The Beatles – Rare & Unseen (MVD Visual DVD)

 

Picture: C+     Sound: C+     Extras: C     Main Program: C+

 

 

Though it can live up to its name, The Beatles – Rare & Unseen is flashier and gaudier than it needs to be, trying too hard to tell us about the biggest Rock band of all time despite having some good interview subjects (Phil Collins rambles too much as usual, but having Hurricane Smith is a big plus) and fine footage makes this bearable enough to sit through while fans will love it.

 

Unfortunately, the rare footage is accompanied by too much talking or faux instrumental music that wants to sound like the band (we never get to hear their music, though we do hear John Lennon from a 1975 French interview) and the footage is not in the supplements silently.  Also, the footage is often cut into by other images which are sloppy and distracting, the least of which is other interviewees.  Some of this should remain unseen, but for the better footage and interview pieces, it is worth a look.

 

The 1.33 X 1 image is on the soft side with silly analog graphic too often, but also shows the footage looking good, while the Dolby Digital 2.0 sound is barley stereo and considering the bad music, we are the better for it.  Extras are just more interview segments, including three more (noooooooooo!!!) with Collins.

 

For more on the band, try this link for an excellent book and more links:

 

http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/6334/Can%E2%80%99t+Buy+Me+Love

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo