Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #17137 in DVD
• Released on: 2001-09-17
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: PAL, Import
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 132 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
A month before the release of their sixth album in early 2001, the Manic Street Preachers organised a one-off gig in Cuba. Louder than War contains footage of the entire concert (famously attended by President Fidel Castro), as well as the group's caper around the island. The country was chosen by the Manics because of Cuba's anti-American stance, a position that band members supported and have drawn upon in their material. Superbly produced and edited, the end result however fails to represent the group's visit and views in a positive light. Reading between the lines, it's obvious that their trip was just as much a challenge to Americanisation as Wham's 1985 tour of China. The band verbally acknowledge that communism has always been openly romanticised, however they fail to recognise the extent to which they have done the same with this "promotional" concert, and the subsequent merchandising and PR opportunities. Putting ideological issues aside, the disc provides further evidence of the Manics' flair for live performance. The dulled colours of the visual material create a drab, if somewhat oppressive atmosphere, but add much needed authenticity to the proceedings. The unreleased tour diary sets the scene more comprehensively than the previously broadcast Cuba documentary, which is also contained on this disc. This is a must for all Manics fans, as well as those wanting a non-guidebook (if somewhat romanticised) view of modern-day, urban Cuba.

On the DVD: The disc is stuffed full of bonus material but the extensive track listing does exaggerate the amount of original footage featured (the same live performance material being used both in the "gig" section, and in the Cuba documentary). There's also loads of hidden bonus material that can be accessed by selecting/clicking on the "Bonus Feature" captions that intermittently pop-up: such as their meeting with Fidel Castro, and a full-length version of the Radio Progresso interview. There are breathtaking photos of the guys featured in the photo gallery, and the Manics' discography is particularly thorough (the highest chart positions, the artwork and track listings of all their single and album releases are all included). Furthermore, all of the live footage can be listened to in either Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround or PCM stereo. The menus are relatively straightforward to use, however the utilisation of the group's trademark blocky typeface in the sub-menus occasionally makes it difficult to read/select track names. The DVD-ROM link is also particularly tricky to access, mainly due to the basic and rather confusing instructions provided on the disc for accessing this "exclusive" link.--John Galilee

DVD Description
DVD Special Features:

Cuban TV Bonus Tracks (31 Minutes)
1. So Why So Sad
A Design For Life
3. The Masses Against The Classes
4. You Stole The Sun From My Heart
5. Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head
6. Freedom Of Speech Won't Feed My Children
Photo Gallery (18 Exclusive Shots From Cuba)
Discography
Hidden Bonus Material (x8)
Radio Interview 1 In Full
DVD-ROM Web Link
English/Linear PCM Stereo, Live Footage In English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
Subtitles: English, Espanola (Spanish)

Synopsis
On February 17, 2001, Manic Street Preachers performed at the Karl Marx Theater in Havana as a promotional launch for their KNOW YOUR ENEMY album. LOUDER THAN WAR is a record of that eventful day, both on stage and behind the scenes. The hour-long set includes the hit singles "Motorcycle Emptyness," "Ocean Spray," and "Let Robeson Sing" among others. An accompanying documentary features the band's arrival in Cuba, their meeting with Fidel Castro, a press conference, and much more.

Customer Reviews

Manic Street Preachers - THE best band of the past 10 years.
I think this DVD is amazing - a must for any true Manics fan. As always the band put on a fabulous live performance, and the tour diary, documentary and exclusive interviews show the Manics as they really are. Set aside 3 hours to watch the whole of it from start to finish. Manic Street Preachers, we salute you!

Lack Lustre
This DVD was a bit of a let down in my opinion. Like the Millenium gig captured on 'Leaving the 20th Century', the cuba gig is badly portrayed.

There isnt much great footage of the gig, which itself wasnt an overly exciting affair. The manics can and do give amazing live shows, why they dont have this on here is anybody's guess. Fair enough, the gig was in advance of the release of Know Your Enemy, but the abscence of so many old songs is a disgrace.

There's really nothing to get a fan excited on this DVD, if you've seen them live then you'll just feel ripped off, being presented with a no-frills recording (except for multiple camera angles on one song), of a dissappointing concert.

If you havent seen them, then I suppose this would give you some idea of what they're like live, be it in a watered down performance. Id recommend Leaving the 20th Century over this.

Id love to see a DVD released of a typical Manics gig, complete with Faster, Yes and Slash and Burn, now that would be worth buying!

Profound, important and sincere
This documentary raised many eyebrows back in 2001, when the Manics played a one-off concert in Cuba's Karl Marx theatre. The result was some truly beautiful performances, including a truly beautiful acoustic performance of 'Baby Elian', along with some interviews of the band and some footage shot around Cuba. There was also a meeting between the Manics and Fidel Castro, which is shown here. The awe on Nicky Wire's face when he meets Castro really is memorable.

Shortly after this documentary, the music press orchestrated a hateful, vicious and spiteful attack on the Manics, which included the panning of 'Know Your Enemy' and also this documentary. This documentary took a truckload of criticism, all of it unfair, petty, and deliberately designed to 'take the manics down a peg or two'.

The reason for this is simple; critics of this album enjoy being in the pockets of America, and american big business. The political rhetoric of 'Freedom Of Speech...', 'Baby Elian' and various others, coupled with the fact that this DVD makes a profound statement against Americanisation naturally provoked narrow-minded criticism from privileged philistines who worship greed and the mighty dollar. The branding of the footage of Cuba as 'romaticised' when coming from people who have probably never been to Cuba in their life is deeply laughable. The Cuban people may stand in queues to receive their daily bread, but they get it just the same. I'd be willing to bet that more people die of starvation in so-called 'free' countries such as the USA and the UK than in Cuba. American interference and petty, spiteful blockades haven't exactly helped the situation in Cuba.

I think this documentary is a fascinating and insightful look not only at a momentous concert from one of the best British bands of all time, but a revealing look at a deeply misunderstood country and it's ridiculously demonised leader. The people who constantly voice their dissent against countries like Cuba should check their facts before opening their mouth and letting their bellies rumble, instead of relying on whopping lies from the greed-worshipping white media.