Deavon
01-12-2005, 00:58
I watched this documentary initially with bemusement, as she quoted from Revelations, and talked god;
then for the most part in awe, as I watched the big stage set pieces and Madonna doing her live stuff.
I went from thinking, 'the girl has flipped', to thinking 'the girl is just flipping brilliant!'
I challenge anybody to watch her stage performance of 'American Life' and not be impressed. I mean, it's a mediocre song, but the stage show and the imagery is totally amazing! Madonna only really makes total sense when she is on stage. (Perhaps that is why she has re-used the trick from 'In Bed with Madonna' where the shows are in colour, but everything else is black and white).
In between the concerts we get an insight into what Madonna has become since she moved to England, married a local, had another kid, discovered Kaballa... et al. Here is a woman who has taken time to mature and seems really comfortable with herself and her situation. (If you disagree, just watch the bits with her kids, and see how normal and well adjusted they seem). It's wrong I know, but I couldn't help but contrast what I saw of her behaviour with what we see from Michael Jackson. Madonna and her family are down! Although I did think the pub scenes seemed a little bit contrived.
All in all; A great and revealing documentary... People may not like to think of her as an artist, but that is exactly what she is in her stage work. How else can I put this? The live stuff is just amazing!!! Watch it just for that if nothing else!
then for the most part in awe, as I watched the big stage set pieces and Madonna doing her live stuff.
I went from thinking, 'the girl has flipped', to thinking 'the girl is just flipping brilliant!'
I challenge anybody to watch her stage performance of 'American Life' and not be impressed. I mean, it's a mediocre song, but the stage show and the imagery is totally amazing! Madonna only really makes total sense when she is on stage. (Perhaps that is why she has re-used the trick from 'In Bed with Madonna' where the shows are in colour, but everything else is black and white).
In between the concerts we get an insight into what Madonna has become since she moved to England, married a local, had another kid, discovered Kaballa... et al. Here is a woman who has taken time to mature and seems really comfortable with herself and her situation. (If you disagree, just watch the bits with her kids, and see how normal and well adjusted they seem). It's wrong I know, but I couldn't help but contrast what I saw of her behaviour with what we see from Michael Jackson. Madonna and her family are down! Although I did think the pub scenes seemed a little bit contrived.
All in all; A great and revealing documentary... People may not like to think of her as an artist, but that is exactly what she is in her stage work. How else can I put this? The live stuff is just amazing!!! Watch it just for that if nothing else!