Amazon.co.uk Review
Featuring 35 videos and an additional disc full of bonus material, Hits: The Videos is the definitive Erasure collection. Disliked by many for their formulaic synth-pop tunes, Clarke and Bell are nevertheless adored by loyal fans across the globe and are still viewed as "alternative" in the US. These conflicting feelings towards the duo have existed since day one, with many put off by their initial high-energy sound and flamboyant image. It was only through adopting a more "macho" white T-shirt and blue jean look in the video for "Sometimes" that the guys eventually managed to obtain UK chart success. However, the videos (all included on Disc 1) for debut singles "Who Needs Love (Like That)" and "Heavenly Action" shouldn't be ignored, as the former features Bell dragged up as a damsel in distress and the later is a kitsch Barbarella spoof, complete with toddlers dressed as cherubs. Ever since their promos have alternated between the more light-hearted, ostentatious videos ("Love To Hate You", "Take a Chance On Me", and "Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)") and the serious melodramatic epics ("The Circus", "Am I Right", "S.O.S." and "Stay with Me").
Other highlights of this collection include "Chains of Love", which features Andy and Vince flying around the studio holstered on chains. Taking its inspiration from the video of the Pet Shop Boys' "Go West" from the previous year, Erasure's 1994 single "Run to the Sun" is an ambitious homo-erotic, computer-generated affair seemingly located somewhere in Eastern Europe. In fact, all of the I Say, I Say, I Say videos are shot in foreign locales--the Far East for "Always" and the Mediterranean for "I Love Saturday"). Another classic is the later video "Don't Say Your Love is Killing Me", which features Bell being hauled through various locations on his lounge rug. Despite being renowned for their glitzy live shows, only three of the videos feature material shot on tour ("Oh L'Amour", "In My Arms" and "Rain"). All in all this is an excellent value-for-money compilation for those not too tired by the tried-and-tested Erasure formula.
On the DVD: Erasure--Hits: The Videos plays in Dolby stereo, with some of the later videos being 16:9 format. Disc 2 includes exclusive performance footage, rare videos and tracks performed live on all of Erasure's major tours. Six lengthy promotional documentaries from 2001 to 2003 are included, which feature interviews with the pair. Hidden bonus footage has also been crammed on to the disc. The only downside is the clumsy menus, which are difficult to navigate and are not all that pleasing to the eye. --John Galilee
Customer Reviews:
Erasure DVD: The Videos.......2004-02-29
As a fan of the band, I'm glad to see that they finally released a complete collection of every Erasure video on DVD, all 38 videos, not 35 as listed, they've hidden three. Go to Disc Two and on the main menu, if I'm not mistaken use the arrow keys to find the Hamburg Mix for Who Needs Love Like That. On the same DVD go to the Rare Videos and hit your arrow key right and find another video for Oh L'amour. For the last secret, a live version of Wooden Heart, go to the Promo section and hit your arrow key right and you'll find this little treasure.
One of best video DVD ever.......2004-02-01
Erasure "Hits - the Videos" comes in a pack with 2 DVDs. The first DVD is fabulous: you get 35 videos and in them you find all the Erasure Hits plus less known videos.
Starting with "Who needs love" and ending with "Make me smile" you get other hits like "Oh l'Amour", "Ship of fools", and Erasure version of several Abba songs (the funniest video is "Take a Chance on me"), among others.
The second DVD is not as good (it would impossible to keep in the level of the first DVD) and you can view more 9 videos plus 6 promotional documentaries.
Sound and picture quality are great, so giving 5 stars to this DVD is just an understatement of its good quality.
What remastering?.......2003-12-02
If you're a fan of Erasure and want to complete your collection
then you'll probably buy this DVD package anyway. For sure it's great value in terms of content.
Remastering for DVD is a different matter altogether. The whole point of DVD is to get the very best from the visuals and sound,
but Mute have made no effort whatsoever to remaster the audio or
film clips for this release. The sound is low and the visuals are
for the most part murkey and dull. The track Sometimes is riddled with scratches on every frame.
The age of the material has nothing to do with it. If that was the case how come recent DVD releases by Duran Duran, Pet Shop Boys and Dead Or Alive have clear, crisp video and LOUD, sharp and clear audio?
Sorry, but Mute have made no effort at all to clean the material for this release, and for that reason it's for hard core fans only...
Top quality.......2003-10-27
As others have said, this is tops. The videos' range from the weird to the wonderful and all those you have seen will bring backa few memories. There are of course the songs you don't like, and the older stuff is often the best (but that just shows our ages) but in general, it's superb. Great to be able, at last, to have all the decent songs in one place (whereas two hits albums have them all over the place), and the extra's are great. Now I know what they look like in 2003 as well...
Erasure in a box..........2003-10-23
Just on a value for money basis this is essential for anyone who likes Vince and Andy! Two full DVDs of their chart hits, including a few I didn't even know had promotional videos made for them!
Disc Two, with the documentary and live stuff, packs this collection out nicely. It truly is Erasure and their history condensed into two disks, with no glaring omissions. Hours of entertainment and worth every penny, deserving of five stars.
Product Description
An ancient story tells how, three hundred years ago, a nun fled from the destruction of the Shaolin Temple and brought the world a method of unarmed combat par excellence. This previously secret art is now the most widely practiced Kung Fu system throughout the world.
Ip Chun is the son of Ip Man - Bruce Lees instructor. In this program the Grand-master performs the two forms against the Wooden Dummy, and then solo, and finally the applications. The footage contained in the program is unique and is only available from Legend Productions.
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