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(More customer reviews)I've been a Jack Johnson fan ever since hearing Flake and Bubble Toes when Brushfire Fairytales was first released. His concert footage was always tough for me to source, so when Jack Johnson En Concert came out, I thought it was time to see how his laid back tunes translated to the live venue. I was not disappointed. I knew I was in for a treat when the bold, block letter opening credits played over black and white street scenes of Paris - an obvious nod to Godard and the new wave film maker aesthetic. This set the tone for the film - it is not so much a concert video, as some other reviewers may have hoped, but rather a documentary of their 2008 tour through Europe with fantastic cinematography and beautiful live footage of Johnson and his three piece band, along with their tourmates Ben Harper, Mason Jennings, Matt Costa and Neil Halstead. Directed by Emmett Malloy (who also shot Thicker than Water with Johnson in 2000), I find its approach comparable to Wilco's I am Trying to Break Your Heart in that it interposes concert footage shot from amazing perspectives with interviews and behind the scenes footage that really exposes what a great bunch of guys are behind such enjoyable music. While yes I concede that there are some grainy and blurred scenes (or footage that looks like it is shot from a cell phone) - I see these as artistically compelling elements that even on HD I find are a true enhancement to the visual experience. I'd choose a live DVD such as this over a straight-on concert DVD for a performer such as Jack Johnson, for it is the perfect milieu for the sentimentality that is so deeply steeped in his music. The surfing footage alone is worth 5 stars - if you haven't seen/heard of the standing wave on the Eisbach River in Munich, the scene here of Johnson riding it is a real treat. If you are into musicians taking a more artistic approach to the release of their concert footage, give this one a try - you'll be rewarded. However, if you are looking for a full concert shot from a multitude of angles in HD, give this one a pass.
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In the summer of 2008 Jack Johnson took a trip through Europe playing everywhere from historical venues to classic outdoor stages making it the biggest tour of his career. The film is a collection of live performances with Jack's quartet along with special appearances by G. Love, Ben Harper, Mason Jennings, Neil Halstead and Matt Costa. Through weathering the stormy nights in Newquay to surfing on a river in Germany, to playing the packed house in London's Hyde Park, the film takes you on a trip and captures the connection between an audience and an artist on an international stage. This is more than a compilation of performances, this is an intimate look at Jack Johnson, his life on the road, and the unique dialogue he has with his fans.
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