Rating: 
Summary: Very Dissappointed
Review: I probably would have bought this DVD even after reading the reviews, but I too thought that with all the differing opinions that it was a case of "operator error" and differing equipment. I was wrong. (Please note that this review is primarily about the VIDEO TRANSFER ONLY - I too have been waiting for a pristine DVD version of this concert after enjoying the VHS for so long. The magic of the performance almost draws your attention away from the horrid transfer, but if you are a video-phile, it will drive you up a wall! Maybe the best advice has already been given - look at it as a decent 5.1 DVD-audio disc and call it a wash!) I too work in the "video biz" (I'm an editor) and cannot believe how awful this transfer is. Yes, the concert was originally shot on film. I have no real explanation as to why the transfer is so bad. Perhaps it was not originally anamorphic? (What really bothers me is the label on the packaging promising a "16x9 remastered Anamorphic transfer." What a joke.) The "film grain" look is not the fault of the original material. It is simply a bad transfer/compression to the DVD format. When you watch any theatrical anamorphic movie you don't complain about "film grain" right? Apparently PG isn't quite as "technologically savvy" as we are all led to believe. Either that or he just has no control over this stuff. Either way, this DVD will dissappoint anyone who is enjoying the thrills of HDTV. As someone mentioned in one review, the Bruce Springsteen in NY is the video standard by which all DVD concerts must be compared. I understand that Bruce was shot in native High Def, but my copy of the '70s B-horror movie "Frogs" is a better film transfer than Secret World. For a filmed concert comparison, watch PG/SWL and then watch the Criterion DVD of Gimme Shelter. It was shot in the late '60s on film and the transfer is absolutely incredible! I had such high expectations while unwrapping this disc and the moment I hit the play button I knew that I had thrown away $16.99 and would seldom watch this disc again. Just too painful. Are we suppose to be waiting for the "special edition" of Secret World Live? Silly me, I thought this was IT! A very big dissappointment from a very great artist.
Rating: 
Summary: Nothing has ever topped this concert...
Review: Can't add a whole lot to what's already been
said.. but Everytime I watch it, it is just like
watching it again for the very First time. Very
Powerful.. concert
Best concert I've ever seen...highly recommend..
Rating: 
Summary: Warning - This DVD has 2 problems.
Review: The left channel and the right channel. Perhaps on a 5.1 system everything is OK. But if you plan to play this on a two channel system, forget it. It appears that they simply just removed the other 3.1 channels from the 2.0 mix. The volume levels are all over the place, there is no way you can listen to this. It appears that every time the mix is panned to the rear channels, the front channels are lowered. Forget the supposed lip synching, you won't even get that far if you have ears. It is just terrible. And to prove I'm simply not a raving lunatic or a grumpy person. I bought Growing Up Live before this DVD and it is spectacular, the 2.0 mix is outstanding. The audio, again, in 2.0 on this DVD is horrendous, the volume never stays constant for more than 10 seconds at most. Buy Growing Up Live for yourself if your a Gabriel fan, it's incredible. BTW - my reference system is an NEC 20" ultra-fast LCD panel, JBL studio monitors backed by PSB subs and studio reference audio gear.
Rating:
Summary: poor quality
Review: i was counting the days,waiting for this dvd to come and now that i have finally got it,i am very disappointed!i hate being negative like this but i really didnt like what i heard and saw.first of all the video/audio is out of synch.its not a big deal(someone would say)but the whole time i had the feeling im watching via satellite.but what really bothered me was the remix,and the fact that i did not hear many things i was expecting to hear. entire passages that are on the cd were missing(example:drum solos on "shaking the tree").and i really do not understand why this has been done.i have listened to the cd 1000 times,and i know every small detail.further more i consider it one of the most beautiful pieces of so called pop music recorded and i think things should have been left just the way they were.for me as a result of this remix some great pieces of music have been lost on the dvd.i was really disappointed to see all this damage done to such a masterpiece.
Rating:
Summary: Houston, we have a problem...
Review: I own the VHS version of Secret World Live. I would like to get the DVD, but many of the reviews scare me. To name a few: poor video quality, lip synch, out of synch audio/video, no bass, bass dropping in and out, and poor remaster of both video/audio. I know some have suggested checking audio options. For example, use Dolby 2.0 if you only have a 2 channel audio system. On other settings, sending low frequencies to a subwoofer that does not exist will certainly diminish the bass quality. This begs the question: How much of the difficulties are operator-related? When this issue is brought up, people get defensive and start talking about the equipment they own. I don't care if you have a 50 inch plasmatic Sony Wega TV with an Onkyo THX Star Wars receiver. To me, more is not always better. Do you know how to use your equipment? (No sexual pun intended). Please somebody answer the question: Is the DVD version greatly inferior to the VHS? Are many of the difficulties experienced by others operator-related? For example, I found my bass went in and out Growing Up Live until I turned off my Auto Audio option. You know, that default feature that is supposed to keep commercials from blasting you out of your seat. Believe me, I do not want to be cheated out of Tony Levin's bass. If there is something definetly wrong with the DVD version, I want to know. Some things I can live with if they do not affect the overall enjoyment of the show such as: added vocals, grainier video quality, added video clips, etc. Will a PG fan who owned the VHS first, now owns DVD, and knows A/V equipment in/out please give his or her objective opinions? I gave 5 stars to the VHS version only. I need more info on the DVD before I purchase it.
Rating:
Summary: Molto Bene
Review: after reading the reviews i am just amazed at how people actually notice any problems(?)I saw pg live in Glasgow,Scotland in 1995 and this dvd just took me back to that fantastic moment in time ( what a moment that was!)It was a visual and musical masterpiece of an evening. Obviously some of the other reviewers have bad copies or tv's etc as has been mentioned before,but i say just sit back,relax and take it easy(remember you can always go back to the old fashioned way and listen to the double cd version of the concert)Stop looking for holes,dodgy bits etc and chill!
Buonanotte
Rating: 
Summary: Creative performance
Review: Peter Gabriel certainly challenges the traditional realms of music today and this concert reveals his creativity. A very unique stage and show concept in use, as Pete does best. This is a cool live performance to have in your collection. Although not the best effort placed in video quality, the content and enthusiasm of the musicians carries the concert through.
Rating:
Summary: I'm so disappointed !
Review: The poor quality of this DVD is unworthy of Peter Gabriel, his musicians, Robert Lepage and this amazing show. Nothing less ! I could do a better job with my own DVD recorder. The technical team responsable of that should be dismissed. It's awful to discover that such a great artists like that are so badly disserved. Deeply sorry for Peter, his fans around the world and for me.
Rating:
Summary: Non-diehards be warned: this dvd is awful
Review: I'm a huge fan, have all the CDs, DVDs, etc. blah blah blah. BUT, this concert BARELY sounds live. In fact, when they're not inbetween songs, it COMPLETELY doesn't sound live. And what's with the pedestrian synching? Watch Manu Katche's drumming to see what I mean -- the sounds he makes come a half beat AFTER you see him hit his drums. The same problem can be seen with various mouths not matched up to the words being sung. I've read the other reviews and I can tell you (with my musicians ears, mind you) that I don't have a sense disorder and I have a stellar TV. After this recording, it was brought back into the studio and simply OVER-remixed, OVER-edited, and OVER-produced. If I wasn't such a huge fan of the songs and the artist, I'd call this DVD "awful."
Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: I agree the picture is a little grainy but the sound and the performance of Peter and his band make you forget about the imperfect picture. I don't know what other people are talking about with the lack of bass. They mustn't have the audio set right because the bass coming out my sub is phenominal. When the dome lands on the stage my whole house rumbles. I'm not even a big PG fan but this concert is one of the best I've seen second only to Pink Floyd's Pulse, which I am anxiously waiting for to arrive on dvd.
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