Product Description

Studio: Uni Dist Corp (music) Release Date: 10/03/2006

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #56499 in DVD
• Brand: Universal Studios
• Released on: 2003-03-18
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Color, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, DVD, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 115 minutes

Amazon.com
All the evidence that Sting, Andy Summers, and Stewart Copeland deserved their 2003 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is right here in this two-hour (including bonus features) DVD package. Unfortunately, not a lot of that evidence is visual; the Police's videos--at least the 10 directed by Derek Burbige--seem thrown together and uninspired, consisting mostly of the trio half-heartedly lip-syncing or merely horsing around (the four later ones by Kevin Godley and Lol Creme are a considerable improvement). We do get to see Sting at his most punk (a '78 live version of "Can't Stand Losing You") and most iconic (the "Every Breath You Take" video), and the 48-minute Ghost in the Machine-era documentary is interesting. But it wasn't MTV that got the Police into the Hall; it was superb musicianship and wonderful songs. And here in their digitally remastered glory, they all sound great. --Sam Graham

From the back cover
Together for the first time on DVD... the original videos of the songs that have stormed the charts throughout the world from 1979's "Roxanne" to the 1986 version of "Don't Stand So Close to Me" via the controversial "Invisible Sun" and the classic "Every Breath You Take"--one of the world's greatest bands perform their greatest hits now in 5.1 surround and digitally remastered stereo... on DVD.

Customer Reviews

'A paradigm for the cosmos...'
Whilst the release of �Every Breath You Take - The DVD� sees a long overdue release of fourteen of The Police's videos in the DVD format, it is the bonus material that has been included which undoubtedly forms one of the main attractions of this release. Chief amongst this material is the full 47 minute documentary "Police in Montserrat". This BBC documentary was only shown on UK television a couple of times back in the 1980's - indeed it's first showing almost pre-dates home video recorders! - and to the best of our knowledge it has never been broadcast outside of the UK. To make this release even more interesting this version includes several clips that did not make one of the previous broadcasts (the second we believe). These take the form of an extended intro, and additional footage of all three band members being interviewed.

So, what's the story behind the documentary? Well, in mid 1981, a youthful pre-'Tube' Jools Holland flew out to Montserrat with a small camera crew to film The Police at work recording their fourth album, �Ghost In The Machine�. After cold Leatherhead and rainy Holland where the first three albums were recorded, the island of Montserrat and George Martin's homely Air Studio offered a welcoming, warm environment for the recording of what many fans still consider to be the band's best album. After Jools' introduction to the island we see Sting running up a hill to the studio, and are thrust straight into a series of fascinating interviews and videos. Jools talks to each band member in turn, asking Andy to explain how he gets some of his effects and gets him to demonstrate his Roland guitar synthesiser. Andy plays licks from several songs including �Message In A Bottle� to demonstrate and �Bring On The Night� and Jools ask him about his influences before unceremoniously pulling out his guitar lead after Andy plays a little 'funk' for him with the comment "I think that's best left to James Brown...". Joined by Jools on keyboards the pair then jam some blues tune and we get to see Andy play a little bottleneck guitar - quiet a rare sight.

Sting is interviewed in the studio where he explains to Jools a little about the pressures of songwriting, the desire to always try and better your last hit, and tells how he wrote both �Message In A Bottle� and �Invisible Sun�. The explanation for Sting's almost boyish enthusiasm during this interview can now be revealed - he had just written a new song, �Invisible Sun�, and this clip was not in one of the previous broadcasts. These few minutes are practically worth the price of the DVD alone, with Sting breaking the songs down and explaining in detail how they were constructed. In further 'new' footage, Sting then introduces his customised stand-up Van Zalinge bass, 'Brian', before he and Jools start jamming away where they are joined by Andy Summers.

Jools moves to Stewart Copeland and gets him to explain his drum set-up and demonstrate some of the effects he employs. Stewart describes how important the role of the drummer is at the start of recording and explains in layman's terms his fascination for reggae, demonstrating the key differences between the reggae beat and the traditional backbeat. Stewart's obvious enthusiasm is almost contagious, and at one point he neatly sums up the reggae beat as 'a paradigm for the cosmos'. As if this wasn't enough, intercut between all these clips are four full length videoclips shot in the studio for �Spirit's In The Material World�, �One World (Not Three)�, �Demolition Man� and �Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic�.

Other special features include a discography, and two live tracks from October 1978's appearance on the "Old Grey Whistle Test" TV show �Can't Stand Losing You� and �Next To You�. This was The Police's big break on UK television and featured The Police at their bleach blonde best. Although memorable to many for Sting's nose twitching and lip curling, this wasn't 'attitude' but explained by the fact that moments before going on set he'd had an accident in makeup when trying to help out a make-up assistant with a jammed aerosol. Result? Stinging, painful eyes that he hid behind an oversize pair of sunglasses that kept sliding down his face - hence the twitching! Despite this, these two tracks are great performances.

In addition, a TV promotional clip for the �Synchronicity� album is included. This atmospheric black and white film features music clips from a variety of album tracks as the camera swoops around a room full of objects and imagery related to the album and close ups from the album sleeve photo session. Speaking about these photographs back in 1985, Sting said "My idea was that each member of the band would just go out and be photographed in an environment that he chose and that the three things would somehow relate, and they actually did. Mine was all involved with skeletons; the skeleton of a dinosaur... I guess mine was concerned with extinction." Prophetic words as this of course would be the band's last studio album...

Lastly, we must not overlook the fourteen full length videos - all the hits are covered from �Roxanne to� 1986's reworking of �Don't Stand So Close To Me�, and it is wonderful to see them get a crisp transfer to DVD. Coupled with a choice of audio formats in Dolby Stereo, Dolby 5.1 and DTS 5.1 they sound terrific too! It is also worth noting that the Montserrat documentary is subtitled in both Spanish and Portuguese. All in all, this is a wonderful release that really reinforces the magic of The Police and demonstrates just why they were the biggest band around in the early '80's.

Some surprises, some disappointments
I, along with many others, have waited for the release of this DVD for quite some time. The official videos are the same ones (even the same order) included on the VHS tape released in the mid-80's (at the time the group remixed "Don't Stand '86" for a greatest hits album). Having nearly worn out my copy of that video from dozens--if not hundreds--of viewings (and memorizing the quirks and facial expressions of Andy, Stewart, and Sting in every single video), it's nice to have these videos on a digital copy.

Like the reviewer from New Jersey, though, I was shocked and somewhat disappointed with the audio remixing of the videos. While there are some audio surprises (such as the echo effect of Stewart's drums on songs like "Can't Stand"), some of that "Police sound" has been distorted, muffled, and/or flat out eliminated in the remastering. Andy's wonderful ethereal guitar work on songs such as "Message in a Bottle", "Wrapped Around Your Finger", "Every Little Thing She Does...", and "Walking on the Moon" (that wonderful jangling chord that introduces each line in the verses) has been minimized or removed entirely. Sting's vocals are too loud, echo-y, and overshadow the work of his band members (for example, in "Every Little Thing" or "Every Breath"--in the case of the latter, his fadeout vocals are completely gone). Stewart's drums are at times too loud and tinny; at times his wonderful drum fills are missing completely. Overall, the sound has a more hollow and sterile feel, and the goal to create a crisp digital sound has taken away the warmth of the evenly-mixed masterpieces this trio created in their all-too-short career.

The standout among the "extra features" is the Monserrat special hosted by Jules Holland. Though the videos included in the special will be familiar to many (including "Every Little Thing" and "Spirits"), Holland's conversations with each band member are the most interesting, shedding light on Sting's songwriting process, Andy's guitar effects, and Stewart's adaptation of world percussion rhythms. Everyone also should have a copy of the Police's "Grey Whistle" performance, featuring Sting with a large pair of sunglasses (Stewart's), the remedy for hiding eyes irritated by an aerosol spray prior to performance.

Buy this DVD to have a digital copy of the Police videos (as well as for the extras); keep your old videotapes of their videos for the true Police audio that we all know and love.

Great 5.1 DTS Sound!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I just finished watching this DVD on a 50 inch widescreen TV, with a Yamaha RX-V1400 amp. As many people point out, the videos have not been re-processed, but I have seen worse out there. For the age of the material the transfer was not that bad, and was not so distracting. The videos are full screen, but do not look overly stretched on my widescreen TV

The best part is the DTS 5.1 remix on the videos, which is superior. The quality stands next to the Sting DTS Music DVDs. There is the obvious separation of instruments and backing vocals in the surround speakers, and the .1 bass is done very well. NOTE: The special feature live music does not have the 5.1 remix. There are also interviews in the special features, for those interested. Overall, I enjoyed the DVD, and will watch/listen to the videos again. Just listening to the 5.1 mix of the videos is worth the price of admission. Great Sound!!!

I picked this up locally for less than the on line price, and recommend this DVD.