Elvis - Aloha from Hawaii

Rating:
Summary: A new fan I think!
Review: I was just a little young for Elvis but not by much. I had passed over him but decided to explore the roots of the rock music I liked from the 60s on.

Well I really loved this concert. I could really see what the big deal was. He had such an incredible vocal range and he really set the direction for completely embodying the emotion in his songs. I think this was one of the huge things he gave populare music. He pushed it beyond the mannered and polite singing about distant emotion and had you feeling the emotion with him in great depth, power and variety.

And what solid material is among the songs here too- from sad and expressive ballads to full-on rock and then hall-filling gospel sounds - wow! We have songs even by George Harrison and James Taylor that showed him moving forward and evolving- as well as some of his best known and loved hits.

For someone more exposed to the impersonators that the original I was unprepared for how good-looking he was and how much gentleness and humour he had.

This set has the same concert in different incarnations. The digitally remastered final product is excellent and looks like it was filmed yesterday -nothing dated here (except for that white outfit so beloved by impersonators and which the 'Queer Eye' team would have been quick to point out didn't accentuate his features well - Oh for his old black leather!)

If you are a real fan or rock nerd perhaps you'll like to see how they stuffed up the original televised concert to the US by adding inserts of Hawaiian scenes that Elvis wasnt in and which were pretty unexciting scenery by the islands' standards. Then there's the rehearsal concert which does show he did vary a little on the night and even could have a few goes at finding the first note on occasion. Then there's some additonal takes of numbers he did after the show as inserts among the mundane Hawaaii pics - very restrained and not that exciting. His magic may have been best brought out by an audience.

Look I havent explored Elvis before and I found he still has a lot to offer new visitors to his world. Definitely recommended!

Rating:
Summary: Often overlooked warning sign
Review: As these performances make clear, Elvis was already in free fall from the Vegas glory years of "That's the Way it Is." He is physically subdued, and seems most engaged with the show when singing heartbreak songs such as "You Gave Me a Mountain," "It's Over," "What Now My Love?" and "I'll Remember You." Having driven his wife away with his bizarre lifestyle (including on going series of affairs), the King wails at the injustice of it all. As much as I like Elvis (and enjoy this performance), this special was a warning sign that his self-destructive nature was getting the best of him.

Rating:
Summary: The King Is Dead...Long Live The King!
Review: Wow! I saw the original broadcast lo these many years ago, but with today's hi-tech wonders, this format is fantastic! Believe me or not, I was fortunate enough to have seen Elvis in person literally weeks prior to the first world wide satelite broadcast. Presley worked every January at the Las Vegas International Hotel (now the Hilton-International) doing two shows a night. My friend & I paid the high price of $15 each (includes two drinks each). In those days, where you were to be seated was determined by the size of tip given to the maitre d'. We gave him $20 and were seated at the end of the runway to the stage in a classic Vegas style sea-shell shaped booth.

Now with this remastered video and audio surround sound, this will be your chance to see what we enjoyed that evening. Young or old, everyone is still in awe of his fabulous singing ability and stage presence. Get ready to see "THE KING" at the very top of his career.

Rating:
Summary: hot concert
Review: seemthis was originally issued AS A mono vhs tape, and maybe a laser disc in stereo, if the sound track was released onto dvd with the original quad mix's, this would get a 10 star rating.

Rating:
Summary: Classic performance with extra material--what a guy!
Review: This new-edition DVD set is simply great! It includes the concert version that was originally telecast in the US in April 1973, and the version shown live to much of the rest of the world via satellite (a big deal in 1973) three months earlier. It also includes the "alternate" concert, which was the rehearsal for the live telecast. These are awesome concerts performed just before Elvis' health began its major decline, showing his generosity (Kui Lee Cancer Fund) and patriotism. The first segment shows footage of Elvis' arrival at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, taped for the concert introduction. (He stayed in the Rainbow Tower there, visible in the footage.) My favorite bonus segment of the set, however, is the taping of the "extra" songs which were inserted, with scenery, for the US telecast. These were taped in the middle of the night, just after the arena cleared immediately after the live satellite telecast. How he, and his musicians, could perform so well, recording five quality songs on the spot, just after doing a concert beamed live to billions of people is astounding!! His remarkable talent and stamina really come across here! My personal favorite, "No More," was not used in the telecast and is seen nowhere else in the set. His interactions between takes with the director and musicians during this segment, never intended for public viewing, show a personal side of this GREAT performer. The credits roll over the beautiful song, "I'll Remember You," and we certainly always will. This is a classic set to be enjoyed for years.

Rating:
Summary: No wonder we have an American Idol show
Review: It doesn't get any better than this. His voice and stage presence are AMAZING. This is an extemely polished show, not like the normal tour shows. It has even less action than some of his 73-74 shows. But I believe this was the way Elvis thought it should done since it was viewed by 1-1.5 BILLION people. Huge variety of songs, the selections prove that there isn't ANYTHING he can't sing better than ANYBODY at ANYTIME. What a lot of people don't notice is.......Elvis will literally be seen in every civilized country on the earth and he wears a red, white and blue eagle on his 'outfit/suit'. His song choice is like a tribute to not only himself, but other popular artists like the Beatles, Hank Williams, Chuck Berry, Frank Sinatra, etc... And of course, near the end of the show, he performs American Trilogy. It doesn't get more American that that. After 'Trilogy', and before he ends the show with 'Can't help falling in Love', he does one more Elvis oldie to leave you wanting more. In this case, it was 'Big Hunk of Love'. What a great show, different than all the rest and should be viewed realizing that. Was it the best show Elvis ever did? No way! Is it the only show we can see from start to finish on DVD? Yes, and twice, the rehersal and the production show. Are both of them awesome shows? Anything Elvis did at this time and prior to this time were awesome! He could sing 'Mary had a little Lamb' and it would be awesome.

What's the best reason to buy this DVD? The close ups, song selections, and that voice. I guarantee you will hear familar songs like no one will EVER sing them again. You'll be asking yourself 'How is it possible for him to have that much talent?' His voice is that good and powerful. And if you know anything about Elvis, you'll see that he had something on his mind. I'll guess it was Priscilla, they were officially divorced within the year. Also, this show wil prove to be one of the last times you ever see Elvis as a lean machine.

Watch this show then turn to MTV or turn the radio on and try and tell yourself Elvis wasn't especially talented. If you can say that, you are musically deaf. Why else do they keep selling the same Elvis items with different wrappers over and over and over again? But this one is special and a must have!

Rating:
Summary: Elvis - Aloha from Hawaii (Deluxe Edition DVD)
Review: Elvis - Aloha from Hawaii (Deluxe Edition DVD) DVD ~ Marty Pasetta is Elvis at his Zenith. After this it went downhill, but seeing this concert one realizes what an amazing artist he really was. His is the king, the best of them all. 5/5.


Rating:
Summary: Still Breathtaking!
Review: When I saw the first American broadcast of this concert when I was a little girl, Elvis literally took my breath away. Now, grown up, I am even MORE impressed with this concert and the attendant footage. Elvis still takes my breath away, as no other human being has ever done--or will ever do. He isn't the King of Rock 'n' Roll for nothing!

Rating:
Summary: Just the King...! ! !
Review: This Box Set is a MUST for every Elvis fan at first,2nd and 3rd degree.The sound,the picture quality; everything is perfect;yes there're some mistakes hidden but it's worth everything.Really; do me a favour and see this great event of all time of legendary and timeless Elv1s Presley...!!!

Rating:
Summary: Outstanding - he's back and clearer than ever.
Review: I'll be brief and to the point.
This dvd remastering is fantastic. You can see the pores in his skin, the follicles of his hair. The sound is beautiful. We have all already seen the concert, but not like this. Thank you, thank you, thank you goes out to all the people who painstakingly beautified this dvd to its peak visual and aural symphony.
Well done and enjoy it!