Arts Movie Reviews

I'm not a fan of Bartoli and bought this based on the review here by other fans and because I love Terfel. Enjoyed the CD and the DVD of course is better as the interaction is very entertaining and makes the concert much more meaningful. I did enjoy this very much and feel Terfel is a master performer bringing Bartoli up a notch. I agree with the other reviewers. A must have in any collection! It wasn't long enough is my only complaint.

Since I got this DVD a week ago, I have watched it at least once a day, & I love it more with each viewing. I was already a fan of Bartoli, but now am an even bigger fan of Terfel's! The charisma, skill & subtlety he demonstrates in this performance are only equaled by the beauty of his voice. Figaro's rage at the Count's scheming, the comic turn of the catalog aria from Don Giovanni, the heroism of "Arm, Arm ye Brave" from Judas Maccabeus...all are given life with seemingly effortless precision by this talented Welsh artist. All this, and Cecilia too!! A must see!!! A must own!!!!!

I'd first seen this performance on CBC TV(Canada) in 2001 and immediately knew I was watching something special. Having purchased and just watched the DVD two things become abundantly clear. First, it's even better than I remembered and second, this recording makes it so obviously clear how much more an excellent DVD gives the viewer, compared to an equally excellent, but visually lacking, CD.
On this DVD one gets to see and hear not only two great virtuosos in what must be their absolute singing prime, but also two incredible actors who obvious absolutely love what they are doing: And if that wasn't enough you get to listen to a magnificent orchestra who has a conductor with impeccable timing. Also the photography is wonderfully done: just the right facial expression, just the right cut to the next camera for the most appropriate view: just the right angle to see the cello player come in on a certain note to accompanying the vocalist. Magic, just magic! Too bad there wasn't more.
Appendage Oct/2002
Since my original review of this DVD in Jan 2002 I would like to add that this has, without a doubt, become my favorite opera DVD: and Donizetti's "Quanto amore" from the Elixer of Love is my favorite piece. Although there are several others that are truly wonderful ("madamina", "La ci darem la mano" and "Pa-pa-pa" just to mention a few)
It is the definitive perfect mix of Singer-Conductor-Orchestra acting as a living breathing entity.
What a thrill it must have been to have witnessed this performance live.

blah. While it was still a fun and enjoyable watch, I was sorely dissapointed with this DVD. Having seen Carrot Top live five times, I know his material pretty well. Many of the routines were cut short too much to know what the hell was going on! It is also clear that while CT is one of the most talented stand up performers of our time, when it comes to scripted material, he tanks. The dream sequences that constantly interupted the show were distracting and pathetic. Also, what was with the horrid clip art that would randomly flash across the stage? All I wanted was a concert DVD of his amazing performances. Instead, I got a mediocre video that was worth the entrance fee of 8 bucks, but nothing more.

I have seen Carrot top several times in concert and have laughed thru the whole concert. I was very disappointed when I seen the DVD. He is much better in concert. Do not waste your money on this DVD, just go see him in concert, that is well worth your money. The DVD was made so cheaply.

i have seen carrot top many times in Conn. Last week even.. i thought it was the greatest show ive seen. I was cracking up from the start to the end.How can you not laugh at a over sized jansport backpack. i was really excited to get the DVD and laugh as hard as i did when i seen him live. The DvD does not campare and the way they rushed the whole show with editing and cutting stuff out didnt make it funny. I was expecting a longer show but they only made it 45 minutes long compared to a 2 hr show.i love that radical man to death but the dvd wasnt kicking it

This television special works very well. The diversity of its two stars creates a special chemistry. Carol Channing has a rehearsed, Broadway Star appeal, while Pearl Bailey seems very relaxed, as if she's making it up on the spot.

The show is low-concept, which works wonderfully: Put these two entertainers on a Broadway stage in front of an adoring audience ... Have them sing a couple duets ... Let each one have a solo spot ... then bring them back together at the end for a duet of "Hello Dolly".

When I watched this DVD, I was most amazed that I'd never see Pearl Bailey perform before - although I knew her "name" and reputation as an entertainer. And, although Carol Channing is imitated ad nauseum for her funny voice and deer-in-the-headlight-eyes, she is actually a very entertaining performer. I laughed hysterically at her characterization of a silent screen star with a whistling "S". And her version of "If I Were A Rich Man" is very good.

There is also an under-rehearsed, making-it-up-as-we-go-along quality to the special. Pearl Bailey seems like she likes to work without a net and even tries to through Carol Channing with her unscripted asides. All of this lends an authentic show business feeling to the show - as if Carol and Pearl said "Let's put on a show!"

CAROL CHANNING AND PEARL BAILEY ON BROADWAY is an old-fashioned, entertaining television show, guaranteed to entertain. They don't make entertainers like that any more!

a unique document on two leading ladies in entertainment, Miss bailey as jazzy as always, and Miss Channing a great comedienne, espaecially in the impersenations of marlene Dietrich, Carmen Miranda and a hilarious Cecilia Cisson.
loevely duets from various shows and of course their own interpretation of Hello Dolly.
Almost forty years old, but it did not loose its strength
a must have for every "entertainment " person!!
two thumbs up

I have been waiting for this for such along time! Pearl Bailey and Carol Channing may not be singing together in their duets, but to have this on DVD is such a treasure! These two women give an all out performance which showcases why we love them so much, their PERSONALITY! It's only a shame that not much of these women are talked about lately. We can only hope that Porgy and Bess will be released on DVD and that Thoroughly Modern Millie will have a long run when it opens in London! Having said that, this performance is filled with glitz and glamour of a time long ago. These are truly funny ladys!

I was also peeved by the lack of details about this "Collector's Set", so I went hunting.

Bottom line: Unles you want lobby cards, 8X10 stills, and a few other "collectables", save your money. The DVD itself in the "Collector's Set" appears to be identical to the DVD in the original release. Based on other vendors' sites, here's what you get for the extra money:

- Lobby Cards: 8 Original limited edition lobby card prints.
- Senitype: Exclusive limited edition senitype® image from movie with 35mm film frame.
- Theatrical Poster: Original one sheet movie poster (27 x 40 ).
- Exclusive Collection: 6 Original Limited Edition B & W Photograph Stills.

Information regarding the DVD in the "Collector's Set" is:
DVD CONTAINS:
- Digitally restored image and cleaned soundtrack.
- Theatrical trailers.
- YOU MUST REMEBER THIS, a 36-minute documentary newly updated with recently discovered, unseen outakes and screen tests.
- Special introduction by screen legend Lauren Bacall, wife of Humphrey Bogart.

I didn't see any new DVD features on any site.

This is one of the greatest films ever made, but the "extras" aren't worth the extra $... to me. I'll gladly take the original release, which should be in everyone's DVD library!!

This is a fantastic movie, but Amazon.com unusually does not list anything to distinguish this Limited Edition Collector's Set from a regular edition. I would like to assume that Special Features are included, given the edition title, but have no way of knowing. If this is an oversight I would be grateful if Amazon.com would remedy this.

The DVD is still one of the best films ever made.

The extras are what make this box set so unusual. Original lobby cards are very rare and expensive to purchase so these provide a unique prospective. The black and white photographs offer a behind-the-scenes look into a historical film, the one-sheet movie poster is in the box (as well as a free offer for an additional rolled one!) and the Senitype contains a film clip from the movie. For me, it's like owning a true piece of Hollywood Glamour.

I found Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake to be fascinating and exciting, thanks in large part to Adam Cooper's thrilling work as the Swan. So, I very much looked forward to this DVD of his subsequent work, The Car Man. Athletic dancing to music from "Carmen" -- what could be better?

But instead of enjoying it, I caught myself looking at my watch after 20 minutes (the work is 87 minutes long). The choreography is much less inspired here. Or at least, the choppy editing evident on the DVD makes it seem so.

The plot is pretty hokey and predictable -- despite Bourne's references, in the bonus interview on the DVD, to "surprises" throughout and borrowings from Hitchcock. When you're viewing a Bourne production, the fact that a character is bisexual is not a surprise.

It's obvious as you watch The Car Man that it's a British man's view of small-town America in 1960. Although Bourne seems to indicate in his interview that the setting is an Italian-American community, there's little here to indicate that. And the mid-section's nightclub setting with its mystery lady seems entirely out of place -- it does little to advance the slender plot.

The performers, who are all playing cliched roles, give it their all and are perhaps even more persuasive in their acting than in their dancing (because Bourne didn't give them much to work with).

I'd recommend this to fervent Bourne fans only.

I hadn't seen Bourne's "Swan Lake" nor knew nothing of it before seeing "Car Man" so I had no expectations.

And because of that, I found myself either gasping or holding my breath at times. I love modern dance, and was not disappointed. The sensuality and steaminess within the dance only hightened my reaction towards this show. The story is simple, to say the least... but then, it's based on a simple opera. This is a dynamite show and definitely worth the attention.

I agree with the comments made by Flesh And Wine below. The lousy sound quality is particularly infuriating because the sound is much better on the Naxos CD(8.554096-97)release of this performance. The CD also includes the libretto in both Italian and English.

It's unfortunate that subtitles are usually only provided for operas. I find they greatly add to my enjoyment of any long vocal works such as oratorios, passions, and song cycles.

This seems to be a fine performance of Emilio de Cavalieri's proto-opera, but it's hard to tell since the audio recording is so poor. A couple of soloists are barely audible, and the orchestra sounds unbalanced. I don't know if the problem lay with the hall acoustics or the engineering, but with all the microphones they had scattered about, obtaining a decent mix shouldn't have been difficult. Contrary to the audio information on the DVD, the sound is two-channel not six-.

Very little information is provided on the package or on the DVD itself, not even the composer's first name. A spoken dialogue at the beginning is subtitled in English but nothing else is in either Italian or English which seems remiss for a vocal work. Of course no booklet is provided to make up the lack. Perhaps something can be found on the Internet.

The basilica is beautiful, but the rotating camera shots of the ceiling are overdone. Also, what appear to be tourists wander around in the apse behind the orchestra causing some distraction for the viewer.

I enjoy this performance, but I wish the producers had done a better job with the DVD. Does it cost that much more to provide subtitles?

The quality of this DVD is appalling, and virtually unwatchable. Althought I understand that the footage is old, I had no idea that it would be so bad that it makes most amateur videos look like award-winning examples of cinematography!

It is difficult to see the kata being performed clearly, and due to the absence of audio in the clips (the only sound is the narrator and the funeral scene at the end), the breathing cannot be heard.

The video is blurry, dark and visually "noisy". The funeral scene at the end is so dark, it is difficult to see anything at all.

Don't waste your money

Generally, the quality of the picture is very poor. It's understandable, though, because this DVD is a reproduction from an old footage video. However, as a Goju Ryu student, seeing Yamaguchi himself performed Sanchin and Suparinpe kata is already worth the money.

If you are a Goju Ryu student, especially from Yamaguchi style, you may want to have this DVD in your collection. If you are a general practitioner from other style and looking for some references and instruction material, this is not what you are looking for. Morio Higaonna's Kata series is a better instructional aid, but this Yamaguchi DVD is definitely a wonderful historical document.

This looks to have been put together quite awhile back. If you want High Quality,bring Gogen Yamaguchi back from the dead and do a retake. This footage is very rare and you probably won't find it anyhere else (I haven't). So quit whining and watch it for what it is-- Very rare footage of Grand Master Gogen Yamaguchi. Excellent Historic Footage!