Watch Red Hot Chili Peppers: Live at Slane Castle For Free

As Good As It Gets

It's funny, it's tense, it features two great performances from two actors and the director expertly creates a web of odd tension where you actually don't know what is happening for the majority of the run time.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

I'm not one of those who can say I've been a Red Hot Chili Peppers fan since the beginning, due to the fact that their first couple albums came out before I was born. It wasn't until about eight years ago when I got a copy of their then-latest album, 1999's "Californication". After that, I started exploring their previous work, and have continued to follow them since then. Before getting this concert film on DVD, I had seen some Chili Peppers concert footage, but this was my first time seeing an entire concert film of theirs, and it didn't let me down."Red Hot Chili Peppers: Live at Slane Castle" features the California quartet (Anthony Kiedis, Flea, John Frusciante, and Chad Smith) performing (as the title says) at Slane Castle in Ireland, in front of a crowd of 80000 people filling the field, on August 23, 2003! It shows them performing a set of songs from what were their last two albums at the time, "Californication" and "By The Way", as well as songs from their 1991 smash hit, "Blood Sugar Sex Magik". The set also includes interludes, brief solo performances from guitarist John Frusciante, and a ballad version of "Havana Affair", by the Ramones. Apparently, the band also played "Soul To Squeeze" (their contribution to the soundtrack for the 1993 film, "Coneheads") at the show, but it was cut out because a string on Frusciante's guitar broke during the song.Slane Castle is definitely a good place to shoot a concert film. I usually find that concert films are better when they take place at outdoor venues with big crowds, and this is one of those. Also, the band who lured those tens of thousands of people to the venue to see them that day in 2003 definitely made it worthwhile for them! All the band members are in excellent form, playing so many great songs, and not failing to make them sound impressive live! They also know how to keep the audience enthused with their energy and charisma, and there is occasional humour in between some songs. The cinematography in "Red Hot Chili Peppers: Live at Slane Castle" isn't disappointing, either. As you would probably hope for in a concert film, this one shows multiple perspectives; from the stage, from various parts of the crowd, from overhead, etc. I've noticed some brief slow motion scenes around the beginning, which are unnecessary, but, no big deal.Although I've been familiar with Red Hot Chili Peppers for many years now, I still haven't gotten the chance to attend any of their gigs, but certainly wouldn't mind doing so. In fact, I wouldn't have minded doing so years ago, and this "Live at Slane Castle" video, which I have now seen several times, certainly hasn't made me change my mind! This well-crafted 2003 concert film really doesn't have a lot, if anything, to disappoint fans of the distinctive California quartet! If you've ever been lucky enough to see the group's current lineup in concert, this will likely bring back memories. While I can't talk from a first-hand experience, I haven't found much criticism of this video from those who can, so I guess it does the band's live performances justice, pretty much at least. If you're like me, a fan who hasn't seen them in concert, "Live at Slane Castle" just might make you more determined to go and see them if you have the chance!May 1, 2012 Update: A few days ago, I finally got to see the Chili Peppers in concert for the first time, and was not let down. It obviously wasn't QUITE the same without John Frusciante and with Josh Klinghoffer in his place, but all the members still managed to deliver, including him. Now that I can talk from a firsthand experience, I can say that the band sure knows how to put on a show, and "Live at Slane Castle" is a great representation of what their live shows are like!

For me this concert is one the best of the peppers because contains all the classics song like under the bridge, the power of equality and give it away. I have only seen the red hot chili peppers once and it was the last Saturday March 10 of 2007 in the "foro sol", here in Mexico city and for me was one of the greatest shows ever. That show was fantastic but the only thing that i can say against that show in Mexico, was that the peppers don't play songs like the other side, under the bridge and around the world.........well but it was fantastic. What i want to say is that here in this DVD you can see and hear all the pepper's classics that maybe they don't play in the show that you see live. 9.5

Best live rock performance on DVD, period! The energy, sound and for that matter, the entire production is first rate! High Def. cameras are used throughout. If you like the RHCP's, why don't you own this? If you're on the fence, you WON'T be disappointed!!! Flea is an animal!!! Chad is one of the best drummer's alive!!! John is the most underrated guitarists in the world. Even with all his dancing around, he NEVER messes up. You can't tell me that Anthony hasn't refined his craft, too!!! As far as I'm concerned, they are at the pinnacle, of their abilities! A perfect, recent example is that when they played 'Dani California' on SNL, it was so tight, flowing and funky! The sign of a great band is when they sound better live, then recorded. Do yourself a favor, check it out!!!

RHCP at Slane Castle is simply great. It starts out with a great jam - what do you expect from Flea and John? Plenty of awesome tracks in this video.From By the Way to Californication to Power of Equality. RHCP are all about improvisations so every song has a certain new tune or solo to it. Check Don't Forget Me - the last two minutes of it is very melodic and reminiscing-quality tune. Or the customary intro into Californication is one of the best the Chili Peppers has managed. This video has several covers too. A full length Havana Affair to a shortened Maybe. This video has everything. It makes you jump to the bass-slapping, sit to the enigmatic Frusciante playing, hitting to Chad's drumbeats and sing to Kiedis's ever-improving singing. It is as good as being there! Check this out!