Rating: Summary: A complete waste of time Review: An interviewer who is unfamiliar with Todd's work asks Todd overly abstract questions, interrupted by amateurish videos for some of Todd's cheesiest '80s music. Focuses on Todd the songwriter/performer and ignores Todd the singer, guitarist, multimedia pioneer, arranger, producer, bandmember, etc. For example: the interviewer asks Todd if he believes in an afterlife; Todd -- inscrutable behind hair and sunglasses -- sits in silence for five seconds, touches his nose for a few more and refuses to answer the question. Tortured artist indeed. Then another video featuring a floating egg/brain/vagina/chambered nautilus object. This DVD was painful to watch, even with the remote control handy to speed through videos of Todd's naked backside. I actually feel that Todd is a lot less interesting now that I've seen this. Todd -- from a fellow Philadelphia/San Francisco boy who has been a fan for 20-plus years: do yourself and your fans a favor and get someone else to do this kind of thing for you.
Rating: Summary: If you like Todd's music DON'T WATCH THIS! Review: As a "long time Todd fan", I realize I need to re-define that to read "long time TODD'S MUSIC" fan, as I suppose I don't even really know Todd. If I were Todd and had any say so I would pull this waste of time and money from the shelves before anyone else has a chance to view it. I found it to be pseudo intellectual/philosophical to the point of nausea with cheezy dream/fantasy sequences set to music between interviews (which you can read about in the other reviews). Somehow I failed to read the fine print and thought I was getting live Todd performances with some interviews. (OOPS!)I can't believe the person who wrote so much great music is the personality protrayed on the DVD. Chalk it up to the 80's (or whenever this was produced) Sorry, Todd.
Rating: Summary: If you like Todd's music DON'T WATCH THIS! Review: As a "long time Todd fan", I realize I need to re-define that to read "long time TODD'S MUSIC" fan, as I suppose I don't even really know Todd. If I were Todd and had any say so I would pull this waste of time and money from the shelves before anyone else has a chance to view it. I found it to be pseudo intellectual/philosophical to the point of nausea with cheezy dream/fantasy sequences set to music between interviews (which you can read about in the other reviews). Somehow I failed to read the fine print and thought I was getting live Todd performances with some interviews. (OOPS!)I can't believe the person who wrote so much great music is the personality protrayed on the DVD. Chalk it up to the 80's (or whenever this was produced) Sorry, Todd.
Rating: Summary: Todd's home movie Review: Consider this a warning. This video contains almost no live music. It consists mostly of an staged interview with Todd Rundgren, where he bears his soul and traces the evolution of his life and music.The interview is interrupted sporadically by what I would call Todd's home movie. Visionary dream-like sequences set to truncated versions of Todd's songs. (some of the versions are slightly different from the album versions) Technically it is on the level of a student film project. If you take it for what it is, it's not bad, but it in no way compares to a professionally made film. The interview is interesting and does provide some insights into Todd's music and philosophy, so if you are a die-hard fan you will doubtless find it worth watching. Whether or not you would want to buy such a video is another question. Personally I only buy concert or music videos, or documentaries that feature outstanding photography that will bear repeated viewings. I don't know why anyone would want to watch this particular video more than once. There is only one 'live' song on this video and it is sliced and diced as though it were edited on a food processor. So be warned, if you want a piece of Todd's brain, you are welcome to it. He is a brilliant man and a great musician and composer, but an amateur film maker. For a top-notch concert video with Todd, grab the Redux 92 - live in Japan video.... excellent stuff!
Rating: Summary: A poor effort Review: I am a long time Todd fan going back to Nazz days. I saw him every time I could. He did a show at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta with Utopia that still blows me away to think about. I have almost all of his recorded music. Having said that, this DVD is not recommended. The interview part is interesting, but Todd often comes cross as self indulgent and arrogant. This is in stark contrast to the image that I have developed of the man who is often self effacing in his lyrics. The other parts of this DVD are simply poor except for the three song video which is well worth watching. Except for that part, don't buy this DVD for the music. To say that I was disappointed in a number of ways would be an understatement. Most importantly, this video has changed my view of Todd which is very disturbing. Yeah we're all human but to see a god reduced to the level of dour human being is extremely painful.
Rating: Summary: Great content for true Todd fans, but poor quality DVD Review: If you're truly a Todd fan, you've probably seen this already in the VHS format. I've enjoyed it many times in that format and was excited to see it available on DVD...but was very disappointed when I finally viewed the DVD, as it looks like it's a second or third generation dub from the VHS copy. At least on the DVD I bought, the picture quality is so lousy I suggest you stay with the VHS. So, 4 and a half stars for the material. One star for the visual quality.
Rating: Summary: Todd is God. Who said that? P.S. Hi Ruth............ Review: Some day when the student loan is payed off, the truck payment is done with, and the mortgage is over with, I might be able to get a real life and buy my own computer. Until then I will just have to borrow one when I can. EPTAE is a great mix of stimulating creative artistry. Love the Loonie.
Rating: Summary: The Ever Popular Tortured Artist Effect Review: This is a video for the Todd afficionado who wants to hear in Todd's own self-effacing words what it is like to be a creative genius. Less committed viewers will find it disappointing that many of his great songs are not played all the way through. Also, the video will strike many as hokey, because the special effects are very homemade-looking; one seems to be an homage to "2001-A Space Odyssey." But if you love Todd, you will appreciate his concepts and overall message that being Todd is a never-ending, solitary quest for new challenges, truth and an ideal state of being. The non-music sections of this show Todd in dark glasses responding to questions from an unseen interviewer. His comments are illuminating: sometimes funny, sometimes off-putting. They remind me of a line from "International Feel" -- "I only want to see if you'll give up on me." But there's always more...the live performance on this DVD of "Real Man" makes this worth buying, but it's not for the un-initiated.
Rating: Summary: Brilliant and Visionary Review: Todd was way ahead of the video revolution in music when he prepared this masterpiece at his state-of-the-art video studios in Woodstock, New York. In many ways an answer to critics who insisted he repeat the formula he perfected years ago with Something/Anything, Todd takes aim, opens his heart, and reveals himself as the wizard and true star that he is and always will be. You will not be disappointed with this DVD.
Rating: Summary: Brilliant and Visionary Review: You know Todd is the Real King of All Media... Mr. Howard Stern should Step Down and Recognize and formally hand over the Title... Howard should Bow down to Our Hero.. Everything and Somethings that Todd Rundgren puts out are all fantastic and each and every true Todd fan AWAiTS patiently for Anything or Something..that "Our Hero" Produces... This DVD is another fine example... Buy It! "I was borrrrnnnn to Synthesize" Mick "The Maag"
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