7.9 | / 10 |
Users | 4.5 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.1 |
Twenty: In celebration of Pearl Jam's twentieth anniversary, Cameron Crowe created this definitive portrait of the seminal band with rare and never-before-seen footage. The Kids Are Twenty: Expanded, uninterrupted live performances for every song in the 'Pearl Jam Twenty' film plus bonus features. The Fans Are Alright: Over 80 minutes of extras created specifically for die-hard Pearl Jam fans and including rare live performances.
Starring: Eddie Vedder, Jeff Ament, Stone Gossard, Mike McCready, Matt Cameron (I)Music | 100% |
Documentary | 43% |
Drama | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080i
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.78:1
English: LPCM 2.0 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English: LPCM 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English: Dolby Digital 5.1 (640 kbps)
English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Dutch, Polish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region free
Movie | 4.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 2.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
One of the most dependably unpredictable bands in Rock.
Filmmaker/Music Journalist Cameron Crowe sure does love his music, and if there's anything that, perhaps, he likes even more than his music, it's
sharing
his love of music with others. His wonderful Almost Famous is like a sorta-kinda autobiographical love letter to a
bygone era and the music that entertained him, influenced him, and shaped him into the man he is today. That movie is perhaps the finest example
of fact meeting fiction in film, a picture that transcends its time period and even its music, focused instead on telling a story about the life, the people,
the reality behind the tours, the instruments, the records. Pearl Jam Twenty is sort of like a modern day Almost Famous, but without
the fictional element. It's a story of the people behind arguably the most influential and one of the longest-lasting rock bands of the past two decades.
Like Almost Famous, it's an inside access picture that focuses on the people who make the music rather than the music itself, for its the
human creativity, passion, energy, strength, and togetherness that truly make the music, not a fancy record cover, a label on the side, a spot on a
chart, or money lining the band's bank account. Pearl Jam Twenty is a wonderfully informative, expertly crafted, and detailed look into the
band, a look that focuses on the people and, therefore, brings the band's music and popularity into focus, too.
The face of Pearl Jam.
Pearl Jam Twenty's 1080i Blu-ray transfer is comprised of both newer HD footage and older SD footage. The latter dominates the picture; between harsh, jagged, and low-detail video clips and noisy black and white imagery, the picture isn't exactly up to newer "standards," but the material looks as good as it can and, as always, doesn't factor into the final score. The newer footage is crisp, well-defined, nicely colored, and strongly detailed. Facial textures are suitably intricate, colors are stable, and shadow detail is strong. Though there's a drastic difference in raw picture quality, Crowe's film flows so well that the shifts often seem to go unnoticed. The various styles and qualities of the film's footage from the past twenty years just seamlessly come together, and the material in its entirety simply seems to just work in perfect harmony. That's a testament to both how well the movie flows and to its narrative superiority. This won't be demo material, but Pearl Jam Twenty's Blu-ray transfer passes every test.
Pearl Jam Twenty rocks out to a pair of lossless soundtracks, both of the LPCM variety, one each of the 2.0 and 5.1 configurations. Both tracks are excellent, with the 5.1 offering truly shining. It makes excellent use of the surround channels; information is nicely spread all around the stage, playing with great clarity and spatial accuracy. Whether the opening moments when a rotating radio dial sends varied information all around the listening area or during some of the well-balanced concert scenes that place the listener in the middle of the crowd, the track delivers an energy-packed but infinitely clear and crisp experience into the home. The low end is potent and satisfying, whether in support of music or defining a clap of thunder heard early in the movie. Light atmospherics also bring several locales to life with information precisely placed around the stage. Guitar riffs are potent but crisp as they slice through the soundstage, and vocals are strong and front-balanced. The overall experience is satisfyingly rich and accurate; Pearl Jam fans are in for a real treat with the 5.1 offering. The 2.0 track is equally clear and balanced. It of course lacks the immersive surround elements, but it's just as invigorating and suitable for the material. Both tracks are excellent, but the smart money is on the wider and more immersive 5.1 presentation.
Pearl Jam Twenty's extras consist of a handful of short featurettes.
Pearl Jam Twenty is a high quality Documentary that rightly brings into focus the members of Pearl Jam, not simply the music they make. Its balance between broad accessibility and fine detail is commendable; Crowe's craftsmanship allows the film to work for longtime fans and newcomers alike. It's highly entertaining, very informative, and incredibly well crafted. It enjoys a flow that's rarely achieved by even the best Documentary films. The band's great music certainly plays a part in the picture's superb pacing, but it's also the film's attention to detail and the stories it has to share that make it one of the best Music Documentaries in years. Sony's Blu-ray release of Pearl Jam Twenty features strong video and audio, complimented by a few extras. Highly recommended.
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