Bjork - Live At Shepherd's Bush DVD

Advantages: More original than TOOL?
Disadvantages: none

...Any OPETH Fan who does not own this dvd needs a serious talking to. And if you don't know much about OPETH, well this is an amazing dvd to get started with. Opeth's style of music is unique, and it is hard to categorise them into any musical genre. I mean how would you describe TOOL without commenting on their originality. OPETH, however, take classic rock & metal and stamp their own mark on it in a big way, they arer indeed the most original and awe inspriring band I have ever come across. Anyway, this dvd is a live performance from the shepherd's bush empire concert in 2003. They played two very different sets and so the concert is split into two halves. The first half concentrates on the album damnation album, including the track harvest from the blackwater park album. This whole first section is very melancholic and haunting... Read review

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Advantages: Brilliant songs. An extremely powerful film; Bjork's performance is very moving at times.
Disadvantages: This is definitely not for everyone; if you dislike Bjork, or shaky cameras or sad films you will HATE this!

...and different film. In "Dancer in the Dark" the main character is a Czechoslovakian immigrant called Selma (played, obviously by Bjork) living in America in the 1950s. She works at a factory, and is struggling against an illness which will eventually cause her to go blind, and to get away from the harsh realities of her life, she dreams she is part of an all singing, all dancing musical. I'm not going to go through the tragic events which befall Selma, as in my opinion you may as well just watch the film, suffice to say this is not a heartwarming, "happy ending" film. The contrast between Selma's reality and her whimsical daydreams is marked by the different film techniques used. In the reality sequences, there is no background music, the film is grainy and the camera shaky. It portrays a cruel and cold world, with Selma and her son jean looking... Read review

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Advantages: Bjork performance is fantastic
Disadvantages: may be a bit too long for some

...becomes more severe, we are treated to a number of song and dance routines, which act as an insight into the fantasy world that Selma dreams about, and wishes she lived in. Although touted as a musical, it is not as strong an element in the film as you may imagine. There are only about 7 songs performed in all, and hardly any of these feature in the first half of the film. The glossy All-American dancing sequences are an interesting contrast to the remainder of the film, shot in typical Von Trier style with handheld cameras and a fly-on-the-wall perspective of the action. Bjork excels as Selma. 'Dancer In The Dark' was her first (and according to her, the last) acting role. In a highly unusual performance, she doesn't look merely like an actress playing a part, she actually is Selma. Her timing and her interaction with the rest... Read review

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