8.2 | / 10 |
Users | 4.5 | |
Reviewer | 4.5 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
It started as a concert. It became a celebration. Join an unparalleled lineup of rock superstars as they celebrate The Band's historic 1976 farewell performance.
Starring: Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Neil Diamond, Emmylou Harris, Van MorrisonMusic | 100% |
Documentary | 57% |
Video codec: MPEG-2
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: LPCM 5.1 (48kHz, 16-bit)
English: Dolby Digital 5.1 (640 kbps)
English, English SDH, French, Portuguese, Spanish, Korean, Mandarin (Traditional), Thai
25GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region free
Movie | 4.5 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Van Morrison--these artists and many more grace the stage in The Band's farewell concert at the Winterland ballroom. More than a performance, The Last Waltz documents an important microcosm to evaluate the world of rock'n roll and many of its biggest stars in the 1970s. The concert rocks. The performers are inspired, appearing at the peak of their powers. And the Blu-ray release goes far beyond earlier DVD versions to reveal that The Last Waltz is indeed filmed gorgeously, with sound that is both rich and refined.
Bob Dylan, with his trademark white hat, leads a stage packed with talent in a rousing performance of "I Shall Be Released".
Those who did not see The Last Waltz in theaters are in for a treat. The Blu-ray is remarkably film- like, with contrast, resolution and grain normally associated with filmstock. Noise is minimal, and the picture is remarkably clean and detailed, while retaining warmth. Even the definition visible in the menu's navigation bar is resolved gorgeously, giving a more modern look and feel, as well as excellent navigation to The Last Waltz. The film is also made timeless by Scorsese's attention to camera angles, framing and lighting. Unlike most concert footage where the long shots are jittery and the close-ups miss the mark, The Last Waltz focuses on the key areas to see at any given moment, whether it's the facial expression of a musician or the entire band on the stage. The 1080p resolution instantly communicates details unresolved in NTSC versions, including fabric textures, hair, or in Neil Young's case a bit of white powder near his nose, rumored to be cocaine. The definition is fantastic and dramatically improves the footage compared to DVD releases.
Aside from the camerawork, the real gift of The Last Waltz is the music, and the BD production offers a significant upgrade over the CD and DVD versions. The 5.1 lossless PCM is a treat with extended treble, solid midrange and taught bass. Every instrument is audible and images superbly in the soundstage, which is lush deep and vibrant. Listen to Joni Mitchell sing backup vocals in Helpless. Female voices are an excellent reference for judging the audible merits of recordings, and here Mitchell sounds full and with gorgeous timbre. Throughout her subsequent performance of Coyote, the way she breaks from spoken words into more melodic placement of the notes soars above the taught rhythmic pulse of The Band. The mix shows each of the instruments off well, with no audible congestion that tends to make instruments sound like they're tripping over each other in
The special feature that adds the most value to The Last Waltz is Martin Scorsese's commentary.
Robbie Robertson's comments, while not technical in any way, are also insightful, but Scorsese's
attention to detail in capturing the performances becomes abundantly clear. The director tackled
every challenge and leapt every hurdle in filming the key shots, camera angles and close-ups that
give The Last Waltz its visual edge over other concerts filmed in the 1970s. Whether you want to
listen to Scorsese go into the technical details is another matter. Peppering the commentary with
kind words about the guest artists and his comrades in The Band, Robertson shows a more
relaxed approach than his former roommate.
"Revisiting The Last Waltz", a 20-minute special featuring Scorsese and Robertson, covers slightly
different ground than the audio commentary. The focus of the featurette is the concert's
importance and its roll in ushering in the end of an era, not just the end of The Band. Some of
the supplementary bonuses available on the previous DVD release are not included, including
additional concert audio. Fans interested in this music will find it on the expanded multiple CD
release from Sony.
The Last Waltz is essential viewing for classic rock aficionados and fans of Dylan or the other guest artists. Of course, if you're at all into the songs of The Band, especially their landmark debut album, Music from the Big Pink, The Last Waltz is an absolute revelation and the Blu-ray is now the ultimate version. To see the members of the band performing gives a deeper understanding of their style and musical skills. It may look a bit dated, but The Last Waltz is refreshing at the same time. It takes us back to an era when rock stardom was achieved more by talent and dedication to the music compared with today's music business of dancing divas and gangsta rappers. An easy recommendation.
1970
Remastered
1968
1984
1967
2019
1986-1987
1987
1974
1999
2022
1981
Deluxe 10th Anniversary Edition
2005
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1976
2003
1981
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2008
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1988
2013
2007