Almost as perfect as John Paul was!
587072
This is a remarkable remembrance of an extraordinary life!  I thought there should have been more about the video clips - who, where, when, etc.  Detailed identifications were skimpy.  Perhaps all that is in the 5-DVD collection from the Vatican, but this DVD certainly sparks interest in learning more from whatever sources.  A wonderful addition to the library of anyone who loved this man - no matter your nationality or religion!
1488894
Reading this book about John Paul 1 was interesting. Albino Luciano seemed like such a nice man and would have been perfect for the position of pontiff.  He only served 33 days.  I wish he could have served longer.
1446324
This is a brilliant DVD on the life of Pope John Paul 1.  This is a Pope that I knew very little of,  to me he is a very humble saint and more should be known about him.
2771971
I must say, Amazon does not yet have this on DVD but I ordered the English version on DVD that plays in my American DVD player from some company in Russia, the only drawback is that it isn't tracked, you have to sort of fast-forward like a VHS tape. However, I am still glad that I bought it. Yes, there are arguments and the ever-present Yoko (Yucko as I like to call her) but there are some wonderful scenes of the group jamming together, smiling, laughing and just having fun! The tension is at times visible but not overwhelming. Of course, we do see the downside, each one of The Beatles are more individuals at this point, they look different from each other and have distinctly different music styles. Some may be mad at me for this but Paul did seem as though he was trying to take over. However, I will admit that Ringo and George didn't want the decision-making responsibilities and John was falling further into the Yoko-void and losing interest in other things he once cared about.
But as I said, there are some great scenes. For example, the rooftop concert at the end. John and Paul are smiling at each other, joking around and fooling around with some of the songs. Everyone truly looks as if they're enjoying themselves. Even right up to the end The Beatles still had their magic, no fights could ever take away the fact that as musicians, they gelled like no other group ever has before or since! Their coming together for songs like "Don't Let Me Down" "Let it Be" "The Long and Winding Road" "I've Got a Feeling" "Get Back" and John and Paul singing together for "Two of Us" shows that there was still cohesion, combined creativity and joy in the making of their music!
I think this film, along with "A Hard Days Night" "Help!" "Magical Mystery Tour" and "Yellow Submarine" (even though the characters' voices were not their own) are MUST HAVES for anyone who truly likes The Beatles and can appreciate them for being the greatest group of musicians who ever lived!
4757672
Oh my... John is my light. Last year is when I decided to start listening to John's solo stuff and I started with Enclosure, his most recent, and traveled backwards from there. And, man... his music is always such a great listen. This disc and the packaging and case were in perfect condition. The day I received it, I popped it into my friends stereo and we went traveling mentally and physically. His music is great to listen to sober or not-so-much. Hehe! :) But honestly... amazing record... love how heartbreaking it is and how pleasurable it is to listen to when you're stoned. I mean, of COURSE listen to it sober, but taking it up a notch is an amazing experience. I would recommend this to anyone who loves the good stuff in life like John, the Chili Peppers, and crying about the hard times in life, and remembering how far we've come! <3
3586740
Does the knowledge that Sir John was to die within a few days of this public performance at the 1970 King's Lynn Festival colour our view of it?  Did he conduct that day sub specie mortis, expecting this to be his final performance?  It is easy to read things into these two performances with the benefit of hindsight that may not really be there.

Nevertheless, it is hard not to hear an autumnal glow, a touch of sadness and regret, even in the amazingly virile leaping lines of the Allegro in the Introduction & Allegro that were not present in his famous recording with the Sinfonia of London strings.

And the Symphony does seem to provide us with an interpretation even more profound than his commercial recordings of a work that he loved dearly throughout his life.  There is an intensity to the slow movement that is second to none.  This is bred from an orchestra (JB's own Halle) and conductor who knew each other and their interpretation of this work intimately, who had years of mutual experience of the work behind them.  This allows for a flexibility that is necessarily rare - those little relaxations or heightening of tension in tempi, those moments when it's hard to tell if the conductor is reacting to a particularly felicitous turn of phrase from a soloist or vice versa.  It is there from the very first moments of the work when, even as the audience is still settling down, the orchestra creeps in with the pp drum roll and the initial heavy tread of the motto theme.  It is still there at the climax of the Finale when even Sir John can surely never have achieved quite the same passion as the orchestra positively overflows and cascades colour over the same motto theme.

Tinged with sadness over the sad events of the next few days though it may be, this remains - objectively as well as emotionally - a great performance of this landmark symphony that held a very special place in Barbirolli's heart.  I don't think he would have been sorry that this was the work that turned out to be the last he would conduct - nor that his beloved Halle produced such a magnificent performance of it.
2121217
I Am John, I Am Paul by Mark Tedesco follows the lives of two real-life Roman soldiers in the fourth century, Ioannes (John) Fulvius Marcus Romanus and Paulus.  John and Paul form a strong bond of friendship during their days fighting on the German frontier, a bond that is never broken even when John is sent away to Alexandria by a sadistic centurion.

John spends years in Alexandria longing for home and corresponding with his family and Paul in Rome.  While in Alexandria, John is initiated into the Mithraic religion, but his faith in Mithras doesn't seem to give him the peace he thought it would.

Political upheavals enable John to return to Rome, his family, and Paul.  John and Paul resume their duties in the Legion, and even volunteer to rescue a close family member of Emperor Constantine, who was kidnapped by a rival Roman general.  The mission succeeds, and the Emperor is so grateful that he gives them both farm lands and a house in Rome, ensuring they and their families will never again know poverty.

While in Rome, John and Paul discover the `Way,' the nascent Christian movement that threatens the old Roman gods.  In the Way, John discovers the faith he always hoped would fill his heart, which strengthens both men when they suffer the inevitable persecution.

I'm a huge ancient Rome geek, so there were many things I liked about this book.

For one, it was well researched.  The author knew his history and provided illuminating details of the lives of average ancient Romans.  Tedesco had a clear understanding of Roman religions, including Roman pagan rituals, Mithraism, and the practices of the `christus followers'.  The book was beautifully written in a first-person narrative told primarily by John, with dialogue that had an ancient, almost biblical feel.

Now I offer the following as an observation and not a criticism, as it is more a warning about the book's style.

I felt like I was reading John's personal journal.  And like the journals of real-life people, you won't find the standard fiction novel plot twists and character conflicts.  For the most part, things just happened to John--he doesn't really do much (besides plan and execute the rescue mission, which was the best part of the book for me).  Most of the conflict is internal, with John searching for spiritual meaning in Alexandria and Rome.  Tension between characters was minimal.

In other words, read this book for the thoughtful writing about a man searching for his spiritual home, or to experience the lives of everyday Romans during the fourth century.  But skip it if you're seeking a page-turning adventure story set on an ancient Roman battlefield.

Cross-posted on New Podler Review of Books.
2611315
I didn't know what to expect, but the idea of John the apostle living beyond the time of the early church all the way into modern times seemed compelling to me. The two story lines of the "young" John, only 100 plus years of age in the early days; and the "older" 2000 something years old John, are both compelling in their own right. Set side by side the reader is carried back and forth through time and finds he can relate to this man, in either age. He's is human, with all the flaws and temptations that accompany that condition; yet, obviously a little more than human owing to his immortality. He is on a mission from God, whom he has met, and knows well, yet cannot reveal who he is to anyone he meets, under direct orders from on high. The descriptions of both ages and the details of life in ancient Greece as well as modern Seattle pull one into each world as any good novel. It is one of those books I found hard to put down, always wanting to rush ahead to what was next at the end of each chapter, yet forcing myself to simply savor the tale at a slower pace for the sake of my own extended enjoyment, for a couple of weeks.  My only criticism is he finally left us hanging off a pretty big ledge in the final paragraphs of the final chapter. I suppose that's why I, among others, can't wait much longer for the follow up.

Although, so-called Christian books are not my normal fare, I would think anyone would like this book. It's fun to read by any reckoning. It is moving spiritually, in my opinion. I liked it so much I bought several for friends of various denominations and faith levels. They also loved it. (one friend did state she would like the female characters to have a little more depth, which I as a man, didn't notice, but otherwise she thought it was great, and even went on to suggest this book as a good choice for middle and high school readers). Even my mom loves it, and she is a pretty tough customer to please.
1752938
I saw this originally in theaters, and it was more than incredible.  The DVD is just as good at home. I highly reccommend it, it's some of John's greatest work - through the three "personalities" - acoustic, the trio, and with the band. It's not too expensive either, definitely worth the money!
4755169
Here it is, over 2mos since Heavy Rotation was released and I'm the first person to review it.  Sad, but not surprising.
A tour de force, for Paul, and blues in general. This Paul's best album since Paulzilla, I really don't know what else to say about Paul. He's a virtuouso on the harmonica, chromatic and diatonic. He does things that makes a grown blues-harp-man cry.  He's just so far ahead of everyone else musically, and that's probably why his music is so unmarketable. He gets virtually no air-play, and it's a shame.  Not only his playing great, but his songwriting is among the best in the business.  His band is just as good. You can tell that they can play anything, not just blues, but jazz as well (hint, hint, Jazz album next Paul?).
Please, please. Support Paul! He's just in another class and deserves to be heard. If you love harmonica playing and blues you owe it to yourself to hear him.  This isn't just blues, it's so much more.
4449339
I've heard millions of covers of Beatles songs (okay, maybe a hundred or so), but I think this is the first time I've heard covers of Paul songs (aside from Nicole Kidman and Ewan MacGregor singing parts of "Silly Love Songs" in 'Moulin Rouge').
I wasn't actually going to buy this album, but I saw that the JudyBats had a song on it, thus I had to have it.
The two things that make this album so good are the quality of the songs themselves, and the way that the artists put themselves into the songs.  Some songs, like 'Band On The Run' by Owlsy stay true to the original, while other songs, like 'Coming up' by John Faye Power Trip take on another harder feeling.  While it's pointless to get into the John V. Paul debate, it's quite clear that Paul had the edge when it came to pop songs.
Many of the artists I'd never heard before, but I was pleased by nearly all of them.  'Warm And Beautiful' by Linus of Hollywood sounded a wee like a Boy Band singing acapella, but it grows on you.  The JudyBats do an awesome 'Love In Song,' and Semisonic's "Jet" sounds fresh.  Some of the songs I actually like better than the originals, but don't tell Paul.
3825177
I have been a huge fan of John's since the early 1970's. I have every record John has ever made. Seasons Of The Heart is truly one of John's best works. John seems to have really laid his heart on his sleeve when he made this album. This was I believe a very low time in Johns life. I always felt like John had a deep sadness within himself, and when he wrote his lyrics he pulled them from the very depth of his soul. I love this music and I think anyone who buys this CD will not be sorry. Perhaps Love, without "Pla`cido Domingo" is my favorite version. I remember when John introduced that song on the Tomorrow Show with Tom Synder back in the 80's. What a great interview and what an amazing love song. I miss John something aweful. What a beautiful and talented person he was.
3666380
This DVD was everything I hoped it would be (I only give 5 stars for true classics, so 4 is about as good as you'll get from me).  I saw Paul in Boston perform this concert and I remember savoring every second of it, wishing that it would never end.  Of course, it did.  And the DVD has become my window back to the concert, allowing me to relive it again and again.  I'm a big McCartney fan (have been since I was little) and so I can find the positive in just about everything he does.  But this DVD rocks.  I swear the cars driving by must have heard it booming out of my basement, I had it cranked so loud on surround sound.  I loved the cutaways to the behind the scenes - they offered a glimpse as to what made the show so good and were added bonuses to my original experience watching the concert live.
This tour, by the way, was a hundred times better than Flowers In The Dirt Tour of the late '80s, which I saw in Worcester, MA.  Paul's voice sounds so much better this time around (somehow - he's 14 years older now).  And it's much more personal and emotional than other shows, with his tributes to Linda, George and John.
Just a fabulous concert, fabulous DVD from one of the fabulous four.
4037692
A friend loaned me the vinyl album 20 years ago. I made a cassette recording, then a CD from it. The CD copy went bad and I thought I'd lost this beautiful music forever. I assumed it was out of print. When I found it on Amazon, I ordered 2 more copies for friends. I even made a framed picture of the second verse of the "Vigil". Pay close attention to those words. Christianity acknowledges the divine LIGHT, but almost ignores the holy twin aspect of divine SOUND. Absolutely beautiful!
723439
I saw Peter Paul and Mary at (what I believe) was their last Christmas Concert together at Carnegie Hall in December, 2008.  I remember feeling very strong emotions throughout the concert, realizing that Mary, in particular, could not sing all that was clearly still within her soul to sing.  But I also remember thinking how inspirational their lives have been, and a bit envious that I will likely never come close to making such a profound impact on the world as these three individuals have, both individually and collectively.

I still have my original LP versions of the solo album collection, which I plan to hold onto.  It is indeed exciting to see them out on CD, however, which I hope will last for much longer.  I suppose I'd be smart to buy 10 or 20 copies now, while they can still be had for less than list price, then double my money in a couple of years after it's out of print.  But alas, I'm just happy to get a copy for a reasonable price.  I am not someone to promote Barnes and Noble either, but want others to get the best price possible, while it lasts!  As of this date, it is available both online and in Barnes and Noble Stores!
2107467
If ever there was a complete work of the apostle Paul, this is it. And it is written by no less an expert than one of the 20th century's foremost Christian scholars, F.F. Bruce. Now that it's in paperback, every Christian ought to examine it for himself. The problem is, we're such a light-hearted fictional society (yes, I'm talking about us Christians) that many might never touch this book with a 10-foot pole. There's not enough plot to it, I can hear someone say. (Are you kidding? Who could have lived any fuller a life than Paul? He was the MAN!) In addition, another possible complaint could be that it's not written in an easy-flowing biographical style. True, but at the same time, this is not an impossible book for the average layperson to understand. That's why the publisher has made it available in paperback.
Let me say, if you consider yourself a person who loves the Word of God, a book like this will only enhance your study. It takes  us from the beginning of Saul/Paul's life and opposition to the Way all the way to his imprisonments and death, with an emphasis on the apostle's theology. In effect, Bruce gives us the complete context to help us understand the situations that caused Paul to write the way he did. You will want to have your Bible nearby when you read it. Another valuable tool in this book is its index. This book could be used when carefully studying Acts or one of Paul's epistles. The background information the book provides what is probably more valuable than a set of NT commentaries. While the book can be either read or just utilized as a resource, there is no doubt in my mind that this is the best single work on Paul that I have ever seen.
3369532
I remember meeting John (the back bone of VAST) when I was around 15 when  we all lived in Sonoma County. At that age I knew that this man was  absolutly amazingly rich with musical inspiration and talent and I couldn't  wait for him to break though. When I was visiting Spain I had his demo with  me and even they loved it. I am in the army now in Korea and we have a  radio station here called AFKN and his songs are getting more and more play  time and is becoming a hit with many soldiers. Its a fantastic mixture of  goth, rock, and symphony and well worth it. I have only listened to some of  the songs via internet but all I can say is FABULOUS!!!!!! Please listen to  this CD and his past CD, its fantastic. Good job John.