REM's Tourfilm should have been a resounding success, but it ends up instead as a definitive suck-mess. The camera work is typical late-80's, early 90's "mtv-style" which means lots of camera movement and lots of quick editing.While this might be all well and good if there is some intelligence behind the design, the cameras seem to be haphazardly moving with no real focus and the choice of any given camera at any given time seems to be based upon which camera is offering the absolute worst shot.The concert also suffers a terrible start-stop problem and there is never any real flow to the proceedings. On the other hand, while the sound is not exactly first-rate, the concert is--REM is in top form. That makes this disc probably worth it in the end for die-hard fans, but, at the same time, offers much frustration over just how bad the production is.

Tourfilm is the reason I first shelled out my hard earned cash to see this band live. This is REM touring their 1988 "Green" album, arguably their best work and their greatest tour. The movie consists of concert footage, shot primarily in black & white and often grainy. This gives the movie an "arthouse" feel.This is not a movie for someone who likes their music FM and their movies digital quality - it is REM raw and unapologetic and it's a refreshing change from some of the overproduced "live" concert movies that have become the norm.Highlights include "Fall On Me", "Get Up" and "World Leader Pretend" as well as "Stand", "The One I Love", "You Are The Everything" and "Pop Song 89". The movie reaches its peak with a spirited version of "It's The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)" and leaves you chomping at the bit for more.Lucky there's a rewind button so you can enjoy it again ... and again.Song Listing (courtesy of Natalie Hart): Stand; The One I Love; These Days; Turn You Inside-Out; World Leader Pretend; Feeling Gravity's Pull; I Believe; I Remember California; Get Up; It's The End of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine); Pop Song 89; Fall On Me; You Are The Everything; Begin The Begin; King of Birds; Finest Worksong; Perfect Circle;

This tourfilm is terrible! I'm afraid that docu/concerts don't get much worse than this. I thought Led Zep's 'The Song Remains The Same' was bad enuff, but this is absolutely gruelling! From the start of the concert to the end, this is tripe! I was a longterm REM fan, but after I watched this I nearly topped myself! The sound is terrible throughout all the songs and the direction doesn't get any worse than this. TRADGEDY!

I'm surprised that no one else has commented on this concert film. I saw R.E.M. on the Green Tour in Minneapolis in '89 and this video always brings back great memories from those college days. What's cool about this doc is that the impressionistic video montages projected behind the band are interspersed before and after each song played. There are no interviews with the band members here, but as was always the case with early R.E.M. songs, the music speaks for itself. Recommended for any R.E.M. fan.