Search - God He Reigns: Live Worship From Hillsong on DVD

Great music - but...

M. Jones | UK | 10/20/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Let me say I love Hillsong. They produce some great worship DVD's and CD's and in my opinion are one of the best worship teams in the world. The last few DVD's they have produced "Hope", and "For All You've Done" are awesome, packed with great songs wrapped around a real 'worship' experience, rather than a music 'concert'.

So it was with great expectations that I ordered the newest release "God He Reigns", but now I've played it a few times, I have to say I have very mixed feelings about it. The songs are easily up to the very high standards set by the team in previous releases, but the presentation is VERY different to what we have seen before.

It's very very slick. The fast paced editing, throw focus, freeze frame and jump cuts make this as edgy and contemporary as any cutting edge MTV production. Fine if you are watching a deliberately theatrical Britney Spears or Robbie Williams gig, but seriously distracting if you want to experience praising God. Many of the Hillsong team are now stars in their own right, with 2004 seeing worship leader Darlene Zschech beating the likes of Kylie and new star Delta Goodrem to become Australia's biggest selling female artist. While I would not want to accuse any of the talented singers and musicians in the group of having a 'superstar' ego that needs massaging, the stage is much closer to the audience than in previous concerts and the hands raised by the worshipers to God sometimes look more like they are stretched out in admiration to the band. The players and singers are lit - in quite spectacular fashion - in a way which seems to make them the stars of the show, but events like this are really all about God, or at least, they should be! The computer visuals and editing/direction seriously disctract from the experience, and at times I found myself looking away or closing my eyes so I could be more immersed in the music as worship. I would agree with Jeff from Nevada that the best way to enjoy the concert maybe by getting the CD, not the DVD.

Hillsongs are very contemporary in the way they present themselves and have a very young congregation, and while the substance of what they do remains intact, it has been overtaken by style on this release. If you are new to Christian music and are at home with an MTV style pop/rock concert - you might like this DVD. But if you're familiar with Hillsong's previous releases and are looking for the 'hearts full of worship' experience that has been their charismatic trademark, you may well be very dissapointed with this DVD."

This DVD captures passion and praise for God

Stewart O. Loggins | Bothell, WA USA | 02/05/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Really, really captures the heart of worship. Lots of closeups really work to make you feel you are there. Yes, the first few songs are over-edited, but it settles down after that. Really wonderful worship songs. #5 Immanuel straight thru #11 Let Us Adore is like the nectar of heaven! The sound quality is really good - play it through your stereo. And the expressions of praise and worship on some of the faces are priceless. I thrill to see so many young people heartily praising the true God! This DVD really draws me in to worship. My favorite of all five Hillsong DVD's that I have (though they are all good)."

THIS IS THE SINGLE DISC VERSION - THERE IS AN EXPANDED, BONU

Stanley Pain | USA | 10/23/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"To address what another reviewer was asking about, there are two versions of the "God He Reigns" DVD. THIS version (with a notably cheaper price) is one disc that captures _most_ of the night's recordings, thirteen total.

Another version, the "Special Resource Edition" is a Double DVD with the entire recordings, sixteen total, on Disc One.

Bonus Disc Two contains:

- "A Call To Worship" Documentary
- Production documentary
- Guitar Workshop
- iWorship Track - "Emmanuel"
- Previously unreleased United songs "Look To You" and "Til I See You"

This Special Resource Edition does not appear to be available on Amazon. It is available on other Christian resource websites. Search Google's "Froogle" for this DVD and you are sure to find the double DVD edition, if that is what you seek."

Only the best for the GREAT GOD!!

Soundcraft | Barranquilla, Colombia | 10/21/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Well, i pre-ordered this DVD from hillsong Australia directly and the wait was a bit long, but once i got to play this DVD i realized that there are no limits to what "Excellence" should mean to all we dedicate to GOD.

I own the latest 5 Hilsong DVD's and this one if far different from the others, which is good, different but good. if we go to analize the message, the music and the art involved in this production, all i can say is that GOD deserves every effort spent into this and much more.

you will read other reviews where people goes against the editing, the images and all, but i personally think that one major porpuse will be achieved with this type of production, a lot of music lovers will receive a quality message about GOD and many will understand that HE is all that matters.

this type of perfection, commitment and exellence is needed in every single work we start in the name of JESUSCHRIST.

buy it, you won't regret it

enjoy it and get inspiration out of it

Love JESUS, serve him and look foward to higher and better thing for His kingdom."