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Summary: oustanding effort
Review: Reading the editorial review, you may be misled into believing that this is a dry and academic,only for diehards DVD.Wrong, this is an exceptionally well made and researched documentary. And, if anything the first disc, with their pre-fame story, is perhaps the most fascinating disc of the lot. Considering that The "Fabs" were the most important and influentual pop/rock group of the 20th. century, I consider this essential viewing, and hugely enjoyable, don't miss out!
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Summary: The Beatles Forever.
Review: As the bombs fell over England in 1940, John Winston Lennon was born and as war raged, Sir James Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Richard Starkey a.k.a. Ringo Starr began their young lives in a dirty port city called Liverpool. They were mostly poor boys who today are legends. The most interesting thing from the TV special in 1995, the 3 albums that followed and the 8 VHS tapes that expanded the story was the fact that it was "The Beatles" in their own words and recollections. There's so much packed inside this story and safe to say, so much more we don't know, that it is engrossing each time you watch it. The interweaving of outtakes, never before heard songs and footage is beautiful. George Martin's emotional talk and tears as he remembers John Lennon is heartwrenching. You see here the strength of the four lads from Liverpool, the closeness of their friendship and those involved with them. The DVD version is jammed with more than the 8 VHS tapes and elevates the "Anthology" to a rounder story. At the time of its initial release, there were 3 surviving Beatles, sadly now there are 2. One sit through of this is not enough for you are sure to miss elements. As timeless as The Beatles themselves, so is their story and this anthology. Robert Eldridge (...)
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Summary: God, I wish I was at Shea Stadium 8/15/65!!!
Review: Episode 5, first 10 minutes when Ed Sullivan introduces the Fab Four sums up all the dynamics and enormous impact Beatlemania had on the world.
Still,till this day there is no comparison. After you see the Beatles at Shea stadium you wonder either "Why was I not there or why was I born too late...?!"... The transition to Sgt.Peppers and the studio years also fortifies the claim that the Beatles were the greatest rock/pop band ever. Amazing DVD set.
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Summary: As enjoyable as the Beatles Bootleg Videos -- Only Better
Review: I was beginning to wonder if this documentary would ever be released on DVD. Most recent reviews of this documentary by those who had seen it were beginning to wonder if the Beatles were planning to have The Beatles Anthology music albums released onto 8-Track. Since the death of the Laserdisc player, the only way one could purchase this wonderful documentary was only on VHS tape for many, many years. For those who are asking, "I saw the three part documentary on ABC in 1995. I wonder what the expanded version is like?" Answer: If you loved watching The Beatles Anthology on television, and taped it, and watched it many times over, you'll love this documentary which is longer than 11 hours, including the fifth disc with previously unreleased material. Most of what was cut from the ABC broadcast were musical collages similar to the "In My Life" footage that appeared at the beginning of both the Television and Commercial Free versions. Also cut were old TV appearances in part or in whole by the Beatles. And also cut were interview sequences with the Beatles where they went into greater detail about their history. And finally, also missing from the ABC broadcast were what the Beatles referred to as "Taped TV Promotional Films" of their music -- We Can Work It Out, Day Tripper, Paperback Writer, Rain. Watching all of the various perfomances reminded me of the first time I saw these about 15 years ago on a two hour VHS tape of various performances by the Beatles. The video was of very poor quality, looking like a copy of a copy of a copy. This DVD is like looking at those same performances, only in pristine, mint condition. If you have to choose between the unwieldly hardcover coffee table book and this new DVD video, pick the one that comes alive with music and words by the greatest rock group of the 20th century. As for the additional fifth disc, this was a lot of fun to watch too. The disc contains the "Real Love" video, which was not part of the earlier commercial versions available. Mostly, this disc is the behind the scenes for the behind the scenes documentary made in 1995. At the end of one of the segments, the surviving three Beatles announce that this is their "Candlestick Park". Like always, the Beatles knew how to go out with a bang and not a whimper.
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Summary: Beatlemania Lives On
Review: The Beatles Anthology originally aired on ABC in November, 1995. The documentary was shown over the course of three days with the big hook being seeing the videos for the two "new" Beatles songs "Free As A Bird" & "Real Love". The series also set the stage for the release of three double-disk Anthology albums that would follow in subsequent months. The documentary itself is a true gift for any Beatlemaniac. It is loaded to the gills with performance footage, behind the scenes looks at their recording process, home movies and old interviews. The best part though is all the living Beatles, at the time, participated in the production and gave current interviews and John Lennon was also liberally featured through archival interviews. Seeing Paul McCartney, George Harrison & Ringo Starr discuss their experiences in the band is a real treat and it's what separates this documentary from the countless others about the group out there. Also, their producer and guide, George Martin provides candid insights that only someone who was so closely linked to the band could provide. The new DVD collection does a tremendous job in providing a sharp picture and the 5.1 surround sound is amazing. The additional footage on the final disk is superb, especially the three Beatles sitting together and reminiscing about old times and their return to Abbey Road Studios where, along with Mr. Martin, they provide some incite on the recording processes used on some their biggest hits.
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Summary: A Landmark in Documentary History!
Review: This is really the greatest gift you can give to a Beatles fan.
My dad gave it to me this year. I watched all 12 hours of it. It's really brilliant to say the least.
If you want the real story about The Beatles...buy this set.
George,Paul and Ringo inform you on everything that occured during their career,how they grew up,what studio time was like for each album,and more. They even have most of the Beatles music videos on here too. Notice, I said most. To have the complete collection of their music videos,buy this and Yellow Submarine DVD. Truly a masterpiece.
5/5
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Summary: Constant reminder, But wonderful anyway
Review: An excellent series. I enjoyed every minuete of it. The only complant I would have is that its a constant reminder that John is gone since there obviously isn't any current interviews with him as there were with the other three. But thats to be expected. Otherwise its a must for any bealtes fan.
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Summary: Could Have Been Even Better
Review: although its very well made and i did enjoy it, i feel like so much was skipped over..lots of details about the Beatles and their lives..many things were left out.. -talking about early member Stu Sutcliffes death -more insight into Brian Epstiens vision when he became manager -dealing with the Beatles in their times and thier relationships with contemporaries (the Rolling Stones, the Beach Boys etc.)
Mick Jagger appears many times throughout the documentary but no mention ever about the 2 bands rivalries which is a compelling part of the story -little talk of the musical progression from the early years through the more complex ablums and how the band got there -absolutley no mention of their relationships with their wives girlfreinds etc. til disc 8 when they couldnt avoid the "Yoko situation" -very little talk of thier song writing progress, weve all heard the songs a million times and loved them..but over 8 dvds some stories about the inspiration for songs or how they came about would have been great..(there are a few, Dear Prudence, Hey Jude..but far too few) -the recording process, no talk of the mess the let it be sessions were and how Phil Spector came in and cleaned things up so to speak -failure to discuss the fact that Let It Be was released after Abbey Road -the breakup, the solos albums, etc..all very much glossed over overall if your a fan id recommend the Anthology, the perforance and news reel footage is great, but it seems like the "story" of the Beatles and their lives is a bit watered down and could have been delved into even more for my money still the best documentary ive seen on the beatles is The Complete Beatles..about 6 hours shorter but for some reason i didnt get much more out of the 81/2 hr Anthology than i did from the Complete Beatles documentary it just seemed because the beatles were the producers some things were skipped over, some things were left out.
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Summary: THE BEST ROCK AND ROLL DVD OF ALL TIME
Review: The Beatles:Anthology in other things, the best rock and roll dvd in my opinion.The brilliant carrer of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr explain everything.In this DVD you find the America reception to the band in 1964(you can find it in more details on the DVD The First US Visit), the Beatles's shows in England in 1963, clips, live shows like the Shea Stadium Concert(In my opinion the best Beatles live show).
I like too the tracks like Revolution(John play the guitar very well).And finaly, this DVD bring the history of the band and in my opinion is very important to know all things about the Beatles.
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Summary: Yeah Yeah Yeah
Review: For a long time I've been wondering if the 1982 documentary "The Compleat Beatles" would ever be released in DVD format...But now that would be moot, for this "Anthology" is the unsurpassable document of the greatest and most influential rock band. The picture, sound quality, and editing are excellent. The band's 1997 comments are witty, insightful, and down-to-earth (of course--it's the Beatles). What can one say about their classiness and humility and professionalism in the face of the current crass and hyper-sensationalistic age? The Beatles were the template for super-rock star success, and if it were an absolutely inevitable phenomenon that someone would be anointed with such fame, it could not have happened to four more worthy people. The "Anthology" story ends with the band's breakup in 1970, without mention of Phil Spector's reworking of the "Let it Be" sessions (which were recently re-released in their original rootsy state, the way the Beatles initially conceived it) nor the death of John Lennon. I was hoping this set would contain the entire live world-satellite performance of "All You Need is Love", and it does...And the Beatles on a Swedish teen pop show 1963 in which the hosts seem bewildered by their two raucous encores...Along with four songs from the premiere Washington DC concert...The original videos for "Rain" and "Ticket to Ride" and segments from the ill-advised "Magical Mystery Tour" which probably haven't been seen in a long time. And a whole lot more. It's full of interesting anecdotes, like for instance that the Beatles were thinking of purchasing a Greek island and establishing an artists' community there around the time of "Sgt. Pepper"...That "Rain" is the first rock song to feature backwards vocals, and "I Feel Fine" the first with deliberate guitar feedback...Et cetera. An essential document for a rock fan.
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