Rating: 
Summary: Gloria is Phenomenal, Production Company Not So Good
Review: First let me say that I worship Gloria Estefan. She's a wonderful philanthropist and role model for ALL people. I have been listening to her music since "Dr. Beat" and love the fact that each CD seems to take a different direction than the last one. I believe her latest album, "Wrapped" is the the best on record, with "Destiny" a close second. I've been to Gloria's last 3 concerts in Las Vegas, including this one and this DVD doesn't do it justice. It loses 2 stars because of the company that produced the DVD.Now, let me say that the production company responsible for this DVD release should be fired and never allowed to produce anything again, including home movies. The editing sucked. I could have done a better job of editing the concert. The quality of the cameras is good, but they have some sort of Special Effects Camera and when the DVD was edited, they inserted the Special Effects Camera clips in with the standard camera clips. I think the Special Effects Camera would be fine, had the DVD been properly edited and the clips inserted at appropriate times. And I don't think any camera view lasts more than 4 seconds. It was just too choppy. You can also tell that every camera they had was grounded, so there were no interesting overhead or "flying" shots. Also, the sound on the DVD is not very good at all. The volume of the DVD seems to adjust, so I was constantly adjusting the sound on my television. You can hear the band and the noise of the crowd, but I struggled to hear Gloria. I assume there were problems with the microphone, but that should have been fixed in the editing room. And there are no extras, just the concert. Couldn't they have added some "Behind The Scenes" footage, maybe setting up for the concert or something about the band? I don't blame Gloria, I blame the production company. If you buy this DVD, just remember that the production company did a poor job with this concert and that it should in no way reflect the quality of Gloria's concerts or of Gloria herself.
Rating:
Summary: Live & Cracked
Review: Gloria Estefan has forever been known as being an electrifying performer both on and off stage, and her live shows always come across more heartfelt than on record. However, with her latest live concert DVD, Live & Unwrapped, Estefan has oddly failed proving this endowed testament. The DVD release was in conjunction of last October's shows at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas, where she took the stage for a week celebrating the release of her first English-language album in five years, Unwrapped. Though incredibly personal, warm, and organic-a truly lush album-her vocal ability isn't suited for the type of material on the album, and that flaw is displayed predominately throughout Live & Unwrapped. Perhaps it has been many years of touring or the fact she is growing older. Regardless, Estefan's voice has notably lost its touch and range. She sounds raspy, tired, and strained. Though she has never been known for having a voice a la fellow divas Mariah Carey or Whitney Houston, Estefan always shined in a league of her own, singing emotively and rich, coming across as immensely sincere. It's not that she doesn't sound sincere anymore-just not with the vocal power she once had. Devoted Estefan fans can overlook this flaw since she is a very respected woman, role model among minorities, and the musicianship (and songwriting) speak for itself. But for casual listeners, the loss-of-touch may become disturbing. For instance, on songs like "Get On Your Feet" and "Turn The Beat Around," she doesn't sing the ad-libs; she has the tendency of changing the melody of the lyrics often. Even on the new track, "Wrapped"-as well as well-known ballads as "Words Get In The Way"-Estefan seems to be grasping for air between notes. There are gems in Live & Unwrapped, however. Her long-time 23-piece band, Miami Sound Machine is better than ever, richly and effectively bringing older hits to life once again. The new arrangements in the songs and compositions create a new vibe in which it makes as though you are listening to the songs for the first time. The dancers, exquisitely in-tune, brought the music to life as well, with sensual choreography that can serve as eye candy to some. Show director Kenny Ortega's visuals were nice, but the set-ups (mechanical alligator, flying bantarays, prancing pink flamingos, rhythmic gymnasts) did not suit the proclaimed intimacy of the show. To say the least, this wasn't your typical Estefan concert. Overall, the show was well-balanced, however, as Estefan & Co. performed songs from Unwrapped, as well as known hits over the past two decades, including numbers from the hit Spanish album, Mi Tierra. As for the picture quality, it definitely could of have been better. The attempt of putting the concert in HD (High Definition) was poor, since this was a show requiring cameras constantly rotating around and above the stage. In one scene, the picture is perfect and crisp; as in an immediate scene thereafter, it is foggy and dull. This can became quite irritating halfway through. The Latin pop queen simply seems tired, and you can hear it in her voice. Maybe it's because of the new material she is performing or maybe the fact that some singers lose their touch after so many years of singing, touring, recording, and making public speaking appearances. She needs a break and to return to what she's best at-pop ballads and dance jams. Though she has the songwriting ability, the 70s rock/pop chick persona does not fit her. If you want a definitive Gloria Estefan live experience, go with her 1996 concert DVD, The Evolution Concert: Live in Miami. Here, there aren't any flamboyant dancers, slant stages, non-suited material, or raspy notes. Plus, all the hits are performed in their original versions. What Estefan needs to do is return to form with music and vocals she's strong at, regardless of the intimate personality and evolving musician she tends to be. ( * * * out of 5 ).
Rating: 
Summary: Simply Glorious!
Review: Gloria Estefan is explosive, and this DVD proves it. Backed by a brilliant 23-piece band, a troupe of dancers and awe-inspiring set designs, Estefan presents hits old and new in this infectious concert event. Though her vocals sometimes sound a bit strained, Estefan is all energy and has a commanding stage presence. Her charisma, humor and warmth are captivating, and she manages to make a 4,000 seat theater seem as intimate as a street-corner lounge. New arrangements of classics such as "1,2,3", "Turn The Beat Around", "Oye Mi Canto" and a beautful ballad medley are sure to delight, while Latin staples such as "Mi Tierra", "Con Los Anos...", and "Hoy" showcase the singer's passion for her heritage. Also included are songs from her most recent album, the intimate "Unwrapped". Of these, "Te Amare" is the standout, while Estefan also delivers a powerful rendition of "I Wish You" to close out the show after performing a spectacle of an encore, complete with alligator, flamingos and palm trees. Caliente!
Rating:
Summary: Simply Glorious!
Review: Gloria Estefan is explosive, and this DVD proves it. Backed by a brilliant 23-piece band, a troupe of dancers and awe-inspiring set designs, Estefan presents hits old and new in this infectious concert event. Though her vocals sometimes sound a bit strained, Estefan is all energy and has a commanding stage presence. Her charisma, humor and warmth are captivating, and she manages to make a 4,000 seat theater seem as intimate as a street-corner lounge. New arrangements of classics such as "1,2,3", "Turn The Beat Around", "Oye Mi Canto" and a beautful ballad medley are sure to delight, while Latin staples such as "Mi Tierra", "Con Los Anos...", and "Hoy" showcase the singer's passion for her heritage. Also included are songs from her most recent album, the intimate "Unwrapped". Of these, "Te Amare" is the standout, while Estefan also delivers a powerful rendition of "I Wish You" to close out the show after performing a spectacle of an encore, complete with alligator, flamingos and palm trees. Caliente!
Rating: 
Summary: Great Singer and great dvd
Review: I just got her dvd unramped and i fell it love with here and there are some very funny things in it.
gloria has been a isprashion to me because when i listion to her sing it make the world around me stop and only i can here gloria i love here for about my hole life she is the greatest
Rating:
Summary: Another Gloria concert for us to enjoy.
Review: I tell ya, we are lucky aren't we. If you are a Gloria fan, then you certainly haven't being short changed in the DVD department.
Another Gloria concert for the collection. This one is beautiful.
Great stage, tons of musicians and a great campy Miami finale, which I loved.
If you want to see a great concert DVD then this is for you. With a few songs from her new album and a lots from her back catalogue, it all adds up to a great show and one you will remember always.
Highly recommended. Enjoy
Rating:
Summary: Good concert...
Review: I went to see Gloria Estefan on her unwrapped tour here in Atlanta, and I tell you, it was great, cheap flamingos, beach plastic balls, palms were all over, I think it was a budgeted concert, the one in Vegas, that poodle and the wowan I think it was so cheesy and tacky! they didnt showed up in Atlanta tough... I love Gloria, I've following her career since the beginning of, I enjoyed the concert better than the DVD. I also think the stage in Vegas was too big for the band and dancers and her of course, too big, sound was ok....They should recorded the Atlanta or New York concert I knew it was great also, her clothing, sound and stage was perfect for her....
Rating: 
Summary: Great if you are a devoted fan otherwise forget it ...
Review: OK so I am comparing this to the latest Cher DVD when I make the above comment ..... Now there is a concert DVD that was a faboulous presentnation and technically stupendous ... Appart from the actual DVD being a technical diaster ... and as other reviewers noted the concert DVD lacked any other footage besides the concert ... I couldn't believe that they actaully made this DVD in Las Vegas ... what is with that .. They rolling stones taled Vooodoo Lounge in Miami and Gloria Estefan her concert in Las Vegas .... gimme abreak .... The audience was great but certianly subdued and that of course reflected on the concert ... It actually helped make the silk pink flamingos appear cheesy ... and I mean real cheesy! This was OBVIOUSLY a concert made with a limited budget .. limited expectations ...and I would venture to guess limited sales .... sorry ......
Rating:
Summary: Gloria's ultimate concert experience
Review: Unfortunately I couldn't make it to the "Live and Unwrapped" concerts in Las vegas, so I waited with much anticipation to view this concert at home on DVD. This would be a first for me as I had seen all of Gloria's other world tours in the flesh so I knew first hand what to expect.
Reviews of the show made it sound spectacular and after viewing it myself I have to say it exceeded my expectations. In my opinion, Gloria's best performance was the "Homecoming Concert" and this show "Live and Unwrapped" has all the elements and pacing of that show with the added advantage of modern theatrics and stunning choreography. Gloria never lets up, her commanding voice and aerobic like performance showcase how much of a pro she really is. The set pieces are incredibly moody and colourful, ranging from the mysterious to the downright fantastical. 16 dancers accompany her on stage, as well as a 23 piece band, moving sets and amazing puppeteers. All in all this is a Gloria show like we've never seen before and if this is a precursor to her upcoming world tour, we have a lot to look forward to.
Rating:
Summary: Gloria's ultimate concert experience
Review: Unfortunately I couldn't make it to the "Live and Unwrapped" concerts in Las vegas, so I waited with much anticipation to view this concert at home on DVD. This would be a first for me as I had seen all of Gloria's other world tours in the flesh so I knew first hand what to expect.
Reviews of the show made it sound spectacular and after viewing it myself I have to say it exceeded my expectations. In my opinion, Gloria's best performance was the "Homecoming Concert" and this show "Live and Unwrapped" has all the elements and pacing of that show with the added advantage of modern theatrics and stunning choreography. Gloria never lets up, her commanding voice and aerobic like performance showcase how much of a pro she really is. The set pieces are incredibly moody and colourful, ranging from the mysterious to the downright fantastical. 16 dancers accompany her on stage, as well as a 23 piece band, moving sets and amazing puppeteers. All in all this is a Gloria show like we've never seen before and if this is a precursor to her upcoming world tour, we have a lot to look forward to.
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