331 of 335 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Spectacular, Phenomenal & Astounding......, January 17, 2003
Trans-Siberian Orchestra. One great band, one amazing concept. This DVD contains music taken from the bands first two albums. (Christmas Eve and Other Stories & The Christmas Attic.) The DVD contains a nice mix of the bands original music + a great little story intertwined to go along with it. The story is that of a run-away girl who, to escape the cold one night enters an abandoned theater. Inside she meets The Caretaker, played by Ossie Davis. While inside he introduces her to an amazing show only the likes of angels (actually the spirits and ghosts of the theater) could have performed. The show is that of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. In the act they are joined by Jewel singing "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing," and by Michael Crawford singing "O Holy Night." The Caretaker uses the imagery of the show to help the girl to change her life. Such songs as "Good King Joy," "Music Box Blues," "This Christmas Day," and "Christmas Canon" are performed to wonderful amazement. As well, on some songs the band is joined by a beautiful children's choir. Hearing them alone will bring a tear to your eye. Some complain about the length of the DVD. Sure, it may only be 46 minutes long, but it is a 46 minute adventure that is well worth it. The disc lacks in the special feature area, but there is a complete discography and a bonus track; the `Timeless Version' of "Christmas In Sarajevo." I highly recommend this DVD. The T.S.O. have done an excellent job of telling a story while showing the kind of music they produce. The tale is heart-warming, the music is emotionally intense and this is one DVD that is good any time of the year. And the best part is that you can share with others besides the ghosts on Christmas Eve.
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181 of 198 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
3 stars for the DVD, 5 stars for TSO, December 6, 2001
I agree with the other reviewers. TSO is magic. Plain and simple. But this DVD is, well, an extended music video.
There's a big difference. Let me try to explain it to you.
I saw TSO in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on December 2. It was a sold out show and I was sitting second row center.
Words can't even begin to describe the emotions I experienced that night. I was awed. I was captivated. I was stirred. I was in tears. I was transported to another world, a magical world of beauty, joy, passion -- did I say magic? The word that best describes what I experienced is "magic."
A TSO CD is mesmerizing all on its own. But a TSO performance is an unbelievable experience.
This DVD -- The Ghost of Christmas Eve -- falls somewhere in between. It's all the music with none of the magic.
Maybe that's too harsh. Maybe it's all of the music with SOME of the magic.
This DVD is part on-stage performance (lip sync'd) and part movie. It's the story of a young woman looking to get home on Christmas, helped by a kindly caretaker (Ossie Davis). The caretaker shows the girl a Christmas performance that captivates her heart and mind (naturally, it's TSO that appears on stage in what was an empty auditorium).
Paul O'Neill, the director of this and producer of TSO and Savatage albums, is brilliant. He has the ability to capture the feeling of Christmas magic and set it to music.
But this effort is far too tame, too flat, to do justice to what TSO has to offer.
Don't get me wrong. This is really fun to watch. But if Paul really wants to stir his audience he'd simply film the band live -- the entire show from start to finish -- and let the performance speak for itself. I would pay hundreds of dollars to see a DVD of the performance I attended. And I'm sure there are many others like me out there.
So until an actual, real, magical TSO performance is filmed, this DVD will have to do. But it's a pale imitation of the real thing.
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41 of 43 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Better than Manheim Steamroller, December 12, 2002
By A Customer
I know a lot of people like Manheim Steamroller, but in my opinion, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra is a lot better. I went to
see them in Dayton on November 24th and they know how to put on a
show. This video brings back memories of that concert. From the
beautiful Jewel singing "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" to the Broadway legend Michael Crawford singing "O Holy Night", the only
flaw in this video is that it's too short. It's over before you want it to be. Ossie Davis did a great job as the caretaker and the lovely Allie Sheridan did a good job as the runaway girl. All the smiles she had on her face as she watched TSO remind me of the smiles I had watching them perform in concert. This video
is a must have for anyone who loves rock and roll and Christmas music. The video also features the breakthrough music video of
Christas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24. I was almost in tears during the song "This Christmas Day". I highly recommend this video.
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