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Led Zeppelin - The Song Remains the Same Actors: John Bonham, John Paul Jones, Jimmy Page, Robert Plant Directors: Peter Clifton, Joe Massot Number of Items: 1 Picture Format: Anamorphic Widescreen Format: Color, Dolby, Widescreen Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested) Running Time: 136 minutes Studio: Warner Studios Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Region Code: 1 Product Group: DVD Release Date: 1999-12-21 Buy from Amazon |
 ""The Most Expesive Home Movie Ever Made"..Peter Grant."Potential viewers shouldn't be deterred by pointless and ridiculous commentaries of seemingly short-attention-spanned reviewers who like other bands anyway and shouldn't bother writing about Led Zeppelin.This movie was meant to present the four individuals of the band in a collective context,therefore each group memeber is showcased in the live footage and in a fantasy sequence.The original three-hour concert is not fully used,instead relevant parts where interwoven with off-stage scenes,hence creating a closer outlook on each individual.Jimmy Page is featured on 'Dazed And Confused'(where he plays a sort of warlock),Robert Plant on the "double header" 'Song Remains/Rain Song'(with an Arthurian character),John Bonham on 'Moby Dick'(he preferred an honest,family-and-friends environment) and John Paul Jones on 'No Quarter'(presenting himself as a man with two faces,one as a musician and one as a"pater familias").The live footage is superb and so is the playing.Critics of the era always stated the difference between the heavily orchestrated studio versions and the four-piece live arragements,often calling them "thin";their gullable readers trusted this assumptions and not their ears,and the accusation is present to this day.I'm not old enough to have seen Led Zeppelin Live but I have read such articles and I do trust my ears and you can trust yours by listening to this DVD,its soundtrack,the Led Zeppelin DVD and 'How The West Was Won' on CD,you'll be able to tell if live Led Zeppelin is worthy of the legend they created.The marvellous renditions of 'Since I've Been Loving You','Stairway','No Quarter',the title track,'Dazed','Heartbreaker/Whole Lotta Love' and the sheer power of the band on stage in '73 are enough reasons to purchase this DVD.There's a criticism by someone who claims to have seen Zeppelin in '77,if you want to experience the awesome power of the band in '77 go to the Led Zeppelin DVD,on disc two select promos and the menu is a bootleg recording of the June 21st concert at the L.A. Forum with accompanying bootleg footage(from Birmingham and NY),listen an marvel at it(the picture is not very good but the audio is excellent,that is why it was relegated to a menu feature).The only drawbacks in the movie are the re-enacment of some bits-mostly close-ups(Page had to struggle with gaps in the footage to match with the audio) that are only apparent by very close inspection.Also the audio editting suffers somewhat when matching,almost by force,some scenes.This does not occur on the soundtrack where such limitations where not imposed by the lack of visuals.Also the output of the DVD is not as loud as the Led Zeppelin DVD,but the '76 mixing work is outstanding.Another inhibiting factor is that the fantasy sequences are shown during some instrumentals,and songs like 'Over The Hills',although played at this concerts of July '73 when the shooting of the film took place,were discarded.This DVD is a great remnant of the Led Zeppelin experience.Miss it at your own risk. "The Song Remains The Same................."This is one of Led Zeppelin's biggest concerts recorded at Madison Square Garden 1973. This DVD takes you through a great concert, showing group memebers at home, and in fantasy settings. Robert Plant really was at the top with his powerful raw vocals as well as Jimmy Page's guitar solo's that just rocked. Bonham's moby dick is just incrediable, and John Paul John's keyboard, and bass playing is smoothe. Their are so many classic tunes on "The Song Remains The Same" including Rock N Roll, Black Dog, Since I've Been Loving You, No Quarter, The Song Remains The Same, Dazed And Confused, Stairway To Heaven, Mody Dick, Heartbreaker, and Whole Lotta Love. This is a must have for the MUSIC FAN!! Highly Recomended!!  "INTERMINABLE"I bought a CD some time back called Encomium, which was a compilation of tributes to Led Zeppelin's music. I heard it once, barely scraping to the last number. The nauseating monotony of that supposedly iconic anthology is on display in this drone of a DVD as well. Jimmy Page whooshes, Bob Plant moans, JPJ tinkers around with jazz-like riffs, and Bonham squeak-shrieks for about quarter of an hour, followed by about five minutes of audience cheers, of which you wouldnt want to miss a second, would you. Video-wise, during these shrieks we see dawdly 'fantasy' sequences, with some backstage interludes, where we get to see their acrimonious manager trying on his backend "hip" and gleefully abusing stadium employees. Not my definition of a "documentary". Not my definition of anything else either for that matter, with the possible exception of Stairway to Heaven.  "Still a Fun Watch"Not so long ago, it could be said that this was the only official Zeppelin video available. With the release of the untitled Led Zeppelin DVD, however, that's no longer the case. Because of that, this particular video can now be enjoyed without having to worry about the documentary or "dream sequences" getting in the way of the live performance. The live performance is pretty good, but, sadly, sounds somewhat sloppy and rushed in comparison to the wealth of material on the new DVD. Plant's voice even breaks unbecomingly at several points during a rather strained performance of "The Song Remains the Same." And the "dream sequences"? Oddly enough, I find them kooky & charming, and they're actually the reason I still like this video. I--and many others, I'm certain--am particularly fond of the sight of the late, great John Bonham puttering about his farm and of Plant playing with his late son, Karac. There's something very melancholic about it, and I, at least, see no problem with that. Approach only if you're a die-hard Zeppelin fan up for a bit of [Viking] fun, and if you've already gotten your hands on the new DVD and are, therefore, open to said [Viking] fun. "Sweet..Every Zep fan needs it"Its mind blwing...the visuals are awesome and the music is even better...i wish i grew up through the led zeppelin era....classic hits such as black dog and rock and roll and tons of others...jimmy page is the greatest guitarist the world has seen...his solo in dazed and confused is mind blwoing and amazing.....its a must buy |
