Rick Wakeman - Amazing Grace (DVD)

Advantages: It tells a story that deserves to be told.
Disadvantages: Pedestrian direction, miscasting and a tendency towards the saccharine.

...minutes. And if anyone can explain the point of the tacked-on bagpipe performance of "Amazing Grace" I'd be more than grateful. The screenplay by Steven Knight may be a worthy piece of writing, but lurches from sentiment to sombreness throughout. It opens with Wilberforce saving a horse from mistreatment at the hands of its owners in the pouring rain, which is done in such a way it makes him look like a bleeding heart bunny-hugger. Then he's plunged into a prolonged illness worsened by his soaking. And so the cycle begins; his illness is counter-pointed by his whirlwind romance with the spirited Barbara, his boyish friendship with Pitt by his struggles in Parliament and so on. The issue is that the extremes are too great - there is no middle ground, so the sweeter moments feel sickly in comparison with Wilberforce's lowest ebb... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: brilliant in everyway
Disadvantages: people not into his music may not like

...Rick Wakeman. As a pianist he is one of my greatest inspirations. Wakeman, Yes and piano enthusiasts will see this concert as no less then sublime. The show starts of with cannon in d major playing on an empty stage as the camera pans around the audience. Wakemen then comes on and starts playing the very same piece flawlessly. In many of his shows he does a mixture of classical, solo and yes pieces on his piano's and keyboards. He also tells stories, and jokes very well keeping the audience laughing and entertained until the end. In terms of his playing he is sublime. Each piece is played expertly and fluently. There is a section where he does a variety of nursery rhymes in the style of famous classical composers. This is a challenging feat, and he does it brilliantly with marvelous comical effect. His stories... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: the beautiful voice of Bonnie Tyler
Disadvantages: nothing

...I would like to speak to you about Rick Wakeman, the famous keyboard player of your country (i'm french !) Little story of RW The little Rick learns the piano in five years because his father is one very big soloist ! Years pass and the young man plays in the english group "YES" with the very good singer Jon Anderson ! Wakeman amazes everybody and all the criticisms. He decides to steal his own wings and composes for him. In 1971, RW takes out his first album, alone in piano ! Three years after "Journey to the center of the earth" from Jules Verne. It's a world success ! Now, nobody can't stop him ! He composes more 50 albums in 20 years (studio, live and best of !) But, EMI, the famous english société ask to Rick to compose a suite (25 years after !) and gives him all the means necessaire for there ! Return to... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful