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17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
DOCKED A STAR FOR JIVE PACKAGING, December 4, 2002
This review is from: Phish - Live in Vegas (DVD)
So here we are with Phish's first official home video (DVD). How much Phish had to do with it's production I don't know. What we end up with is fine stuff. It must have been maddening deciding what to put out, what show to do, what location etc. It looks like they said fuggit and just went with a random selection. Nothing really amazing happens yet nothing less than above average happens either. Pure Phish. Two longish sets with two cover tunes as encores. The video quality is fair. Way above bootleg quality but not pay per view multi camera zillion dollar quality either. The sound is perfect. Fantastic 5.1 seperation, if this were released as a live DVD-Audio with no visuals people would be losing their minds. Instead they will take the audio for granted and gripe about the image. I'm totally happy, there's even nearly a half hour of bonus footage and a photo gallery! My big beef is with WEA and the fact that all of their DVDs are packed in the cheapest materials. Flimsy, paper thin snap case design with tray teeth just waiting to break off. C'mon guys, I can't imagine that a keepcase could be much more $$.
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Solid effort by Phish, November 13, 2002
This review is from: Phish - Live in Vegas (DVD)
I agree very much with the review before mine - the audio quality of the new Phish DVD, Live in Vegas, is superb in Dolby Digital 5.1 - however, the video quality is suprisingly mediocre. I too was very much looking forward to this DVD as I thought Bittersweet Motel was a good movie but a bit of a tease for live concert footage. This DVD here is all concert footage and has an interesting set list with a lot of favorites (Mike's Groove, Curtain, Maze, AC/DC Bag, Simple, Twist, Sand), but also some odd choices (Walfredo, I Saw it Again) and rarities (Colonel Forbin, Timber, Emotional Rescue). There is even some extra footage from the next night's concert in Arizona, including the songs Camel Walk and Piper. The band is in good form in concert and are animated throughout. The music is loose in spots but scorching in most others. The sound, when cranked through my Marantz SR-18EX receiver's processors is "you're there" quality with great separation of instruments, a huge soundstage, and nice crowd ambience and some neat reverb. The picture quality is so-so and had me wondering at times what was wrong with my TV, as it is somewhat grainy, blurry with motion artifacts and just not that razor-sharp picture one would come to expect with DVDs (in other, this ain't no Lord of the Rings, but it's far better than a bootleg). There are nice multiple camera angles, but no cool editing effects or band interviews. Other than the extra live footage and a photo collage, there are not a lot of DVD extras. However, considering the DVD costs less ($$$ at Best Buy) than any of the Live Phish CD offerings out now, this is a bargain and must-have for Phish fans. If you don't have a DVD player yet, and have been waiting, what are you waiting for? VCR is as dead as analog tape. DVD players can be had for so little (on average 1/4 the price of the DAT player which I hardly use). The hardcore phans may still wonder, why not Big Cypress or Clifford Ball (two of Phish's best concerts ever) on DVD? Considering the band has had a film crew on hand at their shows for years, one has to think there are more DVDs to come in the future. In the meantime, crank this baby to 11 and enjoy 3 hours of Phish. 4 stars.
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22 of 26 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Outstanding Audio, but doesn't deliver on video quality!, November 9, 2002
This review is from: Phish - Live in Vegas (DVD)
I was so anticipating this DVD to be a home theater showpiece, to display the capabilities of my new 5.1 surround sound system and HDTV rear projection TV....but Phish only delivered on half of those expectations. First let me start by saying the audio quality is outstanding, for this alone the DVD is well worth it. They did a terrific job of creating a crystal clear sound out of a live concert, as well as projecting the music and audience through Dolby 5.1 Surround...hats off to the audio crew. Now for the not so good part. I was very disappointed with the video clarity. The picture is grainy and blurry, especially on the distant shots of the band. The only time the picture quality seems ok is when it is a close up shot highlighting only one or two of the band members. Once the camera pulls back, it is difficult to even make out the faces (say nothing of the expressions) of the band members. I was hoping this DVD would bring me closer to capture the expressions and actions of the band as they played, instead many times I felt as though I had another upper balcony ticket to the show! At first I made excuses for the video quality (well there shows are not well lit and all the lighting effects make it difficult for good video quality...etc.), but then I compared it to the clarity of the live clips from Bittersweet Motel and realized that displaying a clear live Phish video is not impossible. To wrap things up, do buy this DVD. If you like Phish, you will appreciate the playing and quality of this show. As long as you don't have high expectations for video quality and know this going into it, you won't be disappointed.
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