Fan’s Perspective Review.
Ever since I attended the “I Am…World Tour” in the summer of 2009, I eagerly anticipated its DVD release. And now that it’s finally here, I’m largely disappointed. I do not feel like the DVD did the concert I saw justice. Beyonce` and her team’s goal was present an intimate, documentary-like view of the tour; integrating personal video journals, performance footage from around the world and close up stage shots. Team Beyonce` defeated their own purpose, however, because of how they edited and shot the DVD. The excess in close-ups keeps the viewer for being able to have the “concert experience” as you don’t see the entire stage set or background for the most of the film or the transitions between songs. The missing transitions make the film, and its accompanying audio CD, look and sound jagged. Furthermore, it takes away from feeling the intimacy of the show because you don’t see Beyonce` communicating with the audience as much. You also don’t see any dancer or band breaks, which made the concert a little less theatrical and entertaining. The choppy editing hurts the DVD musically because you don’t get the full effect of the dynamic arrangements.
Vocally, Beyonce` didn’t sound bad, but a lot of the time she under or over-sang. There were moments where she was restrained and should have sung with full power and vice-versa. Beyonce’s video journals don’t enhance the DVD like they should because they are, in my opinion, misplaced in sequence and are too short to reveal anything substantial. This also goes for the 24-minute behind-the-scenes bonus feature “Mic and Light.” The feature is in more of an interview format with clips versus a candid, reality-show style. The ABC Thanksgiving special, which promoted the DVD, was better pieced together and was more revealing and emotive. I anticipate that the average person will probably enjoy the DVD fine; the average hardcore fan, however, I think will have problems with it, especially if they went to the tour.
Ever since I attended the “I Am…World Tour” in the summer of 2009, I eagerly anticipated its DVD release. And now that it’s finally here, I’m largely disappointed. I do not feel like the DVD did the concert I saw justice. Beyonce` and her team’s goal was present an intimate, documentary-like view of the tour; integrating personal video journals, performance footage from around the world and close up stage shots. Team Beyonce` defeated their own purpose, however, because of how they edited and shot the DVD. The excess in close-ups keeps the viewer for being able to have the “concert experience” as you don’t see the entire stage set or background for the most of the film or the transitions between songs. The missing transitions make the film, and its accompanying audio CD, look and sound jagged. Furthermore, it takes away from feeling the intimacy of the show because you don’t see Beyonce` communicating with the audience as much. You also don’t see any dancer or band breaks, which made the concert a little less theatrical and entertaining. The choppy editing hurts the DVD musically because you don’t get the full effect of the dynamic arrangements.
Vocally, Beyonce` didn’t sound bad, but a lot of the time she under or over-sang. There were moments where she was restrained and should have sung with full power and vice-versa. Beyonce’s video journals don’t enhance the DVD like they should because they are, in my opinion, misplaced in sequence and are too short to reveal anything substantial. This also goes for the 24-minute behind-the-scenes bonus feature “Mic and Light.” The feature is in more of an interview format with clips versus a candid, reality-show style. The ABC Thanksgiving special, which promoted the DVD, was better pieced together and was more revealing and emotive. I anticipate that the average person will probably enjoy the DVD fine; the average hardcore fan, however, I think will have problems with it, especially if they went to the tour.
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