This year it will be the 10th anniversary of the release of the title Queen Rock Montreal on DVD / Blu-ray. The concert film from director Saul Swimmer is for me the best Queen concert video officially released to today. But in those days, almost 10 years ago, I experienced the bitter disappointment of how QPL destroyed the original visual quality of the Swimmer's movie.
Luckily, Swimmer did not live to see it …
On this occasion - to this sad anniversary, I created this gallery celebrating the original beauty of visual side of the Swimmer's film .... link
What do you think, we will see one day another attempt to correct such botch QPL work in that 2007... ? I personally don't think so, but miracles are happening sometimes ...
For me there are still a few mysteries associated with this film ....
For example, what a story is hidden behind presence 2 opposite 3 rack toms on Taylor's drum kit during the song Get Down, Make Love ....?
Why is on the Queen Rock Montreal DVD/blu-ray shortened 'Take a Bow' sequence by 30 seconds compared to the original WWRY film ....?
Maybe it's an unfortunate expression, but QPL simply destroyed his work and, moreover, Mr May has already expressed as much stupid arrogant words about him .... And what would be in the hands of QPL (now), if not Swimmer convinced Mercury to do it ...
12yrslouetta wrote:
I thought that Brian was angry that they werent able to contribute to the film musically, but he thought it looked wonderful
At the time they hated the movie. Didn't get along with Swimmers, the mix was too dry for them and the angles used focus mostly on just Freddie.
But it happens it was recorded on film, on IMAX, no less, something very special and expensive, and of course, it looks really great. Don't use the film for a release would be a waste, so i believe it doesn't matter if Brian and Roger like it or not, is the only video in IMAX they never had.
Nitroboy wrote:
Well it was "just" 35mm film, blown up to IMAX size (65/70mm)
Not really.
I Max is a totally different film and projection system. The we Will Rock You film was filmed using double anamorphic lenses. Blowing up any film leads to a loss of reproductive quality at some point.
The Queen film was filmed in a large format because the original plan was for the film to be shown on very large screens, bigger than i max at concert venues with a concert PA system.
One of the reasons for so few audience shots in the film is because it was designed for the viewing audience to be "the audience". It also lacked much footage of the band, seeming to favour long and close ups of Freddie.
My understanding is that the band thought the picture quality was great but weren't happy with the overal sound and on reflection thought the minimal audience on film took away the atmosphere.
Swimmer approached it as a film project and saw what most none fans see, Freddie with three other guys. The band saw it as being about them, the show and the music.
Vocal harmony wrote:
The Queen film was filmed in a large format because the original plan was for the film to be shown on very large screens, bigger than i max at concert venues with a concert PA system.
It was filmed in 35mm. And there were no screens bigger than IMAX screens. Those were the screens Saul Swimmer used to demonstrate, and sell the idea, to Freddie.