This may be the only instance I've ever enjoyed the documentary part of a concert DVD more than I enjoyed the music. Oh, Paul McCartney's songs and performances are fine but I prefer hearing the entire song sung if I am going to look and listen to a concert. Here, that doesn't happen, which I know disappointed a lot of buyers, and I don't blame them. Fortunately, I rented this first, but I did find - after the first 20 minutes - the "tour" of Moscow and McCartney's thoughts very touching.
Yeah, "touching" is not a word I would think to use in describing something like this but it is appropriate. at happened the more you see of this trip. The famous ex-Beatle spent some quality time with fans, admirers, country leaders and most importantly kids. He met and helped orphans and patiently helped a mid-teen rock group, listening to them and giving advice. It was really nice. It showed McCartney in a very humanitarian light.
All of this behind-the-scenes material was the expense of the songs but, at least made this DVD worth watching once.
The only thing that was ridiculous was the plethora of comments early on about how McCartney and the Beatles brought down Communism. That is one of the most ludicrous things I have ever heard but several people in here actually espouse that view and are dead serious. If you can be patient and get by that segment, the rest of this documentary is far better.
So, if you're looking for a straight concert, forget it because over half of it is interviews and following the famous singer around Moscow. But if you want to learn something about Russia and see a good glimpse of it in 2003, and a nice look at McCartney being a "regular guy," this is pretty good. You can still get a concert on this DVD because a bonus feature includes a 45-minute concert (all music) he did in St. Petersburg
Although you don't get full songs in any of the Red Square concert, here's the song list: Getting Better, Band On The Run, Can't Buy Me Love, Two Of Us, I Saw Her Standing There, We Can Work It Out, I've Just Seen a Face; Live And Let Die, Let 'Em In, Fool On A Hill, The Things We Said Today, Birthday, Maybe I'm Amazed, Back In The USSR, Calico Skies, Hey Jude, She's Leaving Home, Yesterday, Let It Be, Back In The USSR (reprise).
Yeah, "touching" is not a word I would think to use in describing something like this but it is appropriate. at happened the more you see of this trip. The famous ex-Beatle spent some quality time with fans, admirers, country leaders and most importantly kids. He met and helped orphans and patiently helped a mid-teen rock group, listening to them and giving advice. It was really nice. It showed McCartney in a very humanitarian light.
All of this behind-the-scenes material was the expense of the songs but, at least made this DVD worth watching once.
The only thing that was ridiculous was the plethora of comments early on about how McCartney and the Beatles brought down Communism. That is one of the most ludicrous things I have ever heard but several people in here actually espouse that view and are dead serious. If you can be patient and get by that segment, the rest of this documentary is far better.
So, if you're looking for a straight concert, forget it because over half of it is interviews and following the famous singer around Moscow. But if you want to learn something about Russia and see a good glimpse of it in 2003, and a nice look at McCartney being a "regular guy," this is pretty good. You can still get a concert on this DVD because a bonus feature includes a 45-minute concert (all music) he did in St. Petersburg
Although you don't get full songs in any of the Red Square concert, here's the song list: Getting Better, Band On The Run, Can't Buy Me Love, Two Of Us, I Saw Her Standing There, We Can Work It Out, I've Just Seen a Face; Live And Let Die, Let 'Em In, Fool On A Hill, The Things We Said Today, Birthday, Maybe I'm Amazed, Back In The USSR, Calico Skies, Hey Jude, She's Leaving Home, Yesterday, Let It Be, Back In The USSR (reprise).