A look at the special edition DVD of Queen's "We Will Rock You"
10-30-01, 08:34 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2000
Posts: 386
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
A look at the special edition DVD of Queen's "We Will Rock You"
The special edition DVD of "We Will Rock You" is now available in America. Here is a review;
First off, the packaging is new. Instead of that generic silhouette of Freddie, the new DVD has a very nice shot of the band on stage.
The tracklisting is identical to the previous DVD release.
Putting in the disc we see a nice animated menu with Queen playing in the background.
Starting off with the video/audio presentation...
The film is presented in anamorphic widescreen finally giving fans the chance to see the film in it's intended ratio. Afterall, the film was originally shot for an IMAX type show on a 5 story tall screen.
This is a completely NEW video transfer, this time in high-definition. The differences between this DVD and all previous home video releases are very noticable. The new DVD shows so much more detail, the clarity in some shots was stunning. It also gave much more depth to the lighting Queen used on stage. All specs of dirt, scratches, hair, etc were removed. This is the BEST "We Will Rock You" has ever looked.
The audio is a new Dolby Digital 5.1 mix and again, it's something to behold. You will never hear a better sounding Brian May guitar solo, the mix is that good. (There is also a seperate DTS release of the disc for those that have DTS receivers.)
Concerning the extras, there is a informative audio commentary track by the film's director, Saul Swimmer. He shares plenty of anecdotes such as how the members of Queen insisted on screening the film seperate from each other, that Roger poked fun at the way Freddie held his hands at the piano and how Brian basically ignored all the cameras insisting that his performance was for the fans at the concert and nothing else. One odd thing Swimmer said was calling Queen a "cult band". They were coming off their biggest success ever in North America at the time and that equals cult status?
There is an extremely easy Queen trivia quiz to play (though there are some mistakes as calling "The Loser in the End" simply "The Loser" but these are minor quibbles.)
Also included are bios of the band and for each seperate member. You can also check out a Queen discography, complete with album covers, tracklistings and how they did in the charts (they only refered to the UK charts for some reason.)
Then there is a virtual tour of Queen landmarks in England where you take a subway to each location (such as Kensington Market, the Queen fan club, etc) all the while hearing subway announcements like 'please watch your step' which made it fun.
All in all this is a no-brainer purchase, even if you own the previously released DVD. The new widescreen hi-def transfer and audio mix is worth it alone.
First off, the packaging is new. Instead of that generic silhouette of Freddie, the new DVD has a very nice shot of the band on stage.
The tracklisting is identical to the previous DVD release.
Putting in the disc we see a nice animated menu with Queen playing in the background.
Starting off with the video/audio presentation...
The film is presented in anamorphic widescreen finally giving fans the chance to see the film in it's intended ratio. Afterall, the film was originally shot for an IMAX type show on a 5 story tall screen.
This is a completely NEW video transfer, this time in high-definition. The differences between this DVD and all previous home video releases are very noticable. The new DVD shows so much more detail, the clarity in some shots was stunning. It also gave much more depth to the lighting Queen used on stage. All specs of dirt, scratches, hair, etc were removed. This is the BEST "We Will Rock You" has ever looked.
The audio is a new Dolby Digital 5.1 mix and again, it's something to behold. You will never hear a better sounding Brian May guitar solo, the mix is that good. (There is also a seperate DTS release of the disc for those that have DTS receivers.)
Concerning the extras, there is a informative audio commentary track by the film's director, Saul Swimmer. He shares plenty of anecdotes such as how the members of Queen insisted on screening the film seperate from each other, that Roger poked fun at the way Freddie held his hands at the piano and how Brian basically ignored all the cameras insisting that his performance was for the fans at the concert and nothing else. One odd thing Swimmer said was calling Queen a "cult band". They were coming off their biggest success ever in North America at the time and that equals cult status?
There is an extremely easy Queen trivia quiz to play (though there are some mistakes as calling "The Loser in the End" simply "The Loser" but these are minor quibbles.)
Also included are bios of the band and for each seperate member. You can also check out a Queen discography, complete with album covers, tracklistings and how they did in the charts (they only refered to the UK charts for some reason.)
Then there is a virtual tour of Queen landmarks in England where you take a subway to each location (such as Kensington Market, the Queen fan club, etc) all the while hearing subway announcements like 'please watch your step' which made it fun.
All in all this is a no-brainer purchase, even if you own the previously released DVD. The new widescreen hi-def transfer and audio mix is worth it alone.
10-31-01, 11:50 AM
#2
The previous version was garbage
I'm not sure I trust this review. The original DVD was easily the worst concert DVD I've ever heard or seen. Horrible picture , incredibly bad sound.
10-31-01, 12:11 PM
#3
DVD Talk Special Edition
Join Date: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,545
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: The previous version was garbage
Originally posted by cungar
The original DVD was easily the worst concert DVD I've ever heard or seen. Horrible picture , incredibly bad sound.
The original DVD was easily the worst concert DVD I've ever heard or seen. Horrible picture , incredibly bad sound.
10-31-01, 01:37 PM
#4
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2000
Posts: 386
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: The previous version was garbage
Originally posted by cungar
I'm not sure I trust this review. The original DVD was easily the worst concert DVD I've ever heard or seen. Horrible picture , incredibly bad sound.
I'm not sure I trust this review. The original DVD was easily the worst concert DVD I've ever heard or seen. Horrible picture , incredibly bad sound.
It's a RE-ISSUE with a NEW HIGH DEFINTION TRANSFER so it does NOT look the same as the previous DVD. The sound has been REMIXED for a NEW 5.1 soundtrack.
I don't get what you're saying, just because the previous edition was "bad", that means a new re-issue cannot possibly be an improvement?
11-01-01, 11:08 AM
#5
No offense intended, it's just that the original print is so bad, I have a hard time believing they could make something out of it. I believe your impressions are honest, I just don't want to be dissapointed if I have to buy it again. It was a great concert but the picture and sound are just horrendous on the original. Is the picture brighter and clearer. Is the sound really comparable to any current music DVDs?
11-01-01, 12:08 PM
#6
DVD Talk Platinum Edition
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: The sprawling metropolis of Manassas Park, VA USA
Posts: 3,616
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Does the DTS version have all the same features as the DD version? Can anyone confirm?? Bad enough that the DTS version costs $3 more... 
11-01-01, 02:02 PM
#7
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2000
Posts: 386
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally posted by cungar
No offense intended, it's just that the original print is so bad, I have a hard time believing they could make something out of it. I believe your impressions are honest, I just don't want to be dissapointed if I have to buy it again. It was a great concert but the picture and sound are just horrendous on the original. Is the picture brighter and clearer. Is the sound really comparable to any current music DVDs?
No offense intended, it's just that the original print is so bad, I have a hard time believing they could make something out of it. I believe your impressions are honest, I just don't want to be dissapointed if I have to buy it again. It was a great concert but the picture and sound are just horrendous on the original. Is the picture brighter and clearer. Is the sound really comparable to any current music DVDs?
If you thought the old one sucks, you won't be disappointed with the "special edition".
11-01-01, 03:45 PM
#8
Banned
Join Date: Jun 1999
Posts: 482
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I was under the impression that IMAX films couldn't be presented in widescreen without either cropping the image or severe distortion along the edges. Or was the movie not actually shot in IMAX?
11-01-01, 11:03 PM
#9
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2000
Posts: 386
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally posted by Josh Martin
I was under the impression that IMAX films couldn't be presented in widescreen without either cropping the image or severe distortion along the edges. Or was the movie not actually shot in IMAX?
I was under the impression that IMAX films couldn't be presented in widescreen without either cropping the image or severe distortion along the edges. Or was the movie not actually shot in IMAX?
