Rating: 
Summary: I laughed at Cher, but this show desserves full respect.
Review: I never really considered Cher as an artist to recon with - oh well, I new the hits, and I even liked quite a few of them, but I never really took her seriously. However, this show, with it loads of everything-but-serious extravaganza, actually proves her to be a very good singer, and an entertainer that deserves huge respect.
First ... make an experiment: Put on this DVD, without turning on your TV set, just listen to the music (or take the seperate CD release with the music from the show). What is easily forgotten in all the costume changes and wigs is, that this live performance is really amazing. This is all live, and Cher does an amazing vocal performance - and her full band plays without a single error. Most of the songs performed here are actually way better than the studio versions (highlights are All Or Nothing, I Found Someone, Bang Bang, All I Really Want To Do, The Way Of Love, After All, Just Like Jesse James, The Shoop Shoop Song and Believe). She actually performs U2's I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For better than U2 - and yes, I'm a fan of U2. Also, 3 bonus songs are added, which are all great - We All Sleep Alone is a favorite of mine.
However, the visuals of this show is a complete world in it's own. Seven full costume changes are performed ('full' meaning everything from top to bottom including the wig is changed), and I won't even try to describe the costumes - fancyfull is too bland a word to use in this context. Minimalistic, if only in size and not in looks, is not beside the point, however. Imagine your 60 year old grandma turning up in an outfit consisting only of pailletes on strings, and which you could probably hold in your fisted hand. Well ... I can't help quote her from an earlier performance: "My mother told me, that when I was 2 years old I use to run around naked and sing ... And now I do it for a living."
But this is Cher, and she gets away with it - probably because she considers herself with a lot of irony and humor - her monologues to the audience are simply fabulous, and had me howling with laughter. Let me quote: "We have to have these costume changes, cause otherwise drag queens all over the world will be calling each other tomorrow, saying 'I saw the Cher show last night - no costume changes, no wigs ... Do you think she's lost the will to live?'." And no, she deffenitely hasn't, as she concludes.
The stage show is nothing but spectacular - dancers on the stage as well as above it, acrobats, an animated elephant, you name it, it's there. And lots of clips from movies and videos on the giant screen above the stage - enough to keep a dozen of eyes occupied without any of them seing the same thing. She wanted to make, not the greatest show, but the Cherest show on earth, and she deffenitely succeded.
The sound on this release is unfortunately the one very weak spot - I guess that's why they released the CD to accompagny the DVD. The sound mix is horrible - I don't know whoever did it, but that person ought to start looking for another job immediately. The sound is fine most of the time, but each time the music gets more quite, the volume on the vocals gets extremely high. This happens quite a lot of times during the show, and it sounds awfull.
The extras are great - not only does it include 3 songs not featured in the TV broadcasted version of the concert (Save Up All Your Tears, We All Sleep Alone and A Different Kind Of Love Song) but also her remake of The West Side Story in which she does - of course - star in all the roles. Go figure ... this is hilarious.
In conclusion, this DVD captures Cher at her best, and everybody interested in the music of the last 50 years should have this DVD - after seeing this, you no longer are in doubt why she managed to be a central figure in showbussiness for 40 years (!). The show is quite probably unlike anything we will ever see again, and it is with a certain amount of regret that we say goodbye to Cher with this DVD, cause who could ever really take her place? As the diva says herself: "There are all these young girls coming along to take ... well, they are not going to take my place, but they are coming to take somebody's place ... Britney, J.Lo or whatever they're called."
Rating: 9/10 (One point sadly lost due to lousy sound mix)
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent performance, I was pleasantly surprised
Review: I went into watching this concert with some reservation, but was pleasantly surprised. Cher's costume changes, and impressive songlist make this a must-own DVD. The only song I don't think she should include is the U2 cover of "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For", this song does not work for Cher.
I thoroughly enjoyed the 'history' part of the show where Cher
dresses like she did in the 70's and performs her hits from then as part of a medley. Cher still looks exactly the same as she did, so dressing up like that really works well. I also loved it when the medley moved into her 1979 disco hit "take me Home". Cher appeared in a carbaret outfit for this, simply stunning! Then the song "The Way of Love" was performed, and Cher reappeared looking like she did in the mid 70's with very long straight black hair and an elegant slinky gown. This performance alone, is worth the price of the DVD.
If all of this wasn't enough, Cher does more costume changes for the "If I could turn back time" song, and yes, she really pulls this off beautifully.
Love her, or hate her, you cannot deny that Cher is one of the true survivors. I have the utmost respect for an artist that continually reinvents themselves, but does not forget any of their past.
This concert is an absolute pleasure to watch. I highly recommend it to see how a true performer puts on a show. Well done Cher. I only wish the concert was longer.
Rating: 
Summary: Was a good show, but only good....
Review: I really don't like to get Cher fans mad at me being one myself, but this concert was simply a repeat of the 99 Believe Tour with different costumes and a few song changes.
I went to go see this show live in Toronto and it was really well done, however it was because it was live.
The person who wrote the review comparing it to Madonna is sadly mistaken, all Madonna's tours are different and unique.
The extra's on this DVD are alright as well, best being the 3 extra performances.
Rating:
Summary: THE ULTIMATE DIVA!
Review: First the kudos. Cher was not only in Miami for this show, but must have stopped off at The Fountain of Youth on the way. She looked and sounded great. Her voice has somehow gotten even better as she has aged. The show is extravagant, with Cher singing her hits in the midst of highly costumed dancers, gymnasts, video clips, and a light show. My minor criticism. As with many performances on DVD, it was somewhat "overproduced." The camera switches scenes too often, uses zoom too often, and does not focus on the star enough. I'm also very tired of seeing faces in the crowd on DVDs. When you attend a concert, do you watch the crowd or the stage? Despite my minor criticism, Cher makes the whole thing very entertaining and worthwhile. If you like concert DVDs, this one is very good and worth buying. If you are a Cher fan, it is a must.
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely Chertastic!
Review: I saw CHER in Atlanta on April 25, 2003, and it will always be THE GREATEST NIGHT OF MY LIFE! I grew up watching the Sonny & Cher show on tv, and playing Cher songs on my record player over and over and over, I must have played "The Way of Love" and "Gypsies, Tramps, and Thieves" and "Dark Lady" a thousand times, and I sat there in Philips Arena watching her sing these songs, and it was as if it were a dream come true. Every minute was magnificent, every song was simply sensational! The entire arena rocked and thundered when she did "Bang Bang, My Baby Shot Me Down," and it was hard to believe it was a 57 year old woman on stage, singing that song! The concert didn't stop for even a minute, all the way through until the final song, "Believe," that really brought down the house, with the dancers both on stage and flying through the air on wire. Yep, the night was magnificent, and this dvd captures it completely and wonderfully. Cher, you really are the greatest ever!!
Rating:
Summary: She IS the ONE true diva!
Review: The DVD is awesome to say the least! Seeing the DVD after seeing the TV showings of this concert was like stepping back through all the years I grew up with this woman's awesome talent and music. Seeing the DVD made me want to go see the concert in person when it came to my city. This tour was truly fabulous and a shining tribute to Cher. She truly is THE - ONE - TRUE - DIVA!
Rating:
Summary: Genuine Classic
Review: Cher at this time of her life is better than ever! I saw her Farewell Tour in Las Vegas, and this video (filmed in Miami) is virtually the same. If you cannot see her in person, BUY this video - truly a classic.
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