Customer Reviews

The Best of Riverdance

5 star:		(36)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

I'll always be a bigger fan of Lord of the Dance but there's no denying what show started it all. "The Best of Riverdance" was better than I expected and was relieved to see they included footage of Michael Flatley despite the ugly breakup of the star from the show. It was well put-together. Other buyers have complained that the narration by female lead Jean Butler upsets the flow but that's certainly not the case. It's not like she's talking during the numbers. She's there to introduce the clips from the show and provide some background on them. Her part in this dvd is quite necessary. In addition, her behind-the-scenes insight proves to be interesting.

It's hard to believe it's been 10 years since the show's inception. This video is a great recollection of how it came about from a 7 minute jaw-dropping performance to a full-fledged touring production.

We wanted to own a copy of Riverdance, and foolishly thought that the Best of Riverdance meant that they would pick out the best performance of each number and include that. They did include quite a few of the hits, but instead of showing the one best performance, they had to be "democratic" and include all of the performers, spliced together on the same numbers. So one moment you see girls in pink dresses, then they are in green, then back again. One lead dancer, then another, in a different costume. Also the film quality changes from each performance, so one minute you are seeing what looks like a videotape, the next what looks like a movie. It was jarring, distacting, and annoying.

The only saving graces were that the finale doesn't have the jumping around, spliced business at the end, it includes Davy Spillane's "Caoineadh Chú Chulainn", and the tappers are great.

A shame really, because this could have been a great DVD. We ended up ordering Riverdance - The Show (1995) from Amazon UK, so we could see the show in a smooth, seamless production. We do wish they would make a DVD of the 1995 version. Or re-do this one. We simply can't recommend it.

As soon as I saw this DVD listed for sale I bought it. Of course, I had lingering doubts in my mind as to would it be better than the Live From Geneva Recording I already owned, or would it be horrible.
Well, the good news is, I thoroughly enjoy this DVD. It's a must-have for any fan of Riverdance.
One feature I particularily enjoy and am ecstatic about is Jean Butler's narration between scenes. Although I am an English teacher in the Bronx, I also teach a section on Music Appreciation where I try and slip in Riverdance during the dance unit. With Butler's narration they'll have an easier time understanding the story behind the dancing which is an added bonus.
One thing a viewer has to become accustomed to is the fact that during many of the pieces, they switch back and forth between 3-4 different performances. The cuts are seamless, the only thing that makes them noticable is that the older performances were filmed using older means, so when you go from the Geneva performance which is extremly crisp, to the original 1995 performance where there is less quality its distracting. Other than that its terrific and I highly reccomend this DVD to anyone interested in Irish Dance or Riverdance in particular!

I am a hudge Riverdance fan who has been unable to see my original VHS tapes in a long time. However, this version is disjointed with way too much jumping between lead dancers. I like Jean Butler but having her constantly interrupt between each dance loses the flow and rhythm of the show. Her information was educational, but I wanted to hear music and see dancing! The scene selection starts with Butler's narration so even when you pick out a dance you still need to fast forward. I miss my original Riverdance filmed in Dublin, it showed way more of the dance. Again, the editing is quite poor, never following their feet for more than a flash. I was sadly disappointed, but I'm still a hudge fan of Riverdance.

If you are a Riverdance fan you will want to add this to your collection. Fabulous action, beautiful music and lovely poetry from Riverdance troupes across the last decade and, above all, the hosting of the incomparable Jean Butler. Her introductions add considerable insight and atmosphere to the familiar pieces. You will want to own the full all-in-one Riverdance in New York City as well, but this is a great program with some fascinating added features for all Riverdance fans.

My love of Celtic culture grew independently of the Riverdance phenomenon, nevertheless, when the two merged, it was like fire and oil, developing a bright, hot flame.

So I was pleased to find a piece of work that attempted to document the Riverdance story. I saw the very first Riverdance, performed during the Eurosong festival, and I watched it as it developed into the massively monumental work it now is. I so thoroughly enjoyed the Riverdance segment performed in Ireland for the Special Olympics (introduced by Pierce Brosnan--an Irishman) that I watched it four times in a row.

More importantly, I learned something about the characters involved in this phenomenon. I learned that yes, indeed, Michael Flatley for all his brilliance on the dance floor, has an ego the size of the Titanic (and may have the same fate some day--ah but I digress). I learned that the founders of the show were scared but determined. I learned that more than once misfortune befell the troupe, but they recovered and triumphed anyway.

This is a documentary, it is not a show. So don't expect it to flow smoothly. You may find the juxtapositions of the various versions a little unnerving, but if you can handle it, and if you are the kind of person who enjoys the backstory behind the success, this DVD is for you, and you'll not regret purchasing it.

This DVD contains some of the best scenes that I have seen. It is fast moving and wonderfully choreographed, with great music.

The DVD was excellent. The quality was what I expected and the DVD was energizing to watch. Don't watch it before going to bed for this reason.

The skipping from one dance partnership to another is a little distracting, but the information given to you by Jean Butler really adds insight to the performances. The introcution is a little long, but interseting. I love all of the extras that they give you with the DVD, but I thought that it was a little one sided when they were talking about the Original performance with Michael Flatley. They did not have any insight from him on this DVD at all. I don't know if they didn't ask or if he was unwilling to do it, but regardless I think that he could have made this a little better.

I must say that it is interesting to watch how the show has developed over the 10 years, though, like I said I wish that they would not jump to different performances as much as they did.

Over all it was a good DVD. I look forward to getting the new performance on DVD as soon as I can.

as interesting as some of the background was; I purchased this dvd to enjoy the glory, power and dynamic of the Irish folkdance equated to Riverdance. The music minus the dance is understandable during a " show" but when you are compiling " a best of " from 8000+ performances there should be a predominance of the dance; the dancers didn't need time to change costumes and grab a breather in a compilation product. totally disappointing that the producer felt good about marketing this crap.