Search - Mike Oldfield: Elements - The Best Of on DVD

A Must For Mike Oldfield Fans!!

Daniel | Salinas, California, United States | 12/16/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I can't express enough the joy I have in having this DVD in my collection.I'm an avid collector of Mike's CDs and records, but everything on this DVD has eluded me until now. For starters, the live version of TUBULAR BELLS is an absolute treasure! The sound and picture on everything is top-notch in my opinion, except maybe for DON ALFONSO, and it's great to have for novelty-rarity sake. And having the entire album of ISLANDS in video form is so cool! Sure, you may look at some of the videos and think, "Old school." But that's how things were done in the 70's and 80's. Having a visual source to these songs, especially the older tunes (PORTSMOUTH, WILLIAM TELL OVERTURE, etc.) and seeing such a young Mike is such a pleasure. More than anything, I need to thank our Canadian neighbors for making it available in the NTSC format, as I've not been able to find it in the States. So, Mike Oldfield fans, don't waste any time - get this DVD in-house immediately! Even if you have the earlier video version of ELEMENTS (I do not), the extra stuff is totally worthy. It would also be a great introduction for those unfortunates not familiar with Mike's music. So again, thank you so much EMI, and if there's enough for a second installment, bring it on!"

Must-Have for Die-Hards...

keith dawe | toronto, Ontario Canada | 12/19/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"...but not for general consumption. This collection has nearly every video that MO has made up to Tubular Bells II (let's hope Warner brings out a DVD to complete the set) and quite a few surprises. I could go on about the videos but I will say that most are unwatchable by today's standards, though Five Miles Out, within its 1982 context, was arguably the best video MO ever made. The videos appear to be homages to Monty Python, or MO trying too hard (his attempts at CG are just as silly). But fans will love it, regardless. Surprises include the very rare Don Alfonso even internet-savvy fans didn't know existed; a 17 minute segment from The Space Movie with music from Incantations Parts 3&4 (but none of the unreleased music!); and a complete Tubular Bells Part 1 live on BBC (which was cut off on the orginal Elements VHS)."