New Order: A Collection/The New Order Story [DVD] [2005]

This isn't the whole Neworderstory, it was made in 1993.

It captures the band, not long after the release of 'Republic' and just before things turned really sour for most of the rest of the 90s. Grueling tours, inter-band tensions and now the demise of Factory and the imminent financial collapse of their nightclub/folly The Hacienda had taken their toll, and at the time it seemed like the end. Barney's face when asked if New Order will make another LP says it all (they have since made two, and are recording another)

This is an unorthodox documentary, put together by the ubiquitous Paul Morley (when he was a serious journalist rather than a rent-a-pundit on 80s clip shows). Its edited together in cut-up 'Yoof-TV' fashion which looks a little dated now.
Some of it is very funny (the spoof New Order game show hosted by Keith Allen), some of it downright irritating (The breathy, American female voice-over that links the film together).

Best of the material is the clips of the band, sharing funny stories over a drink or six and generally winding each other up..well mostly winding their drummer up (who, it is revealed had to pay to get into The Hacienda on the opening night!). Its also a nice tribute to the bands late manager, Rob Gretton, the heart and soul of the band, Factory, and The Hacienda.

The music & promo clips, edited down in the broadcast version are mostly extended to full length. This has the effect of breaking up the documentary and rather ruining the continuity and pace. It would have been better to leave the full clips as DVD extras. Oh, and of course, the clips you want to see in full (Early live TV appearances on Granada TV etc) are cut short. The amazing clip of Joy Division playing Transmission on BBC2 Something Else is given a cheesy monochrome tint (it would have looked much more effective in its stark, Colour Videotape version), and is cut short by an annoying intrusion by Bono of all people, just as Ian Curtis is about to let rip...how ironic.

The film trades on the myths surrounding the band, and masks and obscures as much as it reveals.
Fun for fans, an interesting period piece on the band but neither a definitive history, nor a satisfying collection of clips.
Theres a great anthology of clips, and a great history of the band yet to be made. But of course, the real Neworderstory isn't over yet. This will have to do for now.

3/5 plus one bit for the funny bits.

I bought this the other day not really knowing what to expect. I'm already a Joy Division/New Order fan so I knew I'd like it somehow and I did. I really liked it, it was great seeing the videos, the humourous interviews with the band members and the late great Rob Gretton. I'd never seen him live on anything before, I'd only heard stories about him and seen him depicted as someone with brilliant character in films such as '24 Hour Party People' and more recently 'Conrtol'. Another small thing I enjoyed watching over and over was the Sunkist advert which I'd never even seen before and I found quite funny.

The only thing I didn't like about it was the awful narration from Jenny Seagrove. Thank god she didn't narrate it all! Her voice just doesn't fit in, like she's just got out of bed it sounds so half-hearted especially when she mentions Ian Curtis' suicide and New Orders move to London records. I'd rather the story just spoke for itself, which it mostly does, rather than her dis-interested sounding voice drawling on every so often. I also didn't like, a previous reviewer mentioned, the Bono parts especially cutting into a great part of 'Transmission' and him just sounding like he can't be bothered with what he's saying. Which is probably not the case but it seems that way.

Overall thought this is an obvious must for any New Order/Joy Division fan, it's got interviews with the band and great people such as Gretton and Quincy Jones, the music videos and clips of a quiz show hosted by Keith Allen which I would've loved to have seen had I been old enough or even alive if it was before 1990. The only other problem with the DVD is that it only goes up to 1994 and isn't really up to date but Grant Gee's recent documentry on Joy Division brings fans right up to date on this remarkable and invincible band.

I bought this dvd after reading other reviews,it is very interesting to watch it back after all these years,especially now that hooky has left the band.I really enjoyed watching the NO show with Keith Allen.

A must for any new order/joy division fan