Remember That Night [DVD] [2007]

Musical Production 5 StarsAudio Production 5 StarsVideo Production 2 StarsVideo Quality 0 Stars - Crap!Average 3 Stars.Viewed using a Sony Blu Ray 300 Player and Mitsubishi 1080p projector with approx 84" screen diagonal.As somebody who has been a fan of Pink Floyd since they visited my University in 1968, when I was a student, and have learnt David's guitar solo in Comfortably Numb (thanks Total Guitar!) for my own enjoyment I feel I am entitled to express my utter disgust at the video quality of this production.But first let me say that David, his guests, the musicians and his audio crew have done a fantastic job and I enjoyed the Blu Ray DVD when I closed my eyes. No Pink Floyd fan could possibly be disappointed by the music and audio production. I am envious of those who had the opportunity to see the concert live; it must have been a fabulous experience.So what's wrong with the video then?Just about everything you could imagine.There are several cameras that should never have had their power switched on but instead they should have been thrown in the nearest skip. The camera in the choir directly behind David and the one in the gallery directly in front have so much visual noise on them that you have the impression you are watching through a very dirty window when the director switches to them. There are several other cameras with the same problem. It is very obvious when the director does a cross fade from one of these cameras to a different, quieter, camera. Same light level, same image; this is an example of an appalling video production. I am not surprised that the name of the video production company doesn't appear anywhere on the credits.There are several cases where the camera shots of David are hugely over exposed, not as some form of special effect because if it was, the director wouldn't cut to a correctly exposed camera and back again. Either the director or the camera engineer should be hung, drawn and quartered.The director had to be using a small monitor, because tight shots of a hand strumming guitar strings don't work on an HD 84" display; they just make you feel nauseous. The director has yet to learn that on high resolution images you have to let the subject's movements and the viewer's eyes do much more of the work. He should go watch a 70mm IMAX film. He'd learn something.... and I hate being constantly distracted by the director's ego; this is a concert not a video clip or a trailer.There are times when the director thinks that he is more important than the show he is supposed to be presenting, cutting camera sources so wildly that you have no idea what the actual visual effect on stage was supposed to be.Hello! I didn't buy this Blu Ray to see what an immature clown the director was, I bought it to see David Gilmour's production. ( Just as some journalists today seem to feel they have an obligation not just to report news but to create news, directors like this one seem to feel that their manic antics somehow benfit the production. Here's a message to the director. They don't! )I watched the Led Zeppelin, The Song Remains The Same, Blu Ray, before this one. At no time did I remember being distracted by the quality of this 1976 production; I only remembered enjoying it. So I went back and took a second look at the Led Zepplin Blu Ray and sure enough, there was very little noise (film grain) and no unintended over-exposure and consistent image quality regardless of which camera was being used in the Madison Square Garden production. In 1976 this could only have been made on film stock. The fact that a 1976 production, that has sat in the film cans for more than thirty years, was visual superior to a 2006 HD video production is a damning condemnation of the video production company responsible for this garbage.Would I recommend somebody to buy this Blu Ray? No. Buy the regular DVD and watch it on a standard definition TV or a laptop. Viewing it on anything bigger than this will just disappoint. If you feel compelled to buy the Blu Ray and view it on anything bigger than a regular 20" TV then be prepared to feel that it would have been better to have draped a muslin cheese cloth over the screen so that the complete show would have the same crappy, but consistent, image quality.

good product with great musicians with soul

I finally managed to watch this title last night having at last got a Region A Blu-Ray Player (See my review of the US Import)Without a doubt the content is simply stunning!My only criticism of this title as a product is the price! Its double that of the US version and for a British gig in a British venue performed by British musicians it does make you wonder why we have to pay rather more than our American cousins do?The first half consists of a few old favourites from Side 1 of Dark Side of the Moon, all performed with the sort of perfection one would expect from musicians of this calibre. Next we are treated to David Gilmour's very well received solo work, On an Island. I for one really like it although its a gentle work in the main and not everybody's cup of tea, I grant you.The second half is mostly old Floyd tracks including an absolutely fantastic live performance of Echoes. David Gilmour and the late Richard Wright are in their element here and clearly enjoying themselves. It really is a sublime performance that will delight any Floyd fan.Another stunning track is the Crosby, Nash & Gilmour performance of Find the Cost of Freedom. The three voices produce wonderful harmonies that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up, it is THAT good!Some have criticised the video quality on the Blu-Ray and to be fair the long shots lack contrast and are awash with noise. Close-ups though are vibrant and crisp so although its not perfect, when its good, its very good.If you are a Floyd fan and are not a rabid David Gilmour hating Roger Waters fan boy, this title is a worthy addition to your collection.NOTE: Please note that my review is made for the Region B Blu-ray, not a DVD. I point this out to clarify references to video quality and costs versus US versions.

The accompanying documentary on the second disk is a joy to watch. We see all 4 floyds at one point or another. Roger and David find themselves occupying the same studio for rehersals for competing tours. So we see them briefly reunite for smalltalk before heading off in separate directions. All seems amicable enough. But you sense the continuing competition between the two performers is still alive and well. Indeed the packaging includes article cuttings from newspapers proclaiming David as the clear victor in that particular battle. Not that you get too much of a feeling of competitive edge from David himself. He seems altogether very chilled and laid back with his wife taking pics of everything the whole time. The documentary gives a good insight into the loving relationship between David and Polly. It's all rather nice.Nick Mason pops up in the tour footage now and then but he doesnt say anything unfortunately. Rick Wright playing Saucerful of secrets on the Royal Albert Hall organ is fascinating stuff. He seems to really relish the opportunity! In fact Rick Wright turns out to have a bit of a starring role in both the show and the documentary. There is clearly a very strong relationship between the 'musical half' of the Floyd.The documentary is worht the price alone - clocking in at over two hours. Backstage footage, beutiful scenery and jovial chat. Sometimes reminiscant of the Pompeii movie - especially when they play an old ampitheatre of all things.The main disc is standard concert stuff, excellently filmed with stunning sound. Again, the band all seem to be thoroughly enjoying themselves. The set-list is fantastic, some great takes on oldies like Echoes. At £11 or whatever it is, you wont be disappointed.