Shine a Light (2008)

Shine A Light - Rolling Stones

The DVD was shipped promly and arrived seven days before it was supposed too. It was packaged properly and it was in excellent codition. I would definitely buy another product from Amazon. November 26, 2008

exciting

Never a dull moment with this video, which is not surprising considering who made it. Loved seeing the filmaker throughout, and enjoyed the backstage moments. It's a keeper all right. November 26, 2008

Satisfaction Indeed

This film begins with a farcical look at preparations for the upcoming Beacon Theatre show in New York but once the Stones storm the stage it's all about the music. From the opening notes of Jumping Jack Flash it's clear this music is in their blood. Whether it's Ronny's machine gunning the audience with the neck of his guitar. Or, the anger in Mick's face when he burst on stage ripping into Jumping Jack Flash, everything about this band says "let's go!"
While it's mostly lesser known '70's era songs, there are the '60's classics as well. Sadly, the most recent release is '83's "She was Hot", with Ms. Lisa Fischer and Mick gyrating wildly to this song. It's much better live.
The three cameos are good. Jack White is adequate. But it's Buddy Guy and Christina Aguilera stealing the show. During Guy's cameo, "Champagne and Reefer", we see Keith and Buddy's duelling guitar act. Then, Ronnie on third guitar and Mick on harmonica, all four legends standing in a circle, toe to toe tearing the house down. Ms. Aguilera surprisingly belts out the duet on "Live with Me" that should make any queen of soul proud.
The Beacon Theatres' intimacy is magnified during "Far Away Eyes", when Keith botches the lyrics and a fan ribs him. He laughs back "Shut up". Fans should watch for several instances of clever reworking of some lyrics. The preacher in Far Away Eyes now asks for twenty dollars, up from ten. Inflation I guess.
Martin Scorese's best known rock documentary is "The Last Waltz". It was the final performance of Dylan's former touring band, "The Band" in 1976. His latest foray into rock documentaries is a resounding success. He does a wonderful job interweaving obscure ancient clips of interviews and performances of the Stones, bringing perspective to their amazing longevity.
The last song of the encore is "Satisfaction". Near the end it sounds as if Charlie is about to lift the song onto a new level and continue to rock on, but it turns out to be a classy way to end a classic. Satisfaction indeed. November 23, 2008

Ya gotta admire these guys' energy ...

... but geez, they're looking OLD. Mick Jagger was born the same year I was, and he has ten times the energy I do, but I have to say their act is getting a bit tired. As others have noted, this is an "oldies" concert, with nary a new song in the mix. Mick's duets with Buddy Guy and Christina Aguilera add a bit of freshness, and Keith Richards' uncanny resemblance to Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp reportedly based his character on Richards) is entertaining as well. A fun time overall.

November 20, 2008

Solarized Mick

one notably good movie I've seen lately, on Blu-ray. Martin Scorsese's "Shine a Light" filming of some live Rolling Stones concerts is not only great, good music, but one of the best examples of the possibilities of HD 1080p TV and Blu-ray. Mick Jagger (and Ron Wood) look like gargoyles. Mick is amazingly thin and spry for some one who is 65 years old, if memory serves, and bounces all over the stage, like he did in his twenties . Keith Richards looks like a zombie undead superannuated version of Captain Jack Sparrow. Charlie Watts, who must be nearly 70, looks the youngest of the lot. Guest Christine Aguilera and sings and jumps around in the highest pair of spike heeled boots I've ever seen a woman be able to stand on - must be 6-7 inch heels? While she looks sweet, she shrieks the lyrics. The music in the film, despite the guests, is better better when Jagger sings alone.

Intercut in this is parts of a mid `60's interview with Jagger and the Stones, like Scorsese used in his definitive Dylan documentary "No Direction Home"!

Buddy Guy helps Mick sing the Muddy Waters anti-cocaine blues song "Champagne and Reefer". Unfortunately, Guy shots the lyrics, overload the mike and makes the anti-cocaine unintelligible.

The music is, of course, quite good, loud and the Blu-Ray sound will test the limits of your sound system.

But the most amazing thing is the video effects, the huge array of high intensity lights and strobe lights which Scorsese shoots off repeatedly and uses to backlight and then solarize Mick Jagger to a complete white.
This is what Blu-Ray can do!

If you have Blu-ray and HD, this is really a demonstration DVD!



November 20, 2008

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