Not a perfect collection, but it's pretty good for what it is Depeche Mode's Videos 86 > 98+ is a reissue of the original DVD (except this version has two discs instead of just one). The first disc is basically a slightly re-worked version of the original DVD. The main menu, while it is nothing terribly fancy, is still an improvement over the menu on the original issue of the disc. This menu has the logo from the cover as the background image, and you are given four choices: Play, Video Selection, Interview with Depeche Mode, and Short Film. The Video Selection menu has the electronic Depeche Mode logo in what kind of resembles a spaceship hangar. The video selection is broken up into three groups of videos to choose from (the groups contain seven videos each). The other options on the menu take you directly to what is labeled on them. If you use the Video Selection menu, the disc will play the video you choose, and then continue playing the remaining videos in sequence.
If you choose the Play option, it will take you to the beginning of the whole disc (which opens with a montage of items associated with Depeche Mode's videos, such as the lawn chair from "Enjoy The Silence"). This is followed by a short interview section (including interviews with Dave Gahan, Martin Gore, Andrew Fletcher, and Anton Corbijn) that tells stories behind shooting the videos for "Personal Jesus," "Enjoy the Silence," "Barrel of a Gun," and "It's No Good." This section also includes footage from some of the videos ("A Question of Time," "Useless," "Personal Jesus," "Enjoy The Silence," "Barrel of a Gun," and "It's No Good"), as well as footage from a video shoot. Then, disc one progresses into the music videos; each video opens with a title card with one of the images from the opening montage, as well as the title of the video. Two of the videos on the two discs have exclusive audio ("Enjoy the Silence" and "But Not Tonight"). The disc ends with a twenty minute short film titled, "Depeche Mode - A Short Film." The film includes interviews with Dave Gahan, Martin Gore, Andrew Fletcher, former member Alan Wilder, Daniel Miller (head of Mute Records), Anton Corbijn, Flood, Tim Simenon, plus someone else who has worked with the band (unfortunately, nowhere during the film did the individuals' names ever appear on the screen to identify them). The film also includes footage from some of the videos ("Stripped," "A Question of Time," "Personal Jeses," "Enjoy The Silence," "I Feel You," "In Your Room," "Barrel of a Gun," and "It's No Good"). Footage also appears from the 101 video release, newspaper articles about Dave's overdose, newspaper articles about the band's "return," and footage of Dave singing "Only When I Lose Myself" in the studio).
The second disc opens with a menu that has a close-up of one of the digital signs from the cover. There are three options in the menu: The Videos, 3 Short Films, and Play All. The menu for the videos has an orange curtain with a digital sign with a number "0" in the middle. The video selections appear on either side of the sign ("But Not Tonight" and "Strangelove '88" appear on the left side, and "One Caress" and "Condemnation [Paris Mix]" appear on the right side). The menu for 3 Short Films is a long shot of the orange curtain (a projection room can be seen on the top of the screen), with digital signs in front of the curtain (but the signs are blurred, so you can't read what they say). The three choices appear at the bottom of the screen. When you watch the three promotional films, they are left in their original form (this means that the music videos included in the original are not edited out). And unlike the first disc, if you choose a video or a short film, the disc will only play what you select.
When you select Play All, it goes into the "But Not Tonight" video, and this is followed by the "Strangelove '88" video. Next is the promotional film for the Violator album (which includes interviews with Dave Gahan and Martin Gore, outtakes from the "Personal Jesus" and "Enjoy the Silence" video shoots, as well as the videos for "Personal Jesus" and "Enjoy The Silence"). Overall, this promotional film was enjoyable to watch. Next on the disc is the promotional film for the Songs of Faith and Devotion album. This includes interviews with all four band members (Dave, Martin, Andrew, and Alan), footage from the "Just Can't Get Enough" video, footage of the band hanging out in Madrid while recording the album, and ends with the video for "I Feel You." Overall, this promo film is the worst of the three; many of the things that happen in it are very obviously staged (such as the woman coming up to Martin's room). Also, it felt like too much emphasis was being put on Martin in the film. This is followed by the videos for "One Caress" and "Condemnation [Paris Mix]." The disc closes with the promotional film for the Ultra album; it includes interviews with Dave, Martin, and Andy, some sound samples from the album (with accompanying lyrics on the screen), and the video for "Barrel of a Gun." This film, while it is better than the one for Songs of Faith and Devotion, is still rather strange in how it was done.
Overall, this is a decent collection. However, the videos for "Pimpf," "Clean," and "Halo" are missing; perhaps in the future, a double DVD set of the Strange and Strange Too video compilations could be released to make up for this deficiency. Outside of that, though, this item is a great addition to a Depeche Mode collection in order to upgrade from the original video or DVD issue of this item.
Depeche Mode-Videos 86>98 I rather enjoyed having all those DM videos in one easy DVD set. It's nice.
It is one o' the best video compilation for Depeche Mode It is a great compilation almost the totallity of their videos. If you are a beginner fan of DM, it is one of the best acquisition that you can afore!!!
Worth it for the prostitute alone That's right, a prostitute (belonging to one Martin Gore. I'll explain that in a moment).
Alright, this is the two disc collection, and not the previously released 1 disc collection. On this collection, you're still getting all the great videos included on the first release (21 videos, Stripped through Only When I Lose Myself), as well as an interview and a short film. Despite what others might say, the second disc is absolutely worth buying this for.
First of all, the second disc includes four great videos- But Not Tonight (from the Modern Girls soundtrack, so the video is interspersed with clips from the movie), Strangelove '88, One Caress (a great video, and the reason I bought this collection), and Condemnation (Paris Mix. This video, as well as One Caress, is very different from any other DM video I've seen).
The real treat on the second disc are the three mini films. Each film focuses on a different album (Violator, Songs Of Faith And Devotion, and Ultra). The band members give their thoughts and opinions of each album. I promised you a prostitute.
The second mini film, Songs Of Faith And Devotion, has an interview with Martin Gore in what I believe is his hotel room (it may be his home, but I'm not certain). During the interview, there's a knock at the door. When Martin asks "Who is it?", a trashy woman barges in. Martin looks terribly embarrassed as she says "Time is money" and he tries to shove her back out the door, telling her now isn't a good time, as he's in the middle of an interview. Martin sheepishly returns to the interviewer, who also looks embarrassed by the situation. Another reviewer here said he thinks it was a girlfriend, but I think not. The first thing out of a girlfriend's mouth ins't usually "Time is money", and people don't normally look embarrassed of their girlfriends and try to shove them out the door. In any event, it's a very amusing bit of film.
Oh, and the other mini films are good also (but just try to focus on watching them as you're still laughing from the prostitute bit).
Even if you already own the first 1 disc release, I would recommend getting this set, as the second disc contains a lot of valuable material. The only thing I wish were present on this set is the video for Halo.
Depeche Mode: from Video to DVD. "The Videos 86>98" documents Depeche Mode's visual history from 1986-1998. It has promotional videos for each single released during this era, and it also boasts a documentary featuring interviews with Martin Gore, Andy Fletcher, Alan Wilder (who was with the Mode from 1982-95), and Dave Gahan, along with producer Flood, manager/producer Daniel Miller, and photographer Anton Corbijn. He's not only the band's photographer, but he also manages the band's entire visual output. In addition to directing 18 of their videos, he's also done much of their album artwork, as well as stage design for the band's tour for the "Songs of Faith and Devotion" LP. Having said all that, this DVD is as much Corbijn's as it is Depeche Mode's. Anton's dark, grainy imagery nicely compliments the mood of Depeche Mode's synth-based music, from the Western-themed "Personal Jesus," to "A Question of Time," to "Walking in My Shoes," to "In Your Room." But that doesn't mean Corbijn dominates the entire DVD. A few promotional clips directed by outsiders also stand out; the best of which is "Only When I Lose Myself," helmed by Brian Griffin. This double DVD set comes with another disc of goodies that weren't included in the now-obsolete single-DVD version of "The Videos 86>98." Four promotional clips are also included: "But Not Tonight" (a dated, but fun video that has scenes from the 1980's film "Modern Girls"), "One Caress," another version of "Condemnation," and an alternative version of "Strangelove." In addition, we have three documentaries promoting "Violator," "Songs of Faith and Devotion" and "Ultra." The first two are filmed by Corbijn, and they're both quite interesting, especially the one for "Devotion," in which we watch a goateed, rail-thin Gahan give his $.02 on the band and the making of the album. Fletcher, Wilder, and Gore also contribute their thoughts, but it's songwriter Gore who provides the most insight and depth. So, if you have the single-disc DVD, should you make the upgrade and get this double disc version? That depends on how much you like the Mode. Casual fans should probably stick with the single-disc DVD, but diehards like myself will enjoy the three documentaries on the second disc, so it's worth revisiting this very fine DVD of one of my favorite groups around.
Anything Goes Trivia
Megaton Man
Tailipoe
Trevor
