After this i recommend the Abba - The Concert dvd.
Enjoy!

"Abba Story, The Winner takes it all" good for what it is...
Review date: 2004-05-16 Rating: 8 out of 10

I was given a copy of this as a birthday present. I had seen this when it was originally aired on television a year or two ago.

I would have to agree with a previous reviewer, that if you want to know about the making of the musical "Mamma Mia" this DVD is a fine starting point. However, if you want to know more about Abba, this DVD is not going to fill too many gaps in your lack of knowledge. I found the interviews with Benny, Bjorn, Agnetha, and Frida to be too short, where surely there should have been more time devoted to them and the magic they created as a group!

Would I have bought this for myself? Sasdly the answer is no.

A bit to be desired
Review date: 2003-10-21 Rating: 6 out of 10

This is the extended version of a TV documentary about Abba shown in 1999 at the time of Mamma Mia's opening in London. The original TV show was presented off camera by John Gordon-Sinclair. This longer version - with John Gordon-Sinclair's voiceover mysteriously replaced by Neil Pearson - was previously available on VHS. The DVD version has no additional content. While not surprising, this is still a disappointment.

As for the content itself, interviews with and footage of the group members about Abba are what makes this interesting (including early material from Swedish TV), especially the voice of Agnetha, even if she is simply reading parts from the English version of her book Som Jag Ar. Unfortunately, and perhaps cynically, much of the programme is about Mamma Mia. This is of scant interest, and the inclusion of Steps and Bjorn Again unnecessary. Pete Waterman's talking head is an irritation.

With so much footage still not released, eg Abba's appearances on the Olivia Newton-John TV special from 1978, the Music for UNICEF concert, and many other appearances, performances and interviews, it is a pity that this release has so much padding which has nothing to do with the group. I can only hope that future releases will meet fans' demands. This does not include the ITV show featuring celebrities and Pop acts covering Abba songs. This dreadful show should be consigned to oblivion. Denise Van Outen's performance of Gimme Gimme Gimme is a punishment.

Don't buy it !
Review date: 2002-03-03 Rating: 2 out of 10

ABBA and their fans deserve more than one DVD. This is the first one on the European market and I only give one star. The documentary is very well done (except the fact that it was made to launch the musical MAMMA MIA !) but where are the foreign subtitles ? Where is the 'special features' section ? Not even a photo gallery ! Nothing ! Some fantastic footage from the early 70's are included in the documentary but sometimes only 30 seconds. Why didn't they add the full versions as a bonus ? The DVD version is the same as the VHS version. Why ? Universal and Video Vision Ltd should do their job properly. But they don't care of the ABBA fans at all. They only want to make a lot of 'money, money, money'. They could earn more money with good and interesting items ! When I see the great work which is done around The Beatles' and Elvis Presley's material I feel a bit depressed. Poor ABBA ! They are the second best selling group in the music history, after The Beatles, and there's only one bad DVD available!...

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