Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #8713 in DVD
• Released on: 2002-10-14
• Rating: Exempt
• Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
• Formats: Best of, PAL, Widescreen
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 2
• Running time: 135 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
Queen's Greatest Video Hits 1 takes full advantage of the legendary status of "Bohemian Rhapsody", still ranked as one of the best-loved tunes of all time, and its equally legendary video. Although no one can wholly explain what Freddie's lament was about, this collection includes four mini-documentaries that attempt to unlock the mystery with limited success. The original videos to favourites such as "Someone to Love", "We Will Rock You" and "Killer Queen" are also included, as well as a new racier version of the video for "Bicycle Race". Brian May and Roger Taylor provide an optional audio commentary throughout, interspersed with edited interview snippets from the late Freddie Mercury.

Unlike so many other audio commentaries where producers and artists too readily gush praise about each other, May's and Taylor's observations are both fascinating and frank. Although much of what they discuss about the making of the promos is replicated in the accompanying glossy DVD booklet, it's illuminating to hear them chat about their dislike of Dennis De Vallance's video for "Fat Bottomed Girls" (principally because the final cut focused almost exclusively on Mercury). Their stories about the making of the videos also add some much-needed panache to these basic low-budget promos. For instance, their account of the making of "Spread Your Wings", on a freezing winter day in Roger Taylor's garden, brings an added dimension to an otherwise flat video.

On the DVD: Queen's Greatest Video Hits 1 reflects the limitations of pre-digital recording; much of the visual material looks tired and dated even though the original footage is now presented in 16:9 format. Closer attention has been paid to the remastering of the audio soundtrack, which includes DTS 5.1 versions of the favourites (the multi-channel audio experience of "Bohemian Rhapsody" is stunning). The opening menu sequence is also impressive, with state-of-the-art animation that incorporates the designs of early Queen record sleeves. --John Galilee

Special Features
Comprehensive audio commentary by Queen
Inside The Rhapsody documentaries
Picture Gallery (featuring rare and previously unseen photographs)
Web link to fan site
Picture: Colour PAL 16:9.
Running Time: 133 mins. approx
Languages: English
Audio: English Dolby Digital Stereo; DTS 5.1 Surround Stereo (Disc One Only)
Region Code: 2
Subtitles: None

Synopsis
"Thunderbolts and lightning! Very, very frightening!" "Bohemian Rhapsody" and other majestic Queen hits are available here in all their visual glory. This collection also features "We Will Rock You," "We Are Champions," "Bicycle Race," "Crazy Little Thing Called Love," and many more timeless classics from Freddie Mercury and the boys. Long live the Queen!

Customer Reviews

A mixed bag
I so much wanted to love this DVD. I've been a huge Queen fan since the early 80's, in fact, ever since I was given a copy of 'Queen Greatest Hits', from which this DVD is based. Sadly, it is not without its problems, and most of them appear to be self-inflicted from Queen's point of view. First the good:

The sound quality is magnificent. Really, you will not find better versions of these tracks anywhere. All the tracks have been remixed with Brian and Roger's close supervision in DTS 5.1, and tracks which sounded pretty good to begin with are given a whole new lease of life. There are excellent use of surround channels, which embellish the music rather than just create an ambience. Queen recognise that each channel is seperate and discrete, and the result is very very impressive indeed.

Aside from this, why else should a Queen fan buy this DVD? Well, there is a 30 minute 'documentary' with Brian at the mixing desk, armed with none other than the original 2" tape of 'Bohemian Rhapsody'. From here he proceeds to show in detail the construction of the track, from how the operatic sections were built up, to the layered guitars, as well as littering his speech with little-known facts about how Queen actually went about writing music at that time. It's fascinating, and for any musician, its a goldmine of information.

So much for the good. Now the bad.

The videos are presented in 16:9 widescreen. Which is curious, since none of the videos were shot using this aspect ratio. They achieved this by cutting the top and bottom off and zooming in. The result (particularly on film this old & worn down) looks dreadful. It's blotchy, you can't see all the information that was originally filmed, and there are even a few synching problems. The quality is only marginally better than the VHS version, and given that the VHS version is presented in the original aspect ratio, I would actually prefer that. WHY was this put into widescreen when it wasn't intended for that??

Despite these shortcomings, I would reccommend this DVD to all Queen fans and those who are curious about what Queen were all about. Die-hard fans will buy it anyway, just because it has Queen on the cover and also to get the sound recordings & Brian's retrospective documentary. I just hope that when Volume 2 is released, they don't make the same sorry mistake again with the videos.

The perfect way to remember the perfect band
This two-disc set includes 17 videos from the band's extensive catalogue, including many of their most popular hits - Bohemian Rhapsody, We Are The Champions, Killer Queen, Don't Stop Me Now, et al. These masterpieces, along with the great sound quality, would justify the price tag alone, but those nice DVD folk have given this set even more bang for its buck by adding an entire disc of bonus features, including many rarely-seen videos, anda complete breakdown of Bohemian Rhapsody, from its origins, through to its video, and its worldwide recognition today.

Definitely a worthy purchase for any Queen fan.

all you could hope for and lots more
If you are a fan of queen or just like one certain 5 min 55 sec song this is the dvd for you as disk 1 contains a dts surround mix of all the songs from the original flix release but also includes a very interesting audio commentary from the band (old interviews and new material).
But it is the second disk which the primary reason to buy this set it includes six new videos (2 never before seen)plus a section on the creation of mercury's monster bohemian rhapsody including Roger Taylor talking about exactly how the video was made, but the best part is Brian May disecting the song from the original master tape and showing exactly how many layers go into a multi-layered track.
All in all the greatest compilation you could hope for and more.