Rating: 
Summary: The Spaceman Cometh...
Review: Yes, I know this DVD has gotten a bad rap. The sound doesn't have a lot of bottom and the film is grainy. But, it is what it is and just be glad that this concert exists because it shows Bowie at the height of his creativity. I know of no other concert of Ziggy & The Spiders...I wish there was a crystal clear one out there. But, even with the flaws this is a timepiece that is priceless. A true artist at the top of his game. And Mick Ronson's guitar work is amazing. This is a piece or rock n' roll history that we're lucky to have at all!
Rating: 
Summary: Ziggy Stardust & The Spiders From Mars - The Motion Picture
Review: a must for all bowie fans and an excellent introduction to early glam rock and rock cabaret stage show. David is timeless and is contrasted by the "very 70's" style band. the show is very intimate and seems to convey the feeling of pre-superstardom for the most amazing david bowie!
Rating:
Summary: Sounds great - Still Looks The Same
Review: Of course, this is a classic concert and whatever quality it encompasses should be forgiven. But what's to forgive? First, the sound has been remastered and really is a major improvement over the previous film. It really was the "Spiders" last concert and needs to be seen as that, in a historical perspective. The cinematography is, well...less grainy, but the camera is still bouncing quite a bit. You can't have everything! If you are a purist and just cannot stand an imperfect film, then take a pass. Otherwise, this is a great collection of fifteen songs from "Hunky Dory" and "Ziggy Stardust..." (plus some) presented at the height of glam rock when glam rock really mattered. In that respect, not many others than Bowie really did.
Rating:
Summary: New release of the film
Review: Well, I just came back from watching the new release of the film (It's curretly playing at "The Film Forum", a small NYC theatre that appeals to film buffs). Its been supposedly re-mixed in Digital Dolby. I do have to say, it did sound different to me, and in fact much clearer than I remember, especially durring the first few songs (which people seem to complain about the most). Very enjoyable actually. Camerawork was still the same, but then I never minded it.Also of note, Moonage Daydream (my fav song from the film) sounded very different. No echos durring the choruses ("Keep your electric eye on me Babe..babe..babe..babe...."). Just not their at all. And the "voices" after the second chorus when Bowie and Mick do their little strut towards the back of the stage and then back to the front also were gone (or maybe much more subdued). Have to say I like the song better with those extras that I was used to before, but now it sounds much more like the version he does in the live "Santa Monica 72" album. Anyway, its a great show. This was pretty extravagant for concerts back then. I love it myself, but I can see why people would complain about its quality if they're used to MTV. This review is for the 2002 theatrical release of the movie.
Rating:
Summary: Smoke, Sweat, and Glitter
Review: The film is simply a spellbinding time capsule that will suck you into an infectious world that is shallow yet powerfully emotional. If you were never a freak who dressed for rocky horror or put on make-up to go out to a rock show or dreamed of a backstage pass, then the ziggy film will help you to understand why those of us kids who were lost, took immediately to glamourous images that offered excitement, a sense of belonging, acceptance, and yes--even hope. The muddy sound is perfect. I loved the days when concert sound techs restled with the innappropriate accoustics of concrete floors, steel and glass, and uncontrollable echoes off the walls. Bowie and band gives us smoky caberet, slamming tunes, fawny glances, glamorous posturing...in short--A SHOW. If anybody knows of anybody still offering this kind of entertainment today, then please tell me. I haven't seen it since the original LA band London fell....
Rating:
Summary: The final appearance of Ziggy Stardust on Planet Earth
Review: "Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars" takes us back to the height of the Glam Rock movement with David Bowie at his most outrageous in his Ziggy persona. This 1973 concert was filmed in London in what proved to be Bowie's last performance as the king of androgynous rock and roll. All of the songs you want to hear are on this one--"Space Oddity," "Changes," "All the Young Dudes," "Suffragette City"--and whatever the limitations of the film and its transfer to DVD, there is something to be said for seeing Bowie do these songs instead of just hearing them on CD. Of course, when he was dolled up as Ziggy Stardust, that was exactly the point. If you have ever enjoyed Bowie, then you want to at least give this film the once over.
Rating:
Summary: Magnificent!!!
Review: Okay, before I start, let me tell you what kind of person I am. I absolutely worship David Bowie and have tapes I use to record every scrap of Bowie footage I can find on VH1 specials and the like. Naturally, I was thrilled to see this. The video was indeed a tad dark and blurry and the audio was worse (although it's a lot better on the DVD version than the VHS), but I didn't buy it for the songs. I know these songs, heard them a million times. It was the visual I was after, and I have seen *much* worse. I was mystified that anyone could have not watched it all the way through. I couldn't possibly have turned it off. Basically, I recommend this for anyone who is in love with Bowie, but not for very casual fans. But who would want to see concert footage of someone they're only mildly interested in, anyway?
Rating:
Summary: A nice DVD
Review: I have this on both DVD and video and there isn't that much difference. DVD you can skip the guitar solos though and get back to David... or pause perfectly. If you do buy a DVD though, make sure you don't have the surround sound on. It sounds much much better when it's just flat together. Although this isn't a concert like you'd see today, it's still entertaining, definitely a classic. Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders just go together. I've got friends that don't know Bowie, but do know Ziggy Stardust. This is a great band, wonderful character, wonderful songs, it all comes together despite the picture quality. You can definitely just put it on and watch it, or work on something and just listen to it. It is worth the buy, especially if you love David Bowie.
Rating:
Summary: Rock and Roll
Review: Unfortunately, due to MTV and the million and one so-called music directors who's work has forcefed us the notion that music can only be seen on TV with special effects (both audio and visual), some people just can't see the true beauty of this piece. yes, the sound quality is muffled. yes, the video quality is blurry and contrasted. yes, the cameraman may have taken a cigarette break or two during the filming...but has anyone ever been to a real rock and roll concert? i mean a real one, like this one? well, if you had, then this is the way it would've looked and sounded to you. and isn't that the most important quality of art; to make the person really feel like they are there? my personal opinion of this movie: the performance is perfect (Bowie and Mick Ronson are at their peak, the arrangements of the songs combined with the performance make most of these sound better than the studio recordings, Tony Visconti's sound mix is clear and well done (despite the poor quality transfer), the camera work is mostly spellbinding, and the 'surprise' ending (i won't ruin it for anyone who hasn't seen) is particularly emotional. That someone would say they couldn't even watch it all the way through proves to me that we've come accustomed to artificial music performances. I'm sure the Mariah Carey DVD doesn't have one single flaw on it. And I wouldn't say that this movie is for hard core Bowie fans only. I'd say it's for anyone with a true open mind to the feeling and power of music.
Rating: 
Summary: disappointing
Review: One of the first DVDs I ordered and of those first few, the one I most looked forward to. But, after making all the adjustments I could think of I could not make the sound (or video for that matter) quality acceptable. As much as I adore David Bowie, I haven't even been able to watch this even once all the way through. I did notice that the favorable reviews were for the VHS version of this film. Too bad, such potential!
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