Rating: 
Summary: Another Great DVD from DM , but...
Review: Being a big Depeche Mode fan I bought this DVD and I enjoed it.
I think it was even more fun watching it on DVD then being on a actual show, because DVD gives you all this great viewing angles shots shot by award winning Anton Corbijn, plus you receive exceptional sound.
But watching this DVD brought me back to Devotional tour video, because I think that this was the best show Depeche mode ever performed, I mean nothing can compare to it. So I am really suprised the studio didn't released the full Devotional concert on DVD yet(especially when all the studios now are rereleasing all their videos on DVD). I'm sure all the fans would grab it in no time.
Rating: 
Summary: Quite Pleasing
Review: Well, I hadn't been to a DM concert in sometime - let's see, since the Faith and Devotion tour (which I really liked btw - can't wait for that to go DVD) - and while there's nothing really that compares to the energy that David Gahan exudes live, in concert - Anton Corbijn does a fantastic job of getting you up close and personal with the band while still allowing you to feel the rush that the crowd feels.Great visuals - cool interviews - exellent sound - all of a wonderful performance!! If you even think you like Depeche Mode (even if you don't know Exciter) get this dvd!
Rating:
Summary: Love ya, Dave, but...
Review: Needless to say, I am a HUGE Depeche Mode fan. I don't think they could release a less than perfect album. I also saw them live in Saint Paul for the Exciter tour, and thought they were absolutely amazing. This DVD, however, could have been better. There are many good elements. The music (of course), the direction, and Anton's amazing visuals (lighting, graphics, effects) are all amazing. But unfortunately there are some not-so-good elements, too. They hardly ever show the audience. When I watch a live concert DVD, I want to feel like I'm actually there. I like to see the fans going nuts. The crowd sounds seemed to be almost muted on the DVD, making me long for the roars that I SHOULD be hearing from my rear surround-sound speakers. And my biggest complaint - I hate to say - is Dave's vocals. I absolutely love Dave. His voice is captured flawlessly on every album, including his solo album "Paper Monsters." And on the 101 DVD his vocals couldn't be better. And he certainly didn't disappoint when I saw them in 2001. What the heck happened in Paris? He almost has me cringing at certain parts. His usual smoothness is all but gone in this performance. Fortunately he does retain his usual charismatic persona that makes you want to get on your knees and worship. The tracklist is almost perfect (though I do prefer all the post-eighties stuff over the eighties stuff, so if you are the opposite, you may not be as thrilled as I am about the tracklist). "Breathe" is the only song I could really do without. I do wish they had included "I Feel Loved," though. They played it in Saint Paul, and it was a fantastic crowd-pumping number (as well as one of my favorite DM songs). So anyway, I still highly enjoy this DVD, despite the flaws. If you're as hardcore a fan as I am, you should definitely have this in your collection. And Dave, you may have had a bad night in Paris, but I haven't lost any faith in you. I can't wait for the Live Monsters DVD coming out soon!
Rating:
Summary: Good Video, Poor Sound Quality
Review: As a big Depeche Mode fan, I was eager to buy this 1st concert DVD from the band. I bought the singles DVD and was very dissappointed as the videos are boring to look at and sound quality was not good. The concert was pretty good and have been listening to my Exciter CD over and over after this concert. However, I was very dissappointed w/ the sound quality of this concert. It seems that increasingly bands are putting out concert DVDs but being cheap in not putting $$ into the sound which is a huge shame given DVD are connected to stereo systems. I was shocked at how bad the sound quality was on several songs, it seemed to improve on certain songs but in the beginning it was poor. I compare it to other DVD concerts like Sting-Brand New Day, Sara Mcgoughlin-Mirrorball which have significantly better sound. However, if your a die hard DM fan, its still good to buy it. Wish they sang more of their own songs from the 101 album; that would be amazing to seem them at their top on DVD format. Another issue I had was the DVD case; don't like cardboard pullouts; more hassle than good and already got it crumpled/damaged.
Rating:
Summary: At last the next DVD from the 80's cult band!
Review: / = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = \
DVD PICTURE QUALITY .... 4 STARS
DVD SOUND QUALITY ...... 5 STARS
DVD EXTRA MATERIAL ..... 4 STARS
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MY PERSONAL RATING .... 5 STARS
\ = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = / PICTURE QUALITY: Good overall quality and far better than the "Singles 86-96" DVD but some aliasing is present at the live concert; NOTE that this is a complete Widescreen presentation - no fullscreen format! SOUND QUALITY: Good Dolby Digital 5.1 mix - you think you are really there; even the Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo mix is much better than the sound of the first DVD (Singles 86-96) EXTRA MATERIAL: 2 DVDs mean enough extras to please everyone GOOD REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD BUY THIS DVD:
- MUST HAVE for DM fans
- MUST HAVE for lovers of live good performances
- Band and fans interviews Great material for everyone who loves Depeche Mode and live performances! Many interviews and interesting facts!
Rating: 
Summary: Good....
Review: But could of been alot better. I just feel that DM just didn't bring their A game on this DVD. "The dead of night" "when the boby speaks" were subpar performances and could of been left off and replaced with "stripped", "question of time" "strange love" or "world in my eyes". The fact that none of these songs were included on the play list astonishes me. An other thing that hurts the DVD is the fact that David seems to just leave when he feels like it and have his guitarist sing on "It soesn't matter two" and "breath". I have no idea why he does this. What was he thinking? The guitarist's singing skills are something to be desired and I wasn't amused by Gahan's antics. Aside from that, the show is pretty good but I know DM can do better. I've seen them do better.
Rating:
Summary: Martin & Anton make this one work
Review: I would like to start by saying that this concert is great. Even friends who don't particularly like DM find this DVD compelling. But, I admit this is in great part because of Anton Corbijn, the film director, who made one of the great film concerts with his stylish frame composition and virtuos editing (check out the intro of Black Celebration for a very much "in your face" example). Visually, it is absolutely outstanding. On the other hand, the music suffers a little. Yes, you read it and it is true: Dave's vocals aren't quite good in some songs. He kind of ruins Waiting For The Night and Black Celebration. But, and this is something most people forget, he did it before. Check out 101, for god's sake. Remember Master And Servant? Moving on, the band sounds great. This is the best possible DM performance without Alan Wilder. The added drum and keyboard players do more than justice, and Martin can come forward with his guitar for most of the show, now a showman himself. His solo songs in the set (It doesn't Matter Two, Breathe, Home and Sister Of Night in disc 2) make some of the best moments in the concert. The set list is good, but could have been better, judging from the set lists played in the tour. Other songs played included "Surrender", "The Bottom Line", "Clean", "Somebody" and "I Feel Loved". Any of those I would have preferred over "The Dead Of Night" (how could this one ever be released in a DM album?), "Freelove" (OK song, but not a great live song), or "Dream On" (Ok song, but wears thin too quick). The catch is, this is the Exciter Tour, and Exciter wasn't such a good record. It is an okey album, but mark my words, most of the songs won't make history and will probably be dropped on future DM tours (if there should be any).
And then, Disc 2 isn't very relevant, except for the Sister Of Night track, the interviews and the Anton Corbijn photo essay. The bottom line (pun intended): a great concert film, with so-so extras; a band in great shape with a lead singer in not so great shape; a good set list that will thrill you for sure but won't make you burst with emotion. Ps: Corbijn has just said that he is working on the DVD version of Devotional! (www.corbijn.co.uk)
Rating:
Summary: Good....
Review: But could of been alot better. I just feel that DM just didn't bring their A game on this DVD. "The dead of night" "when the boby speaks" were subpar performances and could of been left off and replaced with "stripped", "question of time" "strange love" or "world in my eyes". The fact that none of these songs were included on the play list astonishes me. An other thing that hurts the DVD is the fact that David seems to just leave when he feels like it and have his guitarist sing on "It soesn't matter two" and "breath". I have no idea why he does this. What was he thinking? The guitarist's singing skills are something to be desired and I wasn't amused by Gahan's antics. Aside from that, the show is pretty good but I know DM can do better. I've seen them do better.
Rating:
Summary: Gahan should have kept his vest on!
Review: The song selection was very well chosen. The audio sounds crisp, but the image, mostly black and white, is quite depressing. Dave Gahan starts out with a black vest, but takes it off for the next half of the performance. I mean, who wants to look at a 40-something dude without a shirt on? Basically, I bought it for its price - 14.98 - at a local store that was closing. It was a good bargain, since it goes for twice the price I got it for. Nevertheless, despite Gahan dancing like Andy Bell (Erasure), he delivers a good performane and his signature vocals sound good. It shows how good Depeche Mode is live. The crowd is vibrant, and responsive, unlike in America. However, the camera angles are repetitive and focus on the same objects. This DVD cannot compete with "101", but is sure quite a good follow-up that deserves attention. The second disc has extras that I could well do without, but this is the norm in the DVD industry and well, what can you do? All things considered, this is a must if you are DM fan.
Rating:
Summary: Overall Pretty Good...but Dave's Voice...!
Review: I have been a DM fan for 10 years or so now. I was initiated by the consensus 'Definitive Album', Violator. I have nearly all their really good ones: Construction Time Again, Music For the Masses, Black Celebration, Ultra, etc. up to 'Exciter. DM has a special allure for me because they highlight the hypocrisy that is religion in the modern world-and they have been doing it for a long time! The DVD in question is by and large very good; the audio is excellent, and the presentation is impressive. Christian Eigner, the session drummer in this concert, is absolutely superb...he adds real 'drive' to the band's music, and I think they should seriously consider adding him as a regular member. Just check him out on 'Walking In My Shoes', and the 'Dream On' intro! Alas, Dave Gahan is another matter. At times he sounds positively awful-way off key and gravelly voiced. I know that he and Martin Gore go way back, but hasn't Martin carried him long enough? We all know that Dave has had his difficulties, but the music suffers here! I mean let's face it: Martin Gore IS Depeche Mode! His vocals are definitely good enough to assume lead on a permanent basis, and Martin never has a shortage of great songs (they are all his). Seems to me that Gore keeps Gahan along for sentimental reasons...or perhaps more? I watch this concert on a fairly regular basis, and with each viewing Gahan's voice grates on me even more. The music is great-I just hope either he gets his act together or Martin steps into the spotlight full time.
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