Paul McCartney: Back in the U.S.

So, I come from a very sentimental angle; I was left-handed, so I got to "be" Paul. I've always loved his style - I could always tell when he was the dominant writer on a Lennon-McCartney song, so I'm here to tell you, I consider myself an authority on PAUL McCARTNEY!

This performance is stellar! The band he's assembled is FANTASTIC!! Especially love Abe, the drummer!! But, there was lots of criticism of how the DVD was produced. If you're a PAUL fan, you want to soak up as much as this DVD offers-and more!! The only reason I didn't give it a 5-star rating, was because I wish it had more songs on it that I would have liked to have heard. I loved the coverage of his old tunes (wish there had been more), to his WINGS era, (his tribute to Linda made me cry) and his modern stuff, like FREEDOM, he sang at the SUPER BOWL.

I enjoyed the interviews, the non-singing bits that they filmed scattered in with the music. This DVD also portrays the gentle, upbeat, whimsical, winsome side of Paul. There is a LOVE about which he sings, that he also lives. It seems to reflect in his band and staff.

The bit, right in the middle of the concert, where his staff surprises him with large "heart" cards scattered throughout the audience in front, where they were seated, literally takes his breath away... he gets so emotional, you can see he nearly wants to stop the song; but he goes on, like the consummate professional he is. That really touched me.

Another thing about Paul is that he's kept his life private and his marriage to Linda, undefiled. This guy could have had any woman in the world!!! Now, since Linda's passing, he seems to have resumed his zest for life in his marriage with Heather. He's a man's man.

There was also some criticism about showing super stars like Jack Nicholson, John Cusack, Sly Stallone Glenn Frey, Brian Wilson and others at his concert... hey, folks - face it. Paul McCartney changed the world of music 30 years ago, and continues to do so today! Get over it!! (...sorry, i don't know what got into me, except to say that anyone who chooses to pick this DVD apart, from a technical side, isn't seeing the real gems that comprise this film.)

When one hears the name "Paul" in the context of Rock music, of whom does one think? It's Paul McCartney, and the wonderful chemistry he exudes with his masterful blend of magic. With this staff of 125+ people, 12 semi-trailers full of stage set and equipment he brings to life a part of musical history that no one else on this planet is able to provide... BUY THIS film. You will not regret it!!!

There's nothing like his classic rock-and-roll style of music that is clearly and classically brought out in this film. It's a must-have for every collector.

But, this DVD isn't quite as good of a souvenir as those of us who attended the shows would've liked. First off, it might be THE most fawning video of a performer. An artist of his stature hardly needs the gushing validation that this offers, plus all the superstar accolades. And all this fawning takes up time away from the music. Only about 29 of the 35 songs played on the tour are performed in the concert film (another three are in the bonus section), and not all the songs are performed complete. Sadly, his sweet tribute to George Harrison, "Something" is trimmed by a whole verse. Surely we could have cut out one more shot of a middle aged soccer mom screaming "PAUL!"......... to find room for this lovely song complete. Finally, the songs aren't in the order they were played, which is likewise disappointing as it was the pace of the show that was part of its success.

As for the disc quality, the authoring of this is really sad, almost like it was done on a home computer. The same footage appeared in the ABC-TV special in far better quality, so this is just a mediocre DVD master. The disc's authors have also put the scene/track selections in the "Special Features" section (not exactly where I'd look for them), but you can quick access your favorite song.

But on the plus side - it sounds fantastic. The performances chosen from the tour footage are outstanding, both McCartney and band are in terrific form. The bonus materials (soundchecks, backstage, etc.) are generous and will make McCartney fans happy.

So...a mixed review. But all the details aside - it IS a great show that I know I'll enjoy often.