Rating: Summary: "The Cell" it isn't but it's a hell of a DVD. Review: I am another 30+ year old fan. The sound of this DVD is excellent as is the camera footage. DOWNSIDE-The ONLY thing I find distracting is that they play under "unnatural concert lighting" and it seems to throw them just a bit. You can tell that they seem to be out of their element with the camera lights and all. UPSIDE-I have shown this DVD to friends of mine that are NOT Metallica or Heavy Metal fans whatsoever and they all agreed that there is a lot of precise talent that goes into making this band. They all admitted their misconceived notions and that Metallica is not just loud, fist shaking, guitar slapping, ear-breaking noise. Even my friends that buy every Pop Hit was amazed at what Kirk was doing. I think Metallica gained a few more fans. I really enjoyed the perks of this heavily technology ladened DVD. For those of you that have a DVD on your computer or a internet connected media system-----you will especially enjoy the extras. I found all the photo's of the tour especially interesting. I just wish Aerosmith or Ozzy could come up with a comparable DVD. In closing, this DVD is worth your hard earned cash.
Rating: Summary: Not great, but Ok Review: This is an interesting show. This is right in the thick of the "Load" tour when Metallica were trying something different.
So What sounds pretty damn good and it's a good way to open the show. Right from that into Creeping Death which always sounds cool live. Then the boys go into the worst version of Sad But True they've probably ever done. I always skip this because it's just...eww. Ain't My Bitch sounds good live however, as do Hero of the Day and King Nothing. Then they go into a pretty bad version of One where Kirk misses the start of his solo and James sounds...not very good. Then, a nice little version of Fuel w/ alternate lyrics and as always, Fuel smokes live. Then a bass/guitar doodle of My Friend of Misery and Sanitarium into a very good version of Nothing Else Matters. Then Until It Sleeps comes in which I'm not a fan of personally, but it sounds good live. Then good ol' Bellz kicks in and gets the place jumpin'. Great live song and huge crowd pleaser every time. Then, Wherever I May Roam which is good live, but I'm glad it's not a staple anymore. Then...Fade to Black. A GREAT version of Fade to Black at that. Everybody nails their parts perfectly and the mood that is set is just awesome. Then they play the Kill/Ride medley, which consists of parts of Ride the Lightning, No Remorse, Hit the Lights, The Four Horsemen, Seek and Destroy, and Fight Fire w/ Fire. Then for the encore they come out with Last Caress into the first part of Master of Puppets, cutting out before the interlude, then segwaying into Enter Sandman. At the end of Sandman is where the "stunts" come in. Lots of pyro, explosions, lights cutting out, emergency workers w/ flashlights, and a guy on fire running across the stage. Once all that's done, the PA system has actually collapsed so it looks like a little garage, which is lit by dozens of hanging light bulbs. The last two songs for the night are Am I Evil? and a badly edited version of Motorbreath where Kirk is clearly using two different guitars. Overall, it's all right. Get S&M before you get this, or better yet, go see Metallica for yourself.
Rating: Summary: sad, embarrassing Review: I went to a Metallica concert back in the early 90s when they were at their zenith. It was the best concert I've ever been to. The energy of the band was directed straight into the mosh pit. Fast no nonsense metal from start to finish.
In 'Cunning Stunts' they tried a new arrangement with a multifaceted stage and various gimmicks, but I just don't think it worked. The crowd was all patchy and most of the kids just weren't into it (I mean at the concert I went to back in the 90s there were riot police outside - yes, real RIOT police! With armoured trucks! No kidding).
Cunning stunts was just embarrassing. Not convincing somehow. Sorry. They just seem so lame.
I give 2 stars because Kurt can still solo. How about some shredding on the next album guys?
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