James Last - A World Of Music
Picture: C
Sound: B Extras: C- Main Concert: C
The best way to describe conductor/showman James
Last is to imagine a German Lawrence Welk with a much larger budget, and no
bubble machine. If you think that sounds
bizarre, then you just have to hear the concert contained on the DVD of A
World of Music. The man obviously
has a big following, and it looks like a German family love-in kind of thing.
It is enough to see him make elevator music out of
ABBA hits (which many would say is music halfway there to begin with) like Mamma
Mia, Fernando, Gimme, Gimme Gimme, Dancing Queen,
and S.O.S. Add polka tunes and
revisions of Rock classics like Rock Around The Clock, See You
Later, Alligator, Doo Wah Ditty, and even Lean On Me,
then you get one of the most unreal concert experiences that will ever be
issued on any video format.
The anamorphcially-enhanced 16 x 9 widescreen TV image is
average, with colors consistent & definition acceptable. The sound is offered in Dolby Digital 2.0
Stereo, Dolby Digital AC-3 5.1, and DTS, all of which are not bad, but the
clearer the sound, the bigger the torture!
There is also an extensive behind-the-scenes
documentary in the same screen ratio, if you have not had enough of this, but a
little of this goes a long way. This is
strictly an acquired taste. PBS
actually broadcast this (and they wonder why they are having fund-raising troubles,)
but at least this program does not intentionally degrade the audience or home
viewer. However, 100 minutes total is
more than enough, but you might get a few unintended laughs... if you survive!
- Nicholas Sheffo
