View Larger Image

Kiss - Symphony: The DVD Actor: Kiss Number of Items: 2 Format: Color Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated) Running Time: 180 minutes Studio: Bmg Distribution (VI Product Group: DVD Release Date: 2003-09-09 Buy from Amazon

Customer Reviews: Total numer of reviews: 88 Average rating: 3.5 "Would be 5 stars if camera didn't change every 3 seconds" Music is great, behind the scenes stuff is fantastic, but the concert video is totally ruined by horrible video editing. The camera angle changes every 3 seconds and many times you can't even focus on that 3 seconds of video because the cameras are constantly panning, rotating or zooming. Also, it's nice to see audience shots every now and then, but on this DVD I think you see the audience at least 25% of the time if not more...so much in fact that there are a few audience members who should probably get royalty checks from sales of this DVD. It's sad that such a great show has been made nearly unwatchable by amateurish video editing. Act 3 is on the DVD's twice too...you think they could have put on a different version that didn't make you dizzy watching it. ""Take aspirin for any headache...midol for any cramps"" I agree with Robert from Plano. When I paid $27 for this yesterday, I didnt know 12 of that was to see the first 20 rows of obnoxious fans, and the rest to actually see the band we love. Dont get me wrong, I love seeing hot girls in the audience, but having a closeup of every assclown in the crowd is rediculous, especially during "Deuce." I guess the director figured he had to use all 45 camera angles in every song. The best thing about concert dvds is that you feel like you are there, but this video was made like it was to be shown on MTV. Now, that I got that off my chest, I'll talk about the positives. THe sound is awesome, the picture is perfect, and the special features are worth the buy alone. It is still a must buy for any KISS fan. Its just disappointing when you wait years for something like this to come out, and its not perfect. Oh well. "A Full Length Kiss Concert At Long Last" Finally a full length live DVD release from probably the most visual band in rock history. There are two DVD's included with Disc 2 containing an entire full length Kiss Concert filmed in February, 2003 in front of 40,000 wildly enthusiastic fans in Melbourne, Australia. The concert is presented on Disc 2 in three Acts with Act 3 repeated on Disc 1 following an informative documentary on the preparation for the show including the band's rehearsals with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (MSO). Act 1 is the four band members (Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Peter Criss, and Tommy Thayer doing a good job filling Ace Freley's shoes) in full make up performing six Kiss classics (See listing below). Act 2 is an semi acoustic set with a string ensemble from the MSO and Act 3 is Kiss on stage with the full MSO. As far as the positives, the 5.1 sound mix is superb and the video quality is excellent. Kiss is in full makeup with the full stage show Kiss fans have come to expect. All songs are presented uncut and the band performs as well as they ever have although they did seem a little nervous at the beginning of Act 3 when they began playing Detroit Rock City with the full MSO. This quickly changed however and the band settled in to perform a tremendous show. A particular highlight of Act 3 was Kiss performing Great Expectations from the Destroyer Album with The Australian Children's Choir. The only real negatives were that the video director seemed intent on constantly using all 45 camera angles available and sometimes the angles changed so rapidly as to become somewhat overwhelming. There also may have been a few too many crowd shots although seeing how enthusiastic the crowd was did add to the visual presentation. Overall I think this a really good live video release and I would encourage all Kiss fans to buy this along with anyone wanting to see one of the best live musical acts in the world. Here is the Track Listing: Act One Deuce Strutter Let Me Go Rock and Roll Lick It Up Calling Dr. Love Psycho Circus Act Two Beth Forever Goin' Blind Sure Know Something Shandi Act Three Detroit Rock City King of the Night Time World Do You Love Me Great Expectations Shout It Out Loud God of Thunder Love Gun I Was Made For Loving You Black Diamond Rock and Roll All Nite "Impossible to watch entire 1 hour 52 minutes at once" The video editing is horrible for this otherwise outstanding show. The camera view changes every 2 to 3 seconds making it nearly impossible to watch the 3 act show from beginning to end. One song in this camera style would have been cool, but the video is ruined when it contiues for the entire 1:52. The repeat of act 3 on both disks is not needed. The sound is outstanding! I just pop it in my DVD player and listen to the show in DTS and leave the TV off. "Excellent music, third rate video" First off, this is the best live performance Kiss has ever put out. The music absolutely buries Alives 1-3, Unplugged, and Animalize Live Uncensored. The band is in absolute best form. Unfortunately, the video looks as though it was edited by George Lucas on PCP. The camera angles change so frequently that your eyes rarely get to focus on the screen, and there are these computerized zooms across the audience that drive me up a wall. Also, the Gene Simmons bass solo is ruined by some over-gaining effect on the camera that buries the guy in some overbright greenish glow. Overall, the best live release by Kiss ever, just don't expect much visual enjoyment.