The Beastie Boys
starring in “Awesome, I… Shot That!”
Picture: C
Sound: C+ Extras: B- Concert: B
I get many complaints at how generic so many live and
usually digital HD-shot concerts are on DVD.
Except for rare cases, the endeavors are often very uncreative and
anything that breaks the monotony is welcome.
Enter The Beastie Boys, whose Anthology
through The Criterion Collection remains one of the great interactive DVD
experiences. Now, they offer a concert
with some of the same ins and outs they have dubbed “Awesome, I… Shot That!”
Released theatrically, the band gave cameras out to fans
all over the place. The result is a
montage of various video images and unlike the theatrical film release, you can
choose from two camera angles via the rarely-used multi-angle function that has
been with DVD since its inception. The
same feature the Anthology used so
effectively.
This features 25 hits and I give them credit for the
energy they put into favorites like Sure
Shot, Root Down, Body Movin’, Brass Monkey, So What’Cha
Want and Intergalactic. Doug E. Fresh makes a cameo on stage and the
crowd at Madison Square Garden is top
notch. Their performances are strong,
though the DVD might be another matter.
The anamorphically enhanced 1.78 X 1 image is made up of
no less than six video formats shot on 63 cameras, but most of them are Hi-8
(not even Digital 8) analog NTSC videotape and the degraded images are only so
tolerable for so long. The Dolby Digital
5.1 mix is not bad, but somewhat on the weak side and with the space that was
likely left on this DVD, they should have had a DTS option unless the master
was as weak as this mix indicates.
Extras are also fun, including an A Cappella Vocal Tracks - Listen to the
complete concert with the sound from MCA, Adrock and Mike D's mic's only, Special
"Hidden Detours" Feature - Watch the film with the option of taking
detours throughout the concert with some of the camera operators, Band
Commentary, trailer, hilarious "A Day in the Life Of Nathanial Hörnblowér"
short co-starring comedian David Cross (Arrested Development), a fun real of
World Tour Intros and Jerome Crooks Angry World segment. Once again, the trio delivers and if you
liked the Anthology, you’ll
get a kick out of this.
- Nicholas Sheffo
