This collection is loathed by many, and I imagine it would be a shock to those expecting slickly-produced, MTV quality videos. But we are talking about The Smiths here, not a group known for their willingness to do videos. Quite the opposite, in fact. Add in the fact that the Smiths existed during the 1980s, when even the best videos reveled in cheesy glory. :)

I quite enjoy the Top of the Pops appearances, which are what this DVD is largely comprised of. Yes, they are rather gaudy, over the top, and *very* 80s, which is precisely why I'm so fond of them. For those of us who never got to see the Smiths perform anywhere, this provides an opportunity to watch Morrissey sashay his way through many of their best known hits, complete with hearing aid and a small thicket in his back pocket.

The Derek Jarman films are visually interesting, although frankly they make me a bit dizzy. The sound quality is good, and the menu makes song selection easier. If you're a diehard fan, you should own this. If you're simply someone who liked a few of their bigger hits, well, I wouldn't bother.

Altogether, a terrific summary of who the Smiths were and a very valid representation of what they presented to the stage. Such classics as "Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now" playfully take off the 60's hit of the similar title, "Heaven Knows I'm Missing Him Now" and "The Boy With The Thorn In His Side" is charming for the Moz sports the word "Bad" on his neck, written in black. Ultimately, Derek Jarman's video consisting of songs from the classic album "The Queen is Dead" drags on, and to me is rather boring, but the aforementioned appearance from "The Top of the Pops" makes up for it 10x over. My only complaint, where are all of the other hits? And that is why, I guess, it is ironically titled "The Complete Picture"

As a devoted Smiths fan, I cannot in good conscience give a poor rating to any recording (audio or video) associated with the band - especially given the fact that a mediocre Smiths video package is still eminently preferable to ninety-nine percent of the intolerable dredge stocking the shelves of your favourite music retailer as we speak. Having said that, though, I was nonplussed by the limited scope and ambition of The Complete Picture. True, Top of the Pops may be the proving ground for many a popular British group, but seeing Messrs. Morrissey, Marr, Rourke, and Joyce mime their way through a pre-recorded track is enough to make a young man squirm uncomfortably - and almost half the songs on this DVD elicit such feelings.

On the plus side, the videos for This Charming Man and Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before are brilliant, and would admittedly (almost) justify the purchase price in and of themselves. Still, from them to whom much is given much is expected, and the fact that relatively recent converts to the band may be put off by this collection is cause for concern indeed.

Recommended for the hardened fan only; Smiths neophytes in turn are strongly urged to build up a proper reverence for the band before risking the DVD. May I suggest a few months of careful indoctrination - The Queen Is Dead as a proper introduction to the band, Singles in order to gain an appreciation for the scope of their oeuvre, and Strangeways so as to experience the band at the height of their power - as a first step on this path?

I agree with the previous reviewer: The Smiths abhorred music videos, dubbed "promotional films," by Moz. His take is blatant in a 1986 interview in Graffiti: "I don't care for promotional films. They don't have much to do with the records themselves --they're really put together to appeal to the type of people who wouldn't dream of buying your record anyway." If you don't own any of The Smiths' records, then you're wasting your time with this DVD. It is really an essential part of any true fan's collection.

This 1992 documentary captures The Smiths "Rank"-era with a lot of crowd favorites; Charming Man, What Difference, Panic, How Soon Is Now?, Shoplifters, Sheila Take A Bow, and Queen Is Dead.

Now that's worth the price alone. Spend 45 minutes with a band so good, you'll pine for those days. Speaking of back in the day, just how is Johnny Marr wasting his time currently?