Beatles, The: Get Back : Season 1
[{'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on January 24, 2022', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-5 review-rating', 'review_body': 'First, thank you and congratulations to the Beatles, Apple Records, Peter Jackson and Apple TV+. After a couple years\' of anticipation, the end result was SO MUCH BETTER than anything I could have imagined - a topic about which many people have already written so I will not be redundant on that point.\n\nHowever, as stunning and important as this documentary is, I think it could be improved significantly by offering a cut of the rooftop concert that does not include the crowd and police activities. While it makes perfect sense that Peter Jackson would include that terrific footage as part of the story, a "performers only" cut of the performance is a no-brainer bonus-disc feature, or perhaps even a separate release. Let it take whatever form the powers that be choose, but PLEASE PLEASE consider allowing us to see and hear, uninterrupted, the last live performance of the most important band in rock and roll history.'}, {'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on January 25, 2022', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-5 review-rating', 'review_body': 'It\'s a documentary that was true to what was going on at the time. People complaining about Yoko are full of themselves, as she does her "freak outs" for less than two total minutes of footage in the nearly 8 hours. It\'s a great documentary, and you sort of feel as if you\'re hanging out with the band while they develop these classic songs from Let it Be, Abbey Road and the members\' initial solo albums.'}, {'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on January 10, 2022', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-5 review-rating', 'review_body': 'Revised for Blu-Ray:\n\nSo it appears that digital noise reduction has been overused on this set-it’s more noticeable on the Blu-Ray where streaming quality doesn’t impact the image quality. Nevertheless, this is a terrific release BUT Jackson shouldn’t have done so much grain removal AND they should have included a high def version of the original “Let It Be” release.\n\nOriginal review: Watched this on Disney Plus. While the first hour or so was slow going, it picked up considerably as they pushed into making the album proper. The Blu-ray will not have by extra material but, given the film was expanded to 8 hours with Jackson’s version, that shou;d not be an issue for most folks. My only complaint is I would have liked the original Let It Be film as part of the package.\n\nThe Jackson cut does provide some balance to the proceedings demonstrating that the conflicts highlighted in “Let It Be”, while there, were not the driving factors for the split of the group. Yes, they were at the end of their career and, although they might not admit it, it was evident in their working relationship. John was sick of being a Beatle, George hated the restrictions he was facing as a songwriter in the band (and there is a ramshackle version of “All Things Must Pass” attempted that hints at what it might have been like if The Bearlesmhad released it). It’s interesting to also see them working on material for the follow up album “Abbey Road” (“”Let It Be” was recorded first but released last).\n\nMcCartney does come across as ‘leading’ the band during this period as John had given up his role focusing more on Yoko. It does demonstrate how important he was to the. And during the later phase of their career.'}, {'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on February 18, 2022', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-3 review-rating', 'review_body': "No booklet and DVD's are stacked ontop of each other. Spindle made a dent that shows on the front cover. Video on disc 1 appears ok. I dislike cheap packaging."}, {'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on January 22, 2022', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-5 review-rating', 'review_body': 'Get Back may not for average Beatles fans, but this film deepened my understanding and adoration. I have watched it twice (so far) and will be purchasing the DVD. I highly recommend it, especially to those who enjoy the song-writing process.'}, {'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on January 15, 2022', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-3 review-rating', 'review_body': 'I haven’t seen the DVD, yet, but this is a warning to those expecting the original movie. The reports are that the original movie is not a part of this set, so keep your bootleg “Let It Be” version. As usual; remastered, recompiled, redone, etc. versions by new interpreters of the classics must put their own stamp of creativity into the game, as though they can make things better. Look at the remastered attempts at “A Hard Day’s Night”, which were so-called-improved and resulted in the chopping off of content at the top and bottom of the screen to force-fit it onto a widescreen. That is what I’m expecting in this “Get Back” “improved” version, as well.\n\nI saw the Disney release of this set in Nov, and it is supposed to be identical. While good, it can be tedious, as it is little more than a video version of the “Anthology” audio release of The Beatles worst moment. Certainly, it is worth the price for the expanded rooftop concert.\n\nUpdated, now that I have received it:\n\nCONFIRMED: the studio scenes have been cut along the top and bottom to force-fit it onto wide screen monitors. So, about 20% of the video content is missing (heads are cut off, full view of the studio is absent, etc.). Not bad, just different. Additionally, it is programmed more as a teaching tool about the Beatles. It has an introduction that reviews their history and has captions, throughout, that label everything from people, dates, events to songs being played. One glaring error was the identification of the studio recording of "Get Back" as being the one on "the album." I don\'t know what "album" they are talking about, since that studio recording was released, by The Beatles, as a single, not on an album. Perhaps they were referring to it\'s appearance on a compilation or one of the butchered medley albums long after The Beatles had broken up.\n\nThis video release is designed for those that do not know the Beatles. Subsequently, it doesn’t have the flow of a purely entertainment-driven movie. Of particular regret is the fact that, other than the rooftop concert, not one of the songs shown was ever allowed to be completed. The producers cut off every song about 30 seconds into the song, unlike the "Let It Be" movie. You would think that they would have, at least, allowed the full playing of those songs that did end up on the "Let It Be" album.\n\nRegarding the rooftop concert: it is nothing like the “let it Be” movie. It has entirely different camera angles and views and also presents much of the the concert in split screen format, such as was done in the movie: “Woodstock”. So, there is no point in comparing it to the original movie. It is quite good and quite different. So, you will get an entirely different feel with the original movie. As I said; keep your bootleg movie. It is a different experience altogether.'}, {'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on March 9, 2022', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-5 review-rating', 'review_body': 'Fab. Gear. Groovy. Joyful. Heartbreaking. As one of a kind as it\'s subject, and there\'ll never again be anything as wonderful as the phenomenon that was / is The Beatles. The perfect example of the concept "the whole being more than the sum of its parts." Will everyone love it? Probably not. There are some slow moving-spots in parts one and two (my good wife actually dozed a bit during both), I\'ll readily admit. Disc three, featuring the complete rooftop concert -- the final public appearance by the boys -- is the definite highlight, and she stuck with me through that one, front to back. Very highly recommended for life-long Beatles fans like myself, and for casual fans as well (they can nap or fast-forward through the slow sections).'}, {'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on June 16, 2022', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-5 review-rating', 'review_body': 'What’s not to like, aside from the brief attempts by Yoko to entertain. Even that was interesting as it showed Paul not walking out of the studio but putting his guitar up to the amp for distortion in an attempt to add to the cacophony. Best segment was his giving birth to Get Back, composing it on his bass as George and Ringo watch and start picking up on it. Two of Us evolves from fast rock to the final acoustic guitar version. One regret-the full final performance of this, Let It Be, Long and Winding Road were truncated with credits, reduced screen.\n\nThe inclusion of countless non-Beatle songs, conversations, discussions coupled with a calendar as needed provides a timeline as the project moves from the film studio to the far more agreeable basement studio of Apple. Having seen Paul McCartney in concert just over two weeks ago, it was great to see his inclusion of Lennon’s vocal and video extracted from I’ve Got a Feeling courtesy of Peter Jackson in which Paul sang along here in 2022. Jackson is a tireless genius with incredible focus of the sort I have witnessed in fellow historians. Two good things from the horribly wretched pandemic—-Get Back evolving from a two hour cinema presentation to nearly eight hours streaming and DVD as well as McCartney III. Get them both!'}, {'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on July 13, 2022', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-5 review-rating', 'review_body': 'I was 15 when I first saw ‘Let It Be’. Being a huge Beatles fan, it was a no brainer to see their last pic.\nI do remember walking out of the theater a bit depressed. I knew this was their last movie, ‘Abbey Road’ was waiting to be released, this was their swan song. It was an extremely grainy film for just being released. Kinda dark, dreary. Now Peter Jackson comes along, picks up the pieces, and it’s like a completely new perspective on the former ‘Let It Be’ movie - now called ‘Get Back’. Jackson’s film isn’t without minor flaws, such as the audio. There are times 3 people are talking at once, making hard to follow the conversation. There are also audio flaws in as much as some of the talking is soft, others times it’s fine. I’m being picky here but give Jackson’s film 5 stars. After all, the original film in the vaults were over 50 years old!'}, {'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on March 5, 2022', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-5 review-rating', 'review_body': 'Several months ago, I reviewed the crappy packaging for the dvd version. (dvds stacked on top of each other, etc). Unfortunately, Amazon cancelled my blu ray pre - orders twice, so I pre - ordered from another legit company (same price,($34.95 + free shipping). Mine arrived early, (7/9)!! The packaging is great, has a nice thick slipcase. The inside is a fold out. The 4 pictures of the boys are in the right side pocket, along with an ad for the "Get Back" book. the only "but" is the blu rays are in housed in the other 3 pockets. I still give 4 stars for the improved packaging from the dvds\' As for the film itself, I assume everyone has seen it from streaming and/or the aforementioned dvds\' Disney & Apple got this presentation right for the limited edition blu ray set. To paraphrase Mr. Lennon, they didn\'t let us down.'}]