Amazon.com: The Work of Director Michel Gondry invites the lucky viewer into a wonderland of childlike imagination. Before the Versailles-born Gondry turned his creative ingenuity to feature films (beginning with the underrated Human Nature and the 2004 Jim Carrey comedy Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind), these 27 music videos and assorted "stories and things" formed a legacy of supreme cleverness, suggesting a creative lineage from the pioneering film magic of Georges Méliès to the groundbreaking experimental films of Norman McLaren. It's perfectly fitting that the accompanying 75-minute documentary is titled "I've Been 12 Forever," because Gondry (b. 1964) never lost the sense of wonder and inventiveness that children display when their minds are allowed to flourish in a creative environment. No wonder he's best known for his dazzling collaborations with Icelandic pop star Björk, resulting in music videos (seven included here) that redefined the magical potential of the medium. Each, in its own way, is a masterpiece of the fantastic.
What's also remarkable about Gondry's work is its technical progression, from the homemade crudeness of his earliest videos for the French band Oui Oui, to the technical wizardry of Kylie Minogue's "Come Into My World," in which the Australian pop star is seamlessly multiplied as she strolls around a busy Parisian intersection; like many of Gondry's videos, it's a stunning "how-did-they-do-that?" work of art, reminiscent of Zbigniew Rybcynski's prize-winning 1982 short "Tango." From the hilarious dreamworld of the Foo Fighters' most popular video "Everlong" to the painstaking pixilation of Gondry's videos for the White Stripes (one made entirely of animated Lego blocks), this DVD is packed with Gondry's tireless pursuit of perfection; he'll do whatever's necessary, no matter how simple or complex, to achieve perfect harmony between song, artist, and visual concept. All the while, he's drawing from a seemingly endless well of inspiration, as evident in the delightful 52-page booklet of stories, drawings, photos, and interviews that chronicle the eternal sunshine of a brilliant mind. --Jeff Shannon
Original and Masterfully Creative This DVD is part of a bigger set, which I'm sure most of you know, and is a great experience all by itself. Michel Gondry has proven himself to be one of the most creative Directors out there and invents ways to compliment the musical artists with supporting imagery. Some of the older music may be a little different from what you're used to if you are American and didn't listen to music during the times of his early career; however, European's and older viewer's may have just a little more appreciation of the sound. Either way, the imagery is beautiful and the simplistic, yet extremely complex world Michel Gondry creates is of the utmost intrigue.
AMAZING! This DVD is amazing. Michel Gondry is for sure one of the best directors of all times.
Pretty good This is probably my 2nd favorite dvd like this, really liked all the videos, except for some of the bjorn ones which were obviously pretty weird. Forgot the name of the singer/song, but the one where it's just beats and the landscape shows stuff following the beat pattern is really cool. Mark Romanek's dvd is the only one I like better, if you're into these types of dvds I'd strongly suggest getting that one.
come into his world. I have a pretty extensive dvd collection and this one is at the top of my list. Michel Gondry is my favorite director and the videos and short films on this disc are worth seeing. Highlights: "Around the World" by Daft Punk is funky and futuristic, "Star Guitar" by the Chemical Brothers is mesmorizing and in sync, "Everlong" by the Foo Fighters and "Let Forever Be" by the Chemical Brothers are classics that you'll never forget. "La Lettre" is my favorite of the short films featured on this dvd about a young boy who is in love with one of his childhood friends and must deliver her a letter before she leaves on vacation. "One Day" features David Cross, dressed as a piece of crap, and Gondry on a hilarious adventure through NYC. I would recommend this dvd to anybody who enjoys great music, great cinematography, and most of all a great imagination.
Gondry This DVD is pretty sweet. There is a good amount of interesting, entertaining material and I enjoy watching it.
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