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Amazon.co.uk Review
A month before the release of their sixth album in early 2001, the Manic Street Preachers organised a one-off gig in Cuba. Louder than War contains footage of the entire concert (famously attended by President Fidel Castro), as well as the group's caper around the island. The country was chosen by the Manics because of Cuba's anti-American stance, a position that band members supported and have drawn upon in their material. Superbly produced and edited, the end result however fails to represent the group's visit and views in a positive light. Reading between the lines, it's obvious that their trip was just as much a challenge to Americanisation as Wham's 1985 tour of China. The band verbally acknowledge that communism has always been openly romanticised, however they fail to recognise the extent to which they have done the same with this "promotional" concert, and the subsequent merchandising and PR opportunities. Putting ideological issues aside, the disc provides further evidence of the Manics' flair for live performance. The dulled colours of the visual material create a drab, if somewhat oppressive atmosphere, but add much needed authenticity to the proceedings. The unreleased tour diary sets the scene more comprehensively than the previously broadcast Cuba documentary, which is also contained on this disc. This is a must for all Manics fans, as well as those wanting a non-guidebook (if somewhat romanticised) view of modern-day, urban Cuba.
On the DVD: The disc is stuffed full of bonus material but the extensive track listing does exaggerate the amount of original footage featured (the same live performance material being used both in the "gig" section, and in the Cuba documentary). There's also loads of hidden bonus material that can be accessed by selecting/clicking on the "Bonus Feature" captions that intermittently pop-up: such as their meeting with Fidel Castro, and a full-length version of the Radio Progresso interview. There are breathtaking photos of the guys featured in the photo gallery, and the Manics' discography is particularly thorough (the highest chart positions, the artwork and track listings of all their single and album releases are all included). Furthermore, all of the live footage can be listened to in either Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround or PCM stereo. The menus are relatively straightforward to use, however the utilisation of the group's trademark blocky typeface in the sub-menus occasionally makes it difficult to read/select track names. The DVD-ROM link is also particularly tricky to access, mainly due to the basic and rather confusing instructions provided on the disc for accessing this "exclusive" link.--John Galilee
DVD Description
DVD Special Features:
Cuban TV Bonus Tracks (31 Minutes)
1. So Why So Sad
A Design For Life
3. The Masses Against The Classes
4. You Stole The Sun From My Heart
5. Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head
6. Freedom Of Speech Won't Feed My Children
Photo Gallery (18 Exclusive Shots From Cuba)
Discography
Hidden Bonus Material (x8)
Radio Interview 1 In Full
DVD-ROM Web Link
English/Linear PCM Stereo, Live Footage In English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
Subtitles: English, Espanola (Spanish)
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I think this DVD is amazing - a must for any true Manics fan. As always the band put on a fabulous live performance, and the tour diary, documentary and exclusive interviews show the Manics as they really are. Set aside 3 hours to watch the whole of it from start to finish. Manic Street Preachers, we salute you!
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This DVD was a bit of a let down in my opinion. Like the Millenium gig captured on 'Leaving the 20th Century', the cuba gig is badly portrayed.
There isnt much great footage of the gig, which itself wasnt an overly exciting affair. The manics can and do give amazing live shows, why they dont have this on here is anybody's guess. Fair enough, the gig was in advance of the release of Know Your Enemy, but the abscence of so many old songs is a disgrace.
There's really nothing to get a fan excited on this DVD, if you've seen them live then you'll just feel ripped off, being presented with a no-frills recording (except for multiple camera angles on one song), of a dissappointing concert.
If you havent seen them, then I suppose this would give you some idea of what they're like live, be it in a watered down performance. Id recommend Leaving the 20th Century over this.
Id love to see a DVD released of a typical Manics gig, complete with Faster, Yes and Slash and Burn, now that would be worth buying!
Format:DVD
This Dvd is great.
If you liked the Millennium gig then this will surely please you, personally I think the performances on this Dvd are much better. Also the special features are brilliant...with a long documentary and extra songs there's something for everyone here.
I would advise any Manics fan to buy this.
If you liked the Millennium gig then this will surely please you, personally I think the performances on this Dvd are much better. Also the special features are brilliant...with a long documentary and extra songs there's something for everyone here.
I would advise any Manics fan to buy this.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Louder Than War
Not as good as the original documentary shown on Channel 4 in 2001.
The meeting with Castro has been seriously edited as has many of the interviews with the band and... Read more
The meeting with Castro has been seriously edited as has many of the interviews with the band and... Read more
Published on 8 Jan 2010 by Fido Castro
Overweight and out of date?
"LOUDER THAN WAR" they proclaim. But this, the third Manics longform video (a now near annual event for a tie-in live concert video) sees another fawning attempt to... Read more
Published on 14 Aug 2008 by Mr. M. A. Reed
Profound, important and sincere
This documentary raised many eyebrows back in 2001, when the Manics played a one-off concert in Cuba's Karl Marx theatre. Read more
Published on 16 May 2007 by J. Roberts
Brilliant Manics - memorable event - slightly dodgy filming
The Manics trip to Cuba was already shown in the Channel 4 documentary. This DVD gives you the documentary, the gig plus some extra Cuban TV tracks (e.g. Read more
Published on 27 Oct 2001
Great gig - not so great DVD
This DVD is not exactly what I had expected.
In one sense it is really good purchase cos its a great set (except for their decision NOT to include any songs from "Gold... Read more
Published on 3 Oct 2001
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