Rating: 
Summary: Just One star for adequate concert footage!
Review: By The Way this applies to both Neil's Greatest Hits Live DVD and STAGES DVD. Tell ya if all of sudden all our audio CD's get lost over the years, yet the DVD's still exist, and if the generation in the next century ever discover them, it would send the wrong impression on the way Neil had his concerts, length, and ect.
With the Greatest Hits Live comes up short as it only has a handfull of songs, and the Headed For The Future section is a shame, I would of had the LIVE version included in the video first and offered up the studio version to the last section. Plus I would of wanted to hear Cracklin' Rosie, Song Sung Blue, Red Red Wine, Thank The Lord For The Nighttime, Holly Holy, The Story of My Life, The American Popular Song, Forever In Bluejeans(REPRISE). Also it's TOO short! Just doesn't chase away our 'Neilie's'. Neil's voice and actions are great in this DVD, but it lacks adequate concert footage.
As for the STAGES DVD. I would of included the ENTIRE concert. We missed a great opportunity to see Neil play the piano during the Yes I Will/Lady Magdelene Medley, The guitar action that Neil gave Cherry Cherry, Red Red Wine, and The Boat That I Row is missing. Also Neil's stage movements and actions with Holly Holy, Soolaimon, Shilo, Forever In Blue Jeans and the songs from the TCO album are missing. Also it would of been interesting to see Neil in the studio and digging out those tapes for the STAGES album.
What also I'm getting at is that we have those audio CD's for a great roadtrip or party, but nothing that can last a while on our TV sets and DVD players. If you only count TWO DVD's that are no more than an hour long, those really don't help me. Greatest Hits Live and STAGES is just nothing but a concert sampler.
Rating: 
Summary: Look for another one
Review: Great songs, but a waste for DVD technology. The sound is poor, I can't believe it's in 5.1. Not to mention that video quality hasn't met my expectations. Couldn't believe that this was Mr Diamond's best show. If you like him, better buy the Cd (I bet it will sound better). Conclusion: Look for a DVD that takes advantage of technology
Rating: 
Summary: Quality Neil Diamond, but in a "music video" type format.
Review: I am a dedicated Neil Diamond fan, and was really looking forward to having a performance of his on DVD. Upon receipt of the disc, I was disappointed to find that the recording was done in Dolby Digital PCM, two channel stereo instead of the 5.1 channel surround format that you would expect for a live Neil Diamond performance. I would have expected more! However, my Yamaha DSP did a good job of compensating for a mediocre audio format.The performance was good, but in some cases you would hear the backup symphony, and then notice there was no symphony anywhere in the concert. This added to the "music video" feeling throughout the performance. One part of the performance flashed between Diamonds' on-stage presence and an off-stage music video performance. I was very impressed with the "Jazz Singer", and thought this performance would be of comparable quality. Unfortunately it came up short. If it weren't for Neil Diamond's classic quality singing, I would have given this performance 3 stars instead of the above 4. A note to the savy shopper: Dolby Digital does NOT necessarily mean Digital 5.1!
Rating: 
Summary: Too much Voice - Too Little Music
Review: I had seen Neil In concert in 1999. His performance was trmendous in every sense -Voice, stage presence and his rapport with the audience. Unfortunately, on this DVD there is a sense that not everyone involved in the process was on the same page. It is badly mixed. On many of today's CD/DVD's the music drowns out the singer's lyrics.In this case it's the other way around. You see various instruments being played,but you don't really hear them. The result is a tinny vocal sound that dominates. There are also problems with song selection and how they are presented. A third of them are not considered to be anywhere near Neil's best work. Left off are Holly holy, Soolaimon( a concert must) Cracklin' Rosie, Song Sung Blue etc. etc. In addition we are left with short versions of some songs eg. Forever in Blue Jeans and Brother Love. There is a sense that the concert was slapped together in a choppy fashion. We see Neil sweating early but not late. There is little continuity. One feels they are suddenly somewhere else. Is there a reluctance on the part of age 50+ performers to release comprehensive DVD"s of their best work? There is nothing wrong with a 2 hour performance when you have an extensive repertoire. One wonders if such artists worry that having seen a DVD of their best, fans would not attend their concerts. Think of Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Rod Stewart, Prince as examples of those with little concert material available. Then think Elton,The Stones, Eagles,Bee Gees and Roy Orbison. Final thoughts: Since this is the only DVD of Neil in concert, I probably would buy it, but really they could have produced a much better quality product.
Rating:
Summary: One of the 5 greatest singer/songwriters ever
Review: I have been to Diamond's concerts and have almost all of his songs. His voice is the greatest; and, you can tell by going to one of his concerts, HE LOVES HIS JOB.
Rating:
Summary: Pitiful at best
Review: I have seen Neil Diamond in concert three times. This DVD does him absolutely no justice. The small venue seems to sap the energy out of him. He lacks fire and enthusiasm. It appears that he is just out on the stage singing his songs, just trying to get through the show. I am extremely disappointed with this DVD.
Rating:
Summary: Pitiful at best
Review: I have seen Neil Diamond in concert three times. This DVD does him absolutely no justice. The small venue seems to sap the energy out of him. He lacks fire and enthusiasm. It appears that he is just out on the stage singing his songs, just trying to get through the show. I am extremely disappointed with this DVD.
Rating:
Summary: Too much Voice - Too Little Music
Review: If you want to see the best Neil Diamond Live Concert, get his late 70s "Love at the Greek." He will never perform like that again! This one doesn't come close, but hey, sometimes concert performances are rare and you have to settle for anything. As usual, he has the audience revved up and interactive. The man is a true performer. But, for "I Am I Said", that passionate, lonesome feeling he is able to emote just doesn't come through on this show. "Headed For the Future" shows the music video he did for this song. Filmed live at the Aquarius Theatre in Los Angeles in 1988 and it is punctuated by his 80s music with the few 70s classics included the fun "Forever in Blue Jeans." He also offers a tribute song to John Lennon. Linda Press, the sole female in the band joins him for millionth time for "You Don't Bring Me Flowers." Neil, give that poor girl another song too sing! She has been doing this song and only this song at your concerts for years, even today!!! So, enjoy an o.k. performance, but for a magical experience get "Love at the Greek." .....MzRizz
Rating:
Summary: Not his best! But sometimes anything by him will do!!
Review: If you want to see the best Neil Diamond Live Concert, get his late 70s "Love at the Greek." He will never perform like that again! This one doesn't come close, but hey, sometimes concert performances are rare and you have to settle for anything. As usual, he has the audience revved up and interactive. The man is a true performer. But, for "I Am I Said", that passionate, lonesome feeling he is able to emote just doesn't come through on this show. "Headed For the Future" shows the music video he did for this song. Filmed live at the Aquarius Theatre in Los Angeles in 1988 and it is punctuated by his 80s music with the few 70s classics included the fun "Forever in Blue Jeans." He also offers a tribute song to John Lennon. Linda Press, the sole female in the band joins him for millionth time for "You Don't Bring Me Flowers." Neil, give that poor girl another song too sing! She has been doing this song and only this song at your concerts for years, even today!!! So, enjoy an o.k. performance, but for a magical experience get "Love at the Greek." .....MzRizz
Rating:
Summary: Hey everyone, it is in Dolby 5.1
Review: Just read some of the other reviews of Neil Diamond's DVD. There seems to be some confusion if it is in Dolby 5.1. It is in 5.1. The problem is it defaults to PCM. So go to the main menu and select the audio button and you will see the 5.1. I also recommend increasing the center channel volume about 4db. This is a must for Neil Diamond fans. Sound and video are well done.
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