Rating: 
Summary: Good stuff.
Review: I'm not sure what all the fuss is over the 5.1 mix. It's really not that bad. Maybe the crowd is a bit strong in the surrounds, and a bit thin on instruments in the surrounds, but so what, the concert seems to be a major energy show from the crowd's perspective. Geddy's voice is slightly thin and slightly low mix-wise, but that's a nitpick. Alex's guitar comes thru nicely as do Neil's drums (I would've mixed his bass drums stronger), Geddy's bass guitar is _thundering_. Overall the mix was done 8/10 I would say. Their playing is easily a 10/10, extremely sharp (YYZ!). This is a total worthwhile buy. Been waiting for something like this for years!
Rating:
Summary: Welcome to Hyperspace
Review: Ahoy-hoy everyone,How's everyone doing? I'm doing good myself. There have been a lot of things to be happy about in the past month. Mainly the release of certain DVDs and CDs by certain bands that I love (ergo...Rush, Primus, and King Crimson). I come before you to review Rush in Rio so....Onward, Outward, Upward to the sun. I've only been a Rush fan for say 2 years or so, but I really didn't get into them until I saw them on the Vapour Trails tour. After that magical evening in Dumfries, VA I was hooked on Rush. They are without a doubt the most talented trio ever. Primus is my favourite band, but you gotta give credit where credit is due. Rush has been pushing each other's boundaries for almost 30 years now. They just keep getting better and better as a result of this. So when I heard that they were releasing a Double DVD and Triple CD I was rather happy. I couldn't wait to get them. I have not been disappointed in the least bit. The DVD is just amazing. The sound quality is quite good (dispite what some others among you say...you know who you are). Their performance is just unforgettable. The DVD really captured the intensity of the performance and how much they fed off of each other. The crowd interaction was amazing because they're in Brazil and most of the people are singing every song!! That's just really really cool to me. Especially when they create their only little melodies to YYZ, Natural Science, and La Villa Strangiato. The only set back to the show is the ever changing camera. It does get a little annoying at points because you want them to focus on one musician, but then they warp to the crowd. Arrgghhh!! But we do have YYZ, La Villa Strangiato, and O Baterista on the multiangle extras. That is a very sweet feature. When I first watched YYZ and La Villa, I'd just switch between Geddy, Alex, and Neil. On YYZ I'd switch to Geddy for his fills and to Neil for his; then I switched to Alex for his solo. The transition from camera to camera is seemless. Great feature. One of the best things about the DVD is the documentary. That was quite the treat....in fact it was the first thing that I watched. It was cool to hear the guys' thoughts about the tour, Brazil, the past, etc. It's quite funny when Geddy is searching for his stage shoes because he gets a little hostile. I really loved seeing some of their pre-show "rituals." Neil goes into a room all by himself and does his 30-minute warm-up. His warm-ups are better than most drummers actual drum parts. There are some very interesting stories told by all three men. It was also very cool to see how much Rush means to the people of Brazil. Some of the people are crying because they're so happy. I can really identify with that emotion. I got teary-eyed the first time I ever saw Les Claypool. He's my hero and it was just an amazing moment. That's what Geddy, Alex, and Neil are in Brazil...heroes. I nearly shed a few tears just listening to the people talk about them and how great their music is. Very touching. The Easter Eggs are very nifty. Thankfully it tells you how to unlock them on the back of the case and on the inside. They want you to find them (THANK YOU!!). I love the By-Tor and the Snow Dog cartoon. That was very cool to see in person in Philly last fall. The Anthem 1975 video is quite funny. They looked so ridiculous back then. Geez. I love the root menu on Disc 2. The ball of fire is very very cool. I love the menus on Disc 1 because the dragon rules. He's a very funny dragon. I have A Show of Hands and this far surpasses that. This is the definitive Rush DVD/Video/what ever else you want to call it. The number of songs they perform is reason enough to buy this DVD. It features the best version of Red Sector "A" ever. Alex really plays with a lot of emotion on it. Who am I kidding? He plays with a lot of emotion on every single song, but Red Sector "A" is the prime example. They all give it everything they've got. It's just a beautiful thing to watch. If you're a fan of Rush you should go buy this DVD now!!! You won't ever regret this purchase. I'm going to enjoy this for years to come. Thank you for listening to my babble, burble, and banter. Sincerely, Milton Banana
Rating:
Summary: Tired of reading people's complaints
Review: I have never wrote a review mainly because I don't feel that I am qualified to do so. This is more of a complaint about the people complaining. I think the DVD is excellent. I don't care if the crowd is loud. It's a concert. It's supposed to be. I got so sick of reading these people bashing this DVD for whatever reason. Like they've put out a DVD that's better. Half of them are lucky to spell DVD. If you don't like it then don't watch it.
A lot of us think it's great and appeciate the fact that Rush took time to put out a DVD of one of their shows for us. Like the one reviewer said, 'They don't owe us a DVD, be happy that they made one for us to enjoy.' And who cares if it was their last show of the tour that they filmed. The guy who wrote that would probably find fault in Jesus Christ, which apparently is who he thinks he is. All I know is I am very happy with it because it's a heck of a lot better than anything I could ever do and they are the greatest live band I have ever seen. And I hope I get to see them again someday....
Rating: 
Summary: Grace Under Pressure
Review: The only reason I'm knocking off a star of this otherwise excellent DVD is for the quick-cut MTV-Style camera editing. Oh how I hate that!! (However, it's not as bad as it is on Iron Maiden's "Rock in Rio")
The performance on Rush in Rio is outstanding (as usual). I've seen them in concert since the Presto tour. And twice on the T4E tour and twice on this tour(the last time a mere 3 weeks before this concert was filmed). Unlike most aging rockers, Rush seem to get better and better with age.(And after a 5-year hiatus to boot!)Geddy's live singing improves all the time, and Neil puts on an awe-inspiring display of limb-indepenence few could match. And Alex....is nuts!(oh,okay,I'm just jealous of his guitar arsenal!) Alex has always stuck out the least,but Rush would not sound like Rush without his inimitable team-player guitar style (I wonder if his microphone was even on...all the backing vocals sound like Geddy!)
Unlike some people,I have no problem with the sound. Sure it's not perfect,sure Geddy's vocals are sometimes a little low in the mix,(and I'll admit, they should have been brought up a touch) but this was a LIVE recording!Recorded with a primitive recording truck that the sound engineers weren't familiar with.But it's the truest "live" sound I've heard on a concert DVD.And considering the hectic events of the day,they performed remarkably.In fact, I commend them for NOT doing any stuio-fixes (none that are obvious anyway).Hmmm...variations in the sound mix as the show progresses? Every Rush show I've been to. A few people have complained about the audience being too loud in the mix. .Hmmmm...an audience singing so loudly they drown out the band...where have I heard that before? Oh yeah, at every Rush show I've been to!(And on "Closer to the Heart" from "Exit...Stage Left") I think it was mixed that way on purpose.I'm quite okay okay with that, because if you have a surround sound system, it sounds like actualy being there (but w/out the need for earplugs!)And if your preference is not to hear the crowd, you can always turn your rear channel speakers off.The only "tweaking" I've had to do with the sound is turn down the sub-woofer.Like others have said, if you want studio perfect sound,listen to the studio albums.If you want an excellent representation of Rush's show on the VT tour,get this DVD!! Like David Bell of Skovol Unit said, "Be glad Rush FINALLY put a concert on DVD!"
Rating:
Summary: On the money
Review: What can I say... This is a awesome DVD set. I cant see anyone flaming this latest release.Drums dont sound like toys to me....
Sounds like Peart! Wich BTW is a incredible drum solo he preforms worth the meager price alone. As for NOT hearing the crowd? I am buying this for the gig not the crowd! All wont be happy with this set. wich is fine. I wish they added more easter eggs like more rare stuff. I got the '75 vid on cdr already so I am not worried about it. But its a peice of Rushistory.If you are even a bit into this band gets this DVD. Better yet, see them live I did 9 times and they got better every time......
Rating:
Summary: Incredible
Review: With shaking hands, I unwrapped "Rush in Rio", carefully slid it into my DVD player, and sank back into my seat as I watched 3 hours of Rush at their best.
I was totally awed by the power and energy floating in the arena in Rio. Brazilians obviously know how to appreciate great bands!
I'd seen 4 shows on this tour last year here in the states, but the Rio show had Neil, Alex, and Geddy all in tip-top shape, and easily surpassed the four shows I saw, as they cranked out crowd-pleaser after crowd-pleaser.
The whole concert was captured, start-to-finish, except for the actual intermission itself. The different angles and footage allow the viewer to see the band, and the performance, from locations they'd never be able to experience otherwise.
The sound quality is even better than I expected. I had thought for sure, being a "live" recording, the quality wouldn't be there. But except for a few tiny parts where I heard a little crackling/hissing, the sound is the best I've heard from a live-recording in a long time.
This is a MUST HAVE for Rush fans.
For non-Rush fans, or those new to the 30 years of Rush, this is definitely a tribute worth using as a start to your enjoyment of one of music's greatest, and most underappreciated set of musicians!
Rating:
Summary: Nothing short of spectacular !!!!!!!!!!!
Review: Im speechless when it comes to this DVD, I got the fortunate chance to see rush "vapor trails tour" in Houston and it is something i will cherish for the rest of my life. This DVD brought out the very best in every aspect of the tour.......i got goose bumps all over again watching it......its like it happend yesterday. I strongly, strongly recomend this DVD to any Rush fan whom attended this tour or anyother.....you will not be dissapointed.....Long Live Rush!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rating:
Summary: Rush dvd sweet miracel !
Review: very good sound. Excellent playing as usual,very enjoyable along with documentary.Very long awaited and Long overdue.
Rating:
Summary: JUST LISTEN TO THE AUDIENCE!!
Review: extremely recomended. well i've been a Rush fan since their early albums and it ranks in the best 10 groups alltime for me.
for starter, the sound is great,as well as the video, for the guys that say the drums sound like toys, you better get a decent audio system because is the best. highlights are Natural Science, just too much, La Villa Strangiato, Trees, hey everything!! just listen how the crowd is always chanting and singing, especially YYZ. i have like 100 concert dvd's and this ranks in the top 5 for sure. once you listen to a live album and compare it to the studio albums and you don't find any difference, well here you can listen what a great rock group Rush is. Neil Peart is so into the drums that if you listen to the studio album for any song, the drums are in perfect harmony
ENJOY!!!!!!
Rating:
Summary: Hold Your Fire
Review: I've done one review, would just like to add a few more comments. This is an EXTRAORDINARY concert documentary for Rush. I haven't missed a show since Hold Your Fire in 1988. For newer fans, Rush has been together, consistantly since 1975. No break ups, reunion tours, farewell tours, etc. Just quality music, from the same trio for almost thirty years. And, as explained by Alex Lifeson on the radio premier of Rush In Rio on Oct 19, Rush plans on recording in the Spring. Maybe not a tour, but new music to look forward to. For those of you criticizing this DVD. Yes..you are entitled to your own opinions. But if you listened to Geddy on disc two, they had some trouble in Europe trying to record other venues. Trouble with the venues themselves and recording just never happened. This DVD you should be THANKFUL for! The show itself was nearly canceled due to their equipment showing up SEVEN hours late. This DVD was literally recorded "on the spot". Some of the recording was "saved". (Read the inserts to the DVD and CD. So for the extreme pressure this was recorded under, it was AWESOME. Rush feels their best shows are obviously done in Europe, and of course, didn't expect the huge turnout in S. America. They make their decisions for their own reasons. They didn't even HAVE to do this recording or tour. After Neils tragedies after Test For Echo, who would blame them for even retiring? They owe the fans NOTHING. WE OWE THEM! Neil comes back stronger than ever, and still tours again, FOR US, definately not for HIMSELF. And does a great job. They didn't have to come back and do Vapor Trails. Be gracious to them and quit criticizing. I hear alot of "you can hear the crowd too much". It's a "LIVE" recording. PLUS, they've NEVER performed for THAT MANY people. You're supposed to HEAR THE CROWD. No one complained about hearing the crowed sing "Closer to the Heart" on Exit...Stage Left. Too many complaints for people who should show a little more gratitude to one of Rock's finest!
And for those of you "thinking" of buying it...GET IT! It's great. And...here are your codes for disc 2.
By-Tor and the Snow Dog cartoon. Hit ENTER when Alex starts talking about it on Disc 2. For "Anthem 1975". Drum Solo, main menu, YYZ, main menu, YYZ, main menue, Drum Solo, main menue, and Anthem comes up as an option. If you're slow....."2112"
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