sooooo fast and virtually unwatchable. It also also seems like Paul and Gene's mouth is conspicuously blocked by the microphone or else they are not shown up close signing. This combined with the 1 second per shot editing makes me think there could be a lot of overdubs dropped in. I know all live stuff does (as Eddie Kramer and Paul emphasized in the Alive! show on VH1), especially with this being a one-night show, but...oh well, I made another contribution to Paul and Gene's retirement fund (Farewell Tour II?) and would buy this DVD again for the sound.
Rating: Summary: Well, um....hmmm.....It's GOOD, but...well.... Review: Geez, how do you RATE this DVD? The concert looks like it was awesome, but the film was apparently edited by someone with severe attention issues. I liked the CD and had high hopes for the DVD because I was hoping to actually see KISS. And I did see them every once in a while. But - and I'm not kidding here - every time you get a chance to focus on a band member, the scene cuts to the audience. In fact, for giggles, I timed it during the opener, "Deuce." On average, the band and/or stage scene gets 1 second of screen time for every two seconds devoted to the audience. I totally imagine that the band was specific about wanting it documented how many people came to this event, which is fine. But I didn't shell out hard cash to see an audience. I wanted to see a Kiss concert. That said, the music is good, though Paul Stanley's guitar is a little muddy and lost in the mix. The dynamics of the orchestra are far more evident on the DVD than on the audio CDs, so that's a real treat. The band is engaging and professional throughout the performance (at least as far as I can tell from the 3 second flashes of the stage). Peter Criss and Tommy Thayer are both technically superb musicians and this DVD shows how much they contribute to the live sound of the band. It should easily put to rest any concerns that fans have about Tommy playing the role of the Spaceman and it begs the question - If Gene Simmons' frequent criticism of Peter Criss' musicianship is true, then why does the drummer shine during this important performance? I'd give this five stars if I could watch it without getting dizzy. The songs are great, the performances are great. But other unreleased and bootleg Kiss concert videos are just superior in quality to this, mainly because of the editing. This was probably one of the best Kiss concerts ever in the history of the band, but we'll never know it because the editing of this one-time event video is easily the worst I've ever seen. So, content of the show? Five stars. Editing of the video? One star.
Rating: Summary: Impossible to watch entire 1 hour 52 minutes at once Review: The video editing is horrible for this otherwise outstanding show. The camera view changes every 2 to 3 seconds making it nearly impossible to watch the 3 act show from beginning to end. One song in this camera style would have been cool, but the video is ruined when it contiues for the entire 1:52. The repeat of act 3 on both disks is not needed. The sound is outstanding! I just pop it in my DVD player and listen to the show in DTS and leave the TV off.
Rating: Summary: Would be 5 stars if camera didn't change every 3 seconds Review: Music is great, behind the scenes stuff is fantastic, but the concert video is totally ruined by horrible video editing. The camera angle changes every 3 seconds and many times you can't even focus on that 3 seconds of video because the cameras are constantly panning, rotating or zooming. Also, it's nice to see audience shots every now and then, but on this DVD I think you see the audience at least 25% of the time if not more...so much in fact that there are a few audience members who should probably get royalty checks from sales of this DVD. It's sad that such a great show has been made nearly unwatchable by amateurish video editing. Act 3 is on the DVD's twice too...you think they could have put on a different version that didn't make you dizzy watching it.
Rating: Summary: "Take aspirin for any headache...midol for any cramps" Review: I agree with Robert from Plano. When I paid $27 for this yesterday, I didnt know 12 of that was to see the first 20 rows of obnoxious fans, and the rest to actually see the band we love. Dont get me wrong, I love seeing hot girls in the audience, but having a closeup of every assclown in the crowd is rediculous, especially during "Deuce." I guess the director figured he had to use all 45 camera angles in every song. The best thing about concert dvds is that you feel like you are there, but this video was made like it was to be shown on MTV. Now, that I got that off my chest, I'll talk about the positives. THe sound is awesome, the picture is perfect, and the special features are worth the buy alone. It is still a must buy for any KISS fan. Its just disappointing when you wait years for something like this to come out, and its not perfect. Oh well.
Rating: Summary: Excellent music, third rate video Review: First off, this is the best live performance Kiss has ever put out. The music absolutely buries Alives 1-3, Unplugged, and Animalize Live Uncensored. The band is in absolute best form. Unfortunately, the video looks as though it was edited by George Lucas on PCP. The camera angles change so frequently that your eyes rarely get to focus on the screen, and there are these computerized zooms across the audience that drive me up a wall. Also, the Gene Simmons bass solo is ruined by some over-gaining effect on the camera that buries the guy in some overbright greenish glow. Overall, the best live release by Kiss ever, just don't expect much visual enjoyment.
Rating: Summary: KISS Symphony DVD Review: WOW! I read somewhere to wait for the DVD instead of jump on the CD set. Got the DVD on the day of release. Alot of anxiety and anticipation waiting to get off work and finally see this historical event unfold on my screen. Very emotional seeing the Australian Childrens Choir perform 'Great Expectations' with the band something they have never done live like this. Finding out they only had 3 days practicing with the Melbourne Symphony to get this whole insane thing in order is a milestone in its self! I always wondered how this was all going to gel together,a Symphony and the 'Hottest Band In The World' but it comes together better than you might expect. I did not have a chance to be there in person nor see the Pay Per View.This is almost as great as being there,it is that good.A great production. The performances are outrageous the sound and picture are phenomenal and the rest is just KISSTORY! Do yourself a favor and get this! One of the best video pieces from KISS you can get very well done.Play it LOUD! This will defintely go down in the books as one of the most outrageous ideas ever to be concieved and carried out that worked in Rock History or better yet KISSTORY!
Rating: Summary: KISS: Symphony - An Evening Of Unforgettable Majesty!!! Review: I just saw this presented in the theaters on the big screen. Since I am the KISS fan for many a year, I am slightly jaded to anything they release. However, this was AMAZING. KISS music works quite well with the instruments of a symphony orchestra, any fan of the band will be pleased with this. The package and booklet are beautiful. This is a GRADE A release. It is a 2 DVD set, and features the whole concert, KISS themselves, with ensemble, and then Symphony. In my opinion, the performance and deliverance of this piece worked better than the Metallica release of similar nature. Nothing against them, they played over the orchestra and KISS played with them.
Rating: Summary: The Greatest Kiss DVD yet Review: This DVD was one of the best dvds i have ever seen. This is a must have for any KISS fan. It's well wroth the money. Tommy Thayer rocks on the guitar. KISS ROCKS
Rating: Summary: not bad for the casual fan Review: first of all, the track listing is incorrect. How about a little attention to details guys. Afterall, we're shelling out $20+ for the dvd to which many of us already own the cd. A little too much with the switching of camera angles, it made me dizzy. There weren't all the usual KISS antics most noticably Ace's flaming guitars. As a KISS fan, however, overall I enjoyed it. It sounds great on a home theater system.
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