Dom Robinson reviews

Distributed by

Polygram

Cat.no: 058 632 2

Cert: 15

Running time: 175 minutes

Year: 1997

Pressing: 1999

Region(s): 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 (UK PAL)

Chapters: 20 plus extras

Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby Stereo

Languages: English

Subtitles: English

Fullscreen: 4:3

16:9-enhanced: No

Macrovision: Yes

Disc Format: 2 Discs (1 * DVD 9, 1 * DVD 5)

Price: £29.99

Extras : Scene index, band and crew interviews, documentary, behind-the-scenes footage, multi-angle option for three songs, extensive photo gallery, discography, DVD-ROM content, internet website links

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Director:

Wayne Isham

The Band:

Kirk Hammett
James Hetfield
Jason Newsted
Lars Ulrich

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For me though, they came to the fore nearly two years later in April 1989 when One reached No.13. It was a song about the harsh reality of war and what was felt when the worst, apart from death, happens. Taking its cue from the 1971 Dalton Trumbo film, Johnny Got His Gun, it featured a soldier, badly wounded in the war, so much so that he could no longer speak, hear or see...but was still alive. Disabled beyond belief, he still had a mind that was ticking along at 100% but could not express himself ever again. He longed to die so it would give him peace, but how to get his thoughts across to everyone ? If you see the extended promo video to this song, clocking in at nearly eight minutes, it features clips from the film and was released on video in its own right at the time, coming complete with an explanation of the lyrics from drummer Lars Ulrich.

Now I've depressed you all, pick yourself up and give yourself the best reason to spend thirty quid this year.

There are 20 chapters and the track listing is as follows :

1. So What
2. Creeping Death
3. Sad But True
4. Ain't My Bitch
5. Hero of the Day
6. King Nothing
7. One
8. Fuel
9. Bass/Guitar Doodle
10. Nothing Else Matters
11. Until It Sleeps
12. For Whom The Bell Tolls
13. Wherever I May Roam
14. Fade To Black
15. Kill/Ride Medley :

Ride The Lightning
No Remorse
Hit The Lights
The Four Horsemen
Seek & Destroy
Fight Fire With Fire
16. Last Caress
17. Master Of Puppets
18. Enter Sandman
19. Am I Evil ?
20. Motorbreath

The band got confused as to
the purpose of a lighting engineer.

An effervescent set, the one thing this double-disc set could do with is a crystal-clear picture that's completely free of artifacts, allowing the full power of the concert to burst through into your living room. After all, you've just shelled out for the most expensive UK DVD released yet (it comes on two discs: one dual-sided and the other single-sided). Lo and behold, picture-perfection is exactly what you get.

Presented in fullscreen 4:3, I was unable to determine the average bitrate as the information is not available on either disc.

Where would a music DVD be without top-notch sound? Nowhere near my DVD player, that's where, which is why I've had a hard time removing this concert from my player (and my memory), but I can't be blamed for the next door neighbours selling up and moving town as the music wakes up the neighbourhood. The sound is presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 - for those with the requisite equipment - or Dolby Stereo for those without.

Extras :

Chapters :

Languages and Lyrics :

Other extras :

Menu :

Still want more? You're hard to please! How about a fully animated and scored menu which is as easy to use as counting from 1 to 2.

Launching the disc gives you the copyright info, the Polygram logo and then goes straight into the concert.

Firstly a note about the multi-angle feature. If at first it seems like it hasn't worked, that's because it takes a second or two to kick in sometimes. I was still sceptical at first because the camera editing moves so quick that it could be just another quick-cut to the next scene. However, if you 'rewind' the DVD after an angle-change kicks in, this confirms it does work as you're looking at a different piece of footage than that just watched.

Overall, this is the best UK DVD I've ever set eyes on to date and it was a serious omission in the Queen's honours list when all involved in production of this disc were not given a knighthood. If I could add anything else, it would be to include both versions of the One promo video, but to be honest, my cup runneth over several times already.

FILM 	 			: *****
PICTURE QUALITY			: *****
SOUND QUALITY 			: *****
EXTRAS				: *****
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OVERALL				: *****

Review copyright © Dominic Robinson, 1999.