Closure

I borrowed this tape from a friend who likes NIN, yet he said this tape was a gift he didn't ask for and wouldn't have asked for. I watched it knowing what I would see was going to be something sick. It's kind of weird, because the first tape is like a documentary on acid, yet it does have a sense of humor, a first for NIN. One who watches it cannot help but laugh at the scene where the group throws everything they can at an exit sign to knock it down, including beer bottles, couches, chairs, and so on. I found myself enjoying this tape, as twisted and distorted as it was. Then came the second tape, which was an assortment of their music videos, complete and uncut. It was here that the enjoyment of the music and the madness took a downfall. It gets particularly disturbing. I originally had an interest in buying this tape, but the video "Happiness in Slavery" was enough to make me run the other way(I don't want to get into the details). Who do they hire who are willing to participate in portraying such sick activities as depicted on these music videos? It's a mystery! I don't think I'll know what NIN or Trent Reznor's trademark of technical distortions and sick imagery really means or why they are doing it, but a little bit of really sick stuff never hurts, as long as it stays within a boundary that's watchable.

Nine Inch Nails appeared to have made a pretty funny documentary of their 1994/1995 Further Down The Spiral Tour. The tape that shows their tour documentary is probably a real life comedy. The band is shown trashing a dressing room attempting to knock down an Exit Sign with The Jim Rose Circus, then you see a look at The Jim Rose Circus' act on the stage.

Good performances by the band on the tape as well, as well as a duet with David Bowie.

It shows some of the low points and the high points of the tour. Such as some of the accidents that occured due to Trent Reznor's violent stage performances. As well as interviews about their shocking Woodstock 94 appearence.

The other tape is all of Nine Inch Nails' music videos. Which I thought was boring when I watched them. Some of their videos on the tape are pretty disturbing, especially the "Happiness In Slavery" video, so for all the kids under 18, don't watch this tape.

This video is for the true NIN fan, and is a must have. But just remember something about the musical videos tape, Trent Reznor is a very disturbing individual.

truly "closure" is classic in the world of nine inch nails fans. at the time it was released, it showed behind the scene's footage of what happened while on tour and unique performances. it also showed the world their first glimpse of long rumoured videos and uncut versions of the videos we had all scene on mtv but were forced to see censored versions, examples of this would "down in it" with trent's "dead" body, and just about anything considered offensive in "closer" that was not nudity.

this two tape set is for the most devoted nin fan of course. i would be remiss if i didn't mention that there is some stuff on this tape set that most would consider offensive, mr. lifto on tape 1 for example and the videos for "sin", "happiness in slavery" and "help me i am in hell". it is probably a given that the first time you watch this and run across these moments, you will be shocked and perhaps disgusted, but after multiple views...you might look upon it as unique individual pieces of art...well except mr. lifto...that is just weird hehe.

tape 1 contains the live stuff and behind the scenes footage. some might gripe about the poor quality of the audio or video during some of the performances, but in a way it is refreshing and different. perhaps the jewels of that first tape might be "something i can never have" & "hurt" with david bowie. tape 2 contains all the videos nin had done up to '97 [except "burn"]. all presented uncut and inter-connected with odd footage from old films. it is hard to pick out what makes the second tape so good, although in my opinion its "gave up", "help me i am in hell" & "eraser" but thats me.

but there is one thing that could be said about this video after watching it: it's that trent reznor and what he has down with nine inch nails both musically and visually is a testament to how much of a creative individual he is.

This video is a masterpiece in every sense of the word.

This man (Reznor) shows us the human nature like nobody else does. He can make you feel anger, happiness, hate and love all at the same time while he is at the stage. This is what an artist is, a man that knows and understands the violent, sick, compassionate and pathetic nature of humans and creates something beautiful out of it. You can see through that man's eyes while watching this video or listening to his music and if you feel the connection with at least a small part of it, you will understand what a great artist he is.

This video is sometimes shocking and while the sound quality isn't that great (or maybe that adds to its favor) this is still a must have for any NIN fan.

If you are one of the people that believe good music is what is shown in MTV most of the time and if you prefer not to know about the "ugly" part of the world to be comfortable with your life, don't watch this; but if you are a person comfortable with what we (humans) are and you are not afraid to feel you must buy this, you won't regret it.

Normally, I don't write another review of a film or a tape I have already reviewed, but I believe that I gave an unfair review of this tape set from NIN. I was not a NIN fan at the time I saw it, and therefore, was unable to appreciate the power of it's art. I write this second review because I have changed my opinion about this tape set, and I wan't to say what I really think of it.

"Closure" is in short, a masterpiece! It is a two-tape set that contains a documentary about their tours(a very hyperkinetic one too, but you expect that from NIN), which is also very funny and very revealing at times. I didn't really care for the "Jim Rose Circus" part, but that's just my personal opinion about "The Jim Rose Circus". It doesn't affect my opinion about NIN.

The centerpiece of the tape set of course, are the music videos! Here is where the music of NIN and the imagery heightens the power of their music to an art form. We get to see all the videos from "Pretty Hate Machine", "The Downward Spiral", a few live numbers, and even a few from the notorious "Broken Movie".

People like to talk about how graphic this video set is(which I did too), but those who like to talk obviously have not sat through "The Broken Movie", which is so violent, that Trent never bothered to submit it for release. Also, the music gives the images a kind of de-sensitizing feel to them.

I was a little disappointed that "The Broken Movie" was not included, because that was the epitome of Trent Reznor's violent, shocking art. He never made anything quite like it, and probably never will again. All of the videos from "The Broken Movie" are included(except "Physical", the most graphic video of the movie), but they don't flow through well. They worked much better when they were combined with the movie. Here they seem disconnected, and look like separate videos that were meant to be seen separately(which they weren't). Oh well, at least we have them.

Best of all though, the videos are unedited, meaning they were not butchered and tenderized by censorship. We get to see the music videos the way they were meant to be seen! "Closer" can now be witnessed without all the silly "Scene Missing" cuts, and we get to see a REAL music video for a change. My personal favorite video is "The Perfect Drug", which just began to enter the music of "The Fragile".

Like I said, I write this review because I change my opinion about NIN.