Night in London

Starring:Mark Knopfler
Studio: Umvd Import
Product Type: DVD

Average customer rating:

Almost Perfect
Why, oh Lord?
A shame it's only 2.0 sound
be aware of the song set list
Why is some program material AWOL??

Night in London
Starring: Mark Knopfler
Manufacturer: Umvd Import
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Music Video & Concerts | Genres | DVD | Video

( N ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

On the Night
Sultans of Swing
Music for Montserrat
Real Live Roadrunning (with DVD)
Live at Knebworth: Parts 1, 2 & 3 (2pc)

ASIN: B000654YSI
Release Date: 2004-11-23

Customer Reviews:

Almost Perfect.......2005-07-14

As a long time Mark Knopfler fan, I anxiously awaited the release of this DVD. I bought the VHS version when it came out, and always loved it, but like others have noted, I was disappointed that the DVD edition had been substantially truncated, with the most irritating deletion being the removal of "Sultans of Swing." I honestly can't imagine why this would be done given the excess of space on the DVD and the relative brevity of the show, which was done for English TV in 1996. I would have easily given this DVD five stars were it not for the editing of the set list.

The performance itself is, of course, wonderful; the performers obviously have excellent rapport and are having fun, and despite the fact that the DVD only has two channel stereo sound, the recording quality is still very good. I particularly like to see Mark when he performs with Chad Cromwell, the drummer featured here, as the two of them obviously click so well as a team. The Electra Strings and the Irish musicians are welcome additions here as are guests Sonny Landreth and Jools Holland. I am frankly not a big fan of the pedal steel guitar, so I could have done without Paul Franklin's appearance, but that's just a personal preference.

There are many standout tracks on this DVD, but my favorites here are "Golden Heart," "Je Suis Desole," the beautiful "A Night in Summer Long Ago" (which took a while to grow on me, but now I consider a favorite), and perhaps the most uplifting version of "Going Home" I have ever seen or heard.

I do recommend this DVD without reservation; I just wish the set had not been pruned from the VHS edition.

Why, oh Lord?.......2005-05-19

Why in God's name would anyone release an edited version of an otherwise fabulous show? Especially when the two edited songs (read "missing completely") are arguably among Dire Straits' most celebrated works? Cut "sultans of Swing" and "Money for Nothing"? Are they nuts? Jesus, what a disappointment...I wish I hadn't sold my VHS copy a couple of years ago. The makers of this disc should be ashamed.

A shame it's only 2.0 sound.......2005-05-19

First, the bad:

I don't know the history behind this show, but it almost looks like it was done for TV and not for a video/DVD.

For starters, it's in 2.0 stereo. Is this all they had in 1996? I'm not being a wise guy, I really don't know.

Second, the title "A night in London" reveals nothing about the fact that it coincides with his first solo album, Golden Heart. Buying this 8 years after it came out, I wasn't familiar with most of the songs.

Also, the cover has a pic of him circa 1980's, with the tennis head- band ala Dire Straits. In the concert, he is minus the headband, and a little less hair. Not a big deal, but just shows they skimped on the details of this package. They did include the lyrics, however.

Lastly, if the sub-par sound format wasn't a downer enough, there are NO extras in this DVD. Perhaps a time constraint on the disc, I'm not sure. It's also missing some songs from the VHS release.

Now to the good:

As a MK fan, it's fantastic! The quality of the recording is good, despite the limited format they used. Mark's Les Paul has such a warm tone to it. I never realized he never uses a pick, either. Richard Bennett sounds real good on the 12 string.

The first song, Darling Pretty, is so beautiful and upbeat. If it doesn't move you, you're not alive. The other songs are really good, mostly mellow. I really like the fact that he used a string section, too. Female fiddle players are always hot! Later on, he does Romeo & Juliet and it sounds great.

One thing that makes the concert sound so good is the subtlety of the different array of instruments. The steel pedal at times, adds that unique sustain; the B-3 organ and piano complement, but don't overshadow the songs.

All in all, I'm really glad I bought this, mainly because it introduced me to some of MK's music I wasn't familiar with.

If you're an MK fan, you'll like it, but at the same time, you'll be disappointed at the economny the company used to put it out. Mark deserves better; he deserves 6-channel surround!

be aware of the song set list.......2005-04-18

I was amazed! I found out to late! My original copy of this show on VHS broke up, since I kept watching it again and again. Now I just bought the DVD, and the surprise wat that the show IS NOT complete!! there are important songs left out of the DVD (sultans of swing, Money for nothing)that are included in the VHS, that was so dissapointing to me.
Better get the VHS version.
One other bad point is the audio, 2.0 for a DVD? come on!

Why is some program material AWOL??.......2005-02-17

Just wanted to post a warning review to you Knopfler fans out there......I previously owned the VHS version of this show, and I have never been so impressed by the sound of basic VHS Hi Fi as I was with that tape. So, of course, when I found out a few months after buying the VHS that it was available on DVD, I promptly mailed my VHS copy as a gift to a close friend and ordered the DVD. After all, superior video and audio, potential for surround (when I upgrade to that some day - right now my 2-channel setup puts all my friends' 5.1 setups to shame), random access of tracks, etc. etc. I just received the DVD in the mail today, and am returning it tomorrow without even opening it, and ordering another VHS copy for myself. Why?? Because the DVD slices over a half hour of program material off the VHS version, and it's in 2.0 format. Shame on them for doing this to a release that should be superior to and more desirable in every way than the VHS.

If you want the most complete version of this show and you own a good Hi Fi VHS machine, buy the tape. It's a few more bucks, but includes tracks (e.g. an awesome version of "Sultans") that I for one do not want to go without. Your purchase will also constitute an indirect boycott of DVD companies who dare to pull nonsense like this on us loyal, money-paying fans.

Just wanted you to be forewarned.

Average customer rating:

An Emotionally, Powerful Documentary About "London's Longest Night"

The Blitz: London's Longest Night
Starring: Blitz-London's Longest Night
Manufacturer: Pbs Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $9.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( B ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

All | PBS | Specialty Stores | DVD | Video
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The Great War: The Complete History of World War I
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World War 1 in Color

ASIN: B000BYRCC4
Release Date: 2006-02-14

Description

The story of the war's most concentrated aerial attack on London in 1941 and how the city nearly perished under the German barrage. Featuring harrowing first-hand accounts from survivors of the attack and dramatic recreations of events based on newly declassified information, this film brings to life the story of one night that nearly changed the course of history. Had Hitler trusted the intelligence on the amount of damage to the city and continued his attack, London would have crumbled under the sustained barrage.

Customer Reviews:

An Emotionally, Powerful Documentary About "London's Longest Night".......2006-04-28

The PBS documetary, "The Blitz London's Longest Night" is a fascinating look at both the facts and feelings, that surrounded the night of December 29, 1940, when Hitler's bombers lead an unprecedented ariel attack apon the city of London. The ferocious fires, that the attack started, nearly burned a whole square mile of London to the ground. The main target of the attack seems to have been, St. Paul's Cathedral, which was both an iconic part of the London skyline and also an important symbol of English history. The intent was to have been to try and scare the British people into overnight submission and break their will. Luckily, history did not play out that way. Instead of being bombed into submission 'the Blitz' united the British people into a common cause. The documentary is aptly named, because it really does seem to be "London's Longest Night". The film takes us on an hour by hour progression of what happened. It shows us every step of the bombing and the response of both the British firemen and ordinary London citizens alike to extordinary events. The documentary shows us this, through a mixture of narration, actual archival footage, interviews with elderly witnesses and dramatizations of their stories. These elements are seemlessly weaved together to tell an interesting and emotionally arresting tale. The dramatizations are very well done and most effective. Among these stories we meet a family in a bomb shelter, a man accompanied by his wife trying to return to his rescue unit, two foreign reporters getting the story, a number of firemen working to contain the fires and a priest and his cohorts trying to protect St.Paul's from burning down. The story of St. Paul's Cathedral is most important, because it really is the emotional backbone (or spine) of the film. It's a symbol of England's survival, in that dark night of history. By the end of the film, we are shown a juxaposition between a fire bombed London, just after the attack and the new modern city, that has risen out of the fiery rubble & ashes like a Pheonix. This is an excellent documentary, that is not only factual, but is quite moving and will leave you on the edge of your seat. Highly recommended!

Average customer rating: