Rating: 
Summary: Awful Audio Mix!
Review: I have been an avid RUSH fan since 1980 when Permanent Waves was released and have been to a dozen or so concerts since then therefore I had to have this DVD. I won't get into me being a drummer and how Neil Peart is GOD to me. That's another story in itself. Hehe. However, we've all come to know the quality this band is committed to producing for their fans and I was extremely surprised and very disappointed when I got it home and popped the DVD into my player. The audio mix is awful! Not only can you hardly hear Geddy's vocals but what makes it even worse is the crowd noise that's been imbedded onto the soundtrack. And no, it's not my equipment because I happen to have tried it on another system as well as my PC. I even had to turn down the level on my rear surrounds because the crowd noise is so overwhelming it was starting to drown out the music at certain times. This could have very well been the icing on the cake that all RUSH fans have been waiting for but instead it turned out to be a true let down. I'm very surprised the band would allow this DVD to be released with such an awful audio mix. The band must have had to give the final approval beforehand no? I can only think that this was approved and released by the band because they knew this was going to be their last chance to get something on DVD because this was probably going to be their final tour/concert? I hope to god I'm wrong but I have a funny feeling I'm not. I give it a 3 star rating and not a 2 only because of the 2nd disc which contained the short documentary on the band's visit to Brazil. I found that disc to be very entertaining and enjoyable to watch. It was fun to see some of the band's pre-show rituals amongst other interesting and sometimes funny stuff. If you're a RUSH fan then you must have this DVD regardless of its sub-par audio. However, if you're not a fan I don't recommend you Rush out (Excuse the pun) and purchase this DVD.
Rating: 
Summary: "A Rush of Thought"
Review: The lights go down and the most compelling visuals illuminate the screen dancing side by side with echoes of sound that caress emotions of the soul, leaving oneself somewhat light headed from the anticipated experience of new live concert footage of the band RUSH. Rush a band who's members seem to be self contained some what introverted with maybe the exception of Alex have this gift of being able to take their word and music and cast it on us like a great tempest. We know that any recorded imagery still can't replace the real live experience, but in my opinion the new Rush DVD has done the best job of any live concert footage I have seen so far.
"Rush in Rio" I believe captures the excitement and true musicianship that this band has been able to carry for years. In past I have watched concert films being disappointed with the camera shots, but with the use of twenty-two cameras the filming is top notch. There is a great number of songs and of course no one will ever be 100% happy, but the song selection does a good job of covering the then and now syndrome with such surprises as "Bytor and the Snowdog," "Working Man" then bringing us to now with my favorite song Secret Touch" off the most current CD " Vapor Trails."
"Rush In Rio" is a double disc with the second disc containing a Documentary " The Boys in Brazil" taking us behind the scenes showing us that the members of Rush are real. A little insight of what they do, how they do it and a small amount of their personalities. I found the documentary very entertaining. Also the second disc contains the Mx Multiangle which allows you to control the angle view you wish to watch of three pieces of music "YYZ," La Villa Stangiato" and all drum fans are going to love "O. Baterista" Neil Pearts drum solo!
In the end I will write I love this DVD and it will be played over and over many a time! Dan. (LEX)
Rating:
Summary: Rockin' in Rio
Review: This DVD package is truly amazing. I see lots of complaints about audio, and this, and that, but please. Giving the working conditions on the day the concert was filmed like starting the stage set up too late in the day, which was still not finished by showtime, no soundcheck, no camera check, no audio check, the show had to go on. In this situation you hope that you get lucky
and everything will end up being ok. Sure there are a few things that are low in the mix at times, but all in all this is a wonderful concert. And the boys are giving 150% as you can tell, the crowd is great, the DVD package is very nice, the rockumentary is informative and quite hilarious at times. Poor Neil, get that guy some oxygen! 5 stars baby!!!!!
Rating:
Summary: coulda been better
Review: I have to weigh in on the side of those who are disappointed with the sound quality and editing of the DVD. To those who say it's about the performance, I say listen to the CDs of the same show and you can actually hear Geddy singing! It's great to have 22 cameras capturing the performance, but I don't think it was necessary to check in with each of them during the course of each verse. It is great to have a video record of the band's excellent live show, but this one was compromised in post-production.
Rating:
Summary: What a RUSH!!
Review: Sorry for the bad pun...but this DVD really is a total blast! It's a must have for Rush fans. Almost all the great songs are covered and many great but more obscure ones too (THE PASS, ONE LITTLE VICTORY, NATURAL SCIENCE, etc.). The boys are in fine form, having lots of fun playing. I saw the Vapor Trails tour, and it was the same here. Lots of fun and great playing. If you saw the Vapor Trails tour, this is like being there again. As you probably know, Rush doesn't vary their show much from venue to venue, because the tech demands are pretty...well..demanding, and can't just be thrown out at the drop of a hat. When I saw the show in Albuquerque, there were a couple of different songs (they did Vital Signs and "Between the Earth and Moon", which are good songs, but for the Rio shows, they put in "Closer to the Heart" and "Freewill" instead, which makes the DVD a better "Greatest Hits" affair.The concert is nicely captured, particularly the overwhelming enthusiasm of the crowd. It's nice to see Rush being adored by 40,000 screaming fans!! As I said, they are clearly enjoying themselves. The show is tight as well, and the production value includes more "crowd and ambient" noise then they have allowed in past live albums, so it feels a little more spontaneous than efforts such as "A Show of Hands" a decade or so ago. The second DVD has a fun documentary...it's extra enjoyable, because Rush has never been big on doing interviews, stories, etc., which I've always respected, but it has also meant we haven't gotten to see them as non-musicians too often. They are really a great bunch of guys...nearly 30 years of fame, and yet they aren't jerks yet. If you aren't a Rush fan, you probably won't get a lot out of this DVD, but you aren't going to buy it anyway!! For the rest of us...well, you gotta have it. Especially when you consider that this was the last show on what COULD be their last tour ever. Neil Peart always sounds a bit reluctant to commit to the idea of future Rush projects, so who knows. This could be their swan song. And now you can have it right in your living room. (PS: the CD is the exact same concert, but without the live visuals, the slightly less perfect audio production feels a little lacking...I'd go the DVD route if you can only afford one of the two.)
Rating:
Summary: One Huge Victory
Review: I am not one of those Rush fans who automatically gives everything that the band puts out a five star review. For that they have to earn it. With this Rush N Rio DVD they have truly earned it. In the past Rush has released such concert videos such as Exit...Stage Left, Grace Under Pressure Live, and A Show Of Hands. All of these videos are okay but kind of disappointing considering the band only released part of the shows that were filmed. No Rush concert has ever been released on video in it's entirety. Until now. Here the viewer is treated to the entire 2 hour and fifty minute Vapor Trails concert in Rio. The performance is flawless, which is close to a miracle since so many things went wrong before the show including the crew arriving late to the stadium, the band was unable to do a soundcheck, and the eqipment had suffered water damage during the previous night's show due to a rainstorm. The set list is wonderful, and the Brazillian fans, watching Rush in concert for the first time, are a hoot to watch, especially when they are singing along with the instrumental YYZ. Also on this two DVD set is a fifty minute long documentary called The Boys in Brazil which captures a few days in the life of the band. This is one of the first times fans have been able to get an in depth look into their favorite band with great footage of Geddy, Alex, and Neil during the final days of the Vapor Trails tour. Again the fans are a lot of fun to watch in this. The way they great Geddy and Alex reminded me of the way a group of thirteen year olds might have greeted Duran Duran back in 1984. I have read some gripes about the sound quality. To me it sounded just right. This DVD package is a must have for any Rush fan. As for the movie not being presented in the widescreen anamorphic format, not a big deal. Except for a one time showing in selected cities, how many people actually saw this in the theater anyway? What's the need for a theatrical presentation when it was meant to be viewed on TV?
Rating:
Summary: It's All About The Soup
Review: When it comes to live performances there has always been one band that has delivered consistently over the years. Rush and their live performances are legendary. "Rush In Rio" will be remembered as their greatest live performance. Consummate professionals Rush are constantly refining and perfecting their live shows and evolving. Regardless of whether Rush suits your tastes or not, "Rush In Rio" may quite possibly be the greatest live performance ever released on DVD and that's something worth having. Got Soup?
Rating: 
Summary: Rush in Rio DVD
Review: The Rush in Rio DVD has been one of the most anticipated new DVD's from a band with a long tenure of fantastic live concerts, flawless studio albums, and a sound that has etched its place in the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame for over 20 years. So why release a DVD that has subpar audio? I have to admit that I really didn't care what was being said or for that matter even listening to the reviews, I had to have this DVD! Here's a band that's entact with all members and still ROCKS out like they did nearly 20 years ago. Watch the DVD and you can still see and feel the magic of their music. So why release a DVD that has subpar audio? The final cut has to be or should be approved by the band, not just the marketing hypes, and reviewed intently for its listening appeal before release. I keep thinking that if I play it again it will be different. I bought it 2 days ago and have played it over and over and over again yet unfortunately the truth remains, the audio sucks! It doesn't matter if you play it on a basic computer or a $20K sound system (I have both) the audio is still awful. Waiting this long for a DVD from a band that I have long admired for their studio sounds and flawless performances this is truly disappointing. I will keep it in my collection because the song list, the Brazilian crowd and the band's energy is awesome. Unfortunately, it is not a DVD that can be recommended. One does not have to be a audiophile to agree or disagree. I have used Amazon.com and their star rating for fantastic sounding and visually good DVD's. If you want to hear Rush's audio problems vs. better sounding DVD's check out Roger Water-in the Flesh Live or The Who- Live at the Royal Albert Hall, or U2 -Elevation tour or YES-Symphonic Live. Believe me these are just a few examples of a long list. Pick one, listen, and watch. The audio on any of these DVD's is so blazingly better, as a Rush fan you could only sit back and wonder what Rush in Rio COULD sound like with a good audio mix.
Rating: 
Summary: Content Viewer
Review: I was greatly anticipating this DVD, and I was not disappointed. The crowd was totally into the show and the guys were feeding off their energy. I saw the VT show in Phoenix and enjoyed the fact that I got to see the additional songs performed on this DVD that were not included in their U.S. setlist. I did not have as much of an issue with the sound as others have stated. The way I see it, if I wanted a crisp studio sound, I would throw in one of their cd's. I liked the raw concert sound, which I found similar to the Different Stages release. The documentary was also very interesting and I enjoyed seeing the "behind the scenes" activities of my favorite band. Since we do not get many opportunities to see interviews with these guys, I was thankful that some of their thoughts and personality could be captured and shared.
Rating:
Summary: This Is Rush Live.. And It Is Simply Marvelous!
Review: This one's a must. It's every bit as good as Judas Priest Live In London. Rush proves once and for all that they are one of the best of all time. The whole DVD is a highlight reel. Hit after hit of serious music. Even the new songs sound better than they did on the album. There is no doubt about it, this is a live recording, with a live sounding mix that is authentic. The drums are a little light. But it doesn't matter. The power and the life of this amazing band come through. Despite some wear and tear (especially around the rectus abdominus muscles) these guys are as good as I've ever seen them in my 25 years as a fan. The minute Thom Sawyer sets sail, you know you're in for a treat. Kick, back, relax, and enjoy Canada's finest rock n roll export. I'm sorry I missed this tour and will be there for the next run.
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