Read the first review of the Farewell DVD

Kirkman · Post by **Kirkman** » Sat Feb 18, 2006 3:07 pm

Okay folks, it's been torture but I've been slaving away watching the DVD and writing a review.

You can check it out here:

http://www.petrarocksmyworld.com/farewell_dvd_rev.html

I was going to post screen caps with the review, but I have run into some technical obstacles. With luck I'll be able to do that in a couple days.

r_karlsson22 · Post by **r_karlsson22** » Sat Feb 18, 2006 3:44 pm

Good review, Very Good!

Notes:
"In most of the wide shots that show the entire stage and part of the crowd, the crowd isn't making much big movement. In fact, it's not until "Beyond Belief" that the entire mass of people really starts to jump up and down." -

what?! shame on you who were there in the audience!

"I am grateful Inpop made the Petra: Farewell CD and DVD a reality. This was a risk for them. But I'm glad they took it and gave Petra the send-off they deserved." - I'm very grateful to!

calicowriter · Post by **calicowriter** » Sat Feb 18, 2006 4:27 pm

Josh said:

"I am grateful Inpop made the Petra: Farewell CD and DVD a reality. This was a risk for them. But I'm glad they took it and gave Petra the send-off they deserved."

No, they gave them the send off they could afford, not what they deserved.

And oh yeah, what happened to the advance copies of the DVD the people who were interviewed were promised?

Shell · Post by **Shell** » Sat Feb 18, 2006 4:52 pm

Valid observation, but it's done; there's nothing that can be done about it now. I'll be optimistic and assume they did the best they could with limited time and a limited budget. And it's not the end of February yet; the promised DVDs may be on the way. I'll personally be glad to have the DVD. However, it is sort of a shame Paul's drum solo won't be on it.

It's a good review.

BForm · Post by **BForm** » Sat Feb 18, 2006 9:27 pm

I can't believe Paul's solo is not on it. Wasn't that one of the big reasons John said they wanted to do this was to give the new guys an opportunity to show the industry their stuff? Yes, yes, I know. That was John not INPOP.

This is really disappointing to me. Paul was a big reason for the level of my enjoyment of the last few shows I saw. I was hoping to have that on the DVD for memory's sake since it wasn't one the CD.

epdc · Post by **epdc** » Sat Feb 18, 2006 9:44 pm

i donï¿½t care what people say, I CANï¿½T WAIT TO SEE THE FANS PART AND SEE US TALKING HEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHE considering NOBODY took pethead pictures

i want that as a memory

thatï¿½s a good question, josh, do you know whatï¿½s gonna happen with the promise of sending a free copy to the people that appear there????

Kirkman · Post by **Kirkman** » Sat Feb 18, 2006 9:47 pm

No, they gave them the send off they could afford, not what they deserved.

Let's keep it in perspective, though. The truth is that after the retirement news broke, it seemed likely there would be no final album AT ALL and John and Bob were even considering halting the tour in the spring.

What did we end up getting? A live CD, a live DVD, a free four-hour concert where fans got to see John Lawry and Greg X. Volz reunite with the band, and a farewell tour that went to three continents and tons of cities. All in all, I think this worked out extremely well.

The other thing to keep in mind is "what they deserved" is open to interpretation. Judging by Petra's recent sales figures, from a business perspective the band probably didn't deserve investment in a final live CD/DVD.

And oh yeah, what happened to the advance copies of the DVD the people who were interviewed were promised?

I don't know about that, but there's more than two weeks until the release date, so maybe they're coming.

I can't believe Paul's solo is not on it. Wasn't that one of the big reasons John said they wanted to do this was to give the new guys an opportunity to show the industry their stuff? .... I was hoping to have that on the DVD for memory's sake since it wasn't one the CD.

Hey, I agree with you, man. I wish the solo was on there, but it's not. Regardless, Paul has a lot of great moments on the DVD, including the "stick catch" I described in the review. So you'll still be able to keep some memories alive.

--Josh

superfly · Post by **superfly** » Sun Feb 19, 2006 1:40 pm

Josh, so John Lawry's solo is the exact same? How do they cut it when you can SEE it happening...is that when they use the full screen of static you mentioned? And how about between Creed and Right Place? You can tell listening to the CD that it's not a natural progression. You mentioned a lot of black and white with the Acoustic Set with some rehearsal scenes...that sounds a lot like the preview of the DVD we were shown a while back. I actually liked that preview, but my opinion is that the concert portion should be just that...make you feel like you're watching a concert, not a video. I too appreciate anything we as fans are able to get, but when we were told there would be very cool extras, I guess I expected more than just stuff from that night. How long is the DVD with the extras? If they cut things that were already short to begin with (Bob's solo), then they must have filled this DVD to the max. I'm expecting 2 1/2 hours at least?

executioner · Post by **executioner** » Sun Feb 19, 2006 6:05 pm

I understand why the DVD will be they way it is, but I don't like it. I think it is a very poor excuse to leave a GREAT song out and than also to limit the extras. I'm sorry but Peter Fuller is NOT in Petra. I want to here from Petra. My 2 cents but it doesn't matter.

Kirkman · Post by **Kirkman** » Sun Feb 19, 2006 10:04 pm

superfly wrote:Josh, so John Lawry's solo is the exact same?

I'm fairly sure it is. I'll go back and check, just to be sure.

How do they cut it when you can SEE it happening...is that when they use the full screen of static you mentioned? And how about between Creed and Right Place? You can tell listening to the CD that it's not a natural progression.

Well, imagine any movie or TV show you watch. The camera actually moves very frequently without you realizing it. One shot will be a closeup of someone talking. Then the shot will change to a closeup of the person's friend, who is listening. The dialogue continues uninterrupted. Most folks don't really register the change because it's natural.

Same thing in the concert footage. The camera is constantly moving and the shots are always changing. Right now you're watching John Schlitt up close, then it switches to someone singing in the crowd, then a closeup of Bob's hands as he plays the guitar, then a wide shot showing the whole stage. It goes on and on and on.

When they transition between songs, they just use various shots of the band walking or taking drinks or whatever to cover the change. All the transitions are fairly smooth.

In fact, at the very end when John says "Goodnight and thank you for 33 wonderful years" (or whatever that line is), it's all done in editing. He never said that at the concert, it was recorded afterward. So the audio is dubbed in and the use video footage of him shot from behind as he talks to the crowd. This way you you don't have to see his lips moving and the video doesn't have to match the audio.

You mentioned a lot of black and white with the Acoustic Set with some rehearsal scenes...that sounds a lot like the preview of the DVD we were shown a while back.

It's not excessive, but I think it was unnecessary.

How long is the DVD with the extras? If they cut things that were already short to begin with (Bob's solo), then they must have filled this DVD to the max. I'm expecting 2 1/2 hours at least?

I'll have to check my notes at home. (I'm at work now) I think everything is under 2 hours.

One thing to keep in mind with regard to length and "extras" is this: Adding extra footage or bonus features costs something. It's not free. You have to edit it, master it, etc. It's not a fast process, nor a cheap one.

--Josh

superfly · Post by **superfly** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 9:02 am

Thanks for the info Josh! I appreciate it. The reason I was wondering about the total time of the DVD is because they cut things down for "time/length" purposes, but this doesn't seem to make sense. Bob's solo was already quite short, why shorten it even more if there's room for it? When reading Bob's comments about cutting things...it seems he was talking about the CD, because I can't imagine there being time issues with the DVD. I mean I have movies that are over 2 hours long that also have at least half an hour of extra features and it's all on one DVD. I have to say though that they've put an incredibly consumer-friendly price on this thing. I pre-ordered mine for $8.99 plus shipping. WOW!

js3971 · Post by **js3971** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 9:52 am

Thanks Josh for your review. You always do a great job. I am so looking forward to this coming out. I had such a great time at the concert in Irving, and this will help bring back some of those memories. While I wish, that the other songs would have made it on, it's still going to be a great DVD. I look forward to watching over and over.

judboy · Post by **judboy** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 1:25 pm

Hey, Is there any chance there could be some easter eggs of the missing content?

The special features have some oddities. When you reach the end of any of them, rather than return you to the Special Features menu, another special feature just starts up. Pressing the "Menu" button on the remote during any of the features takes you to the disc's Main menu, not the Special Features menu..

Sounds to me like someone does not know how to properly author a DVD

Mountain Man · Post by **Mountain Man** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 1:38 pm

Thanks for the review, Josh. Sadly, it sounds like the crap editing that was evident in the early "teaser" video made it into the final product. It's also a shame they didn't take this opportunity to extend things by giving us John Lawry's (and Bob Hartman's!) complete solo and more of the talking and crowd interaction.

But I guess given Petra's "fall from grace", we're lucky to have anything at all.

Epyon5757 · Post by **Epyon5757** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 3:18 pm

Well, at least we got something, even if it is a video version of the CD. I was hoping Judas' Kiss would be on there, but I am not surprised that it was left off the DVD.

The only other video I have of Petra is the "Beyond Belief" VHS movie...so I'll be very happy just to have the Farewell DVD.

The Petra Zone

Read the first review of the Farewell DVD

Read the first review of the Farewell DVD

No Drum Solo?

re

DVD

i

Re: DVD

thanks Josh!

Easter Eggs!

Who is online