Search - The Rolling Stones - Live at the Max (Large Format) on DVD

Skip the rest of the reviews!!!

PK | NeptuneUnited States | 02/05/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is the best recording of the stones you'll see or hear on video, other than the film, "Gimme Shelter". This disc was recorded exclusively for the IMAX theaters to lavishly exploit the Stones' at the time of their second musical prime. I'm not talking song writing ability, but rather sheer musicianship. The audio is notably a completely different type of sound. The music from the band sits undeniably atop the screams of the audience. This provides for a stunningly clear and crisp recording without the bother of trying to hear the music over the fans. It prevents the linear effect of keeping every sound on the same plane. The only time you hear the audience is when the camera pans over to them, or naturally through one of the microphones. This was purposely done to keep the sound unique to camera's subject; meaning quite simply, what you see is what you hear. Every guitar lick rings out like one of Keith's amps is in your TV room!!! It is certainly a unique experience."

I have the THX version and it still sucks!

Boetius | Riverdale, PA | 06/04/2004

(2 out of 5 stars)

"Like everyone else with any musical taste I love the Stones, and have been following them since I was fifteen and was hooked by "Satisfaction". That said, there seems to always be a propensity by whoever does the mixing for Stones' movies/DVDs to screw up the sound (maybe the Glimmer Twins themselves?). For instance, I have a number of bootlegs from the 1972 tour (Mick Taylor, decadence, hooray!), most of which are brilliant, full-bodied and powerful, then you get "Ladies and Gentlemen, The Rolling Stones", and it is comparatively anemic (actually awful) - guitars too tinny, the bottom rumble eliminated, Jagger too loud, and instead of sounding powerful, it sounds fragmented not like a real band at all. "At the Max" continues this tradition (?). I have videotape of that tour and, again, it is great, but I can't even watch this DVD, they manage to make the Stones sound boring!! The good news is that on Four Flicks, at last, a really decent job of mixing has been done that actually does sound like a Stones' concert - major regret that they didn't learn to do this before Bill Wyman left the band. At least we have "Gimme Shelter", which in its newest incarnation comes pretty close (ever hear it in a theatre with a good sound system turned up loud? Magic!) But unless you must have everything, I would avoid this one."

An Absolute Must for Any Stones Fan...

PK | 01/11/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I was not a Stones fan until I saw this in an Imax theater. Then I went back to see it again, and again. This concert video is simply the most exciting and most well done of all time. You can even hear the roadies in the background in the beginning and between tunes, it's better in Imax, but its on the video too, you just have to turn it way up! And you should turn it way up anyway. This is the Stones at their finest. The crowd, and the band are having a great time and it shows. Buy this video and watch it over and over."

Exellent audio; good video

Tom | 09/26/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"THX audio is very good - in contrary to other reviews. Noise from audiences is at reasonable level and helps create the proper concert ambient. You must have good center speaker as it will be heavily drived at times. The song performances are strong and combined with good camera work. I'm not real familiar with The Rolling Stones but this dvd gives me a very positive impression.

This video transfer from IMAX format is not as good as I expected. I can see some grainy artifacts especially in the low light scenes. Overall it's still pretty good."