Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Rating:
Summary: Very Disappointed
Review: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is one of my favorite stage productions. I got real excited when it was coming out in video. However, I am very sorry to say that this video version of Joseph is just plain terrible as compared to the many many stage productions I have attended. This production is not even close to how great the stage production is. I wasted my money on this tape. Sorry

Rating:
Summary: Its Great...but HEY...the running time? Very short!
Review: I love the show...but 78 minutes...thank goodness Amazon had a great price on it. IF I had paid full retail I would have been very angry. They cut out a lot of the show. Thats the only negative about it.

Rating:
Summary: This is a music video
Review: Just to clarify, this should be viewed as a music video rather than as a filmed production or a film. There are inherent differences in technique. As a music video, the sets and staging are dynamic, colorful, and theatrical. The basic integrity of theatre is present and overall this is a fun video to watch. There are a few racy costumes, a la Las Vegas. This is a great time for people who have not seen the live show.

Rating:
Summary: Magical!
Review: What an astounding cast of characters! This video is a gem...so much fun! Donny Osmond's "tongue in cheek" performance is not to be missed! His vocal range is not to be believed, forget the coat....HE is amazing!

Rating:
Summary: WHAT WERE THEY THINKING?
Review: "Joseph" is a great show and this video definitely does not do it justice. First of all what were they thinking when they cast Maria Friedman as the Narrator? She's..... bad. She doesn't even come close to comparing with Laurie Beechman, Kelli Rabke, and Janet Metz of the Cast albums. She's vocally weak, and breathy. This role is a demanding belt role. I don't know what she did to the infamous "LETTING OUT A MIGHTY ROARRRRR! " of the "Potiphar" song which is the biggest and loudest belt part that the Narrator has, but Maria... I dunno what she did. And "Pharaoh's Story" she holds back way to much (Listen to any of the Cast recordings, and for you die hard Joseph fans you know what I mean). I was extremely disappointed with her performance. I guess the casting agents wanted a big london star. Why not RUTHIE HENSHALL? Or JOANNA RIDING? They would definately do it justice. Or how about the Americans ALICE RIPLEY of KRISTEN CHENOWETH? I just don't know what they were thinking. Also, the ensemble cast was weak. And the Camera work was horrendous! The children were so corny in the numerous cheering scenes. I dunno. I was waiting for a great video for over a year and this is what I got. Not happy at all.

Rating:
Summary: A Joyful Production of "Joseph" - Go, Go, Go Donny!
Review: This is a truly wonderful and joyful production of "Joseph"! I've seen the musical play seven times (twice with Donny Osmond as Joseph) and it remains as one of my favorite musicals. I've also listened to the Canadian cast cd so many times that I know all the words by heart. In my opinion, there is only one Joseph and his name is Donny Osmond. He was fantastic onstage and even more so in this video version! His rendition of "Close Every Door" is breathtaking. The sets are wonderful! It's great that it's been expanded beyond the stage version. The costumes are out of this world. The music, of course, is divine and all the performances are first rate! Some things were done differently in the video version but that can be expected because it's a totally different medium. The only thing I missed was the Joseph megamix which was performed for the stage show at the very end. But all in all, it's a wonderful musical and ranks right up there with the best of them!

Rating:
Summary: a show stopping delight!
Review: i found myself applauding after the great production numbers! donny osmond is great as joseph! he should be though, as he has been doing the role for nearly nine years! the real find here is maria friedman as the narrator! she is vivacious and her voice tares doen the house with the pharoh's story that opens the 2nd act! the end of act one "go go joseph" is the one that really kicks! incredible production number! every number is awesome and the dts and dolby digital sound as well as the clear, crisp video transfer make this a greater experience than it was on the stage! go, go, go get your copy now; you will find that you will be watching it over and over an over. a showstopping delight!

Rating:
Summary: Where's Sam Harris when you need him?
Review: I may be the only person on this whole thing that does not like this version of Joseph, but I'll survive. First of all, I just want to say that I actually love the musical, and between me and my sister, we have nine different cast recordings of Joseph. So I am not reviewing the musical, but rather this presentation. First of all, I love Maria Friedman, but I feel that she was totally miscast for the part. Her voice is a totally different register, suited to singing arias and ballads over the psudo-pop presentation needed by the narrator, however, I really can't think of someone else to play the narrator (maybe Elaine Paige (Grizebella in "Cats"?). Second, Donny Osmond? Just because he played Joseph the longest (and mostly in Canada) doesn't mean he was the most popular. Come on people, anyone who saw the US touring cast with Sam Harris knows that Sam has a voice that hits high notes better than Donny. Oprah basically said that his voice could move God. That and I think that he's better looking than Donny. My third quibble is the horrid makeup job. When doing film, one does not need to apply the layers of stage makup as seen on those actors. I also missed some of the accentuation seen in some casts (the US cast recording pulls off the Country, French, and Elvis accents better), but then again, the entire cast was English, so I guess I can't complain too much. And lastly, the redone megamix is HORRID! There were a few things I liked about it though. The stylized Potiphar/Jailcell/Go, Go, Go Joseph scene setpieces were well done, and if I was directing a version of Joseph, I would try to emulate their style and simplicity. Second, it was nice of them to include a making of documentary, though at times, it focused too much on the little school productions when I wish it would talk more about the presented versions. Anyways, if you are a Joseph fanatic, then you probably want to get it. If you are not, wait for them to revive the show again and hope it tours to your town, you're not missing much.

Rating:
Summary: Long waited for and better than we dreamed!
Review: Since hearing that Joseph was going to be filmed for video, we have watched for the big day when it would be released. Well, the wait was worthwhile! This is a truly awesome video! We've memorized most of the music and loved singing right along with the video. This is superb entertainment: the music, the terrific acting, the subtleties of expression and interaction between characters,and the sets...a visual treat. We will watch this video over and over and never grow tired of the great entertainment that is Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat!

Rating:
Summary: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Review: I was disappointed in the DVD version of Joseph. The background looks like a cartoon. The Broadway production was awesome, but the DVD is nothing like it. The music is the same, but moves slower on the new release. Rent it before you buy it.