So so close to red!! Edited some old reviews as well...got to keep making them better!
So so close to red!! Edited some old reviews as well...got to keep making them better!
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Britney Spears Live in Las Vegas - So what's it about?
November 18th, 2001, now an unbelievable 7 AND A HALF YEARS AGO, Britney Spears headlined the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, performing her show for the 'Dream Within A Dream' tour, a theatrical and massively successful production that raked in millions and cemented Britney's then reputation as the most exciting and entertaining performer of her generation. A reputation that would soon diminish, become almost damaged beyond repair by personal troubles and apparent career suicide, and only begin to be regained now in 2009 with her current 'Circus' tour, a grand spectacle that owes clear debts to the trail blazed by this, arguably Britney's best tour.
This DVD contains the entire show as it was broadcast live on American network HBO, along with bonus feautures of several of her music videos from around the time and a trailer for her up and coming film, Crossroads (unfortunately we know how THAT turned out!).
The show - A track by track guide
Oops! I Did It Again
(You Drive Me) Crazy
Overprotected
Born To Make You Happy
Lucky
Sometimes
Story time with background music
Boys
Stronger
I'm Not A Girl, Not Yet A Woman
I Love Rock 'N' Roll
What It's Like To Be Me
Lonely
Don't Let Me Be The Last To Know
Anticipating
I'm A Slave 4 U
...Baby One More Time (Remix)
== Opinions ==
The Singing
Well, if you've ever heard anything about Britney's live performances you will know that she is known to lip synch throughout her shows, and this is no exception. All songs bar one (Don't Let Me Be The Last To Know) are mimed, and while some may
be up in arms about this and its implications for the death of music, I would say it detracts very little from the show itself. Generally, you don't come to a Britney show to hear amazing vocal performances, you come to watch a great dance routine, an amazing spectacle, even just for a glimpse of Britney herself. To be honest, I wouldn't want her to sing live throughout her choreography as it would probably sound absolutely awful. However, I must say that the song that is sung live is done quite well indeed, there are no bum notes whatsoever and there seems to be true passion and feeling in the song, or just true professionalism. What is interesting to note, however, is how different her live voice is to her studio voice, it is much deeper and more soulful, I would say technically 'better' although lacking in many of the characteristic flourishes Britney has made famous.
The Songs
Noone can fault Britney on her songs. This tour was to support her third album 'Britney' and so this is where the majority of the songs come from. Old classics such as ...Baby One More Time are given slight remixes to make them sound fresher and less tired because, lets face it, you can only hear them so many times, and credit for mixing them up a bit. They all sound very different with the live band in place, particularly Oops!! And (You Drive Me) Crazy which have a much rockier edge with guitars. Perfect pop. Although there are a few songs I would maybe have left off the playlist in favour of something else, definitely 'Anticipating' is an awful song and I think 'Cinderella' should have been chosen instead. In terms of the setlist, it lags a bit a few songs in when you get three ballady/mid tempo songs in a row, 'Born to Make you Happy' 'Lucky' and 'Sometimes' which is all just a bit too much saccharine in one go.
The Interludes
Now this is where I have a serious problem. I know that a major part of Britney's key audience were always young kids, but did they have to make these bits SO CHEEEESY??? It starts with Britney telling the audience that they have made her 'Dreams come true', continues on with a grandpa reading to his grandaughter, then partway through we get a cheesy skit of a 'band' formed of Britney and her dancers along with lots of not so funny references to several current songs and artists, e.g 'We need a name' 'What about Flower Child?' 'What about Dark Child?' 'What about Destiny's Child?' 'NAAAAH, that'll NEVER WORK!!' you see, awful. Just...ugh to these bits, I know they are their way of keeping it going during the many costume changes but still! There is a midly entertaining one where all of the dancers are introduced, and do a bit of a dance for us all, quite skilled.
The Costumes
Like I said, there are multiple costume changes, and some of them are spectacular, some of them slightly more ordinary and designed to be easy to dance in. This was while Britney still cultivated an at least slightly wholesome image, and so there is nothing too sexy (bar perhaps one) not too much skin on show, altogether just quite flashy yet tasteful. The costumes range from a full black bodysuit with long black jacket, ballerina costumer, sparkly silver evening gown, what I can only describe as Joseph's technicolour dreamcoat, and the last two costumes, which are something else. The famous I'm A Slave 4 U 'Snakecharmer' outfit is back and with even less fabric, if that is possible, and for ...Baby One More Time she dons skintight jeans and a gold weaved metal croptop that leaves very little to the imagination. And then adds a cowboy hat.
The Choreography
This was always going to be one of the strengths of Britney's show. She's a fantastic dancer and this really shows that off as she easily keeps up with her backing dancers through tricky routines. The steps are perfectly coordinated and there is little room for improvisation, in fact you get the feeling every little turn and flourish has been managed by a choreographer. Even the audience interaction seems to be completely scripted and staged, including Britney's heartfelt addressing of the audience just before launching into big piano accompanied ballad, but she's an ok actress and it seems sincere enough. But toverall he results are impressive, the routines use up the entire stage and props are often incorporated to good effect.
The Set
This is the true highlight. Credit to Britney that you even notice her amongst all of this spectacle. What do we have? Well lets see, we have a rotating magicians wheel that Britney first enters the stage on, trees of fire, a giant music box from which Britney emerges as the ballerina, a giant platform that raises from the stage and spits out masses of pyrotechnics, bungee chords, a screen with a 'virtual Britney' for the real version to dance battle against, an actual car, a several hundred foot projection of Britney, and in the finale, lots and lots of rain, and simulated lightning. Did I miss something? I probably did. It is jaw dropping stuff and must have cost an absolute fortune to stage, but the results are awe inspiring.
The Highs
* Britney jumping from bungee chords to be chased by dancers, mimicking a 'dream' where you can't run away.
* Britney sings live for one song and sounds pretty good, powerful and raw.
* Pretty slick moves on 'What It's Like to Be Me'
* The super sexy 'I'm a Slave 4 U' complete with belly dancing.
* The finale. Masses of pyrotechnics, a sexy remix of BOMT, singing in the rain, a truly grand finish.
The Lows
* Dances waving random plastic boards at Britney for no apparent reason.
* Britney's act at encountering her virtual self - 'Who is this chick?'
* Corny interludes of course.
* 'Anticipating' this whole debacle is painful. From the outfit (pink and denim patchwork) to the set (a cardboard car) to the performance (everybody clap your hands with Britney!! Singalong!!) this is dire.
Bonus Features
The bonus features are, I feel, a bit of a waste of time, unless you are a MASSIVE Britney fan (which I guess you probably are if you are buying this DVD. It features her videos for 'I'm A Slave 4 U' considered one of her best, 'Overprotected' and 'I'm Not a Girl Not Yet a Woman' her big singles from this album. They are good videos but its a bit pointless to watch them unless you don't really have anything better to do. The last one is a blatant plug of 'Crossroads' and again, I don't see the benefit to anyone of owning this trailer, it's not exactly a piece of movie history, although I must say that watching it did prevent me the pain of ever deciding to watch Crossroads itself.
Worth it?
Overall I would say this is a great live show but nothing more. I probably wouldn't advise to buy this DVD unless you are a massive Britney fan, in which case, it is a great reminder of Britney at her best. Its very enjoyable, but more than anything this feels like just another piece of Britney memorabilia designed to make money any which way. I have no idea of its current price but its very old now so my guess is that this can be picked up for bargain prices, should you want to!!
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