What to say about the new Stones DVD ?

To make it short, Four Flicks definitely sets a new milestone in the history of musical DVDs.

The main negative point is that for the european fans, the prices are much higher there than in the US or in Canada...

You'll find below a quick review of the 4 DVD set to be released all across Europe between Nov. 17 and Nov. 24  2003
I will add the access to hidden bonus as soon as I'll have them. 
If you have found hidden stuff I did not mention, feel free to send me an email so we'll be able to share them all together.


1. MAIN CONTENTS

Disc 1 :  The documentaries
    Ü Tip of the Tongue is a great documentary of the preparation of the Licks Tour.
It reminds me of the great documentary released by KISS on their DVDs.
The approx. one hour documentary goes from the recording sessions in Paris to the opening gig in Boston.
It features a great sequence with late Chuch Magee being sketched by Ronnie in the studio in Paris.
Also noticeable : The design of the stages with Mark Fischer, and excerpts of rare Stones documentaries like Charlie is my Darling, Cocksucker Blues, Knebworth 1976, and 1978 Tour footage.
    Ü Licks Around The World
This shorter documentary focuses on the US, German, Indian, Japanese, Spanish, and Czech shows.
Not as great IMO than Tip of the tongue, but some souvenir ffotage of shows you may have been at.

Disc 2 :  The arena show : Madison Square Garden, NYC, Jan. 18 2003
Ü This show was broadcast live by HBO in January.
Ü Missing songs on the DVD : Start Me Up, Gimme Shelter, Tumbling Dice, Sympathy For The Devil.

Disc 3 :  The stadium show : Twickenham Rugby Ground, London, Aug. 24  2003
Ü This show is the first rick show to be played in the Mecca of rugby.
Ü Missing songs on the DVD : Don't Stop, Happy, Start Me Up.
Ü One funny point : images showing the audience are sometimes from the Amsterdam Arena. 
On some moments you'll see the squares of seats and the alleys of the Twickenham rugby ground, and on other times, you'll see the triangle of the Amsterdam Front Of Stage standing area.
If you select the Backstage pass option, you'll see that they also cheated during the band introduction and that ALL the backstage pass views seem to have been made during the 1st Amsterdam Arena show ! You can clearly recognise the typical roof of the dutch stadium in the background. The Stones had to wear exactly the same clothes on both shows...

Disc 4 :  The theatre show : Olympia, Paris, July 11 2003
Ü The Stones' favorite venue in Paris, where they played all thru the 60ies, 1995 and 2003.
Ü Missing songs on the DVD : It's Only Rock'n Roll, Rip This Joint, Tumbling Dice.
Ü The show is edited with a lot of very quick camera changes. 
On fast songs like Neighbors, it's sometimes hard to follow (at least on the  huge screen of a movie theatre where the preview took place). 
The director slows down on the slower songs and it's very good then.


2. THE EXTRAS

Ü The bootlegs : Bonus songs from other shows than the ones featured on Disc 2, 3 and 4.
Beast Of Burden, You Don't Have To Mean It, Rock Me Baby, Bitch : Wiltern Theatre, LA   Nov. 4 2002
Can't Turn You Loose : Cirkus Krone, Munich, June 8 2003
Extreme Western Grip, Well Well : jams from the Paris recording sessions, May/June 2002
Ü Select-a-Stone : Classical option up to now but very well done.
        DVD 2 : available on Monkey Man and Honky Tonk Women
        DVD 4 : Angie (also taken from the MSG show)
Ü Backstage pass : To see what happens before or while the Stones are on stage.
Ü Mini documentaries : Approx. 3 min. long featurettes on specific topics, like the duets with Sheryl Crow, Solomon Burke and AC/DC.
Nice, but IMO they are taking space on the discs which would have allowed them to put at least 1 more song from each show on the DVD.


3. THE HIDDEN STUFF

Disc 1 
-  While on the main menu, press the "UP" arrow of your remote control, and you'll discover Keith telling the story of Tumbling Dice.
-  Watch the Bootleg section using the "watch all" option. Instead of clicking "Main menu" afterwards, use the menu button of your remote control, and you'll see Mick and Elisabeth Jagger at the Wiltern before the show.

Disc 4 
-  Let the whole credits roll after the show, wait for the legal annoucement, and you'll see and HEAR Ronnie and Jo Wood backstage at the Olympia during the band introduction by Mick.

What to say as a conclusion ?

First of all : great sound, great image !

This DVD set might have been slightly better, but it truly is a great item for anyone who saw the Stones on tour during the last 2 years, and for those who missed them.
Before 2003, U2 and Metallica were the best DVD producers in rock music. Led Zep set a new standart with their recent 2 DVD box set, but Four Flicks is definitely the most exciting rock DVD currently available !