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  Directed by
  Starring
  Specs
  • Full Frame
  • Dual Layer (RSDL 50:17)
  Languages
  • English: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
  • English: Linear PCM Stereo
  Subtitles
    English, French, Spanish, Italian, Dutch
  Extras
  • Cast/crew biographies
  • Featurette - stage film and costume design
  • Photo gallery

Cher - Live in Concert

Warner Vision/Warner Vision . R4 . COLOR . 90 mins . M15+ . PAL

  Feature
Contract

At 53 years young and more plastic than a failed land fill, Cher has made her finest comeback yet with her latest single "Believe". Do you Believe in life after 30 years of entertainment? Cher did and after an 8 year drought she is back with her biggest concert performance to date. An Academy Award winner for Best Actress, 2 top 10 television shows and a career spanning more than 3 decades, she is truly one of the only females to survive some hideous fashion trends and those everchanging musical styles.

This first Cher dvd to be released from Warner Vision takes a look at her latest concert tour as she performs all of her latest and greatest hits. You want a list of them all? really? Here you go:

  1. I still haven't found what I'm looking for
  2. All or nothing
  3. The Power
  4. We all Sleep Alone
  5. I found someone
  6. The way of love
  7. Half Breed (Medley pt 1)
  8. Gypsies, tramps and thieves (medley pt 2)
  9. Dark Lady (medley pt 3)
  10. Take me home
  11. After All
  12. Walking in Memphis
  13. Just like Jesse James
  14. The Shoop Shoop Song
  15. Dove L'Amore
  16. Strong Enough
  17. If I could turn back time
  18. Believe

As you can see there are a fair few hits in there that will make it clear to alot of people that they are closet fans. I couldn't stand to listen or see Celine Dion perform but I've always got time to hear Cher pump out a lung and carry a note like only she can. At 50+, she's doing pretty damn good indeed.

  Video
Contract

Video quality is very good indeed. Take note that any problems here are source problems as the bit-rate meter on my pioneer was always in the high 9's which is becoming a Warner Vision trademark.

Sharpness and detail throughout the performance is high. Color saturation is remarkable for a video source and presents the elaborate stage sets and costumes very effectively. The layer change occurs at around 50:17 and is placed during a lull in both the music and the audience applause, probably the best place for it to occur.

  Audio
Contract

The dvd is presented with 2 audio options, Dolby Digital 5.1 and Linear PCM Stereo. Usually WV puts the alternate soundtracks onto the flip side of the disc but this disc benefits from both options on the same side. I guess the dual layering forced them to do so given that producing a DVD-18 disc just wouldn't be sane or cost effective. Take note WV, continue doing this from here on. :)

The Linear PCM track has a very strong front sound stage and once you get over the feeling that the performance is pre-recorded and realise it is actually Cher singing live, you appreciate the recording even more for it's naturalness. The 5.1 opens up the sound stage to provide a rear presence that livens up with audience participation and applause. The center channel takes over the lyrical aspect which gives it a slight artificial presence when it restricts the directionality. Both soundtracks provide an exceptional reproduction of the live performance.

Personally, the Linear PCM track sounds slightly more dynamic and more natural. I don't think this recording was recorded in 5.1 other than being remastered for 5.1.

  Extras
Contract

How can you provide extras for a live concert performance without showing backstage footage? You do what Warner Vision did with this disc:

  • Biography & Photo Gallery - We are presented with 10 pages of information about Cher and around 18 gallery images that are navigatable with the click of a button. The problem is, on each click, the menu music restarts and it can sound like a broken record when flicking through the image gallery pretty quickly.
  • Cher's Costumes - Artist sketches of the costumes she wears on stage. Some 7 or more images that have an opaque view of her wearing them in the concert. Again, suffering from the dreaded restarting menu music per image.
  • Stage Film Features - This is the addition I like. During the concert performance there are various clips shown on the big screen at the back of the stage. This section is the footage in their entirity. A nice supplementary addition with the final clip being the entire video clip to her "Walking in Memphis" hit.
  • Exclusive 3D cover insert - The slip is those 3D images that you can look out from different angles, much like what was offered on the Independence Day VHS tape. Makes for an eyecatching cover and a pain to scan. :)

Nice additions indeed but the dreaded menu music here is a deterent.

  Overall  
Contract

A very enjoyable concert indeed and her greatest hits are sure to have you sitting and staring throughout the whole song. Her age is a hinderance to any physical activity but that is left to her supporting cast who do a fine job with the help of some decent choreography.


  • LINK: http://www.dvd.net.au/review.cgi?review_id=222
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      And I quote...
    ""
    - Steve Koukoulas
      Review Equipment
    • DVD Player:
          Pioneer DV-505 Gold
    • TV:
          Hitachi CMT2979 68cm
    • Receiver:
          Yamaha RX-V595
    • Speakers:
          Peterson Labs 100Watts
    • Centre Speaker:
          Sherwood SC-60E
    • Surrounds:
          Sherwood LS-502
    • Audio Cables:
          Standard RCA
    • Video Cables:
          standard s-video
      Recent Reviews:
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