Nightmare Revisited

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The Criterion Bluray of Albert and David Maysles' Gimme Shelter, the legendary doc about the 1969 Rolling Stones tour that ended with violence and death at the 12.6.69 Altamont Speedway concert, struck me as an overpriced burn. It's a typical Criterion-level high-quality package as far as it goes, but it's not worth $40 because it doesn't look all that different from the last DVD, which was issued in 2000 and was clearly an upgrade at the time and looked pretty good on my Sony 36" analog flatscreen..

Gimme Shelter was originally shot on 16mm so it can only look so good -- I understand that. But when you pay $40 bucks you want a little of that ring-a-ding-ding eye-pop schwing, and Criterion's high-def mastering just doesn't deliver. It looks good but not "oh, mama." You could pop in that same nine year-old DVD into your Bluray player and not, I'm betting, see any discernible difference. Or so my recollection is telling me.

Maybe I'm wrong, but I know I was underwhelmed the second I started watching the Criterion Blu-ray. My first thought was, "This?"

I don't have an amplified stereo system connected to my Bluray player but the sound that came out of my Panasonic plasma speakers sounded murky and distorted and basically unpleasant. Yes, I know -- DTS HD Master Audio with surround and stereo mixes, and it sounds like shit.

I was able to detect visual improvement in WHV's Bluray of Michael Wadleigh's Woodstock, which was also shot on 16mm, but not at all here.

Amazon says that the regular DVD version of this Criterion release is going for $30. Even that is too much for what you get.

And of course I had to go to Wikipedia Gimme Shelter page to learn some stuff I never knew.

Frame capture from Gimme Shelter of Meredith Hunter (dressed in green) a millisecond before he was stabbed at the Altamont concert by Alan Passaro (directly to Hunter's left).

The Grateful Dead are filmed as they approach the Altamont fairgrounds and are told by Santana's Mike Shrieve that some members of Hells Angels, the California motorcycle gang hired by concert organizers as security guards, have been beating up onlookers and musicians alike (including the Jefferson Airplane's Marty Balin, who was knocked unconscious) -- but you'd never know from the Criterion Bluray.DVD that the Dead declined to play because of this.

You'd also never know that Santana, the Flying Burrito Brothers and Crosby, Stills and Nash also played Altamont.

Amy Taubin's essay reports that four people died during the Altamont concert, but she doesn't mention that aside from the stabbing of Meredith Hunter by a Hells Angel that the other three deaths were accidental -- two by a hit-and-run car accident and one by drowning in an irrigation canal.

You'd also never know that Alan Passaro, the Angel who stabbed and killed Hunter, was found not guilty of murder due to a claim of self-defense. You also wouldn't know that Passaro was found dead in 1985, floating in Santa Clara's Anderson Reservoir with $10,000 in his pocket. (Wikipedia reports that "foul play was initially suspected but was never confirmed" -- hilarious!)

Criterion's Gimme Shelter Blu-ray and DVD streets on 12.1.

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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on November 22, 2009 at 9:27 AM

comment #1

Big Blue says ...

Your beautiful cats aren't impressed, either.

Posted by Big Blue at November 22, 2009 11:22 AM

comment #2

Sams says ...

Love your fluffy display stand(s).

Posted by Sams at November 22, 2009 11:24 AM

comment #3

Daniel Tayag says ...

I know it's been mentioned numerous times here before, but, Jeff, why don't you buy your Blu-rays from Amazon? The Blu-ray is only $26.99 compared to the DVD's $29.99 price.

Posted by Daniel Tayag at November 22, 2009 11:55 AM

comment #4

BurmaShave says ...

yeah I don't know how you're able to move with cats like that, too adorable.

Posted by BurmaShave at November 22, 2009 11:56 AM

comment #5

lazarus says ...

Jeff (and everyone else), Barnes & Noble currently has a 50% off all Criterion sale, I think going 'til the end of the month.

I've already put myself close to $200 in the hole because of it.

Posted by lazarus at November 22, 2009 12:07 PM

comment #6

fattyhadaparty says ...

Kitties!!

Posted by fattyhadaparty at November 22, 2009 12:45 PM

comment #7

Terry McCarty says ...

There's a good article on Altamont in the UK music magazine RECORD COLLECTOR. It suggests that Bill Graham's dislike of the Stones' organization (including Allen Klein) kept the band out of San Francisco and paved the way for the eventual relocation to Altamont (after the previous venue--think it was Sears Point--was rejected since the owners wanted a piece of the documentary).

Posted by Terry McCarty at November 22, 2009 12:50 PM

comment #8

cinefan says ...

"I don't have an amplified stereo system connected to my Bluray player but the sound that came out of my Panasonic plasma speakers sounded murky and distorted and basically unpleasant."

To take advantage fully of Blu-Ray sound, you should get a Home Theater system receiver and speaker package with an included DTS decoder. The sound obviously won't please the neighbors but action films like Dark Knight and films with great scores or soundtracks like Amadeus and the Graduate sound absolutely incredible in Blu-Ray surround sound.

Posted by cinefan at November 22, 2009 1:07 PM

comment #9

Phreaker says ...

stuffonmycat.com

Posted by Phreaker at November 22, 2009 4:52 PM

comment #10

Glenn Kenny says ...

Dude. It's like you actively LOOK for reasons to be pissed off with Criterion. You're never gonna get review copies this way, ar ar ar.

As with the "Monterey Pop" Blu-ray, with "Shelter" you're getting a spectacularly reproduced version of an image that's circumscribed/defined by its 16mm origins. I love the way it looks, myself. Others will not. The two new audio mixes are not best appreciated through television speakers. Period.

Criterion's Blu-rays don't promise to turn 16mm into digital 3-D. They promise an outstanding reproduction of the look of the original film. An informed consumer is their best customer.

Posted by Glenn Kenny at November 22, 2009 8:09 PM

comment #11

MickTravisMcGee says ...

RE: "You'd also never know that ... the Flying Burrito Brothers also played Altamont."

But, um, they're in the movie. It's not a huge section, but the Burritos perform part of "Six Days on the Road."

Gram Parsons' is the voice who moans after the song, "Please people! Stop hurting each other! You don't have toooo!"

Posted by MickTravisMcGee at November 22, 2009 8:40 PM

comment #12

MickTravisMcGee says ...

GK, I think you predicted this pan in your review.

Posted by MickTravisMcGee at November 22, 2009 8:42 PM

comment #13

zyg says ...

not only is it 16mm but it's probably push processed. that is, you start with high speed film but when that's not adequate you underexpose and instruct the lab to over process to compensate.

this was done when shooting in very low light. a concert might be such an occasion. there's only so much you can do with a source like that, if that was the case -- i don't know.

the still looks like a very cleaned up image from film that may have been pushed.

ps - that's a fat cat. skinny cats live longer...

Posted by zyg at November 23, 2009 5:57 AM

comment #14

Strangeways says ...

1)yes, Barnes & Noble is having a brilliant Criterion sale but I can't find out WHEN it's over...I'm hoping it lasts until Xmas.
2)Cute cats...ugly couch.

Posted by Strangeways at November 23, 2009 10:56 AM

comment #15

dixiedugan says ...

I suppose it's possible that not everything is going to look good in Blu-ray...right?

I'm happy to see the cats.

Posted by dixiedugan at November 23, 2009 3:46 PM

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