Rating: 
Summary: Good Video, Good Production, BAD Sound
Review: Having had the CD of Lord of the Dance and having seen Lord of the Dance on PBS before, I expected better of this video. I expected the sound to but just as good, but it isn't. It seems that instead of having a direct sound input directly into one of the cameras, they apparently just used the microphone installed on one of the cameras. It seems that camera was also right in the middle of the audience as many times the audience is louder than the music. It's also very hard to hear the clicks of their shoes on the floor when they're dancing.
Rating: 
Summary: bad, bad camera work
Review: I loved LOrd of the Dance. I agree that the camera work and editing left a lot to be desired-it looks rather amaterish but the dancing makes up for it. The dancers are terrific and I wish the camera had focused more on the dancing than on Michael Flatley and his torso. I agree that the live performance is better by far but I don't think that anybody connected with the show thought that it would have the impact that it did-so they probably did't get top notch camera men-but its still worth having and worth seeing-more than once. I have both the DVD and the video and won't loan it out to anybody.
Rating: 
Summary: Big production, even bigger ego!
Review: Riverdance, even when Flatley was in it, was a classy show. It had lots of varying elements to it, but was always enriching and fun. LORD OF THE DANCE is Flatley's run for the brass ring -- all spectacle, little substance. Sure, the dancing is top-notch (as it was in Riverdance), but the storyline is borderline silly and cornball. I saw this show live from a front row seat and really fought hard to keep the performers from noticing the pained look on my face during the show's moments of forced sentimentality and cuteness. An appropriate movie analogy for this show might be INDEPENDENCE DAY -- visually impressive but hampered by a script so lame and insulting that you'd just as soon watch it with the sound turned completely off. That's the rub with LOTD. Looks great, but less filling than Riverdance. My advice? Skip this one.
Rating: 
Summary: Bad audio and video should get 5 stars for the worst ever
Review: What a double dog ...... Note the DVD I am reviewing is the Universal version which sells for about 5 bucks cheaper than the Polygram version. I do not know if this should have made any difference in the abysmal quality of this DVD since supposedly it was digitally mastered! First, the disc says it's cut in Dolby digital 2.0 stereo.... believe it or not it is NOT surround sound capable since it only has two, yup count em, two channels .... digitally mastered .... give me a total break .... the sound is so bad on this DVD I checked my equipment cause I thought I lost like 6 speakers including my center speaker ..... When you see the show and you hear the stacatto tapping of the dancing shoes I can not believe that they released this DVD with one of the most important elements of the dance show being basically flat flat flat .... The video production in this disc isn't much better than the audio. Flately was the exec film producer of this DVD and someone should have told the master that you need light to be able to film ...... The lighting tech on this DVD should have been fired on the spot .. its dark .. its brooding and has none of the sparkle that I certainly expected or saw in the show itself. The jacket says it's got up to 4 channels of encoded audio as dolby digital surround sound. I'm not a sound tech by me and my equipment don't beleive this for one minute, and, of course, it's not in wide screen format, Im surprised they spend the money for colour.... If you have a small screen TV with no surround sound and no digital dolby but only the $ 1.95 cent speakers in your set then maybe you would like this DVD ... course for the life of me I really couldn't fihure out why you'd own a DVD player with that kind of equipment .... Well Flatley you did it this DVD ranks as the worst and I mean the WORST I have ever seen ..... save your money folks spend it on a pint down at the local Irish pub ......
Rating: 
Summary: Celtic Sensation
Review: There seems to be quite a controversy over various versions of this production. The PolyGram Video is the version produced for Unicorn Entertainment and packaged by Vision Video and is the one I am reviewing. The copy I have was filmed at the Point Theatre in Dublin. Lord of the Dance captures a full range of emotions and the dances range from sexy and playful to defiant. This is a retelling of an Irish folk legend where a dark power emerges to challenge the Lord of the Dance. Michael Flatley seems to gain his power from the audiences reaction and his energy is astounding. He almost seems to have some power over all the other dancers. The costumes are especially stunning in the last dance segment and beautiful throughout
the production. A mystical experience. Watch by candlelight!
Rating:
Summary: The one thing my ex and I agree on!
Review: She saw it live, and I am forced to concur, even having seen only the video: to see it live is an experience that will make you stop breathing.
So what if you can't understand Gaelic? So what if the pixie with her pennywhistle isn't perfectly in synch with the music? The machine-like precision, the furious energy of the dancers, the haunting music, and the thunderous response of the crowd get you into the spirit almost from the get-go.
Pick an adjective: inspiring, sensuous, invigorating, entrancing . . . after viewing this live performance, you'll most likely come up with a few of your own. From the fiery then mournful strings of the violinists to the smooth and expressive motions of the dancers, this is one performance that, once viewed on tape, begs to be experienced live.
Rating:
Summary: FLATLEY IS FLATLY FANTASTIC
Review: Michael Flatley is simply breathtaking. Of course his glistening pecs and rippling abs render me speechless, but Michael is so much more than just another Adonis in spandex. He has that intangible called Chutzpah. Panache. Grace. Guts. Combining the lightening fast feet of Sammy Davis, and the rapacious wit of Gerry Adams, Michael truly elevates himself to LORD of the Dance. I'm smitten. jorge s.
Rating:
Summary: Memorable Masterpiece of Irish Dance
Review: Michael was one of the first who started it all. He played a huge part in making Riverdance happen, as a principal choreographer. He became too popular with the audience for the Riverdance producers' liking, and when they got rid of him, he pulled himself up, remained focused on his life's dream, and went on to make his own show. Lord of the Dance is a story set to music and dance. A story of good vs. evil, portrayed in wonderful color, vivacious music, and unforgetable energy. No other Irish dance show since has come quite as close. Michael's show helped bring Ireland and her music, dance, and celebration to the attention of the world. With more than 10,000 shows sold out worldwide in just over four years, this show has proven it can please the masses. And, aside from that, let me tell anyone skeptical of Michael himself: I have met this man twice on a very personal level, and he is kind, generous, and softspoken. In real life, large stage persona and dance character aside, he is the exact opposite of what the press has tried to paint him as since the false reports begun after the Riverdance fiasco. His confidence in his talent, and belief that you should believe you are the best at what you do, are too often misunderstood for super ego. He is truly a sweetheart of an Irishman. If you haven't seen this show yet, you are in for a wonderful treat, a true joy. Let the ancient Celts take you through the ages on a magical journey of music and dance.
Rating:
Summary: Editing Turns Great Show Into 3 Star
Review: This is a good example of how a great show can be hurt by poor editing. The show has balances and has many numbers that are just excellent. The talent and energy of these performers is 5 star. But the editing is so bad that it takes away from the enjoyment of the show. The camera angle were switch so fast and so often that it was hard to get a sense of flow or mood for the numbers. You could snap your fingers and boom another camera angle. This went on for the entire DVD;except when the performer was singing a song. It was like a head shot;then a foot shot ;then a full body shot;then a full stage shot and then back to a foot shot all in ten seconds. I felt like I was watching a preview of a movie with little bits and peaces. You see the performers working hard and you could sense the enjoyment from the crowd. But the editing did not allow me to get the same enjoyement. It would be nice if this show could be redited and given the treatment the fans of the show and its performers deserve. In the mean time send the director and editor back to the minor leagues for some training.
Rating:
Summary: Defective video
Review: The video came in damaged. Every couple of minutes the screen would get white with static and it would end up impossible to follow the whole sequence step by step. After several failed intents to viewing the video it started humming inside my VHS so I decided to put it away. Since shipping and reclaims takes time now I'm looking for this video with a local dealer.
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