Rating: 
Summary: WOW. WOW. WOW. OH, CAN I JUST ADD "WOW"!!!!!!?
Review: This magnificent souvenir of Barbra Streisand's return to live
performing is one of the very best music DVD's I've ever seen.
She is in amazing voice, the visuals are wonderful, the sound
is spectacular, and well, there's that MAGIC, for lack of a
better word, that only a select few performers can conjure up.
Barbra's got it in spades, and in this concert she actually seems
to be loving every minute of the show (as is the audience, naturally!). I don't know what all the whining is about from
some other reviewers here. Instead of focusing on what is
"missing" (the Yentl medley, Somewhere, and Lazy Afternoon, which
she added LATER in the tour, by the way), I prefer to enjoy
what IS there. You can feel the connection between Babs and
the crowd to a greater degree than in the HBO show, in my
opinion. The songs included in this one which were dropped or
changed later on are first-rate, particularly an almost full-
length version of "I'm Still Here" and a knockout version of
"What Is This Thing Called Love". I also thought the version
of "Ordinary Miracles" was fantastic, much better than I remember
it being before. This is live performance at it's peak, for
Barbra or anyone else. All is can say is that if you're a fan,
you will LOVE this DVD.
Rating:
Summary: Barbra - Live and More!
Review: This terrific DVD documents Ms. Streisand's return to the concert stage after an absence of some 27 years. It was also the blueprint for her outrageously successful 1994 tour. Ms. Streisand is famous for her legendary perfectionism and for me, the real value of this performance is that she didn't have a chance to review and "fix" it before she performed and taped it. As a live performer, Ms. Streisand has always been excessive and as time goes by she seems to consider this a liability. On this DVD, her excesses are wonderfully in evidence and that is what I find so appealing. By the time the 1994 concert tour was put together, she had obviously had a chance to study this performance and "fix" things that she considered to be "too much." Both her singing and her body language and movement are more controlled in the later concerts. Now don't get me wrong, the 1994 tour was a triumph and both the video and CD are "must haves" for any fan of great singing but there is a freshness and spontaneity about this concert that really reminds me of what made Barbra Steisand "Barbra Streisand."
Rating:
Summary: Barbra The Queen!!!
Review: Today made my day because I got my DVD before it hit the stores.This DVD is so much better than Timeless it's not fair.Barbra is glamorous as usual and her voice was alot better than Timeless. She looked beautiful and I loved the black gown. I love the song selection and the bonus features are a real treat. I hope that her TV specials come out on DVD real soon. What made the DVD was the skit with Mike Myers as Linda Richman. It was absolutely hilarious and a real joy. Although I gave it five stars,It was annoying to see the camera cut to all the celebrites in the crowd after every song. Who cares about seeing Michael Douglas (...) every five minutes? All in all this is a great DVD and I recommend it to anyone.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Variation!
Review: True, these were the shows that would lay the groundwork for what would become "Barbra - The Concert". The enormously successful HBO special and the quadruple platinum video/multi platinum album. True, some of the highlights of that concert...the Yentl medley, "Somewhere", "Lazy Afternoon" and "What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life" are not included here, much to my disappointment (it would have been VERY wise of Columbia to include Barbra's closing night in NYC version of "Somewhere" as an extra on this disc... the one that was aired on the Sony Jumbotron out over Times Square...) Still, THIS version of THE CONCERT is riveting for a number or reasons. First, Barbra is far more "raw" here... arms swinging, hands gesturing at a rapid fire pace... Barbra is clearly enjoying herself and says so more than once. What I LOVE on this disc is the extended version of "I'm Still Here" (God, you have to love the line "Why can't she shut up and sing!" - A good many Republicans would no doubt agree!) and then into a longer version of "Everbody Says Don't". "What Is This Thing Called Love" was an INSTANT favorite! A jazzy, bossa nova version of the Cole Porter classic as only Barbra can do it. The "I'm In the Mood For Love/Speak Low/Guilty" medley was wonderful and her rendition of "Ordinary Miracles" is better here than the original concert version. A very touching introduction to the song as well. The Disney medley was OK and although Barbra did not go out with a bang with "Somewhere" but with a sweet "For All We Know", I can say that this disc is electrifying. I would have preferred that Barbra use the opening sequence from the original where she brushes back here hair just at the moment we first see her backstage as opposed to what we have here... but this way the two concerts are unique enough from each other and each has it's own very special feel. THIS version is for me, equal to, and in some ways superior to the version that originally aired because Barbra is so electric. Here's hoping that the gossip mill stating she will sing live again for John Kerry is true! Paul McCartney once sang.. "Some people want to fill the world with silly love songs... what's wrong with that... I'd like to know..."... I agree. God Bless Barbra Streisand for all the joy, hope and inspiration she has brought and continues to bring to this country... now more than ever! Chris Sullivan
Rating:
Summary: Never Before Released Streisand Concert
Review: Why buy this DVD when you saw the special on HBO? Because this DVD, filmed on Dec. 31, 1993 and Jan. 1, 1994 has never been released. If you thought the HBO special was exciting, wait till you see this DVD -- when the audience at Las Vegas' MGM Grand greeted Barbra with a 10-minute standing ovation. This was the historic return to live performing that Streisand fans waited for. The song line-up for THE CONCERT: LIVE AT THE MGM GRAND resembles the HBO special, with a few exceptions. Never before heard on this new DVD are "I'm in the Mood For Love / Speak Low / Guilty", "What Is This Thing Called Love?", and the Disney medley. A special appearance by Mike Meyers as his SNL character Linda Richman is another bonus on this DVD. He and Barbra do a funny skit utilizing various Jewish expressions. The MGM concert varies from the HBO concert in several other ways: "I'm Still Here/Everybody Says Don't/Don't Rain on My Parade" is longer, with more lyrics by Sondheim for "I'm Still Here". "Lover Man" is longer as is "I'll Know". Barbra's pyschiatrist skits in the first act feature a different script that varies slightly from the Anaheim show. Most importantly, the reason to own this DVD is because Barbra wears that gorgeous empire-waisted, split-up-the-middle dress in the first act!! Also, Barbra's voice is in exquisite form during the Vegas concert. Sony & Barbra's people have done fans a great favor in releasing the MGM Grand concert for home video. It's been 10 years since Barbra sang "As If We Never Said Goodbye" as her opening song. Now, after watching LIVE AT THE MGM GRAND, you'll remember why Linda Richman said Barbra was "like buttah."
Rating: 
Summary: magnificent voice and performance but................
Review: why i do not know but babs in perhaps her best performances ever, chose to leave off the act 2 finale the yentl medley, as well as the encore, somewhere... why??????????!!!!!!!!!! she was never in better voice than here at the mgm grand, but she left off what i and i am sure, many other buyers, what was the pinacle of this concert the finale of the yentl medley, and the final encore of somewhere! luckily i have the 2 cd concert and played it after watching this major dissapointment! i thought for sure all would be here and was so let down! otherwise, she is/was in magnificent voice and really tore the house down, but i cannot fathom why she chose to leave the greatest 2 moments off of this cd! it was a steal at $10.49, but i would have spent ten times that amount for just those 2 great moments on this dvd! a major letdown, at least for me!
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