It would be an understatement to say that I was blown away by Green Day's American Idiot concert. I distinctly remember wishing I could relive the performance every day. The Green Day gods answered my prayers with "Bullet in a Bible," the CD/DVD release of its live performance at Milton Keynes in England.
Green Day puts on a show; a show that is an experience like no other. A show that engages the audience; a show that makes you realize what real rock music is supposed to be like; a show that leaves a lasting impact on you; a show that takes you on a journey led by a compact, eyeliner-wearing, punk-rock god; and this DVD captures it all.
American Idiot was more than just another rock album; it was an epic punk rock opera. "Bullet in a Bible" is more than just the DVD of a concert; it is a cinematic work of art.
The use of multiple camera angles, chaotic editing cuts and manipulation puts the viewer right into the thick of the mosh pit in the stadium. Just like the live performance overstimulates the senses with pyrotechnics, light shows and explosive energy, so does the DVD.
| Listen to it |
8 out of 10 Bullet in a Bible Green Day Reprise/WEA |
Shot in documentary style with hand-held cameras in both black and white and color, the DVD uses extreme close-ups as well as extreme long shots from a helicopter to realistically capture the true feel of the explosive performance.
However, the DVD also shows the intimate side of the band; their personalities, the inspiration behind the album and for the band members themselves, their backstage antics and their motivation to make this tour intimate despite its magnitude.
One-on-one interviews are endearing, funny and the closest thing any die-hard Green Day fan is going to get short of hanging out with the band itself.
Complete coverage of the concert is interjected with scenes of the band wandering the streets of England and touring the Imperial War Museum in London, the inspiration for the title of the DVD.
The only special feature the DVD offers is a slide show of stills from the concert, unless you count the occasional nudity. Special features are the only thing lacking on the DVD. Although nothing could rival experiencing their live performance, "Bullet in a Bible" is the perfect pick-me-up for any crappy day.