Rating: 
Summary: Icy Magic
Review: This DVD should please fans of the Icelandic pop goddesses quirky videos. It's basically the whole of the original 'Volumen' with newer videos from the 'Vespertine' era and two previously unreleased clips.
Personally, I still feel that Bjork's music is complimented best by the work of French director Michel Gondry, who helms classic videos like 'Human Nature' and 'Bachelorette.' Most of the newer vids have an interesting visual impact, but lack the childlike magic of the earlier works. As a cutting edge leader in the worlds of art, music, and fashion, it seems that Bjork herself is an entirely necessary component to each of her videos as well. The new track, 'Nature is Ancient,' suffers from a rather dull video treatment, due largely to the fact that the singer is nowhere to be seen in the piece. Still, this DVD is a musical must-have, both for rabid fans and the more casual Bjork listener alike.
Rating: 
Summary: A Work of Art
Review: This is a definite MUST-HAVE for any Björk fan, hardcore or not. If you love her music, her personality, or just appreciate good art, this collection is for you. I bought the imported version because I couldn't wait for the U.S. release, but despite the steep price (probably triple the cost of the local one), I was not disappointed.There are 21 breathtaking videos from Debut, Post, Homogenic, Vespertine, and three bonuses (two new songs, one from a movie soundtrack), with the three videos from Vespertine available in 5.1 audio format-a heightened experience, all encased in a gorgeous crystal clear case. Human Behavior-a cute parody of sorts; giant teddy bear on the loose!
Venus as a Boy-vibrant and colorful; eggs take center stage
Play Dead-Björk looking strangely normal; clips from the movie weaved throughout
Big Time Sensuality-black and white and somewhat grainy; Björk dancing giddily on a platform of a moving truck in what looks like New York City with the camera on a fixed angle
Violently Happy-insane asylum disco chic; Björk and her model-looking friends cut hair, rip teddy bears, shave heads
Army of Me-Björk drives a tank, wrestles a gorilla, bombs a museum
Isobel-a black and white epic of a video, controlled lighting, fluid quality, superimposed images on a nature-like setting
It's Oh So Quiet-directed by Spike Jonze; set in sleepy suburbia with synchronized citizens and a dancing mailbox
Hyperballad-a very layered video; Björk's face, lights, and superimposed objects appeare in sync with the beeps and beats of the song-a kind of dizzying flurry of images
Possibly Maybe-Björk in multiple characters and settings-as an apparition in white, sensuously eating a watermelon, sporting an afro, in a bathtub filled with milk, tinted in blue with neon accents, etc...a sexy video
I Miss You-animated by the makers of Ren and Stimpy; Björk looking like a punk resident of Bedrock...weird usage of condoms
Joga-computer generated images of landscapes (I'm guessing Iceland); very pretty with a heartwarming ending
Bachelorette-Björk finds a book that writes itself...brings her to the big city to have a little taste of fame-with dire consequences; colorful and engaging
Hunter-a bald and beautiful Björk on a stark white backdrop; her strange transformation is compelling to watch
Alarm Call-though among crocodiles, snakes, and piranhas, Björk looks the most savage of them all
All is Full of Love-one of the best videos, two androids in a cold metal setting show that love and warmth can be found anywhere; the milk was genius
Hidden Place-with the camera inches from her face, Björk doesn't shy away from the scrutiny; various computer-rendered fluids flow from her orifices
Pagan Poetry-a risqué video that complements the vibe of the song; Björk is in an eye-popping gown, with pearls sewn in the unlikeliest of places...the last scene is quite painful to watch
Cocoon-a brilliant work of art done in three colors-black, white, and red; Björk sings and moves inhumanly while looking fragile at the same time; unforgettable
It's in Our Hands-shot with what looks like night-vision goggles; giant plants and bugs tower over a pregnant Björk
Nature is Ancient-almost looks like a documentary of the growth of a fetus, Björk is nowhere to be seen! (hmm...) I've had this DVD for several months now, and I still watch it regularly. Björk proves that she is the most unique, most innovative, fearless, provocative, and creative artist ever. These are some of the best videos you'll ever come across.
Rating:
Summary: Bjork is the Queen of Modern Videos!
Review: This is the essential collection of Bjork and her video genius! Aside from Madonna, it is hard to name another artist who has used the music video movement to shape their artistry and expand the limits of the norm. It is hard to choose a favorite Bjork video, since they are all so magnificent and finely crafted. I'd have to say "Bachlorette" is the tops, though. The play within a play within a play concept really captures your attention and doesn't let go. Honorable mentions go to "Possibly Maybe" (beautiful, rich colors), "All Is Full of Love" (ahead of its time), "Army of Me" (outrageous scenery/props), "Pagan Poetry" (dirty lil Bjork getting pierced and masking sex acts into linear animation), "I Miss You" (Bjork vs. Looney Tunes!) and of course "Human Behavior." If you are even slightly interested in Bjork's music, then this will blow you away!
Rating:
Summary: A Stunning Collection
Review: What a wonderful collection of videos from such a special artist. This is the newest version of Volumen with all of Bjork's music videos, along with two new ones from her Best Of album. The night vision photography on "It's In Our Hands" makes Bjork look particularly youthful and vibrant (yes, even for her). I'm trying to think which ones on here are not quite as artistically masterful as the others, but I'm pretty much at a loss. Watching this all the way through puts me in a perpetual state of bliss and wonderment. My only complaint is that the video mastering doesn't seem very consistent in spots. The brightness and hue levels seem to be slightly different between several of the shorts. "It's Oh So Quiet" is extremely out of wack, with contrast levels that aren't correct at all. I know the aperture of the lens was stopped down for the down tempo moments in the piece and then back up for the chorus each time, but the overall settings are very hot and overly saturated like the telecine to digital transfer was all off, or something. I have a Muchmusic Spotlight collection on VHS and it actually looks more natural on the tape than on this DVD. I also don't recall my DVD, which just arrived a few days ago, having a PAL side. I'm wondering if I received a discontinued first issue of the 2003 version of Volumen. Possibly these quirks have been fixed. Maybe the rest of you can let me know. The sound quality is first rate, though, really showing off what kind of extension and transparency the lowly Dolby Digital is capable of. The more I hear of DTS the more I think Spielberg just wanted his own standard he wouldn't have to pay licensing fees for. Does every DTS disk have the bass boosted just to fool us into thinking it's more extended in the nether regions? And to those who have asked why all the videos are not in 5.1: it's because Vespertine was mixed in 5.1 for its high-end format DVD-Audio release in Europe. So essentially you are getting the best version of each song on this collection. They didn't specially mix any of the tracks for this DVD, and I would neither expect nor want them to.
Rating:
Summary: Completely Satisfied
Review: Whether you're a new Bjork listener or a devoted fan, you're going to be pleased. This is one of the best video collections I own. In fact, of all the videos, there is only one I didn't enjoy: Play Dead. Everything else on here is really, really good. I especially enjoy the later videos like Cocoon, It's in Our Hands, Hunter, and All is Full of Love. Some of the earlier videos by Michael Gondry are somewhat dated, but charming. Highly reccomended.
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