Rage Against The Machine - Live at the Grand Olympic Auditorium
by Peter Christopherson, Jeff Richter, Harri Kristin
List Price:
Our Price: $6.29
You Save: $5.65 (47%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $0.82 (click here)
Category: DVD
See more DVD details
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
DVD details
Actor: Brad Wilk, Rage Against the Machine, Tim Bob Commerford, Tom Morello, Zack De La RochaDirector: Harri Kristin, Jeff Richter, Peter Christopherson
Brand: Sony
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language)
Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, DVD, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 123 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2003-12-09
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Sony
DVD Reviews of Rage Against The Machine - Live at the Grand Olympic Auditorium
DVD Review: Clearance to Run the Interference
Summary: 4 Stars
In some of my other music DVD reviews, I take the tact of applying a set of standards to a release and establishing how the DVD in question measures up. Let me say in advance that when I take this tact, it usually means that I was disappointed in the release, but this would be only slightly true with Rage Against The Machine's Live at the Grand Olympic Auditorium.
A memo should go out to all bands and music DVD producers that says at minimum: "1) Music DVD's should be produced to the highest standards. 2) The musical performances within should represent the talent that made the studio recorded CDs sell. 3) Theatrics are very cool too, as long as you can pull them off without deterioration in the quality of the music."
Let's break it down then for Rage's Live at the Grand Olympic Auditorium:
1 - "Music DVD's should be produced to the highest standards." - The picture quality in Rage's Live at the GOA is fair at best. I think this is due to a combo of two things: Old technology was used to film the performance, and there is a deliberate use of a technique that makes the picture a bit grainy. This grainy effect is hardly noticeable on a standard def TV, but it's very noticeable on a high def plasma TV. Seemingly, the band and the director chose to deliver what they felt was some kind of "atmospheric production" versus giving the viewer a front row seat to the performance. Hence, the relatively poor picture takes a bit away from the DVD.
On the other hand, the visual doesn't jump all over the place every 2 seconds as is true with way too many music DVDs (for some reason the notion all too often is that changing the visual projects the energy of a song...and that's a stupid notion). The camera shots in Rage's Live at the GOA mostly give you a nice long look at each performer at the right time; if you were actually at the show, you'd probably be looking at the performer that the camera is on. This made for a viewing experience that enhanced the illusion of having a front row seat to the show.
The sound is great in Dolby 5.1. You get your choice between Stereo and Dolby 5.1. Dolby 5.1 is far superior even when listening on a stereo system. My home theater Surround system in 5.1 made it feel like I was at the show. When I tried stereo on my portable DVD player the bass was mixed way too high and the sound was distorted; this was instantly remedied by switching to 5.1.
2 - "The musical performances within should represent the talent that made the studio recorded CDs sell." - The guys prior to hitting the stage must have huddled and committed to each other to go out and play the music true to the studio versions of the songs. All of the tracks on Rage's Live at the GOA are performed precisely. Absolutely amazing.
Tom Morello is incredible. Morello is ranked in the top half of Rolling Stone magazine's list of "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time". And particularly his solo in Bulls on Parade is often noted by Guitar World and other music magazines; it was awesome to see him precisely pull off live the magic sounds he makes with a guitar that you might think he could only make in the studio.
The band gives you all of the songs that you'd really want to hear:
1. Bulls On Parade
2. Bombtrack
3. Calm Like A Bomb
4. Bullet In The Head
5. Sleep Now In The Fire
6. War Within A Breath
7. I'm Housin'
8. Killing In The Name
9. Born Of A Broken Man
10. No Shelter
11. Guerrilla Radio
12. How I Could Just Kill A Man (w/guest Cypress Hill)
13. Kick Out The Jams
14. Testify
15. Freedom
Bonus material includes:
"People of the Sun" and "Know Your Enemy"
The 2000 Democratic National Convention performance, featuring:
"Bulls On Parade"
"Testify"
"Guerrilla Radio"
"Sleep Now In The Fire"
"Freedom"
"Killing In The Name"
And video clips for "How I Could Just Kill a Man" and "Bombtrack"
The Grand Olympic Auditorium main performance is fabulous. The bonus material, especially the performance at the 2000 DNC, is interesting to watch and much more politically oriented than performance oriented.
3 - "Theatrics are very cool too, as long as you can pull them off without deterioration in the quality of the music." - There are no over-the-top theatrics...which is great. The guys just play the music, and as I said earlier, they perform the songs to perfection. There is a clear air on the stage that "this is our last show together". These guys all click and tonight they are clicking on all cylinders.
Zack de la Rocha's (and the band's) political message is highly visible (and audible) throughout. During the show Rage and de la Rocha voice their extremist support for revolutionary socialism that includes a sweeping condemnation of the police and corporations. Um...yikes! I can't say that I'm a fan of Rage's message, but their music rocks! And the show recorded on Live at the Grand Olympic Auditorium also rocks.
All in all...Live at the GOA is a shouldn't-miss DVD if you like or ever liked Rage Against the Machine. But so much for this recording being their last performance; a 2007 reunion has been announced. Perhaps we'll get an upgraded high def performance DVD to rally 'round the family with.
Description of Rage Against The Machine - Live at the Grand Olympic Auditorium
Studio: Sony Music Release Date: 11/25/2003Alternative Rock Music CDs
Bestsellers in Alternative Rock Music CDs
Bouncing Souls - Maniacal LaughterRelease date: 1996-01-26; Music CD
Best price: $30.00
Blondie - Parallel LinesRelease date: 1994-07-29; Music CD
Best price: $397.77
Doors - L.A. WomanRelease date: 1993-04-09; Music CD
Best price: $199.99
Amon Duul - Phallus DeiRelease date: 1997-04-08; Music CD
Price in other shops:
Tangerine Dream - MelroseRelease date: 1990-10-02; Music CD
Best price: $74.98
Tangerine Dream - Private Music of Tangerine DreamRelease date: 1992-11-10; Music CD
Best price: $9.50
Price in other shops:
![Ska Explosion [VHS] Image](/images/Ska-Explosion-VHS-6303381014-X.jpg){kind=small}
Ska Explosion [VHS]Cleopatra; Release date: 1995-02-28; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $14.99
Price in other shops:
![Little Earthquakes [VHS] Image](/images/Little-Earthquakes-VHS-6302488664-X.jpg){kind=small}
Little Earthquakes [VHS]Atlantic / Wea; Release date: 1992-11-10; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $7.00
Price in other shops:
Exileby Geoffrey Oryema
Music CD
Best price: $4.95
![Louder Than Live [VHS] Image](/images/Louder-Than-Live-VHS-6301627865-X.jpg){kind=small}
Soundgarden - Louder Than Live [VHS]A&M Video; Release date: 1991-07-01; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Price in other shops:
Similar DVDs, VHS Video, Audio CDs
Led ZeppelinWEA DES Moines Video; Release date: 2003-05-27; Published: 2003-06-03; DVD
Best price: $13.90
Price in other shops:
Rage Against the Machine - Battle of Los AngelesRAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE; Release date: 1999-11-02; Music CD
Best price: $6.25
Price in other shops:
Rage Against the Machine - Live & RareRelease date: 1997-08-01; Published: 1997; Music CD
Best price: $37.51
Price in other shops:
Foo Fighters: Live at Wembley StadiumRCA; Release date: 2008-11-18; DVD
Best price: $10.03
Price in other shops:
Nightwatchman, Tom Morello - World Wide Rebel SongsRelease date: 2011-08-29; Music CD
Best price: $9.99
Price in other shops:
Nine Inch Nails - Live - Beside You in TimeUni; Release date: 2007-02-27; DVD
Best price: $8.67
Price in other shops:
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Live at Slane CastleAlfred; Release date: 2003-11-18; DVD
Best price: $5.39
Price in other shops:
Audioslave: Live in Cuba (with Bonus CD)Sony; Release date: 2005-10-11; DVD
Best price: $7.67
Price in other shops:
Rage Against the Machine: Battle of Mexico CitySony; Release date: 2001-02-20; DVD
Best price: $5.50
Price in other shops:
Rage Against the MachineSony; Release date: 1999-01-05; DVD
Best price: $7.32
Price in other shops: