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Title:
New Order: Item
Region:
One
Genre:
Music Video Compilation/Documentary
Disc
One: “New Order: A Collection”
Disc
Two: “New Order Story”
“New
Order Story” Director: Kevin Hewitt
Feature
lengths: 105 minutes/138 minutes
Extras:
Alternate & Bonus Music Videos/Performance Footage
Languages:
English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound and PCM Stereo Sound
Subtitles:
N/A
Packaging:
Two Keep Cases Within A Cardboard Slipcase
Chapter
Stops: 23/20
Sound:
Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound and PCM Stereo Sound
Year
of DVD Release: 2005
Home
Video Distributor: Rhino Home Video
MPAA
Rating: Not Rated
Reviewer:
Mark A. Rivera
The
first time I recall hearing a song from “New Order” was on the soundtrack
for “Pretty In Pink.” Their song “Shellshock” struck me because it was a
mix of dance music with an alternative sensibility to it. Afterwards through
purchasing subsequent albums and watching late night music video shows that
specialized in alternative music I learned a bit more about the band. I am far
from being an expert on New Order and the roots of the band, but I can say that
this two-disc box set, which contains the music video compilation “New Order:
A Collection” and the documentary “New Order Story” had me completely
captivated and I feel I’ve gained a better understanding of the band as a
result of watching the documentary in particular. The documentary itself runs
over two-hours, but it goes by so quick that odds are one might be double
checking the disc contents wondering if that’s all that was there. The set I
received had the discs accidentally reversed in the wrong cases so when I
thought I was going to put on the music video collection, what I was actually
putting in was the DVD containing the “New Order Story” documentary. Now I
am not sure if there is a suggested order on how one can view the contents of
the set, but I for one recommend watching the second disc containing the
documentary first because it gives the viewer a greater appreciation and
understanding of the somewhat enigmatic band’s eclectic career. I also suggest
for some extra information regarding the rise and fall of “Factory Records”
that one should seek out the film “24 Hour Party People,” which is available
on DVD from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Home Entertainment. I reviewed that film a few
years ago and found it made watching this documentary more enjoyable because
although it is a dramatization, it does provide some interesting background on
the music scene as well as the founder of Factory Records that the story of New
Order touches upon.
Following
the suicide of Ian Curtis, the singer of Joy Division, in 1980 the remaining
band members who had worked together for years to reach the brink of success
they thought they were about to achieve restructured themselves when it would
have been easier to breakup and rather than hiring a new lead singer, Bernard
Sumner, a guitar player for the band, became the elected new lead singer, which
he considered an honor. From that point on “New Order” in some ways started
over and in some ways continued from where Joy Division left off. The band
members are all multi-talented with the ability to play more than one instrument
and their signature guitar rifts mixed in with synthesized tunes has never been
quite equaled by anyone else.
The
documentary is fascinating as it explores some of the controversy as well as
inspiration the band has had on popular music. U2 singer Bono was so inspired by
the late Ian Curtis’ stage presence that he aspired to have that sort of
emotional gravity and reach with his own audience though he felt he could never
equal Curtis’ persona. The documentary acknowledges that years after the death
of Ian Curtis, Bono achieved that crossover connection he longed for with
audiences around the world with the electrifying performance U2 gave at Live Aid
back in 1985. Bono also reveals his belief that Curtis and Joy Division are
probably responsible for the birth of “Goth” music long before there was
ever a label for it. I do not know enough about “Goth” music to give a
personal opinion, but long before the radio started playing “Mash-ups” with
rap singers and alternative rockers having tunes mixed together to create one of
kind blends of artistry, New Order was sampling dance music and combining it was
early 1980s New Wave elements. “New
Order” has also been cited as one of the bands that pioneered the “Rave”
dance scene too. The documentary also explores misconceptions the band
members’ feel has been publicized about the ranging from being purposefully
reclusive to evoke an image of “the thinking fan’s dance music” to being
unwilling to do press interviews. While the members of New Order explain why
they feel these labels are misconceptions, whether or not one will find their
explanations satisfactory is highly subjective. Personally I don’t think they
owe any explanation about much of the controversy that has been made up around
them and they certainly don’t seem nearly as camera shy as I remembered them
seeming to be when I watched all the music videos included on the first disc.
There are also some clips of the band appearing on some surreal game show like
program I can imagine appearing in a Terry Gilliam fantasy satire like
“Brazil” or “Time Bandits” that even now I am not entirely sure was a
real program or something staged for the documentary.
The
documentary also explores the controversy regarding the band’s names “Joy
Division” and “New Order” since both are terms that bring up Nazi imagery,
which the band firmly denies as having any connection to whatsoever. Other
musicians and or music industry professionals that participate in the film
include Neil Tennant of “The Pet Shop Boys” and Quincy Jones. Clips from
their music videos that are featured on the second disc include “Touched By
The Hand Of God” the Sunkist commercial they reworded a song for, and even a
videotaped performance via satellite from the set of “Bay Watch” back in
1993. There is also a “Create Your Own Play List” feature that allows the
user to choose from a selection of music videos the order they wish the view
them in and there is also website information for www.kinoteca.net.
Both
“New Order Story” and “New Order: A Collection” feature Linear PCM 48/16
Stereo Soundtracks, but with the complex studio layering used by the band, it is
a definite plus to hear the music in the beautifully mixed English Dolby Digital
5.1 Surround Sound that their songs seem perfect for. The quality of image
depends in part on the clips used, but overall the video image is quite good
throughout both discs. The music video collection DVD features nearly 36 minutes
of additional remixed music videos and live footage. Within the “New Order: A
Collection” DVD is an insert booklet containing credit information on all of
the music videos as well as liner notes by Michael H. Shamberg. Jonathan Demme
directed the music video for “The Perfect Kiss” while Kathryn Bigelow
directed the music video for “Touched By The Hand Of God,” which features
Actor Bill Paxton. Within the keep case for the documentary “New Order
Story” are liner notes by Producer Paul Morley.
Collectively this DVD set is outstanding for anyone that’s fan of the
band. “New Order: Item” is available on DVD-Video now at retailers on and
offline courtesy of Rhino Home Video
©
Copyright 2005 By Mark A. Rivera
All Rights Reserved.
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