Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #19623 in DVD
• Released on: 2002-05-27
• Rating: Exempt
• Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
• Formats: Anamorphic, Box set, PAL, Widescreen
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 2
• Running time: 118 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
Despite their 20-plus years in the music business One Night in Paris demonstrates that Depeche Mode are by no means dinosaurs of synth-infused rock. While they could have easily ended up on the retro tour conveyor belt, as many of their early-80s contemporaries have, they have always managed to remain relevant. Directed by long-time artistic collaborator Anton Corbijn the concert footage concisely captures the atmosphere of the show which was seen by over 1.5 millions fans in 2001. Though there is an obsessive focus on the half-naked Gahan and the "fallen-angel" Gore throughout, at various points the camera withdraws to expose a huge screen at the back of the stage. Combined with the angry stage lighting, the projection films (which include footage of a goldfish swimming in a tank for "In Your Room") provide an added epic feel. Predominantly made up of songs from Exciter, the track-listing also includes old favourites such as "Enjoy the Silence" and "Personal Jesus".

On the DVD: One Night in Paris' visual and audio material is of an excellent quality, which further enriches the strong live performances. The bonus material on the second disc (particularly the interviews with the band and tour crew) neatly complements the material on the first disc. However, the 50-minute commentary (which is more like a short-course on the practicalities of photography) by Corbijn is dull and over-indulgent. Watched independently of the concert footage, the stage projections also make lacklustre viewing. If the bonus material had been selected more sparingly all of the items could have been combined on one disc making a more succinct package. --John Galilee

Special Features
16:9 Anamorphic Wide Screen
DVD 9
DVD 5
English
Region 2
Dolby Digital 5.1 English
Dolby Digital 5.1
Documentary Including An Interview With Anton Corbijn
Anton Corbijn Stills Gallery With Audio Commentary
Short Film Of Fans In Paris
Band Interviews
Extra Song
Concert Projection Films With Audio

Synopsis
One of England's most popular and influential synth pop bands, Depeche Mode's sound has progressed from a tightly structured new wave style to one that is darker, longer, and more experimental. Acclaimed video director and photographer Anton Corbijn, who has worked with the band on some of its most memorable music videos, directs this special concert video, filmed at the Paris performance of 2001's EXCITER tour. Included along with the 2-hour concert is an entire hour and a half of backstage footage and band interviews. Songs like "Dream On," "Enjoy the Silence," and "Never Let Me Down Again," sound even more emotional with Corbijn's daring visual style to complement them.

Customer Reviews

Downbeat, lacklustre, but a solid performance.
It's a downbeat Depeche Mode that greet us on this live DVD, not like the edgy and explosive band that featured in their previous live video Devotional (in my opinion one of the finest live concert films ever). Part of the problem here is that DM's last two albums have veered away from the high drama and excitement of their mib-90's work, and instead towards a more introspective, claustrophobic and (unfortunately) rather uninspiring sound. The songs of the last two albums simply haven't been as engaging as those from 'Music for the Masses', 'Violator' and 'Songs of Faith and Devotion'.

Similarly, the production design for this live show is a tad bland. The first 8 or 9 songs are dispensed with none of the atmosphere or suspense of Devotional (no teasing first song performed behind a curtain, no sense of brooding menace, no creepy back projections or atmospheric lighting) - the band just walk on and start playing. Indeed, the back-projections do kick in at Waiting for the Night, and they are quite effective, though they serve more as abstract oddities rather than adding anything to the performance. Where Devotional scored was in the way the show began slowly and gradually built up to a crescendo, song on song, culminating in mass hysteria as Dave Gahan stage-dived into the audience. The 'One Night in Paris' show was designed as just a straightforward recital of songs.

By two-thirds through, the backdrops are gone again and we're back with just the band on a sparsely furnished stage with a few coloured lights. Some might praise the intimacy of the band with the audience here - personally I don't think it works. I imagine it would have been rather dull to witness first-hand. Having said that, the crowd are clearly revved up to fever pitch: such is the appeal of Depeche Mode, I suppose - they are a wonderful band.

So, with uninspiring visuals to watch, one falls back on the quality of the music. As I've said, the new songs are good but not great, and Dave Gahan has an annoying habit of encouraging the audience to sing along, which wouldn't be a problem except that he does it CONTNUOUSLY, opting not to sing the chorus of every second song, spoiling the music a bit for us armchair listeners. Maybe I'm being a bit negative here - I'm sure I would've enjoyed the gig if I'd been there. The problem is, the Devotional video was just TOO GOOD to be followed by something like this. Maybe that's the message: if you haven't seen Devotional, you'll probably love this. Otherwise it's a good document of the Exciter tour but hardly DM at their best.

Another Depeche Mode DVD for your shelves
Being a Depeche Mode fan, I bought this the day it was released and even before I watched it, I felt some effort had been made. It may sound anorak-like, but the DVD packaging is superb (even though the flip-open case sometimes causes Disc 2 to fall out): lots of grainy Anton Corbijn photos and a suitably arty libretto. Anyway, it's a suitable addition to your DVD shelf, which, if you're reading this, probably includes The Singles 86>98 DVD already.
As for the content, yes, I agree with the previous reviewer, it's not the same experience as when you're there, no matter how big your TV or how effective your sound system.
Admittedly, vocal shortcomings are always going to show up on a live recording, but when you're getting a rarely-performed It Doesn't Matter Two and a superb reworking of Condemnation, I can forgive any off-key moments, and it's all worth it for the obligatory crowd-waving during Never Let Me Down Again.
What's most interesting when you watch this show however, is how the Depeche Mode live show focuses so much around Dave and Martin, not just as individuals, but as a sort of double-act, hovering between moments of intensity, and moments of light-hearted exchanges. This is especially evident now that Martin has pretty much entirely abandoned keyboards for guitar onstage.
Dave remarks in the interview section how Martin's new onstage persona has served to move the Depeche Mode live experience away from what could previously have been seen as the "Dave Gahan show", but what this concert film serves to show is how it has most undoubtedly become the "Dave and Martin Show".
The extras are a welcome bonus, and the crew and band interviews are interesting. Being an Anton Corbijn project, nothing can be handled in a conventional manner, so all the band interviews are filmed with a handheld camera as they walk around the quiet backstage areas of the venue before the show.
We also get to see the short films that Corbijn made to project onto the stage backdrop (and if you freezeframe in time, you can read the captions during It's No Good: not even the band know what they say).
Given that the show was being filmed, it might have been an opportunity to showcase some of the highlights of the Exciter tour for posterity: I'm not saying they should've extended the set too much, but when you consider that Martin performed such an array of material during his solo spot throughout the tour (Judas, Dressed in Black, Surrender), maybe they could've thrown in a couple of extra songs on the night.
Nevertheless, as a souvenir of a tour where the band clearly enjoyed themselves as much as the thousands in the crowd, it's excellent.
Now what about a long overdue release for 101 on DVD?

An absolute treat for Depeche Mode fans!
'One Night in Paris' is a double disc set of last year's live concert (part of the 'Exciter' tour) by Depeche Mode in Paris. Depeche Mode have always been one of my favourite bands and this DVD is a real treat for fans. On the first disc is the concert itself which runs for about 2 hours. It was filmed by Anton Corbijn who has steadily been building a good reputation for filming rock bands and it certainly shows in this film. Needless to say, the band themselves are in fine form and many of their classic hits are included in the performance. The concert seems to strike the right balance between loud and soft tracks and the sound itself is first class being recorded in Dolby Digital 5.1. My favourite tracks are 'Walking In My Shoes' and 'Halo'; simply superb!

The second disc contains various 'extras' including a short documentary on the making of the film, band interviews, interviews with some of the fans, a 'stills' gallery of photos from the concert and an extra track not included in the concert film, 'Sister of Night'. There is also the track 'Never Let Me Down Again' where you can choose from various camera viewing angles e.g. as if you were standing at the back or front of the stage. The disc also includes the concert projection films for 5 of the tracks. These are the films that were projected on to the screen behind the band at the concert. One of the films features some beautiful time lapse photography of the Nevada desert. Another features fish; try selecting repeat on your DVD player and watch your cat's reaction!

All in all, a great DVD and a 'must' for Depeche Mode fans.