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May 11 2011

Why films on TV in their original widescreen ratio is good for you

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Elly Roberts reviews

Cert:

Cat.no: 5441039

Running time: 140 minutes

Year: various

Pressing: 2004

Region(s): 2, PAL

Sound: Stereo

Languages: English

Fullscreen: 1.33:1

Disc Format: DVD 9

Price: £13.99

Rating: 10/10

Extras: "A Kiss Across The Ocean": an entire concert filmed at Hammersmith Odeon London in December 1983, with track listing on menu, Band interview from 1998, CD ROM section featuring discography, screensaver, weblinks & wallpaper

Track Listing:

1. Do You Really Want To Hurt Me ?
2. Time ( Clock Of The Heart )
3. I’ll Tumble For Ya
4. Church Of The Poisoned Mind
5. Karma Chameleon
6. Victims
7. It’s A Miracle
8. Miss Me Blind
9. The War Song
10. The Medal Song
11. Mistake No.3
12. Love Is Love
13. Move Away
14. God Thank You Woman
15. I Just Wanna Be Loved
16. Your Kisses Are Charity
17. Cold Shoulder

I can recall some memorable moments from BBC’s Top Of The Pops.

The following stay with me forever. When George Alan O’Dowd hit our television screens in September 1982, he caused a sensation and disarmed the nation with his playfulness and wholesome wit. His androgynous persona 'Boy George' booked his place in Pop music history. Not since the days of Marc Bolan of T.Rex had the world seen such an outrageous cross-dresser.

Leading his band Culture Club, (made up of an Irish Queen (George), a Jew (drummer Jon Moss), an Anglo-Saxon (guitarist Roy Hay) and a Jamaican (bassist Mikey Craig) - and originally called The Sex Game Children) they were an instant success with one of the best pop songs ever - Do You Really Want To Hurt Me, going straight to the top of the charts.

Time, the follow – up was even better. Boy George’s colourful costumes set a trend when fans attended their shows. Look-a-like’s were everywhere. How do I know? I actually went to see them in the spring of ‘83 at the Royal Court Theatre in Liverpool. Why? Because I loved their infectious brand of music. Were they any good? Yes, they were and still are a great live band. How do I know? I went to see them again at Liverpool’s Summer Pops last year where everybody had a great time.

Using a sophisticated fusion of pop-tinged reggae and blue-eyed Soul, George and Co. wrote 3-minute classic pop songs with sensual rhythms and irresistible melodies and choruses. Added to this BG has a great voice on record and live.

Twenty two years on, I still get a great feeling when I hear them on the radio. Now you and I can enjoy the whole experience once again - this time with the visuals. Back to back videos, including their comeback singles from 1998/9, an interview, and a concert are all packed into this great package.

In 1984 they won both Brit (Best Group) and Grammy Awards (Best New Artist)

Weblinks: Culture Club.co.uk and The Raft.com

Review & concert pics copyright © Elly Roberts, 2004-2010.

As of April 2009, Blu-rays and DVDs reviewed by the editor are watched on a Panasonic TH-37PX80B 37" Plasma TV with a Sony BDP-1500 Blu-ray player and played through a Yamaha DSP-AX820 amplifier.

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