Rating: Summary: Madonna - The Immaculate Collection DVD Review: My rating is as follows: Picture Quality: B (Videos are a tad bit grainy. Could use some remastering, but considering they were made in the 80's, the quality is not bad at all.)Audio Quality: A+++ (As the title suggests, it is, well, immaculate! The audio soundtrack is composed of an uncompressed 96kHz/16bit PCM digital master. Sounds damn good.) Extras: C (Subtitled and Captioned lyrics exist for the various videos. The only difference between the subs and caps is that the captions are surrounded in a solid black box at the bottom of the screen with music notes around it. Subtitles are pasted over the bottom of the video. Sounds a bit redundant to have both options IMO.) Overall:B+ (A definate must-buy for Madonna fans and/or 80's music fans in general.)
Rating: Summary: not enough Review: the better track list should be like this! 1 - Lucky Star 2 - Borderline 3 - Like A Virgin 4 - Material Girl 5 - Crazy For You 6 - Into The Groove 7 - Live To Tell 8 - Papa Don't Preach 9 - True Blue 10 - Open Your Heart 11 - La Isla Bonita 12 - Who's That Girl 13 - Like A Prayer 14 - Express Yourself 15 - Cherish 16 - Oh Father 17 - Vogue
Rating: Summary: Anemic, should be overwhelming...Criterion worthy!!!!! Review: The collection is a decent overview of her 80s era. But to leave "Holiday" off, even a live version makes no sense considering it is one of her biggest hits.
I would have loved for Warners to have taken the time into making a far more padded collection of the woman whose music videos played a huge factor in her success. But Warners has put little effort into releasing a lot of their video collections on DVD. Look how long it took to put out "Goodfellas" properly. Either it's not put out at all (Pretenders, Dire Straits), or what is put out is essentially the VHS version transferred to DVD (Van Halen, Prince). They have a hell of a catalog of music that they seemed more active in when videodiscs and home video first came out.
I would love to see Criterion do a 2 DVD box (as they did with the Beastie Boys, one-time opening act for Madonna) set of all of her videos and some of the more famous (and infamous) live performances. Considering Luc Besson, Herb Ritts, hubby Guy Ritchie, Mark Romanek, and countless other names have made some of the most memorable videos EVER, it would make sense to put them out the way Madonna's career has been, loud, in your face, and uncompromising.
Little of the soundtrack songs are on here, almost all of which aren't even on the movie DVDs ("Into The Groove" from "Desperately Seeking Susan", "Crazy For You" and "Gambler" from "Vision Quest", "Who's That Girl" and "Causing a Commotion" from "Who's That Girl", "Live To Tell" from "At Close Range", however "Vogue" from Dick Tracy is here..."Santa Baby" from "A Very Special Christmas" is also missing. Also missing for no good reason is the controversial "Justify My Love".And where the heck is "True Blue"? Maybe they can "easter egg" the Pepsi ad in there somewhere, as well as her appearance on SNL with Mike Myers as Wayne..too classic "NOT" to be on there).
"Extras" could have included "Burning Up", "Everybody", and "Dear Jessie" rather than just the live "Vogue". I think the "Like A Virgin" performance from '85 would have been the one to include.
It sounds as good as the CD.
The videos that do make it on here still make it worth the purchase, and anyone who likes her music from the 80s will love it. The videos are the more memorable ones of her 80s output. But as a "greatest hits" it's very sparse and basic. This would be fine as a combo CD/DVD package as is, but not as a video collection.
It gets 4 stars from me because you are getting some great videos without any filler, even though some of the videos could be "cleaned up" a bit. I think for the fan of 80s music and early music videos it's essential. You do see her emerging as an artist through watching it, and the videos get better as you go. But I think that some people will have their expectations lowered by what's NOT on there more than what IS.
Rating: Summary: This collection is simply breathtaking!! Review: The Immaculate Collection is definitely one of the best video collections available. Madonna is truly the Queen of the music industry!! This collection of Madonna's early video work is a must have for every music fan; whether you like Madonna or not. Madonna is the BEST!!!!
Rating: Summary: Madonna - The Queen of Music Videos Part I Review: The Immaculate Collection was released in 1990 to accompany the album of the same name. The two went hand in hand as a celebration of Madonna's incredible achievements from 1983-1990, and sold by the million. The Immaculate Collection CD sold inexcess of 22 million worldwide and is considered by many to be one of the most accomplished and essential greatest hits collections of all-time. The album was so successful that the video of the same name often gets left in the shade, which is a great shame as it contains some of the most thought-provoking and controversial works of music video art of all-time. In this review of The Immaculate Collection video, I will be rating the videos out of ten - firstly on the song, then on the video... The Immaculate Collection opens with Lucky Star (9/10, 7/10). This amazing dance/pop song was taken from Madonna's self-titled debut album in 1984. The video isn't very good, but music videos didn't need to be in the early days of MTV. It basically consists of a white background as Madonna dances around with a few dancers. We then move onto Borderline (10/10, 9/10), a much more accomplished video. The video features Madonna aimlessly walking around the streets following the man of her dreams - yet everytime she tries to get with him, he walks away. The next video is Like A Virgin (10/10, 10/10). This was the song that made Madonna the superstar she is today with its cheeky and saucy suggestions. Madonna prances around on a gondola in Venice trying desperately to shock the world and maintain a sex-kitten image - one that would have a much greater impact seven years later! This video is followed by Material Girl (10/10, 10/10). Madonna was being compared a lot to Marilyn Monroe in the early 1980's, so she decided to encorporate this into the video for Material Girl. She re-inacts Monroe's famous scene from the 1950's classic Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. Clad in a pink boob-tube gown and showered in jewellery, she is followed around by a legion of men. A very good video - and a classic, well it is Madonna! The next three videos are from Madonna's third album, 1986's True Blue. Papa Don't Preach (10/10, 10/10) is the fifth video on The Immaculate Collection. This worldwide No.1 smash dealt with the teenage angst and heart-ache of an unwanted pregnancy. Madonna sells the song from the bottom of her heart and the video is absolutely superb - definetly one of Madonna's greatest songs/videos ever. This video is followed by Open Your Heart (9/10, 8/10). This controversial video shows Madonna as a stripper in a peep show on a chair. This was the first time the world got to see Madonna's now legendary conical bra on full show with its gold tassles! The seventh video is La Isla Bonita (10/10, 9/10). This Spanish-influenced classic track has some beautiful lyrics and superb beats. The video is set in Spain (or Latin America) and sees Madonna in a stunning red and black polka-dot Flamenco dress. Probably the most relaxing and beautifully produced video of them all... The Immaculate Collection continues in true Madonna style with the video to Like A Prayer (10/10, 10/10). Easily the most controversial music video of the 1980's, Madonna decided to explore themes such as a black Jesus, stigmata, interracial kissing, burning crosses and statues crying blood in her video for Like A Prayer. The controversy surrounding the video only saw record sales soar as the Like A Prayer album shifted more than 15 million copies worldwide. The video recently landed at No.2 in VH1 USA's 100 Greatest Videos Of All-Time, behind Michael Jackson's Thriller. We then move onto Express Yourself (10/10, 10/10). This huge video cost $1 million to make and was the second most expensive music video of the 1980's - second only to (again!) Michael Jackson's Thriller. In the video, Madonna is the boss of a huge company as she sits up on her pedestal with her cats, smoking cigarettes, dancing while taking the mick out of Mr Jackson (crotch grabbing, ahem!) and exploring her sexuality by getting what she wants - a real girl power video that shows women can be all the things men get praised for. The tenth video on The Immaculate Collection is Cherish (10/10, 9/10). Taken from the Like A Prayer album, this superb song is deserving of praise all-round because of Madonna's sunlight and valentine lyrics on an otherwise dark and mysterious album. The video is black and white and was directed by legendary photographer Herb Ritts, who went on to direct other famous beach videos such as that of Britney Spears' Don't Let Me Be The Last To Know. This video is followed by another black and white video, Oh Father (9/10, 8/10). This was another controversial video, condemned for its child violence. The song is about Madonna as a child and how her strict upbringing often caused her misery and pain. The final video in this collection is Vogue (10/10, 10/10) - another black and white video! This song is officially Madonna's biggest selling single to date - a record that still stands 13 years later! Madonna is seen in her famous conical bra and pays homage to 16 of her idols. The video also came in a No.8 on VH1 UK's list of the 100 Greatest Videos Of All-Time. OVERALL GRADE: 10/10 I often regard The Immaculate Collection CD and video to be one of the most essential pieces of merchandise around. Just like the Erotica album and the Sex book, this collection is a must for every Madonna fanatic. To miss out on this video collection would be to ignore some of the most thought-provoking, celebrated and controversial works of music video art of all-time. Anyway, The Immaculate Collection is a must have for all you mad fans on Madonna - buy it now...from Amazon of course!
Rating: Summary: *** 60 Minutes of MADONNA*** Review: These videos were very nicely arranged in a very well organized fashion as you see Madonna from her earlier beginnings with her hair held with a rag, rubber bracelets, lace gloves, hanging crucifixes, cross earrings, and funky nail polish to the short haired Marilyn Monroe style with little or no jewelry, less make-up, diverse hair color changes (wigs), and even a Marie Antoinette costume for the last song (Vogue). It is evident to the viewer that Madonna transforms her persona as the songs progress. There is another video available that has "Burning Up" as well as "Borderline", "Lucky Star", and "Like A Virgin" and is titled, MADONNA (VHS). The Queen of Pop presents herself with astonishing talent, diversity, drama, and at the same time lets her viewers know that everything she does has a meaning behind it. There are videos of all themes to enjoy from innocent or love ones like "Borderline" and "Like A Virgin" to sexy provocative one's like "Express Yourself" as Madonna is not fully clothed and wears a slave chain around her neck. Other styles to enjoy would include the sentimental ones like "Oh Father" displaying the pains of child abuse or the joys of life like "Cherish". For fans of the other eras you get to see Madonna wearing an identical dress designed for Marilyn Monroe in Howard Hawk's 1953 Gentlemen Prefer Blondes in her song, "Material Girl". Furthermore, Madonna displays her appeal to reach all her diverse fans as she wears a bolero jacket and Spanish dress for "La Isla Bonita" embracing some of the Hispanic culture--which would later help her in "Evita" and "Take A Bow". An important thing worth mentioning is "Like A Prayer" as Madonna takes her strict upbringing to surface as she addresses interracial and religious issues that also show just how non-judgmental she is and how beautiful she is as a person as well as a super star. Even more meaningful to some, Madonna addresses other controversial issues like alternative lifestyles and even teenage pregnancy in videos like "Open Your Heart", "Vogue" and "Papa Don't Preach". As you decide whether to buy this remember that the 80's was a time in Madonna's life where many different changes took place and despite her vast personas her fans always followed her knowing in their hearts she would be a legend forever. So don't hesitate and buy it today, you will love it! *Mary Lambert directed the following videos: Material Girl, Borderline, and Like A Virgin. Jamie Foley directed Papa Don't Preach. Jean-Baptiste Mondino directed Open Your Heart. David Fincher directed Express Yourself. Cherish was directed by Herb Ritts. There are 2 versions of "Vogue" the last one being from the 1990 MTV Awards Show where Madonna is dressed as Marie Antoinette as a special benefit for AIDS Project L.A.
Rating: Summary: Vogue life performance at MTV worth the price Review: This DVD covers the first part 10 years of Madonna's career up until 1990. Even touhg she could not be your cup of tea is undeniable that SHE is the queen of videos, since her very early efforts such as Lucky Star and Borderline until her elaborate videos in Vogue and Express Yoourself.
My favorite videos in this compilation are;
Material Girl.- Her homage to Marylin Monroe, she looks very sophisticated and sexy.
Like a Prayer.- Like a little movie with gospel and everything.
Express Yourself.- Futuristic, it looks that this was an expensive video with a lot of stuff included for an excellent song.
Cherish.- A very simple and yet very sexy video, the black and white filiming contribute to the eroticism of it.
Vogue.- Classic video for a classic song, this video was one of the top 5 videos of all time and it clear why, very 40s, very old Hollywood.
Vogue (Live at 1990 MTV Awards).- This performance is worth the cost of the dvd alone, is classic and very impresive, her old England theme with custome and elaborate love dancing made this a classic performance. Since the beginnig when she appears to an enthusiastic crowd until the very end all looks perfect.
A must for any Madonna or pop lover fan.
Rating: Summary: Immaculate Collection Video Review: This home video contains only the best videos from Madonna like Papa Don't Preach, Open Your Heart, La Isla Bonita, Express Yourself, Vogue, the live performance of Vogue. My absolute favorite videos on this collection R Express Yourself, Vogue, and the live performance of Vogue. This is only the best. LUCKY STAR- Not a bad video. The outfits R great and the choreography is awesome but the atmosphere of the video needs work. BORDERLINE- This is a pretty cute video. LIKE A VIRGIN- I love this video because it is shot in Venice, Italy. After all, I M Italian. MATERIAL GIRL- I M not a fan of Marilyn Monroe but Madonna's idea of dressing up as Marilyn was one hell of N idea. PAPA DON'T PREACH- What makes this my favorite video is the fact that it isshot in NEW YORK. I love NEW YORK. OPEN YOUR HEART- This is N outstanding video. I love the idea of her being N Italian stripper LA ISLA BONITA- I love the two different loos she has in this video. LIKE A PRAYER- She looked absolutely beautiful in this video. It was the hairstyle that makes her lok so good. EXPRESS YOURSELF- This is my favorite video out of the whole bunch. I love the whole futuristic-factorylike look. CHERISH- This is N'other cute video. She looks like she's really having fun with those Mer people. OH FATHER- This is a weird video. I don't know Y. I just think that it's a weird video. VOGUE- This video fit the song perfectly is one of her absolute best 2 date. VOGUE: LIVE FROM THE 1990 MTV VMA'S- Excellent performance. Love the idea of those 17th century outfits. This video collection proves that Madonna is a DIVA.
Rating: Summary: Great, but certainly not complete! Review: This is a great video, but it lacks many videos: "Everybody," "Burning Up," "Crazy For You," "Into The Groove," "True Blue," "Live To Tell," and many others I know. What gives?! Why weren't all her video from her '80s career put on here? Other than that, the videos included are great! That's why I gave it four stars.
Rating: Summary: An Excellent DVD !! Review: This is a must buy for all Madonna fans. The DVD is in standard format and contains 13 tracks. The sound quality is outstanding. The video tracks included are: Lucky Star, Borderline, Like A Virgin, Material Girl, Papa Dont Preach, Open Your Heart, La Isla Bonita, Like A Prayer, Express Yourself, Cherish, Oh Father, Vougue & a live performance of Vouge. The DVD contains a video selection feature so you can jump right to your favorite video. Unfortunately, several videos were missing off of this collection. They were: Burning Up, Everybody, Dress You Up, Crazy For You, The Gambler, Into The Groove, Live To Tell, True Blue, Who's That Girl and Causing A Commotion. I guess we will have to wait until Madonna releases a full video archive to obtain the complete collection.
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