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Following the successful 1998 video release of Cats comes another Andrew Lloyd Webber blockbuster musical, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and it's a savvy choice. It hasn't been represented on film before, it's short enough (78 minutes) to present without cuts, and it has the star power of former teen icon Donny Osmond, who played over 1,800 performances across North America. Rather than record a live performance, Cats director David Mallet conceived Joseph as a film, though one that is based strongly on codirector Steven Pimlott's 1991 London revival and relies more on camerawork than venturing beyond its stagelike sets.

Lloyd Webber's first project with lyricist Tim Rice was originally written in 1968 as a school cantata; accordingly, this film uses a framing sequence of a school recital, with an audience of clapping, singing kids and members of the faculty playing the roles. The Old Testament tale of Joseph and his coat of many colors gets a splashy, vigorous treatment with an energetic cast, Las Vegas-style glitz, and catchy, eclectic songs, including "Any Dream Will Do," "Close Every Door," the peppy "Go, Go, Go Joseph," and various bits of country, calypso, and Elvis. Osmond is perfect in the title role, with a strong voice and winning persona, while London stage veteran Maria Friedman performs well in the central role of the narrator. Richard Attenborough appears (and sings a little) as Jacob, and Joan Collins makes a brief, nonsinging cameo.

Joseph certainly isn't revolutionary musical theater, but if you view it as a kids' show, it's a silly good time (though there are poignantmoments too). Parents should note, however, that this production might warranta little discretion due to one suggestive scene and some risquécostumes. --David Horiuchi ... Read more

Reviews (265)

Lloyd Webber missed the boat...
Visually, the film was very good. I would have liked it to be filmed in front of a live audience, seeing that much of the energy comes from the audience. There was something missing without the live excitement. Osmond was the natural choice for Joseph. He has a strong presence and amazing voice. He looks pretty good too. Maria Friedman was a HUGE letdown. Don't get me wrong. I've seen her do other things and she's an amazing performer, but is simply wrong for the role of the Narrator, visually and vocally. Back in '97, I was living in London and I was told that Linzi Hateley (originated the role of the Narrator in the London revival, was Olivier nominated, and played it for the entire run) was going in for a screen test. I have no idea as to why she wasn't cast. She's beautiful, extremely talented, and deserved to have her performance of the Narrator archived for the world to see. Another good choice would have been Donny Osmond's original right-hand Narrator, Janet Metz. She would have been a joy to watch. Also, Kelli Rabke would have been good. I also heard that pop singer Tina Arena was originally cast as the Narrator for the film. I don't know why she backed out or was replaced. She would have been better than Maria Friedman. As I said before, the film production was well done, but since the Narrator sings practically 75% of the show, the casting of Friedman virtually ruined it for me. She is best put in shows like Sondheim's Passion, and more dramatic, operatic/broadway roles. I love her, just not in "Joseph."

Technicolor Dream Video.
Since enough reveiws have been written concerning the costumes, sets, and presentation. I thought I'd concentrate on the perfomers first and then add my bit on the others if space permits. Players:

Maria Friedman (Narrator): I thought she did a very good job! I loved her voice and how she sang the words. Her expressions were quite nice and everyone who has seen this video with me agrees that she seems to be having a GREAT time!

Donny Osmond (Joseph): Great voice, great interpretation and great transistion from Dreamer Joseph to Leader of Egypt Joseph. If you pay attention Joseph is so much more mature at the end of the story. Osmond almost seems born to play the role!

Sir Richard Attenborough (Jacob): Brought grace and dignity to the role. This is how I pictured Jacob! When I first heard he was going to be in Joseph I figured maybe they meant somebody else. I'm glad they didn't. The interaction between Attenborough and Osmond is top notched! You can feel the love between Jacob and Joseph at the end of the show.

Ian McNeice (Potiphar): He has the right millionairish look about him. I liked his performace up until 'Joseph I'll see you'll rot in. . .'. I just didn't like his interpretation as much as say, the Canadian Potiphar.

Joan Collins (Mrs. Potiphar): Excellent choice for the role, bringing star power behind it. I love how she reacts to Joseph's refusal. You can tell THIS is a woman who's used to getting who she wants! And her look of indifferentness as Joseph is carried away is just so fitting to the character. It's like 'Take him away if you want. I'll just find me a new toy.'

Robert Torti (Pharaoh): Best 'King' I've heard, and he is absolutely hilarious!

Christopher Biggins (Baker): He was ok. Didn't care much for his vocal presentation. However, his physical presentation was top notch! Love that faint!

Alex Jennings (Butler): Best Butler I've seen! His performance in the role was perfect! Too bad he was only on for such a short time.

Nicolas Colicos (Reuban, One More Angel soloist): I loved his vocal prsentation of OMA better on the London recording, but his physical presentation is a treat. Also his reprise is quite comical as you can see poor Reuban is making it up as he goes along! I should add that his intro in Jacob and Sons is a treat! It's lively, comical and just plain. . . FUN!

Jeff Blumenkrantz (Simeon, Those Canaan Days soloist): I loved his performance! Not just in Canaan days but throughout the entire show. His performance in TCD is memorable and near perfection. Haven't seen a better TCD soloist yet!

Gerry McIntyre (Judah, Benjamin Calypso soloist): Absolutely hilarious job! He had me laughing all throughout BC. The funniest part by far is his 'Benjamin is an INNOCENT MAN!' Never have I heard it that way! I was rolling on the couch! My only gripe with him is I still have no idea what the heck he's doing in Grovel Grovel lol!

Amanda Courtney-Davies (Apache Dancer, [and, I believe Reuban's wife]): I'm fairly certain she was also Reuban's wife. If not, well then take this next reveiw to whoever was. Was so very funny in OMA. Sometime during OMA watch her the whole time (particularly when Reuban says 'To wrestle with. . . a goat!') Another high point in her performance was in TCD when Zebulun drops her (intended). Though minor characters, her performance with them both was worth mentioning.

Michael Small (Zebulun): A great dancer! I felt his number in TCD days was worth a mention. And check out his jumps at the start of the OMA hoedown!

Other mentions: Martin Callaghan(Asher), Patrick Clancy (Issachar), Peter Challis (Gad). Though they didn't receive much camera time, keep an eye on them in the background of most numbers, you'll definately get a laugh! I only wish space allowed me room to comment on all the brothers!

LOVED IT!
My daughters (6&7) love "Joseph" as do I. The music is great and it's a great way to introduce musical theater to the younger audience. One caution though. Joan Collins' outfit is a little suggestive as is the scene where she begins to take off Josephs clothes. But for little ones, I think its totally over their heads and goes by really fast. I wouldn't let that hold you back from letting them experince this dvd. Donny Osmond is a fabulous Joseph. Our family would love to see him do this on broadway again.

Imperfect, but still terrific fun!
Donny Osmond, it would seem, was born to play this part. Both vocally and in the acting department, he raises the bar for every other Joseph out there. He captures the character's naivete and simultaneous intelligence pitch-perfect, his dazzling smile embodies the character's undying optimism, and his lovely clear tenor is perfectly suited to the singing role. I personally did like the Narrator quite a lot. She's quite funny, and her voice is very pretty. It's true that she's not belting the high notes very strongly - her vocal stylisms are more operatic than the average Broadway soprano, but I think it makes her interpretation unique and adds a quiet intensity that is normally not found in the role.

There are some flaws. For example, I found the Mrs. Potiphar scene unnecessarily graphic. Though Ms. Collins looks gorgeous for her age, and acts the part with irascible charm, her costume is largely a flesh-colored leotard with a few strategic bunches of purple sequins. It looks as though she's nude and wearing pasties. The entire instrumental sequence of that scene, which in the stage version is usually just an over-the-top "seduction" scene, is replaced here with a simulated orgy. I always cover my 6yo's eyes during that part. ;) I also agree with the other reviewers who said that the Baker and the Butler were really lifeless and sang terribly, and Jacob was expressionless throughout. His version of "distraught grief" was to stand there slightly slack jawed. Really pretty boring.

But these will not deter anyone from thoroughly enjoying this video again and again, and there are many aspects of the production that will forever set the standard. The eleven brothers were priceless, and all had very good chemistry with each other, the Narrator and Joseph. They also all clearly had incredible voices. The costumes were spectacular and colorful, the musical arrangement is the best I've ever heard in this show, and the pacing is compelling and consistent. The Pharaoh slays me every time - his comedic timing and appropriately overdramatic expressions coupled with his gorgeous baritone are just sublime perfection for the role. And Donny will make you grin right back at him.

In short, it's a very, very strong production that surpasses every stage version I've ever seen, and it is extremely faithful to the spirit of Webber's vision.

Great visually, severely lacking musically
If I could somehow take my CD of Joseph and line it up with this video, I would love this video. Joseph is excellent, but everyone else is only so-so. Scratch that. Everyone else is pretty bad.

Visually, this was fun to watch. There's one good part in "Joseph's Coat" where the brothers (I think it's the brothers...) grab the bottom of the coat and twirl it around so the bottom half forms a color wheel of sorts. The kids running up on stage is creative, but a bit cheesy. The sets are fantastic, but clearly are designed to keep the movie grounded in its Broadway musical roots.

Also, it's difficult to explain in text, but the kids in the audience look dispairingly cheesy. They have these fake smiles plastered on their faces and generally look dumb. It would not surprise me to find that the kids choir was originally from a Broadway cast and thus accustomed to overaccentuating any sort of movement.

The Narrator is really not very good. I can't explain why, but it just doesn't work.

Potiphar is fairly good, but he spends so much time speaking his lines instead of singing them that you hear very little of what sounded to be an excellent voice.

Jacob is weak. Even if the character is an old man, the part deserves to be a fairly strong singer.

The first "Poor, Poor Joseph" (when he was tossed into the pit) was visually very amusing. Very funny, but the Narrator singing it was still not great.

Donny Osmond is really the only character that seems to grasp that the movie should be presented as a movie, not an overly articulated and video-taped Broadway musical.

(Please understand that I'm mentally playing through the video as I write this)

"Go, Go, Go Joseph" was presented as an interesting disco party. I'm not sure of the original intentions, but that scene was enjoyable. The Butler and the Baker however were again let-downs.

The French accents in "Those Canaan Days," although affected by all of the brothers and Jacob, were not very good. There was a lot of non-French accent creeping in.

This video is no substitute for seeing it live. I've seen it live twice by both a touring company and a local theater and both were far superior to this video. If you want to listen to the music, I suggest the 1992 Canadian Cast Recording, which also contains Donny Osmond as Joseph. ... Read more

Reviews (220)

You'll watch it over and over again
This is the best video I've ever bought. Never have I watched the same video repeatedly - so much so that I bought an extra copy in case the first one wears out. I am a big fan of musicals, and this performance did not let me down (unlike the Cameron MacKintosh tribute video). The way this video flowed was really nice - an excellent production! Tina Arena's opening song - WOW! Donny Osmond did a wonderful job. Antonio Banderas and Elaine Page with the Evita songs - excellent! Antonio is perfect for the role of Che - the video of 'Evita' was also incredible - who knew Madonna could act that well? I was disappointed with the Starlight Express piece - full costume would have been perfect and I thought there were better songs they could have used (maybe the medley would have been a good choice). The Requiem wasn't bad. Nice cello playing by Julian also - thought he would have dressed up for his brother's birthday party :). Michael Ball was PERFECT! All his songs were incredible. Wow, what a rendition of Vaults of Heaven. Incredible Gethsamane! The Phantom pieces were okay - Michael Crawford really should have been there. Bonnie Tyler's rendition of Tire Tracks and Broken Hearts was great! All of the songs from Whistle on Down the Wind were incredible on this video - soooo much better than the original soundtrack! Boyzone did a better version of No Matter What here than on their own album. Glen Close was spectacular on Sunset Blvd's songs! The dancers and the orchestra were also fabulous! Buy this! If you have liked any of Webber's work, you must have this video. When will it ever get on DVD? Or a CD soundtrack?

A Night Of A Thousand Stars!
Just as the box (and the song) says, this is truly a night of a thousand stars. The video contains... Whistle Down The Wind ~ Tina Arena; Joseph Fanfare ~ the Orchestra; Any Dream Will Do & Close Every Door ~ Donny Osmond; Variations On A Theme By Paganini ~ Julian Lloyd Webber; Requiem For Evita ~ National Youth Choir; Oh What A Circus & High Flying Adored ~ Antonio Banderas; Don't Cry For Me Argentina ~ Elaine Paige; Light At The End Of The Tunnel ~ Ray Shell; Hosana (from Jesus Christ Superstar) ~ National Youth Choir; Hosana (from Requiem) ~ Dennis O'Neill; Pie Jesu ~ Sarah Brightman & Ben De'Ath; Jesus Christ Superstar ~ Marcus Lovett; Gethsemane ~ Michael Ball; Phantom Overture ~ the Orchestra; Phantom Of The Opera ~ Sarah Brightman & Antonio Banderas; All I Ask Of You ~ Sarah Brightman & Michael Ball; Music Of The Night ~ Sarah Brightman; Tire Tracks And Broken Hearts ~ Bonnie Tyler; No Matter What ~ Boyzone; Vaults Of Heaven ~ Michael Ball; Car Chase On Sunset Boulevard ~ the Orchestra; Once Upon A Time ~ Glenn Close & Marcus Lovett; With One Look & As If We Never Said Goodbye ~ Glenn Close; Love Changes Everything ~ Michael Ball & the Cast; Memory ~ Elaine Paige; The Heart Is Slow To Learn ~ Kiri Te Kanawa; Happy Birthday ~ the Cast; Whistle Down The Wind ~ Lottie Mayor & Andrew Lloyd Webber, and The Jellicle Ball ~ the Orchestra. You absolutely can't go wrong with this video. There is something for everyone, and you'll find yourself watching it repeatedly. The performances by Antonio Banderas, Sarah Brightman, Michael Ball, Glenn Close, Boyzone & Bonnie Tyler are all definitely highlights, but there isn't a disappointing performance in the entire 2 hour+ show.

Lavish
I consider Lloyd Webber the British heir to Richard Rodgers, and this is what Sondheim would have done if he could have. (In fact Lloyd Webber at 50 even looks like Rodgers.) But I shut the thing off when a church choir-type started singing "The keys to the vault of heaven." Was this thing a retrospective of the composer or a religious revival? It was absolutely sodden with Christianity, nauseously so. Like almost every last song! I hung in there for over an hour and a half because there were some things I very much wanted to see and hear (as a rule, I love Lloyd Webber's music very much, sans the rock), but at this point I'd had enough. Sarah Brightman was absolutely beautiful and natural, what a charming open smile and such a wonderful voice. I loved what she did, and applauded all by myself in my living room at the end of her duet "All I Ask of You," though I dislike that show very much. I thought the fellow who sang Che (right name, spelling?) near the start was worlds better than Mandy Patinkin (whom I'd always loved before he went on to bigger and more pretentious things), also he had the right accent and was prettier. In fact, he was beautiful, as were several of the young men. I learned from reading some of the other reviews that this was an international cast (all unknown to me, ignorant, insular, xenophobic American that I am), all quite famous, and that Lloyd Webber is loved the world over. I can well understand why he is so much loved. However (I have CDs of all his shows that I know of, he may have written more since I stopped buying musicals), it seems to me that his wonderful talent (genius?) diminished as he grew older, his inspiration, gift for melody deserted him. I highly recommend this DVD for anyone who likes rock music (I do not) and who doesn't mind feeling they're in a 21st Century church. I'm sorry I had to stop it.

FABULOUS........JUST GREAT AND ENTERTAINING!!
I am fortunate enough to see most of the Andrew Lloyd Weber productions on NYC's Broadway, I saw Whistle Down The Wind on the London Stage a few years ago. But, I have to hand it to TINA ARENA, I never heard of her, but came back on Amazon and purchased 4 of her CDs,I thought her rendition of the title song was just fabulous, what a voice, what emotions were generated from her voice. I played that segment over and over again......I was hoping that they made a CD of the whole show. All the performers were just GREAT!! I loved watching Glenn Close get into character for her TONY AWARD performance of Ms. Desmond, I was standing up in my living room giving her an ovation too, she was just wonderful to see again. I was surprised of the musical talents of Antonio Banderas too. But, just to listen and watch the major performers, Sarah, Elaine, and Bonny (were you ever on Bway??) once again made this DVD well worth the price.........and that Michael Ball guy, never heard of him, but, I went out and got his performance dvd at the Royal Albert Hall too..he was sensational, what a voice.......everyone was just awesome......I loved the DVD, the music and the performers, and I applaud Andrew for his music and memories..........come back to NYC with another winner.........

Whistle down with Tina!!!
The first time I watched this Andrew Lloyd Webber special is that I have been very impressed with the cast. All the big names from Europe down to America is present with the likes of Glen Close to Antonio Banderas! big and a shiny production I must say. The opening number titled "Whistle Down The Wind" was honourably given to the gorgeous and ever so talented Tina Arena! She gave a powerhouse performance all looking sultry and sexy in a gray figure hugging lacy gown. She gave a strong performance and the crowd was obviously delighted with her interpretation! The vocals and the emotion are so evident. Encore for Tina Arena!!! Other internationals include Boyzone, Michael Ball, and Bonnie Tyler and gave justifying performances as well. But the highlight ofcourse would be Tina's rendition of "Whistle Down The Wind". Great move for Monsieur Webber to have Tina open the show! very impressive! Go get the video NOW! ... Read more

Reviews (436)

I love my kitty Cats!
I first saw Cats at my friends house, and I fell in love with it. I still do love it-- I watch it every single day, at least five times! It is the best musical in the entire world. The cast is absolutely SPECTACULAR!!!! Some of my favorites are Aeva May as Demeter, Rosemarie Ford as Bombalurina, Jo Gibb as Rumpleteazer, Leah Sue Morland as Electra, Jo Bingham as Etcetera, Veerle Castelyn as Jemima, Phyllida Crowley Smith as Victoria, Michael Gruber as Munkustrap, Jason Gardiner as Alonzo, Karl Morgan as Pouncival, Drew Varley as Mungojerrie, and, of course, John Partridge as Rum Tum Tugger!!! The twins rule too-- go Tommi and Kaye!!! Anyway....if anybody nice out there has any information about my beloved Cats, whether I listed them above or not, I would REALLY appreciate it if you sent it to me. By the way, did you guys notice that Elaine Paige wrote a little note on this review board?! That is so awesome! If any of you other cast members are out there reading this, I LOVE YOU!!! I would recommend this video to EVERYONE, but young children may require a little parental discretion, since there are a few, um, PG-13 moments. But otherwise, everything about this video is terrific. Gillian Lynne, Andrew Lloyd Webber, and T. S. Eliot are all geniuses beyond their time. This video is well worth the price, and it is a timeless treasure to be enjoyed over and over!!! I'm a jellicle cat--are you?

Excellent
"Mungojerrie and Rumpletezzer have a very strange way of working together and some of time you would say it was luck! and some of the time you would say it was weather"

"Macavity , Macavity theres not one like Macavity there never was a cat of such deceitfullness and suavity he always has an alabi or one or two to spare at what ever time the dead took place Macavity wasnt there"

These are only two of the great songs in the show! it is really really good; great songs, funny, good acting, good dancin!
all around excellent!

Perfect! Excellent! What else can I say...
I love ALW musicals of that includes JCS and many more. My favortie action/fantasy film is Lord Of The Rings, my favortie comedy would go to 13 Going On 30, my favortie romance is Alex & Emma, and my favortie horror-musical is Little Shop Of Horrors. But, my favortie musical would have to be "CATS." Here is the story of how I came to love it: We got this tape in '98 and for 4 yrs. I let it pass me by. It was sometime after my 13th birthday (oh...I'm 14 now!) and I found this sudden urge to watch it. I was a little scared of Macavity, I mean who isn't? But after watching it a few times, I became use to him and fell in love with the musical. Now today, me and my twin watch it all the time. My favortie characters are listed below and the reasons why.
FAVORTIE CHARACTERS
TOMS
_____
1. Rum Tum Tugger- Uh, hello? He's H-O-T, and I love his H-I-P_'-S.!
2. Mungojerrie- Hard to tell why I love this character, is it the way he jolts his tongue out? Or the way he smiles? Or maybe it's the fact that he is brave? Wait, it's all of that! I think it's sweet when he looks at Munkustrap after getting knocked down and then he turns to Macavity and hisses! Awww...He loves Munku. Speaking of which...
3. Munkustrap- He is another hot tom! I think him, Mungo & RTT are the hottest. Not to mention, I love the way he sings!
4. Pouncival- He is so cute! Adorable! And so precious!
5. Alonzo- He is Munkustrap's best friend, I think they might be brothers...Anyhoo, he probably has broken the flirting record, but who cares? I love this tom!
QUEENS
______
1. Demeter- She is everyone's favortie! Of that includes mine, she is so sexy!
2. Jemima- The prettiest kitten out of the tribe, and by- God the sweetest!
3. Rumpleteazer- Brother of Mungo, and so pretty. She has this cute little giggle..which is fun to hear in the video!
4. Electra- THE CUTEST KITTEN IN THE WHOLE TRIBE!!!!!
5. Victoria- She's the lucky one...Did you see who her mate was during TJB?
Well, this sums up my review! I love this musical! I LOVE the characters! And I ADORE the music in it! See this movie, you won't be sorry.
P.S I hate Cassandra!!!

Kids will love it!
I bought this DVD for my 7 year olds birthday, guessing that both she and her 8 year old sister would love it. I can tell you that I wasn't wrong. One week later they are still loving it, in fact they seem to get more out of it each time they watch it. The songs and dance routines are suberb, it's a lot better than I think I imagined it would be.

I'm no great Andrew Lloyd Webber fan, but that's not really the point. I don't think that you need to be to recognise when something is well done. And whilst it may help? to have seen the stage show before, it's clearly not essential to enjoy the DVD. Sometimes it can be the opposite, as people may feel a film version does not live up to their expectations/memories of the live show.

If you are considering buying this then please do, and for goodness sake, do not worry AT ALL about this being unsuitable for children. Some previous reviews commenting on it's unsuitablity for children are way off the mark. I can only imagine they live in households where table cloths are required to reach to the floor, lest young ladies in the house are offended by the sight of the table legs! Unreal...

Lovin the music!
hey musical-lovers,
Im actually yet to see the musical in all its wonders but am currently using one of the songs for a school project and am loving the music! Not to sure how I'd like the real thing but if the mystical tunes are anything to go by, you've got yourself a good source of entertainment. An amateur production of it was put on at my dance school a while ago and it was very impressive without the expenses so if you consider this a reliable source, I'd recommend you and even myself to get out there and see what 'Cats' is all about. Just venting my views. . . but feel free to protest! ... Read more

Reviews (66)

Cirque du Soleil's Best
I was fortunate enough to see Quidam in its first American run, with the original performers and routines. I can say without hesitation that this DVD captures the beauty, and compelling aura, of the live performance - no easy feat. And in regards to the show itself, I feel strongly that it is the best Cirque du Soleil has ever offered.

With a message of innocence rediscovered in a world of jaded ennui, this show opens the viewers' eyes to seeing life in a new light. Personally, I felt completely renewed after watching, and still feel the magic, thanks to the DVD. Each time I view it, I walk away renewed, and encouraged.

There is not a weak act in the bunch, and several are utterly astounding - the hand-balancing stands out for its technical strength, and the contortion in silk is hauntingly beautiful. Sadly, the easy flow of the German wheel is somewhat lost in the DVD - in live performance, it was one of the best acts in the show. The clowns are as appealingly bizarre as ever. However, the real credit must go to John Gilkey, whose gangly-graceful character captures the heart. He leads the entire show with ease, guiding the production from one act to another...and his solo performances are works of art. His contribution alone makes the DVD worth owning.

A last mention that makes the DVD worthwhile is that it includes music from the show that isn't included on the CD - why these pieces were left out I'll never understand.

A Cirque Lovers Dream
FINALLY! A superior capture of a Cirque du Soleil performance. I sufferied through the last two ("Novelle Experience" and "Saltimbanco") disappointing videos. Watching one missed opportunity after another, I had to draw from my memory of being at the performance to complete the picture. Or else I had to overcome annoying camera tricks. At last there is a film that enhances the experience of "Quidam" that surpasses the visions one gets from a a seat in the audience, and ALMOST equals the experience of being there.

Let me explain. Camera shots and close-ups are much improved over previous ventures (I have not seen the film of "Alegria"), and now are better integrated into the overall experience. Rather than trying to perform camera stunts of their own (there are some exceptions), the viewpoint tries to capture or comment on what is being filmed.. The sound quality (captured from a live performance) is supurb.

And the acts are wonderful. Many are actually more enjoyable [to me] than in my two live viewings because of the viewpoint of this film. While some are not as impressive as some past acts have been, the way the entire production encompasses their essence improves their impact. And some of the acts, quite frankly, are simply as good as it gets.

But in this instance, the whole is far greater than the parts. This has always been a Cirque trait, but is particularly evident in "Quidam". The vision that permeates every frame of this film, every motion of every performer, every brush stroke in every make-up, every note in the score, every stitch in every costume-- is as advanced as anything seen in any art-form -painting, dance, theater, music, athletic arts, light, sound, technical theatre --all fully expressed in one overwhelming artistic statement that produces no less than a state of awe. Hey, but that is what you expect from Cirque du Soleil.

You get it here. For the first time (in my humble opinion) on film. And now you can sit at home in comfort and admire it again and again-- and you can show your friends what it is like to be in a very special world of enchantment.

Disappointment from Cirque
I am a dedicated Cirque fan, experiancing the delights of O, Alegria, Varekai, and Dralion. I recently saw Quidam on TV and was extremely disappointed that I sat and wasted 3 hours of my life in front of the TV for that. This annoying little girl never quits singing, and nothing very entertaining happens through the entire performance. If you want to become a huge Cirque Du Soleil fan, my advice is to not watch this one first, because it will spoil it for you. The best would be to go and see O (or Mystere) live in Las Vegas before anything.

The best of what mankind has to offer!
I think I now have every CdS DVD and have reviewed several of them, but not yet Quidam, as I have always found the words lacking for a proper review....and I still do(but will try it anyway)

Let me first say that John Gilkey is brilliant as the emcee/clown. He is doing something for almost the entire show, and much of the time what he is doing is utterly amazing. One of my favorite Cirque segments is when John runs out screaming with a hula hoop. He then proceeds to do things with the hula hoop which I cannot fathom even after watching the DVD many times over. Let's just say that I do not understand how anyone can possess such control, and furthermore do it every night! John's juggling scene in which he dances and juggles with the hat rack also shows that the level of his dexterity is far beyond that of any other mortal man, as is his sense of artistry.

This show is darker than the other Cirque shows, with a grimace instead of a smile on many of the performers faces. Not that it matters; just an observation. As for the acts- again, they are some of the best of any Cirque show. My personal favorite is the Statue, a music-less act where a man and a woman contort themselves with each other in a most imaginative and athletic manner. It has to be seen to be believed.

The girls with the diabolos are charming. The acrobats who end the show are unbelievable, using only their arms to launch others high into the air and to catch each other. Again, this is where words fast become inadequate. I strongly recommend anyone who has read this far to purchase this DVD and see why, after 66 reviews, it still garners a 5-star review.

In an era when it is en vogue to be negative, this show is a reminder that anything is possible and to never stop dreaming....so pick up the next hat of the headless wanderer you encounter:-)

I must end this review by repeating what another reviewer has already said: "Towards the end of this video I was struck with the thought "if ever the human race were put on trial by extraterrestrials for their atrocities, this should be exhibit A in their defense."

What else can be said?

dodi
Of all the Cirque du Soleil shows I think this one is the best!!
Saw my first live performance in Las Vegas, but if you can not see one live this is the next best thing. Also have two other tapes and have enjoyed them as well. A great purchase and wonderful entertainment. ... Read more

Description

Tracklisting
1. Shine on You Crazy Diamond Parts 1-5
2. Terrapin
3. Fat Old Sun
4. Coming Back To Life
5. High Hopes
6. Je Crois Entendre Encore
7. Smile
8. Wish You Were Here
9. Comfortably Numb
10. Dimming of the Day
11. Shine On You Crazy Diamond Parts 6-8
12. A Great Day for Freedom
13. Hushabye Mountain
14. Dominoes
15. Breakthrough
16. Comfortably Numb ... Read more

Reviews (89)

Nearly perfect
This DVD is wonderful - tons of songs, some guest appearances (Robert Wyatt, Bob Geldof, Richard Wright, Dick Parry), and a great variety of supporting musicians. The songs were performed very well, with some highlights being Wish You Were Here, Shine On You Crazy Diamond (both parts), High Hopes, and A Great Day for Freedom.
Although David Gilmour is ranked among the highest of guitarists, you can tell that his age is starting to show; in my personal opinion, he's past his guitar playing prime, which I consider to have been during the Division Bell tours (as displayed on PULSE). Also, taking the place of Roger Waters on Comfortably Numb were Bob Geldof and Robert Wyatt, who didn't do well enough of a job the way I see it. I mean, Robert Wyatt needing a sheet of paper for the words I can understand, but Bob Geldof? (In case you don't know, Geldof played the character "Pink" in Pink Floyd's "The Wall.) It's really not that much to memorize, and he must have heard the song millions of times since its release. And playing Pink just should have been enough for him to know the words... but now I'm just ranting on about a small detail.
All in all, its a great DVD. It has it's downsides, but the rest really helps hold it up.

Excellent concert DVD from David Gilmour
David Gilmour of Pink Floyd released his David Gilmour in Concert DVD in November of 2002. The video was taken from the performance he gave at The Royal Festival Hall in London in June of 2001. This show was part of Robert Wyatt's Meltdown concert series. For this performance, Dave decided to go in an semi-unplugged fashion. The song list were obvious Floyd favorites(Shine on You Crazy Diamond(parts 1-5 at the beginning with just him and his guitar plus Dick Parry's sax and parts 6 and 7 at the end of the regular set), High Hopes, Wish You Were Here and Comfortably Numb(with Robert Wyatt on duet vocal)), some forgotten Floyd pieces(Fat Old Sun(a song not performed since 1971), Coming Back to Life, A Great Day for Freedom), a piece from fallen Floyd Syd Barrett's solo career(Terrapin), a part of a French opera(Je Crois Entendre Encore (which was a chore to sing because Gilmour had not sung in French before)), a new song(Smile(in which Dave told bootleggers to start their machines now)), a Richard Thompson song(Dimming of the Day) and a song from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang(Hushabye Mountain). For those who said Roger is Pink, think again after watching this DVD as Dave was the musical brains behind the band. Also, the DVD has more footage from Dave's Royal Festival Hall shows from January of 2002 where he does another Syd song Dominoes. Plus, fellow Floyd keyboardist Rick Wright joined Dave on a song from Rick's Broken China album called Breakthrough with a great solo from Dave and Comfortably Numb with Rick on Fender Rhodes and Bob Geldof singing Roger's parts. When I first got this DVD on the day of its release, I knew I was in for a treat. The extras on this DVD are great like The Spare Digits section which shows guitar fiends how to play some of Dave's solos. Plus, the hilarious home movies are a hoot to watch. Also, three bonus tracks of his collaboration with Mica Paris from 1992, his cover of Elvis' Don't from 2001 and his vocal delivery of the late Michael Kamen and Shakespeare piece Sonnet 18. This DVD is highly recommended!

A MASTER AT WORK
No whistles or bells here - just pure talent. To watch and more importantly hear David Gilmour is absolute pleasure. I wish I was there.

In a word, "Beautiful."
The appreciation of music is a highly subjective matter; what I might love, you can feel free to hate. But, in the age of "American Idol" (and the "mega-stars" who are the inspiration for those who seek the title), it's nice to see that real art has a staying power. This music is all about touch, from the craftsmanship of its performance to its grip on the heart strings of the listener. Ratings are meaningless, especially (I checked) when so many releases accrue 4.5 stars as an average. All I can say is that if you were ever a fan of David Gilmour's playing, there is absolutely nothing here to turn you away (gorgeous tone, as always) and he is accompanied by a BRILLIANT ensemble. This is simply one of the finest performances I have ever heard/seen (let's not forget the video production which is first rate). This is not Pink Floyd; this is a mature musician baring his soul (no Wall here) and, apparently, loving every second of it (as did I). I highly recommend this DVD and I am deeply grateful for its release. I shall never tire of it. Thanks Dave!

IGNORE THE ONE STAR REVIEWS THIS IS A CLASSIC
THIS IS A GREATDVD FROM DAVID GILMOUR AND IS VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.DISREGARD THE ONE STAR REVIEWS. ... Read more

Reviews (61)

NO Extreme? No Good!
I agree with just about everyone else who has reviewed this DVD, how can the people who edited this cut out the BEST performance of the concert which was Extreme's medley of Queen songs. I thank my lucky stars I still have it on tape from when MTV first aired the concert 10 years ago. It's my favorite part of the show and by far one of the coolest moments. The band, most especially Gary Cherone, payed tribute to Freddie and Queen in the best way I've ever seen. The medley of songs were performed with such excitment and the audience loved them. So did I :) This DVD just starts the concert with Joe Elliott doing Tie Your Mother Down, that's like the middle of the show! There were several performances cut out mainly Metallica, Guns 'N Roses, Def Leppard, and the above mentioned Extreme. This DVD needs to be re-issued in it's entirety. I did, however, like those Freddie segments included on the dvd that were shown to the audience during intermission. Those were really cool. Great concert but not shown to it's fullest potential on this dvd and that's a real shame. QUEEN AND FREDDIE deserve more...and so do the fans :)

It's About Time!...
Stupendously great concert from April 1992. I've owned it on laserdisc since 1993 and I've been hoping a DVD release would be forthcoming!
This concert is culled from a day-long Freddie Mercury tribute/benefit concert that took place about 5 or 6 months after Freddie died. The first half is largely devoted to a number of bands doing mostly Queen covers. Metallica opens with three of their own songs (and back when the boys in Metallica still had long hair). Def Leppard does a song or two, Extreme does a 12+ minute Queen medley (it ROCKS!), and there are some vintage Queen and Freddie clips interspersed throughout. Then, the REAL fireworks start! Brian May, Roger Taylor, and John Deacon take the stage and lead a Who's Who of musicians and singers through a lengthy set of Queen material. Robert Plant sings "Crazy Little Thing Called Love", Metallica's James Hetfield sings "Stone Cold Crazy", Gary Cherone of Extreme absolutely rocks the joint with "Hammer To Fall", Roger Daltrey sings "I Want It All", Seal does "Who Wants To Live Forever", Def Leppard returns, and we also get Lisa Stansfield, Elton John, Axl Rose, Paul Young, David Bowie, members of Mott the Hoople, and Liza Minneli closes the show with "We Are The Champions."
The show runs in excess of 3 hours, and the DVD release promises to have extra material not on the laser and VHS versions.
The audio recording of the show is stellar, and the video photography is crisp and clear. After you watch this you'll wish you'd been there.

Best of all, you get a renewed sense of how strong Queen's songwriting and performing talents were (and still are). And all of the artists singing in Freddie's place give it their all and make the versions their own, all without detracting from Freddie's original version.

You're an IDIOT if you don't get this concert DVD!

The Laserdisc is so much better, since it has the whole show
My long time waiting for a DVD version of that old but great Laserdisc was wasted. It's absolutely depressing what they did here, by cutting some of the best parts of the original show.

The Queen Medley by the great band Extreme was probably the best part of this show, not only because the way they played, but also because the playlist choice. A Medley of Bohemian Rhapsody, Bycicle Race, Another One Bites Dust, Keep Yourselves Alive, and others leading to one of the most beautiful moments of the show: the Radio Ga Ga ending, leading the audience to tears.
Although the sound has been improved and a new and useless "extra materials" has been added, it doesn't worth the content they cut (opening act, Metallica, Def Leppard, GnR, Extreme and others).

I would never exchange the old original laserdisc for this useles "extra materials" with a bunch of new footage.

I came out of my skin when I saw what was missing!
I too own the laserdisc of this show and got the DVD for the new mix in DTS. The sound is good, but it's the content they cut (the opening acts) such as Metallica, Def Leppard, GnR, Extreme and others. I would have gladly forfeited the "extra materials" for the original show instead of a bunch of new footage that was just as well served on the cutting room floor. Don't get me wrong, the performances they left in are great...but shame on them for cutting what they did...typical non-musician producer. The 2-star drop is for that reason alone. Glad I didn't sell the laserdisc!

It's a great concert but the DVD sucks
This DVD set is a huge disappointment. How could the DVD have FEWER matertials than the VHS version?! I was expecting to see not just what they have on the VHS, but also the ones they edited out, but no! They have 2 discs and this is all they could put in? I just couldn't believe it! Guess I should buy the VHS tape on eBay instead... ... Read more

Description

It's a 90 minute explosion of color, fashion and excitement as Cher hits the stage at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. In a show rich in sequins, velvet, lace and great music, Cher celebrates her return to the top of the charts with the ' 'Do You Believe' ' Tour 1999 - the high energy experience that is Cher in concert. ... Read more

Reviews (64)

All I can say is, "WOW!"
OK, I finally admit it --- I've been a Cher fan ever since the days of the top-rated Sonny & Cher show, which aired on CBS in the early 1970's. Each week, I looked forward to Cher's latest Bob Mackie creations, her lushly-orchestrated musical numbers and even Sonny Bono's bad jokes. Cher has always been the first to admit that she's not the greatest singer in the world and that's probably true. But she is, without a doubt, one of the foremost entertainers in show business. This DVD of her sellout 1999 concert at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas is, in my opinion, the highlight of Cher's long, illustrious career. I was actually surprised to find that it was so good. Not only is Cher in the most -incredible- voice of her career at this concert, she looks better than ever and puts on a show that will leave your heart pounding with excitement. It must have cost zillions to mount this lavish production but you can clearly see and hear every penny that was spent. Even if you are not a Cher fan, you will love this video simply for it's immense production values. It's fitting that this spectacular show was performed at the MGM, three letters which have stood for the finest in quality entertainment since 1924. "Do it big, do it right, give it class" -- this was an MGM rule in the old days and Cher's sensational show at the MGM Grand certainly lives up to that standard. Packed with spectacle and song, this DVD is a bargain at -any- price but it's a fantastic value here at Amazon.com. So go for it. You will not be disappointed. After watching this video, you'll enthusiastically proclaim, "Wow! That's entertainment!"

CHER--EVERYTHING YOU EVER NEED TO SEE!
CHER:LIVE IN LAS VEGAS 1999. Finally Cher at her absolute best. If you are not a Cher fan and want to know why this woman has had a career that has spanned four decades--buy this video tape and it will all be clear to you. Over the years this author has seen cher in concert over ten times--her 1999 concert is her absolute best musical outing. It's all here--film clips, TV show clips, video clips and just about all of the songs. There's "Halfbreed" "Dark Lady" and "Gypsies Tramps & Thieves"--tunes Cher has refused to sing until this year! Theres all the 80's power rock stuff "If I Could Turn Back Time" "I Found Someone" and "We ALL Sleep Alone." Theres DISCO CHER "Take Me Home," COUNTRY CHER "Just Like Jesse James" "Walkin' In Memphis." There's BALLAD CHER "The Way Of Love" "After All," KITSCH CHER "It's In His Kiss," and MILLENIUM CHER "Believe" "All Or Nothing" and "Strong Enough" The only thing missing from this comprehensive career overview is the singer's two 1960's hits "I Got You Babe" and "The Beat Goes On"--but you get to hear those while the video clips are playing! At 52, this woman looks and sounds wonderful--an inspiration to one and all.

Believe the Unbelievable
I got the rare opportunity to see her "Believe Tour" in Minneapolis in 1999. I sat only ten rows away from the stage. Cher was amazing! Though there's nothing like live experience, this DVD still features the Las Vegas concert wonderfully. The elaborate stage settings and the numerous costumes are amazing. Such energy gives her music and her show the extra enjoyment. She opens the show with "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For". It lives up to the original U2 version. From that song to the end, there's never a dull moment. The film clippings from her past interviews, performances, music videos, movies, and the "Sonny And Cher Show" are enjoyable. They show more of how she's evolved from "Gypsies, Tramps, And Thieves" to the Grammy-winning "Believe". Besides her stage presence, her voice is amazing. Such concert quality makes this DVD worth watching several times. This is important material for any Cher fan to include in their collection.

What a Perfomer
This concert CD is awesome. Performance are Excellent, Her Staff/ Dancers and performers are just great (they all work well together). Plus the extra fottage and interviews really show the humanside (non celebrity) side to Cher. She is the Best Diva of all times. I strongly recommend this DVD to everyone. 5 stars all the way if there were more I would give her 40 one for each year she has been performing

Turned me into a fan
I didn't know most of Cher's bulk of work until I saw this concert. I only owned "Believe", and while that album was spectacular in many ways, I wasn't sure about her older stuff. This video has it all... all the great songs, both old and new(er) to truly make you believe. It pretty much showcases every single outstanding Cher track... except for maybe, "One by One" and the tracks from her latest album, which was of course released after this concert. The show is pretty lively, to say the least! She's fun, cracks jokes when she gets the chance, the costumes are everything you've come to expect from her and it's just all-around fabulous. If you still have any doubts, do yourself a favor and get this! It's pure Cher extravanganza (in the purest sense of the word)!! ... Read more

Reviews (42)

A WONDERFUL CONCERT WITH SARAH BRIGHTMAN
IN CONCERT AT THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL
Sarah is amazing - her voice is phenomenal - there is no doubt that Sarah has the best and most beautiful voice in the world - ever! She is so talented - her voice is so warm and bright - no matter what style she sings: opera, musical or pop. Sarah looks so beautiful in this concert (she always do), the long sleek black hair looks so beautiful to her. Her warm-heartedness charisma and charm goes straight to your heart and soul.

The sound and the picture on this DVD are excellent.

The DVD begins with clips from Sarah's career: From her time with Pan's People and Hot Gossip. Together with Andrea Bocelli when they present an honour from the sale of TIME TO SAY GOODBYE. Sarah together with Frank Peterson. The Olympic Games in Barcelona 1992, when she and José Carreras sang AMIGOS PARA SIEMPRE. The church mess REQUIEM. As Christine in The Phantom of the Opera and the duet ALL I ASK OF YOU with Cliff Richard.

The concert starts with the very impressive song BAILERO.
Delibes' CHANSON ESPAGNOL from LES FILLES DE CADIZ is a wonderful and lively song.
Puccini's O MIO BABBINO CARO is so beautiful performed by Sarah.
Grieg's SOLVEIG'S SONG and Gershwin's SUMMERTIME are two wonderful songs.
PIE JESU from Andrew's church mess REQUIEM, Sarah sings duet with a young boy Adam Clarke, excellent.

Bernstein's SOMEWHERE, I FEEL PRETTY and TONIGHT. Somewhere I have to repeat myself, Sarah looks pretty and sings fantastic tonight at the concert.
Gipsy Kings' TU QUIERES VOLVER sounds great with acoustic guitar accompany - Sarah sings it so fantastic.
Queen's WHO WANTS TO LIVE FOREVER, wonderful.

Sarah sits on the piano when she sings WHISTLE DOWN THE WIND, with Andrew at the piano - playing. She looks so lovely. Nobody has a warmer smile and beautiful eyes than Sarah.

Sarah performs her two songs WISHING YOU WERE SOMEHOW HERE AGAIN and MUSIC OF THE NIGHT so wonderful.

Her most famous song, the duet TIME TO SAY GOODBYE she sings together with Andrea Bocelli at the concert. It's so wonderful and beautiful.
The final song DON'T CRY FOR ME ARGENTINA, Sarah sings it very emotionally and beautiful.

This DVD can be enjoyed again and again. Sarah is so fantastic - on this DVD too.

Sarah there is NO ONE LIKE YOU - ANYTIME, ANYWHERE!

Sarah Brightman Marries Classical with Pop
I FINALLY BOUGHT THE DVD! It is worth having, because my VHS is glowing, and has finally begun to wear out. I added the DVD to my collection after debating whether or not I should really get it. Now I have it, and it is fine. The sound and picture is fine. The instrumental intro with short personal clips of Sarah is a nice touch. All the chamelionic looks are gorgeous. I don't have much to say about this DVD, other than the exquisite song selection, the appreciative audience and the well demanded encores. I think out of all three Brightman DVDs (One Night in Eden, La Luna, and Sarah Brightman in concert), the audience here appreciates her the most.

I have grown to like "Tu Quieres Volver" more, now that I've seen it many times live, and have seen it on the DVD. The song right away, broke the classical first half of the show. It's nice to hear more rarely sung songs from Brightman like "Chanson Espagnol", Solveig's song", "I feel pretty" and "Tonight". I have never heard Sarah sing these 4 songs before hearing/watching them on my DVD/VHS.

The concert is made up of a decent time of approx. 73 minutes, considering some songs were a bit short, and some were long.
My copy has the photo taken from the box cover on it. The color is a bit off, but it's not bad. The item is good for collectors, classical music buffs, and diehard Brightman fans. I am all three. :)

My Sarah Brightman DVD collection is almost complete. Because of this DVD, I want to buy One night in Eden, on DVD, as well as the Royal Albert Hall Celebration.

Tracklist is as goes:

Overture
Bailero
Chanson Espagnol
O Mio Babbino Caro
Solveig's song
Summertime
Pie Jesu
Somewhere
I Feel Pretty
Tonight
Tu Quieres Volver
Who Wants To Live Forever
Whistle Down The Wind
Overture from the Phantom of the Opera
Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again
The Music Of The Night
Time To Say Goodbye
Don't Cry For Me Argentina
Credits

Total Time 75 Minutes

Buy this DVD. I think you will be happy.

I hope this review has helped you.

No words!!
I LOVE IT AMAZING CONCERT, THE MUSIC IS AMAZING SARAH BRIGHTMAN VOICE IS PERFECT, THE QUALITY, THE SOUND, THE SPECIAL GUESTS.... A M A Z I N G!! 5 STARS!!

Truly a World Class Vocalist. A Stunning & Unique Experience
I've been a musician for 31 years and love good music covering mostly Rock then country, easy listening, Pop you name it. If it is GOOD MUSIC I WILL Recognize it. Now, I bought the LA LUNA-LIVE IN CONCERT DVD, slipped it in and veiwed the entire concert with my JAW on the floor! She is facinating in reveiling several costume changes with a theatrical flair. She has been vocally trained to perfection in Opera and has a big theatrical background. This all comes to life when she mixes Opera together with many songs sung in English such as "a whiter Shade of Pale". A couple of Spanish + 1 in Italian. Then she combines Opera and straight vocal songs beautifully together in songs which is the ULTIMATE!!! A MUST SEE!!!AAAAA*****

Beautiful!
I am a HUGE Phantom of the Opera phan and I love Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman. I saw this and HAD to get it (along with many other videos ^_^) Sarah did an excellent job in this concert! Her voice shone throughout the entire video! ^_^ ... Read more

Amazon.com

INXS fans can rejoice over the release of this buoyant concert film, shot during an ecstatic performance before 72,000 hopping fans in London's Wembley Stadium on July 13, 1991. The Australian band's vocalist, the late Michael Hutchence, is at his feral-romantic best, stalking and swiveling his way through an energized set of welterweight pop. The show starts with a big, boomy "Guns in the Sky," takes a turn toward unexpected soulfulness with "New Sensation," and spreads the wealth with a sharp set of ballads and rockers. Hutchence has fun with a naughty "Know the Difference," plays around with a Jagger-esque take on confessional soul in "The Loved One," and milks "Never Tear Us Apart" for all it's worth. The band sounds more muscular than they did in the studio, hard-charging and rough on "Suicide Blonde," drunk on a jazzy guitar hook in "Need You Tonight," and completely danceable on "Bitter Tears." --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (19)

Out of Sight...Out of Mind?
NEVER! I cannot believe this INXS concert masterpiece is out of production already. I am looking for it on DVD because my five-year-old VHS tape is beginning to show its age. EVERYONE I have shown this concert tape to has raved about how good it is.Sound quality and visual editing are excellent, and "Live Baby Live" showcases one of the world's greatest bands in their prime. Michael Hutchence is at his best and if anything, this concert video/DVD should be re-released in honor of his tragic and untimely death.

This is the Pinnacle! If you headline Wimbley!
What can you say there is nothing better for a rock group to attain than to play for 100,000 people and have the place singing all your songs! You don't reach any higher highs than this as a band! Awards are B.S. playing live is what it is all about! INXS played before 100,000 people crowds many times around the world as well as festivals. YOU MUST HAVE THIS VIDEO IF YOU ARE A FAN. It is your duty to Michael and the gang to buy it and damn those corporate folks who have not dubbed this to DVD yet,, I am sorry to say not available on DVD! Michael lives for every! don't forget it,, BTW music stinks today!

How do you spell Class? INXS!!!!
As on their new 2 DVD greatest hits set....INXS does it right....the original concert film remastered with great picture and sound...AND they throw in tons of extra content rather than just the show....commentary, old featurettes , and a new retrospective ....great stuff that make this a true keepsake and not just a concert document....it was a landmark show for them , they got it right, captured it and share it with us and I for one appreciate the extra effort to make this package such a thorough delight!

excellent
while viewing this dvd live show at wembly stadioum in london, i was waiting and waiting during the first couple songs...where are those hits "the one thing" and "dont change the world?
BUT!
after getting enrapt with the current music being played, i didnt really care if they played those 2 hits or not!
this show is great!
i never really cared for INXS before, but this live show got me rocking out so much i couldnt take my eyes from it from beginning to end. (im the kinda guy who likes watching guys like steve vai doing his amazing stuff).
im a talented musician myself and watching Kirk Pengilly on guiter and sax was simple envy. i would give anything to be in his shoes during that show!

this dvd is one of my favs!
(thank you guys)

Finally!
After 10 years of watching a beat up VHS version of this show, there is finally a DVD of this memorable concert! (My VHS copy must have been played several hundred times over the past decade.) In terms of concert films, the original photography for this concert was shot with 35 mm film, making the video quality superior to those rock shows shot with today's cheap digi-cams. True, there is no 16:9 anamorphic feature, but there are many far-worse concert DVDs recorded in the last 5 years with pixilation problems and digital artifacts that make this 12 year old concert truly shine in comparison. Who knew that the extra money spent back then on photography would be worth something all these years later?

My only complaint with this DVD would is the 5.1 sound mix. (I haven't had a chance to listen to the stereo track yet.) Quite often, the guitar and bass sound, while crisp and superior to the VHS version, are mixed quite low compared to the vocals and the drums on this DVD. A noticable example of this is in the chorus of "Hear That Sound," while the VHS version booms the bass and low frequencies here, the DVD sound is higher and less exhilirating, concentrating on Kirk's acoustic guitar instead.

At any rate, as someone who considered purchasing a laserdisc or PAL player just to view Live Baby Live in a better-than-VHS format, I am overjoyed at finally being able to watch this in a superior medium. In some cases, it is actually possible to discern Hutchene's mumbeled banter between songs. The sights and sounds uncovered and magnified on this DVD are truly incredible for anyone who has ever appreciated INXS in a live context. From Jon Fariss's count in to Michael Hutchene's facial expressions, this DVD is truly a treasure. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The Chinese consider the lion a symbol of good luck, so it's a half-dragon, half-lion--a dralion--that is the symbol of the East-meets-West fusionof this Cirque du Soleil show, in which 36 Chinese acrobats join the renownedCanadian troupe. Celebrating the four elements as represented in four colors-- blue (air), green (water), red (fire), and ochre (earth)--Dralioncombines ancient Chinese circus traditions with Cirque du Soleil's usualstunning elements: the techno-oriented single ring; the multicolored lights andcostumes; the music that mixesrock, New Age, and various world influences (though not Chinese); and the madcapclowns that pull a victim out of the audience (he turns out to be a terrificsport).

But of course the main reason to watch a Cirque du Soleil show is the acrobaticstunts, those eye-popping displays of agility, balance, and strength. You'll seean acrobat balancing on one hand, a brawny juggler, a high-flying teeterboardact, a double trapeze, contortionists, a parasol turned and tossed atop a foot,furiously synchronized hoop-diving, unbelievable rope-skipping, and more. Whilenothing can match the experience of seeing this troupe live, the video doesoffer some choice close-ups that you would never get from your seat, and youcan't ask the live performers to repeat your favorite stunts over and overagain. And you'll want to see them over and over because Dralionis a dazzler. --David Horiuchi ... Read more

Reviews (47)

It doesn't stand a chance against other Cirque videos.
I start this with a story. Around 10 years ago, when the Goodwill Games came to Seattle, Cirque Du Soleil came to Seattle supporting the Novueau Experience show. Mother said, "Let's go to the circus. It's nothing like you've seen." I stopped at 'circus' and said, "NO." My parents went and came back. They made me the second time. I was floored. What on earth was this?

Then later, Saltimbanco came out and much later, I found Quidam. Lost in the shuffle was Dralion. For me, each show has been better than the last, each show has been more fantastic, more awesome, more bizarre. With the exception of Alegria (a movie, not a live show), Dralion fits in quite poorly. I was quite bored when watching this. It doesn't hold the fun, emotion or fascination that Quidam or even the older Saltimbanco. (And yes, I saw Saltimbanco summer 2000 and it was awesome)

The show felt like it was the international version of Cirque (as if it wasn't before). You had the African dancer doing her thing. And while I thought it may have a more Asian feel to it, it turned out to be a B-rate version of Cirque. There were few acts that I even liked. Handbalancing I have always found to be really entertaining and I loved the Teeterboard performance. And that was about it.

I really should have checked it out first because it's quite a disappointment. I admit, I compare it with Quidam. Quidam had a wonderful story, though it was untold. It was fun, Dralion not. Look at the crowd in it. They didn't look that impressed. The hooting and hollering wasn't as loud as in the other videos. Maybe if there was a slight story to it, it would have sucked me in better and made me more interested.

The ending was pretty unspectacular. I don't recommend this video, but rather, Quidam. It's even by the same director, David Mallet, but what went wrong? Why do the other angles that are available look like they are done by a high end camcorder?

I don't know how soon I will send this back. The show was very boring and I couldn't wait for it to be over. Quidam is the one to buy for people who either love the show or you just want to show them what the Cirque world is about. Dralion, leave it on the shelf or at least rent it instead.

Fantastic performance, fantastic extras!
If you're a Cirque fan, you'll expect a great performance, and you won't be disappointed. I saw this performance on pay-per-view, and pre-ordered the DVD. I received it yesterday! The acts are terriffic- the Juggler is amazing, hand balancing, trapeze, I don't want to leave them all out, but it's simply one great act after another. I will be catching this performance live when they come to New York in the spring! Can't wait!!!

If you're a DVD extras fan, you'll be even more pleased! They put a making-of featurette on the disc, along with several acts in multi-angle! There are some trailers for Quidam (still my favorite, but only by a small margin), Dralion, and some other stuff.

This one is a must for any Cirque fan!

Incredible
I've watched this slackjawed several times. It is so hard for me to believe that human beings are even capable of doing what these people seem to do effortlessly. And the music is great.

One word.....Superb!
I must admit that I purchased this with some trepidation after reading some reviews saying there was "choppy editing" and other negatives regarding the Dralion DVD. I have seen only one Cirque Du Soleil show live and that was "O" at the Bellagio in Las Vegas. In my opinion, this comes about as close to seeing it live as you are going to get. There is a juggling sequence which is simply other-worldly, a hand-balancer who seems to do the impossible, and some jump-rope sequences that you have to see to believe. I am quite sure that I will be watching this many times in the years ahead.

The DVD also has a Behind the Scenes look which was filmed in China before the show opened. It is amazing to compare where they were only months before the first show, and the performances you see on the DVD.

Cirque du Soleil is a feast for the senses- the music, acrobats, and movement combine to make one question whether what you are seeing is actually possible. IMO, they represent the best of what mankind is capable of. Dralion is not only well edited, but is an amazing show, and is easily worthy of six stars were that an option.

The DTS track is mindblowing...
I have owned the original Dralion DVD for some time. I also own the DVD's of Quidam, Alegria (the show filmed in Sidney not the film) and Varekai, which I purchased toguether with this new Dralion Superbit version. Until now Dralion had been my least favorite of the four shows. Not that it was bad but its just that Quidam was so much better. My problem was that as much as I tried I could never get the same sound from my original Dralion DVD. The Dolby Digital 5.1 track was so bad that at first I returned the DVD because I guessed I had a damaged product, and it was not. However, this new Superbit version with DTS sounds so crisp and powerfull that I have just rediscovered the show in a whole new way. If you already own Dralion...the new DTS track on the Superbit version is so good that alone makes the purchase worth it. Its a completely new experience. In terms of image quality, both versions are presented in beautiful widescreen anamorphic video, however, the new Superbit version seems at times more crispier, sharp and alive with excelent color presentation. The original version has also great colors, but most of the time this new Superbit version seems to have the edge in terms of definition when compared to the original.

Dralion is a fantastic show, with this new version I cannot say that Dralion is not as good as the other four. They are completely different shows, if you buy one...eventualy you will end up owning the others, yes, they are that good. ... Read more

Description

Tina Turner lifted the roof off the amazing new Amsterdam Arena for three sizzling nights in September 1996, in front of 150,000 people, as part of her record-breaking "Wildest Dreams" European Tour, on which she performed over 150 shows to 3 million people.

Track Listing:
1. Whatever You Want
2. Do What You Do
3. River Deep Mountain High
4. Missing You
5. In Your Wildest Dreams
6. Goldeneye
7. Private Dancer
8. We Don't Need Another Hero
9. Let's Stay Together
10. I Can't Stand The Rain
11. Undercover Agent For The Blues
12. Steamy Windows
13. Givin' It Up For Your Love
14. Better Be Good To Me
15. Addicted To Love
16. The Best
17. What's Love Got To Do With It
18. Proud Mary
19. Nutbush City Limits
20. On Silent Wings
21. Something Beautiful Remains (Bonus Track) ... Read more

Reviews (60)

Good concert, but her voice annoys after awhile
I am a big Tina Turner fan who personally thinks she sounds better on record, than live. This concert is enjoyable, but after awhile her voice is annoying because she tends to scream. Tina has a good voice, but not great, in my opinion. Her studio recordings have always sounded better probably because she can do them again and again until she gets them perfect. Concerts don't allow such luxuries.

This DVD is available in a 5.1 surround sound version, or DTS version. I have the 5.1 surround DVD and it is more than adequate. I have to ask why the concert wasn't filmed in widescreen to give the viewer more of a feel for the concert.

The DVD also includes a lengthy interview with Tina where she discusses each track of the then new album "Wildest Dreams". The interview, while promotional based, is very enjoyable and contains video excerpts for each album track.

#1 Concert Video Available
Warning: This video is availabe in both dts and non-dts versions! If your home theatre has the capability, make sure you are ordering the dts version.

Even if you're not a Tina Turner fan, there's no denying that this dvd has got to be the most exciting and well-produced concert video available. True, the picture quality may be sharper on other videos, and other concert videos might feature finer and more subtle mixes (eg. The Eagles "Hell Freezes Over") but nothing compares to the sheer energy of the performance, the spectacle of the enormous venue, the relentless camera angles and superb editing of this video. In short, this captures the excitement of live performance better than anything.

When I play this for guests (in dts on a 5.1 surround system) people get goosebumps.

The best sound in DVD!
I will try to be as bried/concise as possible:

"Live in Amsterdam: Wildest Dreams Tour - DTS DVD" is one of the best DVDs ever released. The sound quality and 5.1 channel mix is truly amazing.

Listen to how the whole stadium sings along with Tina while performing "Simply the Best". It gives you a true feeling of a live concert. Just close your eyes and imagine yourself at the stadium...watchng this legendary performer act for you...just for you.

I can't stop watching this concert over and over. If you are a true Tina fan or just like good quality music, YOU HAVE TO BUY THIS DVD! Now we are waiting for the final Tina Turner Video Music Compilation 1991-2003 exceptionally in DTS sound !

I wish there was a regulation or something forcing the DVD manufacturers produce their music DVDs in DTS sound only.

Love Tina more than ever, BUT...
I have to agree with the earlier reviewer that mentioned the bad sound recording on this DVD. The visuals, of course, are as wonderfully Tina as expected. I don't understand how and why the sound is so "strange." ... even though their are two versions (of the sound) from which to choose. I'm not sorry that I purchased it, however. This is my favorite Tina Turner concert. The selection of material is perfection and the energy comes across like a volcano erupting. I love Tina more than ever, and look forward to her next DVD.

This Is Not a Live Concert
Bought this DVD on the strength of the tape I had of the same concert broadcast on Showtime in the 90's. Thought the concert should have won a Cable ACE award it was so good. Couldn't wait to see the DVD version and when I heard the first vocals come out I couldn't believe that they had overdubbed new vocals over the originals. What was one of the best concert videos that I had ever seen and heard was ruined by someone who thought he could improve on perfection. Don't waste your money if you've seen the original. ... Read more

Reviews (93)

Wonderful!
This concert is wonderful, an improvement especially after her first solo concert video in 1997. As the title suggests, the majority of the material she sings comes from her most recent CD, "Eden". Sarah's gorgeous costumes, the red curtain draping over the stage, the candles set around the orchestra and the dancers all help to create a surrealistic atmosphere. This video is a must for a Sarah Brightman fan. The only reason I didn't reward it five stars is that it seems in some of the selections that she is lip synching, which takes away from the experience very much. Still, it's a treat to watch and hear.

A masterful performance!
I saw One Night in Eden and it was the most incredible concert I have ever been to (and I've seen Andrea Bocelli in Miami too). Well, Sarah Brightman performs her songs just as beautifully as she did on the CD, you actually feel like they are just playing the CD and she's lip synching it all. Anyways, her voice on this particular arrangement of work is rather breathy but still has an amazing tambor and quality that is a remnnant of her beautiful coloratura soprano from Phantom of the Opera. It's a style she's employing not a lack of vocal strength and training as has been previously written. Sarah Brightman is one of the most talented performers ever to have stepped onto the stage. She does have odd facial expressions but so does Cecilia Bartoli and it does not take away from the beauty of her voice. She truly is a marvel and feat of musical expression. This video is definitely worth buying because it's an arrangement of her most beautiful songs from Eden and other work (Dive, PTO, First of May).

Regarding the rude comments of Marshall Fine
Marshall Fine is just a jerk for the sake of being a jerk, I enjoy Sarah Brightman's performances when I have a chance, the fact that like most woman, sometimes put's on a few extra pounds, has no bearing on her talent and the fact she is still a pretty lady. Sarah Brightman has many fans like myself and is happy in her private life, like I'm sure Marshall Fine would stand a chance, so quit being so angry and if you can critique something in her performance, leave her and the fan's of Sarah alone.

Comment on Marshall Fine's inappropriate comment
I must comment on official Amazon reviewer Marshall Fine's inappropriate comment regarding this artist's "pudgy build". Amazon, I can't believe you'd allow this type of hurtful, harmful and ignorant comment. What the H-E Double Hockey Sticks does her BODY have to do with her singing talent and/or appeal? Marshall Fine should not be allowed to make such comments in this arena.

We've come a long way, baby, but not far enough if there are still men out there like this. (and no, Marshall, contrary to what you are probably thinking, I am not pudgy, just understanding that women come in many different body types -- hey, I'd like to review YOUR BODY so let's you post a pic online, ok?)

Marshall Fine's Editorial Review is "Out-to-lunch"
Marshall Fine Editorial Review is clearly "out-to-lunch". Sarah Brightman can sing me to sleep any time. Her voice is angelic and I would shadow her door any day. ... Read more

Reviews (39)

Classic Concert but not so good 5.1 audio mix
This concert has all the classic AC/DC moments that one has come to expect from this band. Very much like AC/DC's music there are no mayor surprises - Its straight in your face rock and roll