Search - Red Hot + Blue: A Tribute To Cole Porter on DVD

Terrible waste...

Damon Devine | Los Angeles, CA United States | 04/26/2006

(2 out of 5 stars)

"What a terrible shame the quality of this DVD is gastly. Why on EARTH, with such spectacular performers and rare videos, could they not have got up off their lazy a---s and digitally remastered this? Why? It's blurred, and the contrast is terrible. The ONLY clear thing (besides all their effort put into the fancy MENU (!) is the bonus footage of marvelous Annie Lennox taken from television. It appears to be from a master tape--unlike the company's own videos!
I was SO looking forward to seeing Sinead O'Connor and Annie Lennox with brilliant color and clarity--only to see it worse (and I kid you not) than the VHS quality. What's the point of putting something on DVD if it isn't any different in quality than the VHS, which can be found for a few bucks online or in any used video store? If you were to record your VHS version on to a blank DVD+R, you would have exactly what is available here. This was an important project, so I am shocked. I hope this helps save you money and especially disappointment.

A NOTE: The CD (not the DVD) is beautifully remastered and is included in this package. If you are strictly into the music (CD) and not interested in the videos (DVD), this product will be worth it for you. If you were hoping for newly remastered video clips as well, you will be considerably disappointed."

Buyer Beware

Tim Brough | Springfield, PA United States | 05/07/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I had to have this. My VHS of "Red Hot and Blue" was pretty much worn out and I was thrilled to get this - at last! - on DVD. But Jezzy Christmas, was anyone watching this when the final masters were getting made? As everyone here has stated, the transfers are horrific. The images frequently grain out, colors wash out, and the aspect ratio clips the names of the performers off the early credits. Add that the closing credits inexplicably stop in the middle, and you realize that someone was seriously asleep at the wheel here.

And that masticates the massive one. There are heartbreaking great videos here (the two by k.d. lang and Annie Lennox still brought a tear to my eye), but they are lost in this incomprehensible mess of a reissue. Given the massive historical importance of this project (believe it or not, this was the first ever network television show to use the word 'condom' and was a watershed moment in raising awareness of AIDS and of Ronald Reagan's incompetent handling of the crisis) and the star power invloved, why the heck didn't anyone dig for better quality?

The three stars are for merely being able to get "Red Hot and Blue" back on the market again, and the CD mastering is terrific. But please, Shout Factory, go back for a re-do! Please!"

Why?

isabeau | Houston, Texas USA | 05/06/2006

(1 out of 5 stars)

"This was purchased with the hope that the other reviews were somehow incorrect...they were not. After waiting years to have Red Hot Blue on DVD I was actually sad after watching it. Now that sadness is turning to anger. How could they do this to such an important project? It's criminal.

"

Red hot + blue died and gone to heaven

janina | usa | 05/07/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"it took them 15 years but it was about time that they did a clever mix of a dvd music video with the classic original extra songs included in with the cd and well worth the wait.

i found the quality excellent and liked the fact of the different styles of musicians and celebrities through the entire compilations to enhance in a blend of great interpretive songs/gems from the exceptionally talented songwriter cole porter.

the overall, i see was high in content and extras and for a good cause of course with excellent art form to boot. it's content talking about education, take precaution with history and current news on aids with people different takes with music videos. some examples were richard gere, john malkovich, debbie harry, annie lennox and others which also did brief clips with these people in between the music videos to break up the songs.

of course, the premise of this is for sales, music, help and awareness and i found the talks were not intrusive but brief and with interesting points from each person. i liked all the music videos but the ones that stood out the best to me were kd lang, sinaed o'connor, lisa stansfield, neneh cherry, annie lennox and the beautifully sung "do i love you" remix from aztec camera.

it's definately an interesting mix of sounds from various types of musical artists but i enjoyed the balance and think it was well worth the price for everything.

i would highly recommend it and found it a timeless treasure at home or on the road..."