Prince: Sign O' the Times (1987)

The Age of Commercialism

Slow pace in the most part of the movie.

A different way of telling a story

It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

This concert is really one of prince's best performances. The band prince and the audience all together appear to be having the time of their lives. Plus the versions of sign o' the times, house quake, it, and the cross I think are more intense live. This lineup of musicians is the best. Even people that say they are not prince fans tend to eat their words by the the third song in. This concert shows great guitar playing as well of the multi-talents of Shelia E. Also shows excellent vocal solos from prince as well from the band. I like lending the video out to people that are unfamiliar with prince to see their reaction. I have seen Prince live and this video captures what he is all about, when some live albums or videos do not.

Performing a stage show with dramatised elements in front of an audience in the Rotterdam Music Hall, Prince delivers a show that has the power to win over those that are not really bothered at any degree by his music. I personally quite like some of his tracks but have never bothered myself to do more than like what I'll occasionally hear on the radio and I would never consider shelling out for a concert but I must admit really enjoying this film. The start worried me – was this going to be more bad acting than singing? Would this "pimp" storyline get in the way of what I had come to see? After the initial bit of acting though the film goes into the title track and from there on in it is one good song after another.The "story" aspect of it will come in an out but it never gets in the way of the music. In fact it actually helps the show be a lot more interesting for the viewer because there is lots going on and lots of people coming and going on stage, interacting with Prince and the music. I'm not suggesting that there was anything approaching a narrative here but it is certainly an impressive stage show – lots of energy and spectacle and certainly what you would expect if you paid the big bucks for a big star. However, even without this I think Prince could have held the audience because he does have the quality to do it. I've seen Tori Amos, Talib Kweli and a few others do it but they have all played smaller, much more intimate gigs while some of artists I have seen in big stadium gigs have struggled to do more than sing and not connected with the audience that well. Prince does well and to his credit he is not afraid to share the spotlight – making for a better show.His musicians are all impressive; Fink, Bliss and Boyer to name a few are very good, while Shelia E is an impressive drummer who also plays well to the crowd. Special mention to Cat the dancer though, in this age of constant booty-shaking on uninspired MTV videos her moves don't look dated at all and she is still very sexy and talented – winning over the crowd as well. Sheena Easton makes an appearance as well for a song or two and generally helps the film.Overall, those that dislike Prince will not be won over by this but if, like me, you think he is OK then this film is worth a look because it does show him at his sexual, performing best. The talented support he has and genuine energy in the performances all combine to make an enjoyable show that is worth checking out.

If you like concerts or never have seen one on film...Don't see this one because every other concert will have a hard time measuring up. Prince is definitely one of the best performers of the 20th century. Unlike some of the new cats playing music now in days, Prince's concerts have been known to go over 3 hours...and that is not an exception. You get your money's worth of funk, dance, and message. His music not only is loaded with talent but the lyrics offer hope, such as "The Cross", while others are pure dance like "Housequake". No one else in the 1990's offer this much funk. So if you are ready to see and experience a real genius you've got to see this movie.

This live version of various tracks from arguably Prince's most ingenious work never fails to leave me gasping for air. If this isn't a good reason to give the diminunitive one's music a fair chance, I don't know what is. High points: The chilling title track, exploding into the eversunny Play In The Sunshine; the drop-dead dancing of Housequake; Charlie Parker's Now's the Time, which features fantastic jazz trumpeter Atlanta Bliss, red hot funkmeister Levi Seacer Jr.- with one of the sweetest bass solos this side of Larry Graham- and the PMT-busting Sheila E, wisely exploited here as one of the most exciting jazz and rock drummers around; the epic Forever in My Life with the class vocal-goddess that is the late boni boyer; and the jazztastic It's Gonna Be A Beautiful Night featuring the hilarious "Table and the Chair" rap! Low points: pedantic, but the mis-matching film of Dr Fink's organ solo and the freeze-frame shot in Hot Thing really annoy me. but then that guitar sound makes up for it all. Watch this, and prepare to watch it again just to make sure that it really happened!