Musicals & Music Films > Mallet, David Musicals & Music Films

Triumph of Hype Over Mediocrity

Advantages: Lots of energy. Brilliant lyrics (except the new ones).
Disadvantages: The score and the concept are both dire. The worst musical I've ever had the misfortune to see.

I'll be honest: Cats is my very least favourite musical ever. I am a big fan of musical theatre, and even of much of Andrew Lloyd Webber's output, but Cats is dire. And now they've gone and filmed it. This is a scaled-down version of the show (which at least means that some of the score is missing - hurrah!) featuring a collection of performers who've been in it on stage. Unless you've already fallen in love with Cats, or simply must own everything ...
...What happens? Lots of cats tell us their names, one of them gets kidnapped for about two minutes and then for no apparent reason one of them walks up into some strange cat heaven. None of it makes much sense - it would be OK if they didn't try to have any plot at all and just created a revue, but that wasn't the intention and so we have a plot-show with no plot. To be fair, I can see why people might like this (which is why I've been very generous ...

DavidBedford 15.05.2001 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Cats (Ultimate Edition) (DVD)

He's still got it!

Advantages: Story Line is great!
Disadvantages: Not enough traditional

...it was. This time Michael Flatley decided to take on the irish revolution over in America. The show is all about the revolution bascially. The opening dance danced in the hard show was so compelling fast, and breath taking. This time he has added a variety of styles for example, ballet routines, break dance, tap, with the added bonus of more stylistic with one routine Michael and his troupe are dressed as a mafia gang, and war it out with another ...
...shoes. Again we see Michael fast feet and forceful lead, he also plays his flute again, with the violinists who were the same but we don't need to complain about that. Two new singers accompany him which also do the show justice. The music is irish on the traditional scenes, but very modernised drum based music throughout the rest. Ireland comes to America is a excellent show which will not fail in impressing you, and the best thing is anyone can ...

jenstar12 19.01.2006 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful
Review of Michael Flatley - Celtic Tiger (DVD)

Flatley makes Irish dance an unmissable experience

Advantages: Even by those who dislike 'dance' cannot deny enjoyment
Disadvantages: Female lead doesn't match up to Flatley or her predecessor

Micheal Flatley has the ability to take dancing and turn it into an experience. It's quite inexplicable, but his dance shows seem to be more musical theatre than a programme of separate dances. It is that which sets both 'Lord of the Dance' and 'Riverdance' apart from all other dance shows. He makes Irish dance relevant and available to all walks of life and executes it with a flair and Though he often comes across as pompous, arrogant and a bit ...
...sheer determination in the compilation of talent he accumulates in this show. Within 'Lord of the Dance' Flatley tells a story linked to Irish legend, linking all the dances by a captivating thread. The dances are flawless to watch and the drama is not to be sold short. Female lead Bernadette Flynn somewhat failed to capture my imagination. She holds no candle to that of Jean Butler in 'Riverdance'. Gillian Norris intrigued me in her role of the ...

huntressofthenight 23.05.2008 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of Michael Flatley - Lord Of The Dance (DVD)

The Great Gig in the Sky....now on DVD...

Advantages: Full Concert Performance of Dark Side of the Moon....
Disadvantages: Took almost 12 Years to be released....

...of the founder members of Pink Floyd, and the inspiration that put the Band on the map in the first place, all those Years ago,and possibly without his influence, The Pink Floyd and this DVD would never have seen the light of Day, neither would the rest of the repertoire of Pink Floyd either.... Anyway....on to this " Special Edition " 2 Disc version of Pulse.. This is no newcomer to the music scene at all, as it was originally released way back ...
...not a big fan of Pink Floyd.... Disc Two..... Once again you get the Audio set up menu with the option of the best sound , and on this Disc it should certainly be taken... Its a full audio / visual performance of the classic " Dark Side of the Moon " which is probably one of the most famous albums of all time, so you are shown exactly what this is like live in Concert, complete with all the special effects that come with it, and I do believe this ...

n13roy 14.07.2006 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Pink Floyd - Pulse (Two Discs) (DVD) (RESCHEDULED) (DVD)

Tina Turner - Simply the Best

Advantages: Has a lot of her older hits, excellent performance, good quality sound
Disadvantages: Only if you don't like Tina Turner

...I can say that Tina Turner puts on the best concert show ever – and yes, she has brilliant legs with ‘those stilettos’ and everything else for a 60 year old. The young and old alike attended this concert. I believe this DVD would appeal to many age groups and is a must for anyone that has ever seen her in concert. I have been to see many people in concert such as Bon Jovi, Robbie Williams, Ronan Keating, Bryan Adams, Texas – ...
...on stage for a good 2.5 hours, which is pretty impressive. I know it’s her last tour, but I would love to see her live again. Her voice is brilliant, she gets the crowd involved, and her backing team is brilliant. This DVD is excellent and will get you dancing around the room for ages. It is brilliantly put together and sounds really good. It has some of her greatest songs. For a 60-year-old she still has loads of energy and can kick it with ...

Ulysses 20.08.2001 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Tina Turner - One Last Time In Concert (DVD)