Review of Paul McCartney And Friends, The PETA Concert For Party Animals

Introduction

I`m completely avoiding all of the political issues surrounding PETA in this review - you can make up your own minds about the group and their campaigns. I`m just concentrating on the content of the DVD.

It features an event full of stars supporting the cause, with some brief pieces of stand up (Ellen DeGeneres and Margaret Cho), award presentations and some musical performances. Those of you that are reading this because of the McCartney connection should be advised that there are 5 or 6 tracks featuring the great man, but a lot of dross as well.

There are also tracks by The B-52s (remember them from about 10 years ago?), Chrissie Hynde, and Sarah McLachlan. You`ll also spot Pamela Anderson campaigning against people who wear leather. Is this the same "actress" who squeezed into plenty of the stuff for the laughable action flick Barb Wire?

Video

A non-anamorphic 1.85:1 transfer, which while there`s little wrong with it begs the question "why bother with widescreen if you`re not going anamorphic"? Since this is a mixture of "awards ceremony" and concert footage, you should either settle with full frame or go the whole hog and give us anamorphic widescreen.

It`s all perfectly watchable and there`s not much wrong with it, it`s just a shame that they stopped at the halfway house of non-anamorphic.

Audio

Oh dear, just a DD2.0 stereo soundtrack, which is just not good enough for a modern music DVD. If they`d gone for DD5.1 they might have pulled a few more McCartney fans in. But given that you could buy Live at the Cavern Club and hear the same tracks performed in dts, it`s a simple choice isn`t it?

The stereo is fine as far as it goes, but my expectations were much higher as so many other discs boast more channels when it comes to music. Must try harder!

Features

The main extras consist of PETA promotional films and adverts, although there is one music video. Given the plastering of the McCartney name all over the box you might expect more than what you`re getting. Not a great set of extras unless you enjoy promotional films with clips of animals being tortured etc.

Conclusion

As I said at the start, I`m completely avoiding all of the political issues surrounding PETA. I`m assuming that some money from this DVD is going to them, so if you want to support them it`s not a bad way of doing it.

If you`re looking at this DVD from the point of view of a music fan then I can`t recommend it - as the sound is merely average, and all of the McCartney tracks are available elsewhere in much better quality. Not even Dave Gilmour`s haunting but simple solo on "No Other Baby" is enough to make me recommend this to anyone.