Rating: 
Summary: Please do your homework...
Review: ...apparently "A viewer" from NSW Australia has not. The very first "rave" was in Chicago in 1984. A young dj named Johnny Bonez (no, not Frankie) spun at what would become the first of many. It took place *near* downtown Chicago in, what else, an abandoned where house. His style of music had the electronic synth heard in 80's brit pop () with the repetitive beat of disco. This form was crafted with, of course, 2 turntables and a mixer. One of the promoters in attendance was none other than House Headstrong, and one of my personal favs, Josh Wink. Upon returning to his hometown of Philly, the word spread about this new kind of underground party. However, it was NYC that would harbor the very first weekly's around '85-'86. Several brits were in town for these weeklies and imported the same music and party structure to the UK. It has classically been believed that the rave scene was spawned in London in the Mid-80's. This is false. However, that is where the scene exploded at a pace 10 times faster than in the U.S. This is because of the already underground punk scene as well as Brit Pop discothèques. Not to mention a government that was a little less stringent on alternative culture. But this origin argument is as old as who started punk and where. Was it the Romones in NYC? Or was it the Sex Pistols in London? Who cares? Enjoy it for what it is.
Rating: 
Summary: the U.S. didnt start rave
Review: Although I fond this vid very good and informative I found the Neivert of the kids in the US rave scean very disturbing and surprising. Rave had been around in the UK (around 1987) and Australia (around 1989) (where I'm from) long before it started to take off in the US (around 1994/95) and to hear kids stating that the US where the ones to start rave was starting to [make me mad] We have had a strong rave scean here in Australia for well over a decade now and to see artist talking about the music that I love had how it evolved puts a bit grin on my face The only other part of the movie I didn't like was that it was very much only from the US point of view I felt that they could have explored the electronic music coming out of other countries as I feel some of the music only now starting to filter out of Australia in to the rest of the world is only giving you all a glimpse of just how divers a scean we have over here
Rating: 
Summary: It Had Potential
Review: Anyone wanting to see a documentary that their parents would put together about the rave scene should definately buy this DVD. It had such potential and was almost good, but not quite there. It was obviously put together by someone who had never gone to a rave before. This documentary was campy (is that a good word). Cheesy? The director must have heard that transvestites and raves go together so he decided to basically feature this one transvestite for the entire documentary. Its something my Dad would do. "Ooh, lets make a movie about raves. Those transvestite people like to go there, get me one of them for my film." Thats what I felt like when watching this. Even when I started to feel like it was giving me a true insight, it did something very cliche. The music was great, dont get me wrong. The feature with Frankie Bones was cool too. Thats what raves used to be about. Showing up at Frankie's record store in Brooklyn to pick up the location. The people showing up would be this ecclectic normal looking every day people who would sometimes transform and sometimes not when you finally saw them that night. I felt like they focused on the "glow sticks" a little too much. I think there is a fine line between an acurate portrayal and a cheesy portrayal, and its a hard line not to cross with this subject. So I cant fault the director that much. It wasnt a BAD film though. It kept my interest up for the most part. And there were some things I related to. The music was awesome for the most part and I got to see/hear some DJs I've never seen before. Its a definate watch for anyone whos ever been a part of the Rave scene, just to see and compare.
Rating:
Summary: The closest thing to being there.
Review: As a DJ, I was very pleased to watch this and have it live up to my expectations. A documentary that shows you all the elements that make up a great dance event. The music, the DJ's, the visuals, the dancers, flyer designers, and the promoters. I especially enjoyed the 5.1 mix and I can't wait to put out one of my CD's in Dolby Digital. If you have a surround system I highly reccommend this DVD. If you don't you will still enjoy the vibe that this documentary was able to capture. The animated menus were way better than I would have expected. The special features were great too. The director's commentary gives you even more insight on what goes on in the underground community. I though one of the cooler things on this DVD is that they give you the web address to purchase the software that they used to create the Dolby Digital 5.1 mix....
Rating:
Summary: The closest thing to being there.
Review: As a DJ, I was very pleased to watch this and have it live up to my expectations. A documentary that shows you all the elements that make up a great dance event. The music, the DJ's, the visuals, the dancers, flyer designers, and the promoters. I especially enjoyed the 5.1 mix and I can't wait to put out one of my CD's in Dolby Digital. If you have a surround system I highly reccommend this DVD. If you don't you will still enjoy the vibe that this documentary was able to capture. The animated menus were way better than I would have expected. The special features were great too. The director's commentary gives you even more insight on what goes on in the underground community. I though one of the cooler things on this DVD is that they give you the web address to purchase the software that they used to create the Dolby Digital 5.1 mix....
Rating:
Summary: A great explanation of the U.S. rave scene
Review: Being an 'active member' of the rave scene I was very happy to see that a documentary was made about it. Finally, someone was able to expose a culture that, to many, still remains unknown (maybe they choose not to know what goes on). Thanks to such 'mainstream' techno artists as Fatboy Slim, The Chemical Brothers, Crystal Method, and Moby, electronic music sparked an interest in people who would otherwise be unfamiliar with names like John Digweed, Sasha, BT, and Roni Size. Now with the advent of radio airplay, and even MTV, there is a wider audience that this music has reached. There are, still, many DJs and producers that remain almost anonymous to anyone other than ravers; people like Rank 1, Oliver Lieb, or Future Breeze. That's a good reason why "Better Living" works so well. Not only is the average Joe exposed to this culture but he or she is also given the chance to hear from people who have experienced raves and can share their experiences. I bought the DVD because when the movie came out it was only in selected theaters across the U.S. My expectations were high because I knew that a film like would not be limited to just talking about the scene today. With the help from a transvestite (who appears one too many times) the viewer is given the chance to understand how the music made its way over here from England with the development of the 'acid house' movement in the late 80s. From then DJs and producers took that style and added their own flair which developed into the many styles that make up electronic music (featuring a great interview with Carl Cox). The DVD has some cool features like a couple of clips that have some previews of computer generated graphics, more interviews with Roni Size and DJ Dan, among others, and a party flyer montage. Some great highlights are interviews with some of the leading electronic producers today like BT (who rarely gives interviews), Roni Size, Scanner, the Crystal Method (with a great explantion of an underground storage facility a la studio), and Frankie Bones' superb interview. Even superego DJ Keoki has a bit while watering his garden. I also liked the computer generated visuals that appear between segments. Although, the downside of the film is some really ditzy e-ed out kids who act a little too childish (which is why some people hate ravers). But with that aside, the overall feel of high energy and excitement are made apparent by the great shots of the dancefloor and seeing DJs like, BT, DJ Spooky, and Carl Cox showing the crowd some of their abilities. If you are familiar with the scene this movie will appeal to you on many different levels. But even if techno music seems like something you can't even understand, this movie sheds quite a bit of light about what the rave scene is about and what is means to the people involved in it. Definitely check out this little gem.
Rating:
Summary: All are the same!
Review: Darn it, you know just as soon as I think one rave item will not be the same as the rest I am mistaken. WHERE IS THE CREATIVITY?
Rating:
Summary: cool stuff
Review: i always wish they'd let the producers go on a little longer about there methods, but i guess thats not the point of this film. funny how that one guy said that BT rarely gives interviews...in almost all of the many many interviews with him i've read he says something about how he enjoys talking about his production techniques. i think the BT segment of this is a little truncated, there's a lot more to his music than scanning brainstates, but oh well... genesis p. orridge definitely does appear too much, mainly because he's friggin annoying and frightening to behold. but that can be easily remedied by staring at the wall instead and singing the nation athem really loud until he shuts up. i'm not a raver so i can't really comment on the portrayal of the scene, but you have to credit the producers with getting a rather broad range of people to talk to. for the most part, people present [usually] coherent and insightful..uh, insights into the scene, and if not that then they're at least amusing. some of them are pretty stupid and pretentious, mainly brittany somerset and the graphic designer in the...apartment, as well as a few other people here and there who are totally convinced that they've achieved enlightenment by going to raves and everyone who doesn't is a cold and useless drone. very annoying. but then there's people like the chick with the bright blue hair who are just plain funny. ...overall, this film was well put together, well produced, and covers a good amount of varying viewpoints for you to ponder.
Rating:
Summary: cliche
Review: i don't know if i spelled it right. but the movie was cliche. it is supposed to be about the rave scene and the techno/electronic music scene, but basicly it is about clubbers tooting there own horns. way too focused on the california desert rave scene while altogether ingnoring London, Ibiza, and the rest of the great European scene. Did have a great look on the pro's and con's of drugs, which is good to see. It is documentery style, and some of the people they interviewed are just plain stupid. These people should not be allowed to reproduce.
Rating:
Summary: Learn Something
Review: I found this movie to be an excellent source of knowledge in the history and evolution of modern day electronic/dance music and the "rave" scene. It is a wonderful documentary that captures the pure essence of the music and the culture. If you are someone who truly cares about this kind of music and are interested in learning something get this movie.
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