Search - The Clash: The Essential Clash on DVD

An Essential Review

Hellgate Keeper | 02/10/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This DVD is the best rock DVD I've ever seen, not even led zeppelin's "the song remains the same" is better than this one. What I've come to do is to write an entire review about the whole DVD.

Tracklisting:
1.- Clash on Broadway including "London Calling" (live) and "Radio Clash": the London Calling live is really cool, I just love it but the radio clash song isn't that cool. Vote 8.5/10
2.- White Riot: this was the song that made them become famous among "punk" listeners. Vote 9/10
3.- Complete Control: I like it a little bit. Vote 8/10
4.- Tommy Gun: this one is very very very cool and catchy. Vote 9.5/10
5.- Clampdown: this is my second-favorite of this DVD collection. Vote 10/10
6.- Train In Vain: the song in the london calling album is cool, but played in a live concert is even better. Vote 10/10
7.- London Calling: I've seen this video hundreds of times, but I never got bored of it, the song is really great. Vote 9.5/10
8.- Bankrobber: I love this song you just can't immagine, the best on this DVD and the video is just as cool as the song. Vote 13/10 (no kidding)
9.- The Call Up: the only song from Sandinista! album, but it's cool, they should have made a video for "Magnificent Seven" song, but whatever. Vote 8.5/10
10.- Rock The Casbah: very very nice song and funny video. Vote 9/10
11.- Should I Stay Or Should I Go: maybe their most-known song, it's very catchy. Vote 9/10
12.- Career Opportunities: this one is the best song on The Clash album, along with "Jenie Jones". Vote 9.5/10

Special Features:
- HELL W10: this movie is just as cool as any other mafia movie (ok the godfather is a lot better but this one is very cool). You know, music artists aren't that cool in making movies, but this one is really great. Directed by Joe Strummer. Vote 8.5/10

- Promo Footage:
a) 1977: more or less. Vote 8/10
b) White Riot: same as before. Vote 9/10
c) London's Burning: very cool song. Vote 8.5/10

- Discography: here you can check all The clash albums, songs and compilations

- I Fought The Law: many bands have tried to cover this song from Bobby Fuller Four, but I like this one the best. Vote 9/10

- Interview Clip: just an interview on the band

So I guess this is it, I've reviewed anythin that comes on this DVD, and I think it's worth the 15-20 bucks if you like The Clash. Even better than the Westway DVD."

A Must For Clash Fans

Motomama | Southern California | 08/18/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I was glad to get this. The DVD contains all the Clash's commercial videos (previously available on a VHS called Video Clash), plus some older live and interview footage. As a bonus, you get a longish silent B & W film written and directed by Strummer, with the band, friends and crew as actors. The plot is an amusing gangster send-up. Sound quality is terrific on the whole DVD and there's a nice little booklet inside. If you're a Clashie as I am, you must buy this for your collection."

A Great Find for Clash Fans !!!!!

Hellgate Keeper | 03/11/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"All Clash fans need to buy this DVD for 3 reasons: 1) It features two classic live tracks/footage from 1977 rehearsals that are previously unreleased (amazing stuff), 2) The Joe Strummer silent B&W movie is interesting and features all members in a setting no one has ever seen until now, and 3) We get a few extra moments of from "Clash on Broadway" - their style, stance and attitude were always distinctly ahead of their time. Buy it NOW"

The coolest DVD on this side of the pond

S. Peele | 09/28/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is the one DVD that I've watched at least 10 times. Seriously. The videos are fantastic, opening with a snippet of Clash on Broadway (with small, interlaced clips of the Clash VS. American interview squads and Joe Strummer solemnly intoning that `the enemy you know is better than the enemy you don't know') It effortlessly documents the Bonds theater fiasco and slips into the band soldiering on for the waiting crowds. `London Calling' fires away like an explosion, and soon cuts and breaks up into `This Is Radio Clash.'

All the videos are superb, but my favorite has to be the one for a live version of `Clampdown.' The visuals are fresh and striking, and it all ties together with the music perfectly.

However, the highlight of the DVD (besides the interviews and performances from 1976) has to be Hell W10, a silent gangster movie written and directed by Mr. Strummer himself. It stars Paul Simonon as Earl, a cool Brit who gets caught up with rival mobsters, particularly Mick Jones as the evil Socrates. (The scariest thing? Jones' performance is so scary it's actually good. Or he's good and the character's scary... oh, you just have to watch it.) The film also features brief parts with Joe Strummer as a mustachioed policeman/gangster (and is he or isn't he the blind man `narrating' the story?).

All in all, this is a pretty awesome buy, and worth popping into your DVD player on any rainy night.
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