Rating: 
Summary: DVD Anthology
Review: I have been a Beatles fan for 40 years and have tried to buy and hear and see everything Beatles for all those years. I have just seen the Anthology and can't understand why it is that I have never seen 90% of what is on this compilation. I am astounded. It's like getting Beatles all over again. I have even more respect for them than ever.
Rating:
Summary: Hard to believe that it's this good...
Review: A ten hour documentary? Produced by the band's own company? How can that be good?Well, it is. One could reasonably expect that certain sordid details would be glossed over, but for the most part, they are here, along with incredible footage, new interviews, classic performances, home movies, and incredible 5.1 surround sound remixes of the songs in the soundtrack. Hearing "Something" or "A Day in the Life" in surround sound is a remarkable experience. So, let's talk quality and bonus features. The video quality is superb, and shows no issues of PAL to NTSC conversion, a remarkable feat considering how many dvds seem to mess this up lately. The picture is very sharp, and the encode seems to have been done at a very high rate, so there is simply no apparent artifacting. The sound is perfect. I can't imagine how many hours of effort must have gone into remixing everything for this presentation, but it must have been an effort. The bonus features are okay. We get to see the whole Threetle's jam session, with George getting impatient with the whole project. The two bonus videos are nice to have, it's especially nice to finally have the Real Love video. There are also some interviews in the studio that are a bit illuminating. The set is absolutely worth your time, even if you already have the VHS or Laserdisc versions.
Rating:
Summary: Essential
Review: Even if they bought the $110 VHS version of this a few years ago, any Beatle fan must own this as well. Just the all-too-brief snippets of the (then) 3 survivors together again are enough to make this set worthwhile. How sad to see them together, old men, with a gaping hole right in the middle of them. John's absence in those scenes is overwhelming. You could feel how difficult it must have been, especially for Ringo, who seems to be them most openly emotional of the four. Imagine how much more the Anthology series could have been if John had been alive to participate...imagine what "Free As A Bird" and "Real Love" might have been. I've tried to watch this from the perspective of someone today, or even years from now, who knows nothing of The Beatles other than as a historical reference. From that vantage, it is possible to get a feel for why they've been so significant to pop culture, but this is really designed for fans. My only complaint (if you can call it that) is that my constant hunger for "Take 1's" and backing tracks is only partially sated with this set. I long for the day when every single minute of recorded Beatles tape is available, perhaps digitally, unedited and untouched. I'm hoping in my lifetime we all get the chance to purchase every single track of every minute they ever recorded. For the truly afflicted fan like myself, the ability to effectively roll a tape they made on a given day, from the start to finish, is an ultimate dream.
Rating:
Summary: Experience Beatlemania
Review: As a Beatles fan who wasn't born until 1980, this is about as close as I can get to seeing the Beatles live. It's not only a great documentary with lots of rare footage of the boys, but its damn funny too. George (when he can remember them) and Paul often have very different versions of stories, and Ringo seems so genuinely nice and like he really enjoyed his ride as a Beatle, possibly more than the other guys. I gave it five stars - how can you not after watching ten hours and enjoying every second? However, I do have a serious problem with the re-editing that went on from the TV airing to the DVD. My friend and I noticed several differences - mostly scenes featuring the three "present day" Beatles being left off the DVD. Why do this when they added so much additional footage for the DVD? I know hardly anyone else will be bugged by this, but they happened to be funny scenes, which is why we remembered them from watching the anthology on television. Anyway, despite the strange cuts, every Beatle fan should buy this collection.
Rating:
Summary: Much Better Than The TV Special!
Review: When I first saw the Anthology series on TV I was disappointed. I thought it was half-hearted. I'm glad that I bought the DVDs because the expanded dialogue adds a lot of warmth. There are some great stories that I'd never heard an the extended version. It's too bad that John wasn't around to add his take, but the way his dialogue is cut gives the illusion that he is right there narrating with the other guys. This is a must own DVD set!
Rating:
Summary: So Very Good
Review: For about the last 15 years I have been a huge Beatles fan. During this time I have been so wrapped up in their music that I never really bothered to learn anything about the history of the band. I bought this for my girlfriend for Christmas because the Beatles are her favorite band and thought it would be fun to watch together. I was right. This anthology has managed to give me a much deeper appreciation of the band that changed rock music as we know it. Hearing the stories behind some of my favorite songs gives me a whole new outlook on the music. As for my girlfriend, it has definitely renewed her interest in the band she loves so much. This is highly recommended for anybody that likes the Beatles in any way. To the casual fan, this will definitely make you a much bigger fan. And to the complete Beatle-maniac, it totally confirms why you love them as much as you do.
Rating:
Summary: Beatle-Mania!
Review: This is definitly a must have for any Beatle fan, or any fan of rock music! You hear the story from the mouths of the Beatles themselves. From Liverpool to Let It Be. It even shows music videos for many of their songs, including the new songs "Free As A Bird" and "Real Love". This is a wonderful addition to my DVD collection.
Rating:
Summary: Great Mini series!
Review: This is a great way for fans to really get up close and personal with the Beatles... plus you get to see the three remaining Beatles talking and jamming together... It was nice to see the three of them putting aside their differences and just enjoying each other's comany.... Plus you get both music videos that brought the Beatles back to the radio... This is by far the best documentry on the fab 4... This is a must own for those that can't get enough of the Beatles... Interestin and Bittersweet is what it is for me.....
Rating:
Summary: Must-own for Beatles fans
Review: The best rock n roll documentary by its finest practicioners. When the TV
'Anthology' aired in 1995 that was pretty amazing enough, then came the VHS set with four more hours not shown on TV. Now with the DVD Anthology, Beatles fans get all that and more (particularly of interest on the bonus disc is seeing and hearing Paul, George & Ringo jam on early rock n roll songs, and
then in Abbey Road studios discussing the making of "Tommorow Never Knows"). Also what I thought especially of interest is how they very carefully placed John's video and audio contributions at the right moments (as they did also with the Anthology book, which I also recommend as a companion to the DVD set).
Rating:
Summary: The Beatles
Review: The Beatles Anthology is a must-have for all Beatles fans! Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr contributed a lot of their time to give their fans a comprehensive view of their lives as The Beatles. Although John Lennon is no longer living in this world, he is very much alive in this documentry. John's perspective is presented in many interviews. The Anthology covers their childhoods, the Hamburg days, early triumphs, Beatlemania, concert tours, and many other milestones. The Beatles will live on four-ever!
| 
