Glastonbury Details

[Highly rated reviewer]

Very good documentary, far better than the

In July 2005, when I reviewed for this website the 'official' Glastonbury Anthems 1994-2004 DVD, I started my review off thus: 'What, no David Bowie? No Pulp? No Orbital? No Orb? No Goldfrapp? No Levellers even?'. Was Julien Temple reading that? Because those six artists all appear on this wonderful documentary, I am glad to say, along with other favourites like Alabama 3 and Faithless, so it is hardly surprising that I give it five deserved stars. This is excellent - with great footage (although the 'interactive' option of choosing different songs was a little shaky at times). Snips showing tripped-out revellers enjoying the festival since 1970 (youthful John Craven reporting from the site is funny), various interviews with Michael Eavis - did you know his beard was once black? - and some great footage (the standout being Pulp singing 'Common People'). Check out disk 2 for the whole versions of each song - worth it for Goldfrapp's 'Strict Machine' alone. Hugely enjoyable, recognised many many characters I had bumped into there, and pretty up-to-date (includes for example, Babyshambles and the flooded tent area opposite the Glade, from 2005). As someone who has been to Glastonbury pretty much every time since 1990, it was great. I recognised a couple of people in the travellers' area as well, which was hilarious. This documentary has been accused by some of being disjointed, but that is part of its charm - my Glasto memories are so mixed up by years of caining it, that I can't remember what year was what either. Just made me want to take my clothes off, grab some cider from the fridge, run into my garden and shout 'I love you, world!'. Then I remembered I live in Plaistow beside West Ham Stadium, and thought better of it.

So Laidback It Falls Over

I think anybody who is a fan of Glastonbury would probably enjoy this as a souvenir. I would have liked it to have been more structured and for there to have been narration or explanatory titles. For example, some of the bands featured I didn't know, and would like to know who they are. Plus, it kept on jumping between era's and themes too much for me.