Rating: Summary: Poor editing Review: I don't get one thing about this DVD - why was it done over two nights? When you play it, the first thing to come up is some video guy named Mitchell who's like "When the boys asked me to film their concert, I knew the only way to do it was over two nights" or something like that. That's funny, the Live Without a Net concert was filmed over one night. For that reason, it's much better, seeing as how the band member's wardrobes don't change in the blink of an eye, and the music is actually up to sync with the video.
Rating: Summary: Great Music. Great Performances. Horrendous Editing. Review: I love the music, and the band performs beautifully. However, if you've ever seen this band live, you know how spontaneous and off the cuff they really are. This DVD was filmed over the course of two different nights and it shows. The director intercuts the two days in a haphazard fashion, and ruins all the spontaneity. It makes it look like Van Halen can't play through a song without heavy editing (which we all know couldn't be further from the truth). But back to the music: if you've got the RHRN album, there is still much to love about the musical performances on the DVD/VHS. The RHRN album was the sound recording from the first evening of filming. The sound recording from the DVD/VHS is from the second evening (so Eddie says). (I haven't listened to the album and the DVD back to back to confirm...)
Rating: Summary: Great Music. Great Performance. Horrendous Editing. Review: I love the music, and the band performs beautifully. However, if you've ever seen this band live, you've come to love how "spontaneous" and off the cuff they are. This DVD was filmed over the course of two different nights and unfortunately it shows. The director intercuts the two days in an extremely haphazard fashion, and ruins all the spontaneity for the fans. It makes it look like Van Halen can't play through a song without heavy editing. But back to the music: According to an interview I read with Eddie, the RHRN album utilizes the sound recording from the first evening of filming, whereas the sound recording from the DVD/VHS is from the second evening (ie. so fans would have a reason to buy both the DVD and CD). This certainly sounds like an intriguing idea. Unfortunately, this becomes problematic, because upon listening to the cd vs. the DVD side by side, it becomes obvious that the band has over-rehearsed their material to the point that the illusion of spontaneity is lost. For example, I was crushed to find out that Sammy's impromptu "Cabo Wabo" interlude in the middle of "You Really Got Me" was not so impromptu at all. In fact, he did it pretty much the same BOTH nights. I love the band, but this release is incredibly shoddy. When I do play this DVD, I play it to listen to the great music, but I find it so painful to watch. For a 100% better VH viewing experience, get "Live Without A Net" instead, which coincidentally was ALSO filmed over two evenings, but somehow manages to get it right.
Rating: Summary: Dissappointing! Come on, guys! You can do better than this! Review: I love Van Halen and have (literally) every CD Van Halen has ever released. However, I was incredibly dissappointed with this DVD. While the sound is excellent, any avid Van Halen fan will have all of these songs, especially the live versions if they bought the corresponding CD, Van Halen: Right Here, Right Now.The video quality is not only poor (dark, fuzzy and poorly lit), but it does not even match the real audio track. Yes, every attempt was made to match video of Sammy and Eddie with the songs, but it is very clearly dubbed. I've watched this DVD maybe twice, and now it collects dust on my shelf. As far as I can tell, this entire collection of footage was recorded over SEVERAL concerts and was created ENTIRELY in the editing room. Having recently purchased a flawless, high quality, close-up and AUTHENTIC Peter Frampton DVD recently (Frampton Plays Detroit), the quality of the two productions simply can't be compared. If you love loud, crystal clear, high quality sound that matches high quality video in an AUTHENTIC concert setting, don't buy this Van Halen DVD--instead BUY FRAMPTON. Van Halen will come through (I'm sure) with a higher quality DVD with better production techniques (they need to hire the guy who did Frampton!), but of course, we'll have to wait for their next big tour! Who knows, maybe Eddie can patch up things with either David Lee and/or Sammy for one giant Farewell World Tour. If so, you can bet that a comprehensive, high quality video and audio DVD would FLY off the shelves. Until that time, though, I'd pass on this DVD and wait!!!
Rating: Summary: worthless Review: I love Van Halen, but this is a joke!, it's not a real concert, in many parts it's kind of a playback!, you see them playing the same song and they're dress different! (they use footage from several nights I guess). Bottomline: Don't waste your money, just listen to the cd.
Rating: Summary: Great Overall Van Halen DVD Review: I personally liked this DVD because it contained interviews with Alex and Michael, solo's with each of the band members, and also great live footage of all of the songs from the For Unlawful Carnal Knowledege album and Right Here, Right Now CD.
Rating: Summary: Bring out Live Without A Net on DVD Review: I think Eddie Van Halen is one of the greatest, most inovative rock guitarists in the history of Rock & Roll. Hoever, this DVD pales in comparison to Van Halen's previous Live Without A Net VHS tape. The way the concert film was edited totally ruins this DVD concert experience. As others have pointed out, every few seconds, the band's clothes and guitars change... then change back... and then change again... within the same song! How stupid and distracting! I'm glad that the director who butchered this concert DVD introduced himself at beginning of the film, because I'll be sure to remember his name and avoid any of his other projects.
Rating: Summary: Allthough Dave is gone, the magic is still there Review: I viewed this DVD with pessimistic thoughts in mind. But after about ten seconds of Michael Anthony's Ultra Bass, I was in shock. I almost told Drieho to call an ambulance. It was the most amazing thing I have ever seen done with a bass guitar. Also, Eddie Van Halen's guitar is astounding throughout the entire disc. I would recommend this Digital Video Disc to a music fan of any genre.
Rating: Summary: Great performance, horrible editing. Review: I'll just add to the litany of dissatisfaction with this video. First off, since this is the only live DVD, I have to recommend it, just to see them play and listen to the incredible sounding music. The performance is great, they don't miss a note. Unfortunately, the original high quality video shooting is utterly butchered by editing two shows together. As mentioned by many others, it destroys any sense of "being there". It's basically the equivalent of lip-syncing, but worse. It's like reverse lip-syncing, the moron director syncing a different performance to the music. And another annoying factor is how often the director cuts away from Eddie right in the middle of a guitar solo in a song. Quite unbelievable. Nevertheless, like I said, this is all we got, as far as DVD, so it's certainly better than nothing. Just sit back, squint your eyes to not focus on the video too much, and enjoy the music.
Rating: Summary: PEE ON ALL OF YOU!!! Review: I'm writing this review for 2 reasons. Reason 1: Pee on all of you, this DVD rocks. Every song, serenade, interview and solo is full of proff that Hagar did NOT ruin Van Halen's career. If anything, he re-started it. This thing is pure gold, start to finish, even though several were cut out of the DVD from the original concert. Reason 2: Pee On all of you, Sammy Hagar rocks. Between Sammy Hagar & David Lee Roth, I can't choose who's better, but everyone has to admit, Sammy rocked the jukebox as much as Roth did, & they're both lightly annoying at times. So, pee on all you non-Van Hagar fans.
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