Awesome, I Shot That

First, let me start by saying this: if you're not already a fan of the Beastie Boys, this DVD is not going to convert you. Usually, that kind of statement is a cop-out reserved for defending a poor live performance, but in this case, it simply is what it is. If you're one of those people who either A) doesn't like hip-hop, or B) doesn't like "doo-doo rhymes" (elaborately constructed rhymes consisting of ridiculous non-sequiturs, Dada surrealism, and absurdist goofiness delivered for the sole purpose of putting a big, stupid grin on your face), you are never going to like the Beastie Boys...ever. And when you see the manic energy of both the crowd and the boys themselves, as well as the reciprocal love, you're simply going to wonder what all of the fuss is about. I'm not about to give you any of that "You have to see them live" business that die-hards will often trot out to defend lackluster albums. Seeing them live won't change anything. You either like the Beasties or you don't. Period. End of discussion.

That said, on to the DVD itself. Quite simply, this is what Beastie Boys fans have been waiting on for a long time: a full-length concert. Why it has taken so long is anybody's guess, but that may actually be a good thing - now that they have so many great songs (many of which are bona-fide hits) to chose from, the set list is a lot fuller than it might have been at an earlier point in their career. Oddly, their biggest hits are MIA; they're obviously so sick to death of "Fight For Your Right to Party" and "No Sleep `Til Brooklyn" that they're apparently refusing to play them anymore. For some people, this will be a deal-breaker; but that's too bad, because they honestly aren't missed. And the rest of the playlist is superb. Now on to the specifics:

Audio: This is a soundboard recording with a full, well-defined 5.1 mix. This is live hip-hop, so don't go in expecting chamber music, but it sounds good to me, and I consider myself an audiophile.

Video: This is where there is going to be the most controversy. In one corner you have the older generation of performance footage fans who grew up watching "videos" of `50's, `60's, and `70's artists playing live. At that time, there were typically three cameras: one at stage right, one at center stage, and one at stage left. The center stage camera did most of the work, and the pans were long, the cuts infrequent, and the fades slow. If you grew up in this generation, chances are you're not into the Beastie Boys, but if you're one of those rare exceptions of boomers who listen to hip-hop, chances are even greater that you're still going to hate watching this DVD. In fact, there are going to be children of the `80's who can't watch this performance. This kind of video style (literally more cuts and pans per second than most older footage has per minute) is geared for a generation that possesses, in the words of Dennis Miller, "the attention-span of a ferret on a double-espresso." And if you have any adverse reactions (epilepsy, etc.) to strobe lights, this DVD is out of the question. But I personally think they made the right choice. As my girlfriend and I were watching this show, we were amazed at how the DVD captured the energy of the live performance itself better than most DVDs we've seen, and I honestly don't think that could have been achieved with a more traditional style. I also like the fact that they mixed in hand-held Super-8 camcorder footage (a la Blair Witch) with professional filming equipment; again, it added to the rough, live feel of the show. Finally, some people may not like the fact that the concert cuts away to follow people getting beer, going to the restroom, etc., but it really puts you there, and the way it's edited, you don't really miss any of the show. They even follow the Beastie Boys around between the final song of the regular set and the encore. In case you've ever wondered what bands do during those minutes, at least with the Beastie Boys, now you know (mainly a lot of running).

I've seen the Beastie Boys twice, and this is as close as you can get to what it's like actually being there. Overall, if you're a fan, this DVD is not merely recommended; it is essential.

For years now, Beastie Boys fans have craved a new DVD. In response, "Awesome, I Shot That" is a grand slam. This 2004 concert shows the Beastie Boys at their best, performing a surprisingly dynamic show. The fifty hand held cameras concept works very well. As with the close-ups of Mix Master Mike, professional shots fill in the needed gaps. While most of the video may be amateur, the audio fortunately comes from the soundboard. The film's editor did excellent work in choosing which camera feeds to select and the few special effects enhance the experience. The only drawback to the video editing is that the angles jump around a bit too often. The musical scope covers everything up to "To The 5 Boroughs." While most of the concert features the Beastie's hip hop set-up, the live band comes out twice to play the more rockin' and jazzier tunes like 'Sabrosa' and 'Sabotage.' The Beastie Boys keep things fresh for those who've listened to the group's albums a zillion times; many songs features new arrangements with different background samples. Doug E. Fresh's beat box makes 'Time to Get Ill' shine. In terms of the performance quality, the Beastie Boys are in top form. Mike D, MCA and King Ad-Rock perform an amazing set for an appreciative home town audience. The high energy DVD is packed with quality bonus features. As a live Beastie Boys experience, "Awesome, I Shot That" is absolutely phenomenal!

I imagine you all know the story...50 cameras handed out to the crowd, footage edited, mixed in with the pro shots, some crazy effects added...and so on and so forth.

But let's not forget though that this was a brave - whilst now proven brilliant - move. The Beasties, consistently over the years an energetic, entertaining and more often than not superb live attraction, have never released a live video/dvd before now. Now, in their 40's, this is probably the last chance they have to do so, and my god it couldn't be any better.

In keeping with the band's ideals to do things differently with innovation this DVD captures so much which is great about the Beasties. The sheer style of it....the shots are all well chosen and expertly edited (over a year in time frame) and visually I think the editing really gives a feel to the energy of this gig.

And what a gig. The track listing is near perfect, offering cuts from all 6 studio albums, albeit missing out on the hardcore (which was the same throughout the latest tour). The frenetic shots swarm through the likes Sure Shot and Shake Your Rump (where Ben Stiller can be seen rhyming along to every word), then cleverly slow down in time with the mid-set instrumental break, where the boys come out in 50's wedding style tuxes and play through the mellow grooves of instrumental career highlights such as 94's Sabrosa, and to great effect.

It's not just the songs though. Effects on the likes of Body Movin', where a living graffiti style offers something new, and the black and whiteness of An Open Letter to NYC... everything all plays it's part in this film, from these effects to the aforementioned editing. During Intergalactic, the Beasties make their way into the crowd, with an almost 'I can't believe how good this is!' effect. What's more, the cameras follow MCA, Adrock, Mike D through to the back of the arena, again proof that this film gives such a complete experiance of a gig you probably weren't at.

Other highlights come in the way of Time to Get Ill, where the Beasties are joined by Doug E Fresh, or the crowd singing Paul Revere word for word and the band beaming at their efforts. All special moments from what had to be an incredible show. All these individual moments make up something which go's back to the general idea. The cool idea of the fans being so involved, and the boys putting so much trust in such spontaneous film making.

By closer Sabotage, it feels like you've witnessed an event, from the early shots of the band making their way on stage and the fans being told to keep on filming, right through to Ben Stiller proclaiming the show as one of the best he's been to in the end credits. Obviously, I'm a fan...but I imagine you are too if you're reading this, and trust me, if you like the Beastie Boys then this is essential.

The extras offer a chance to switch between some of the cameras, take detours at certain points in the concert (which is all explained in the DVD manual), listen to the mic's acapella...they're all above anyway I think. I'm not too sure about the David Cross portrayal of Hornblower, but the BBQ extra really made me laugh a few times. The exclusive Shazam! video allows you to switch audio and angles during playback (in line with the Criterion DVD). For me though, there could have been no extras and I still would have loved this concert film. One of the best things ever to come from one of the best bands over the last 20 years.

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