Customer Reviews

The Last Waltz (Special Edition)

5 star:		(94)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(11)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

It's a worn-out formula nowadays. Bob Dylan did it, Chuck Berry did it, and Luciano Pavarotti does it all the time. They also do it every time somebody dies, and in this case you don't even have to be a musician. Yeah, I'm talking about that dreary event, the celebration concert with guest musician buddies. But there are exceptions to the rule, and this is definitely the case here.

To celebrate that they were quitting the 'god---n impossible' life on the road after 16 years, The Band gave a farewell concert in San Francisco, on Thanksgiving Day, 1976. To join them, they invited artists who represented the rich and varied array of styles that went into their musical melting pot: Rock'n' Roll, Blues, Folk, New Orleans R'n'B, Country, Gospel, Rockabilly ... who would sing their own numbers backed up by them. They, noblesse oblige, brought in their first mentor, Ronnie Hawkings, a man who sure knows how to entice a teenager into joining a rock'n'roll band, and Bob Dylan, of course, (who had just released Blood on the Tracks and Desire), Joni Mitchell (The Hissing of Summer Lawns and Hejira her most recent albums), Neil Young (Tonight's the Night and Zuma were his latest solo efforts), Muddy Waters (who would release Hard Again, his best late day work the following year), and many, many more I have no space here to mention. All top-notch and in their musical prime. Well, and Neil Diamond.

The result was a concert that can only be described as dazzling and magical. The Band do ecstatic versions of some of their best songs and the guest appereances are also amazing, Van Morrison does what's probably the best version ever of Caravan, Muddy Waters proves why he is the M-A-N, chile, The Staple Singers send a shiver up your spine that can rend you comatose for life, and Robbie Robertson and Eric Clapton bring the house down with their scorching six-strings and then they burn the ruins to ashes. All this just to quote a few. But I have a minor complaint here, the movie only features one song (The Shape I'm in) sung by Richard Manuel, one of the most soulful and moving singers that ever walked the face of the earth. This gives the newcomer a somewhat off-balanced account of how vocal duties were shared in The Band, as one can deduct that Levon Helm sang almost everything with a little help from his friends Rick and Richard. And Levon is darn good, but Richard is the shhh ....sheer top of the heap.

Casting these trifles aside, the movie is a masterpiece. Direcrted by a Martin Scorsese in a state of grace (those were the days of Taxi Driver and Raging Bull), and beautifully darkly photographed by Michael Chapman (Taxi Driver, Raging Bull), Michael W. Watkins (later X-Files direcror and producer), and Vilmos Zsigmond (Close Encounters of the Third Kind, The Deer Hunter, Heaven's Gate), this was to be more than your average rock concert documentary.

The filmmakers were set on an ambitious goal, to show what it is and what does it feel to play great music. And they achieved it in such a way that we mere mortals get to feel what it is to be up there on the stage, enraptured, playing that great music to an enthusiastic and receptive crowd. The featurette that is one of the DVD bonus add-ons shows how Scorsese had these sheets of paper with the lyrics of each song to be played written down in one column, the main moments of each performance in another (when a singer would join in the chorus, or the guitar solo was to begin, or a special part of the lyric would be sung, etc), and the camera shots and movements for each moment in a third column. This is called making the best of the means of your art instead of just doing anything that would do, and it shows on the screen in a way that leaves you breathless. Watching Scorsese frantically directing the movie like a tightrope walker with no net to fall down on must've been worth another documentary. They had only one take for everything, mind that, and I guess that's what might have attracted such a brave and audacious director as Scorsese: Jumping into the unstopping swirling midst of life and trying to extract art out of it with just spotlights and cameras. Souns enticing, isnt't it? And for no money nor any promises of getting more you-know-what than Frank Sinatra.

This movie/concert is best viewed loud while sitting in the kitchen in your gitch getting juiced. I recommend it to everyone.

very satisfied with my order, pkg came quicker than expected, happy I got what I asked for, would definitely order from this seller again

This is an amazing Concert by a group of amazing people. The sound and energy of this show is flaw less. Everyone is playing at the top of their game. The band is playing tight and singing like it's that last show the would ever do(and it is). Most Rock and Film Critics say this is the best concert film ever made. It was shot 36 mm film (a first at the time) so it looks great. John Simon recorded the show (he also produced "Big Pink" and "The Band" CD's) so he has the sound down. Levon's Voice on "Up On Cripple Creek" will give you goose bumps. As is Rick Danko's version of "It Makes No Difference ". Outside of the band's own songs there is also classics from Neil Young (Helpless), Bob Dylan (Forever Young ), Dr.John (Such a Night), Eric Clapton (Further on Up the Road ), Joni Mitchell ( Coyote ), Muddy Waters (Mannish Boy) plus many many more.

If this show dosen't move you check to see if you have a pulse.

The first thing that you will notice about this film is how well it looks and sounds. I'm only 19 and anything from 1976 (when this was filmed) I'd expected to just look okay and sound decent. But the audio is possibly the best around on a music DVD that i've heard (roger waters: in the flesh also is of pristine quality)and the film, which was shot using 35mm by Martin Scorsese looks awesome.
I've heard some of the songs off the last waltz album and i thought it was good, but when i put in the DVD and put on the 5.1 surround sound i was literally blown away. I never heard anything like it in my life. The guests appearances are amazing, every single one. All in all it's a fabulous DVD and if you're a fan of The Band it's an absolute must have, and I recommend it for all fans of rock and roll.
p.s. YOU HAVE to hear "the night they drove old dixie down" at full blast and in surround sound. Quite possibly the best thing i've ever heard.

Quite possibly the greatest concert film ever made. Scorcese does a wonderful job of digging into the lives of the Band, with some wonderfully candid comments backstage between the glorious songs of this concert. The Band was in full flight, with memorable guest appearances in what was ostensibly their swan song. Take your pick of favorites. Mine were "Who Do You Love" with Ronnie Hawkins, "The Weight" with the Staple Singers, "Mystery Train" with Paul Butterfield, and "Baby Let Me Follow You Down" with Bob Dylan. Some of the guest performers looked a little out of place like Emmylou Harris, who didn't seem to find her voice on "Evangeline." But, then there is Joni Mitchell singing a lovely rendition of "Coyote." The concert builds to its closing crescendo on "I Shall be Released" with everybody joining in for this rousing rendition of the classic gospel song. You will not be disappointed!

In '72' the meaning within Don McCleans "American Pie" lyrics were difficult to grasp for many of us of that generation - I was 25 yrs old back in that day. After watching "The Last Waltz" I know exactly what he meant. When put against the backdrop of that period, and before, todays music and musicians are plastic entertainment at best. The Last Waltz moved me from my recliner and made me dance. I haven't done that in years. Today it is all about 'packaging'. Today's country music is nothing more than 'rock-a-billy, two-step, gee he sounds just like Garth Brooks'stuff. And Rock and Roll lives only on oldies stations. Maybe I'm just an 'old fart' but for me the music of today is dead. A perfect example of what I'm talking about was on display at Super Bowl XXXVII. I could feel the music when Santana played pre-game. I don't even know who that Madonna look-a-like was "singing" with, I guess that was Sting, at half-time, but what was that "SOS". Maybe 'Same Old Sh_t'. And Bon Jovi at post-game? Give me a break. Santana should have been the feature, not the warm up. And the other's could have stayed home. I saw The Last Waltz on Encore but am going to buy the DVD and a copy for each of my son's so they will always know what music is when it is good.

Compare the picture on this DVD to the picture in the VHS tape that we all know and love. You'll find that with this "letterbox" version, the black bars COVER UP the top and bottom of the original picture!!! You are NOT seeing more (as you are normally supposed to with letterbox), you are seeing LESS of "The Last Waltz" than ever before. A/B them and see for yourself.

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This is without question the best movie celebrating a rock and roll band ever. The quality of the picture and sound is beyond comparison. I never like watching a movie twice (what's there to see a second time round?) but I have watched this movie dozens of times. A young Robbie Robertson, Rick Danko, Van Morrison and Bob Dylan can't be beat. Buy it. You'll love it!

Finally rec'd the 3 copies I ordered Dec 29, 30th and Jan5th. I'm not sure why the three wouldn't have been shipped together as they were in stock. Disappointed that shipment too so long
ss they were ordered Dec 8th via airmail.