Rating: 
Summary: Great band but the movie is way imbalanced
Review: I think the Band was wonderful group, one of the all-time best. I disagree with comments that this performance tired and uninspired. But I was very disappointed in one aspect of this film: the gross imbalance in "screen time" given to the members. There is WAY too much of Robertson, including lots of him "singing" whereas he is not even one of their three main vocalists. There is ridiculously little of Manuel (especially) and Hudson. Also not enough of the Band as a whole -- the "all star" aspect is overplayed. I didn't care to see Dr John and Ronnie Hawkins and long repetitive Joni Mitchell and Muddy Waters cuts, etc. etc., at the expense of the Band itself?). Even Bob Dylan is no great shakes in this concert. Instead of 50/50 Band/others, it should have been 75/25.While the video clarity is tremendous, and some closeups (like Helm's drumming) is enlightening, there are far too many "head shots" of a single person (especially Robertson). And even the ones that are there don't always make sense (he may be playing a guitar solo, and they often just show his face). While those closeups are good, in measured amounts, to show some of the emotion and sweat, their excess doesn't do justice to one of the greatest "ensemble" bands. I thought their originality lay in their "group-ness" with their varied vocals, styles, and textures, but the filming makes them too much like just another rock concert. I don't know if it was Scorcese himself or Robertson who's to blame for the imbalanced coverage. Danko and Helm do some excellent passionate singing, and it's great to watch Helm's creative drumming even as he sings. Manuel probably did some singing worth seeing -- too bad it's just not there (except for one song, and even in that the camera is elsewhere for much of it). Manuel was probably the group's best overall singer, and to not show "Tears of Rage" or at least one more song showcasing him was just a shame. I still enjoy watching many tracks, but after the first time, I find myself skipping a lot of them.
Rating: 
Summary: The Best Live Concert of all time
Review: Absolutely the very best concert film ever made. The Band themselves, both as lead musicians as well as back up band for various guests, are outstanding.
Ever serious music fan must own this.
Rating:
Summary: A Classic set apart from others
Review: I have many concert DVD's-- there are two that stand out from the otheres. The Eagles Hell Freezes Over and the Last Waltz. Both are distinctive, and stand as classic presentations of two legendary groups. Sound and video on both are very good.
Rating:
Summary: Simply stellar
Review: Oh jais and see if you dont just pass out after the highs of this stratospheric document chuck-fulled with music people talking and some guitars and you also got shouts of glee from the ones in attendance holy mackerel i could watch this 100 times straight not sleep eat or even watch for the mailman its that good so go out and get you it
Rating:
Summary: Couldn't remember how good it is
Review: A longtime fan of The Band (I remember my brother introducing me to Big Pink on 8-track, and I saw them at the Felt Forum in 1969), I hadn't seen this film for years. With the DVD, I just couldn't get over how good the film is and how good the music is. Definitely worth buying and enjoying.
Rating: 
Summary: Was there ever a better Band?
Review: Great Movie, Great DVD. Perhaps the best concert movie of all time. (I have a hard time deciding between this and Stop Making Sense) Van Morisson kills, Clapton: Awesome, Joni Mitchell: Great song and teriffic backup on Helpless with Neil Young. Only complaint is the song selection makes Levon Helm out to be the top vocalist in the group, wheras most people believe it is the sadly departed Richard Manuel. Get a piece of music history and buy this DVD.
Rating: 
Summary: Only gets the recognition because of Scorsessee
Review: The only reason this movie gets the acclaim all the years later is because of Martin Scorsessee, I'm sorry. Hey, The Band was good, I like "The Weight" and "Cripple Creek", they backed up Dylan, and they played for many years, but that alone doesn't really add up to the kind of stature this film is often credited for. "Woodstock" (which Scorsessee also had a hand in) was a much better concert movie, maybe even the Talking Heads' "Stop Making Sense". This movie shows the band worn out, playing a joyless performance, as grand and star-filled as it may be. The Band, let's face it, their breakup and the ensuing concert really wasn't as big a deal as this movie makes it out to be. The Band looks tired of it all, there really deosn't seem to be any spontenaity (even the end, when they play one more last song seems very planned). Scorsessee limits his photography to wide shots and medium shots, no looks at the audience. All in all this was a decent conert and a hearty farewell to a good band, but hardly the event it makes itself out ot be.
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Summary: NOT Fake Widescreen!!
Review: The Last Waltz DVD is not in "fake widescreen" as a previous reviewer claims. The Last Waltz is presented in the 1.85:1 aspect ratio of the original theatrical presentation. It was filmed "flat", to use cinematography parlance. This is where the film is shot on the entire 1.33:1 film frame, but for theatrical exhibition, the top and bottom of the frame are matted out, producing the desired 1.85:1 aspect ratio. Last Waltz director Martin Scorsese and the cinematographers were fully aware of this fact and the film was framed accordingly. The DVD presentation is the way that the film was intended to be seen by director Martin Scorsese. You do not "see less of The Last Waltz than ever before." This is exactly how the movie was seen in its original theatrical exhibition. This is no deception or censorship. It is simply presenting the film in it's original theatrical format. The other movies mentioned, Touch of Evil and Time Bandits, were filmed likewise. Although Time Bandits actually had an aspect ratio of 1.66:1, not 1.85:1. The package does not "lie to the consumer." If you'll notice, the paragraph states "Depending on how the film was shot". Movies filmed in a scope format such as Panavision, Cinemascope etc. would lose nearly half of their picture information to cropping in pan and scan format. With movies like The Last Waltz, Touch of Evil and Time Bandits, the term "Pan and Scan" is actually a misnomer. Full Frame would be more accurate. Movies are filmed either scope or flat. Examples of scope movies are Star Wars, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Lawrence of Arabia, Forrest Gump, Braveheart, Alien (original by Ridley Scott), Chinatown, Ben-Hur, Pulp Fiction, Ghostbusters, Jaws, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Planet of the Apes, Blazing Saddles, Die Hard, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Cool Hand Luke, Deliverance, Apocalypse Now and Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Compare widescreen versions of any of these films with pan and scan to see a dramatic difference: loss of about 45% of the picture to the left and/or right of the pan and scan frame. Examples of flat films are The Exorcist, Psycho, Easy Rider, Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, The Godfather, Young Frankenstein, Goodfellas, The Last Waltz, Annie Hall, The Last Temptation of Christ, The Birds, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, Jurassic Park, Schindler's List, Amistad, Saving Private Ryan, A.I., Jerry Maguire, Aliens (sequel by James Cameron) or just about any movie with the 1.85:1 aspect ratio. Compare widescreen versions of these movies with full frame and you'll see that there is more information on the top and bottom in the full frame version. This is no movie studio or industry conspiracy, however. It's simply the way these movies were shot and intended to be seen. Ask Woody Allen why he always shoots his movies flat, or ask Steven Spielberg why doesn't shoot movies in scope anymore. These movies are framed for the 1.85:1 aspect ratio and are intended to be seen that way. Watching them open matte or full frame destroys the cinematography by altering the aspect ratio they were filmed for. For more information on widescreen and aspect ratios, there are a myriad of resources available such as the Widescreen Advocacy Page
Rating:
Summary: Black Bars Cover Part of Picture...Not Really Widescreen
Review: Yup...that other reviewer was right. I checked the new DVD against my old VHS copy, and the black bars DO cover up big hunks of the original picture. When Levon is singin' "The Night They Drove Ol' Dixie Down" you used to be able to see the faces of the horn section standing behind him. Now you can't. I don't know about you, but I'd prefer to see as much of that show as possible, not less! You used to be able to see lots of backdrop, the chandeliers, etc. but not now. They cut em off. The DVD sounds great though. Excellent audio. And as for what video there IS, it looks clean and crisp too. I just wish a solid quarter of the picture wasn't missing, that's all.
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Summary: The Last Waltz shoulda been the Last of Robertson...
Review: First off, was it not hysterical to see Robbie & Clapton "jam" together? Although this Liberace look-a-like is so in to himself and the great history of the Band, I myself dont see it. The band is mediocre if best, and this good-bye concert is the same. Although there are great performances by Neil Young ("Helpless"), Dr. John ("Such a Night"), and Muddy Waters ("Mannish Boy"), the rest of the performances were either uninspired or simply out of out place (see Joni Mitchell & Neil Diamond).
The only worthy material is Bob Dylan's appearance out of seclusion to pay homage to his former bandmates, reliving the great days as his backing band the Hawks (as evident of his first song of the night, "Baby Let Me Follow You Down") to the '74 co-headlining tour, to their studio sessions (as evident in Dylan's next tune, "Forever Young" which had The Band backing him in '74's Planet Waves.) Since Dylan had already clearly stolen the show, they ended the night with an all-star bash of Dylan's classic, "I Shall be Released", accompanied by Ringo Starr, Ron Wood, & all other performers from the night.
That day in '76 we said good bye to The Band, as well as Dylan as he was ready to venture into the world of Christianity and subsequent comercial failure until 83's Infidels. This DVD reissue reminds us of the overall yet subtle effect that this southern rock band from Canada had. They had some good tunes, some good times, and some good friends. And for that I agree with Robbie, and say let's celebrate.
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