Gathering: In Motion

Rating:
Summary: at least the're on dvd
Review: Far from top quality production but worth having the footage. I saw the Gathering live in a Krakow like environment so this footage was better to me then the Open Aire concert. The packaging says 5.1 sound which is not true. Just cuz the sound is run through each speaker does not make it 5.1! But like I said, its the Gathering and its 12 bucks so come on!

Rating:
Summary: Intense performances in Europe
Review: Great video compilation from two Gathering shows, the first one at Dynamo fastival, and the second in Krakow, plus two videos "liberty bell" and "leaves" image quality is good enough and sound is also pretty good, Anneke voice is so beautifull and melodic, and seeing her is a pleasure, she is gorgeous funny and nice, Gathering music is the best of the best , is interesting and progresive, complete combo as i use to say
HM

Rating:
Summary: at least the're on dvd
Review: I ordered this DVD with muted hopes. Yeah, the band, for all intents and purposes, has long disowned this release as a desperate label-ordered cash-in, just before the Gathering return to action with the self-released Souveniers. Well, the good news is that this much balleyhooed video as a whole is nowhere near as bad as I thought it would be.

Granted, the audio is subpar (the sound cuts out in the middle of "Eleanor", from Dynamo '96; and the menu design is weak) and the footage is pretty rough, but the prospect of seeing Anneke in classic middle-period ('95-'97) form is most definately fulfilled. She's still stunning, even when the packaging sucks. Also, "Leaves" and "Liberty Bell" finally make it to disc, which earns some desperately needed brownie points.

Also, the Krakow show is a great place to do a little compare and contrast, as well as tracking the band's musical development from Mandylion and Nighttime Birds and eventually How To Measure a Planet?, without a doubt their most creatively ambitious album. Quality-wise, it's slightly better than the Dynamo footage, with minimal sudio skeeviness and better editing.

So, the E64,000 question: should you buy this? Yeah, if only to see the band (and the goddess) that started it all in prime form, or just to introduce your friends to the Greatest Metal Band Nobody Has Ever Heard Of. It's not a masterpiece of editing or content and it could've helped to add some footage from the How to Measure... and If.Then.Else years (to better underscore the Gathering's extensive musical growth), but the rest of this disc just says too much to ignore outright. Besides, their best years (and the home video you were really waiting for) are probably still ahead of them. It's not like you're settling for less.

Rating:
Summary: Okay, so it's not perfect...
Review: I ordered this DVD with muted hopes. Yeah, the band, for all intents and purposes, has long disowned this release as a desperate label-ordered cash-in, just before the Gathering return to action with the self-released Souveniers. Well, the good news is that this much balleyhooed video as a whole is nowhere near as bad as I thought it would be.

Granted, the audio is subpar (the sound cuts out in the middle of "Eleanor", from Dynamo '96; and the menu design is weak) and the footage is pretty rough, but the prospect of seeing Anneke in classic middle-period ('95-'97) form is most definately fulfilled. She's still stunning, even when the packaging sucks. Also, "Leaves" and "Liberty Bell" finally make it to disc, which earns some desperately needed brownie points.

Also, the Krakow show is a great place to do a little compare and contrast, as well as tracking the band's musical development from Mandylion and Nighttime Birds and eventually How To Measure a Planet?, without a doubt their most creatively ambitious album. Quality-wise, it's slightly better than the Dynamo footage, with minimal sudio skeeviness and better editing.

So, the E64,000 question: should you buy this? Yeah, if only to see the band (and the goddess) that started it all in prime form, or just to introduce your friends to the Greatest Metal Band Nobody Has Ever Heard Of. It's not a masterpiece of editing or content and it could've helped to add some footage from the How to Measure... and If.Then.Else years (to better underscore the Gathering's extensive musical growth), but the rest of this disc just says too much to ignore outright. Besides, their best years (and the home video you were really waiting for) are probably still ahead of them. It's not like you're settling for less.

Rating:
Summary: 5 stars for footage, 1 star for packaging
Review: I think the first 2 albums that The Gathering recorded with Anneke (Mandyllion and Nighttime Birds) are their best to date. Needless to say, I was thrilled when I learned that Century Media released the DVD containg "classic" The Gathering footage, covering these 2 albums! After some reasearch, I've learned that there's been some dispute between The Gathering and the Century Media, which is no longer their label. This resulted to this video not being endorsed by the band itself. Still, I live in the US, and have never seen The Gathering live, so I decided to check it out.

First, the footage itself. All I can say is, it's excellent! The picture is clear (especially Dynamo), the sound is good, and it gives you really get the feel of what The Gathering consert is like. I totally disagree with the reviewer who suggested this is a bootleg quality video. Yes, there's a couple of glitches with the sound, but we are taliking live, unedited concert footage (most "live" releases are edited in studio to overdub these little glitches, but this one is a genuine live release). The video is recorded with multiple cameras, and the editing is also on a preofessional level. I challenge you to ever find a bootleg this good. My only complaint is from what I've heard, some songs from the live show were not included on the DVD. But I'm giving it a 5 star nonetheless.

Now the packaging. Well, we are talking a bare-bones DVD release, if one ever existed. Other than the menu (which is very basic), and a discography (which is just an out-of-date list of albums), there's nothing else. No interviews, no behind the stage footage, nothing at all. Oh well.

Why am I giving it a 5-star rating? Again, the live footage is exellent, and that's what I'm really rating. Also, consider the price of this DVD, which is half of what the other videos go for. You most definitely get you money's worth.

Overall, a must-have for a Gathering fan, especially if you like Anneke's first 2 albums.

Rating:
Summary: Anneke is Adorable
Review: If you like The Gathering this is a must have. I agree with my fellow reviewers that this live footage is not studio quality, but, after all, it is live footage. Unless you live in or near Holland chances are you will never see this band live, so this is as close as you will come to attending a concert. If there is anyone more into her craft and full of energy than Anneke van Giersbergen I haven't seen her. She is beautiful and has a smile that melts my heart. The footage from the Dynamo Festival is best because it was all shot in daylight, as opposed to the dark concert hall look of the Krakow, Poland footage. There are also two music videos included on this DVD. I find it's rather amazing that Anneke can look so different in each setting. All of the looks are great, except for the Liberty Bell video. I'm not sure anyone would look good in the space suit garb. If you happen to do a web search on Anneke, you can also find pictures of her with dark brown, blond, straight,and short hair in various combinations. If you need some more concert footage, the live album Superheat includes an MPG track of Eleanor from the Krakow, Poland concert. It pales next to the performance of Eleanor at the Dynamo Festival, but it will complete your video collection. Let's hope that they are considering releasing more concert footage or better yet a US tour.

Rating:
Summary: Anneke is Adorable
Review: If you like The Gathering this is a must have. I agree with my fellow reviewers that this live footage is not studio quality, but, after all, it is live footage. Unless you live in or near Holland chances are you will never see this band live, so this is as close as you will come to attending a concert. If there is anyone more into her craft and full of energy than Anneke van Giersbergen I haven't seen her. She is beautiful and has a smile that melts my heart. The footage from the Dynamo Festival is best because it was all shot in daylight, as opposed to the dark concert hall look of the Krakow, Poland footage. There are also two music videos included on this DVD. I find it's rather amazing that Anneke can look so different in each setting. All of the looks are great, except for the Liberty Bell video. I'm not sure anyone would look good in the space suit garb. If you happen to do a web search on Anneke, you can also find pictures of her with dark brown, blond, straight,and short hair in various combinations. If you need some more concert footage, the live album Superheat includes an MPG track of Eleanor from the Krakow, Poland concert. It pales next to the performance of Eleanor at the Dynamo Festival, but it will complete your video collection. Let's hope that they are considering releasing more concert footage or better yet a US tour.

Rating:
Summary: Don't blame the band!
Review: The Gathering had nothing to do with it's release! The sound and the picture quality leave something to be desired. Furthermore, there is no added information, no animation, no frills at all! It seems rather speedily put together and cut & dry. The video clips are less than bootleg quality. Aside from all of that I would still suggest buying it because THE GATHERING is the best band of all time! And it's not their fault that a rookie released a video without their knowing. The director of this movie should be ashamed trying to blotch their pristine performance. On a lighter note ... Anneke still rocks!!!

Rating:
Summary: Don't blame the band!
Review: The Gathering had nothing to do with it's release! The sound and the picture quality leave something to be desired. Furthermore, there is no added information, no animation, no frills at all! It seems rather speedily put together and cut & dry. The video clips are less than bootleg quality. Aside from all of that I would still suggest buying it because THE GATHERING is the best band of all time! And it's not their fault that a rookie released a video without their knowing. The director of this movie should be ashamed trying to blotch their pristine performance. On a lighter note ... Anneke still rocks!!!