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PLEASE NOTE: Michael D's is currently in READ ONLY MODE. Anything submitted will simply not be written to the database.
Lots of stuff is still broken, but at least reviews can now be looked up and read.
Bryan Adams-Live in Lisbon (2005)

Bryan Adams-Live in Lisbon (2005)

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Released 11-Feb-2006

Cover Art

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Details At A Glance

General Extras
Category Music Main Menu Audio & Animation
Music Video-This Side Of Paradise, Room Service, Nowhere Fast
Audio-Only Track-RFM Radio Interview
Gallery-Photo
Rating Rated PG
Year Of Production 2005
Running Time 116:35 (Case: 195)
RSDL / Flipper Dual Layered Cast & Crew
Start Up Programme
Region Coding 1,2,3,4,5,6 Directed By Dick Carruthers
Studio
Distributor

Universal Pictures Home Video
Starring Bryan Adams
Case Amaray-Transparent-Secure Clip
RPI ? Music Bryan Adams


Video Audio
Pan & Scan/Full Frame None English Dolby Digital 2.0 (224Kb/s)
English Dolby Digital 5.1 (448Kb/s)
English dts 5.1 (768Kb/s)
Widescreen Aspect Ratio 1.78:1
16x9 Enhancement
16x9 Enhanced
Video Format 576i (PAL)
Original Aspect Ratio 1.78:1 Miscellaneous
Jacket Pictures No
Subtitles None Smoking No
Annoying Product Placement No
Action In or After Credits No

NOTE: The Profanity Filter is ON. Turn it off here.

Plot Synopsis

    Here's an interesting snippet of information. Canadian rocker Bryan Adams is probably best known for his 1985 mega-hit song Summer of '69. Written in the mid 80s, I bet you don't know where young Bryan was living during that actual summer of 1969 (he was 10). Well, it was Portugal. As the son of diplomat parents the youngster was born in Ontario, Canada but travelled throughout Europe and the Middle East as a child until finally settling back in Canada in 1973. During their travels Bryan and his family spent several years in Portugal, a country which Adams claims he has always been very fond of. This also accounts for why many of the fans in the audience at this concert in Lisbon, Portugal, proudly display banners which read "Welcome home Bryan".

    Directed by Dick Carruthers, the man responsible for what I consider to be the best music DVD released, James  - Getting Away With It Live, this is a pretty decent concert, with heaps of the usual Bryan Adams and band energy and fun, lots of interesting camera angles and a variety of source material used (see the video section for more detail). Highlights would have to include a rocking Kids Wanna Rock, Can't Stop This Thing We've Started and of course everyone's favourite Summer of '69. As is typical for an Adams concert, at one point during the night an eager fan is coaxed out of the audience to participate (read sing a duet with the man himself) during a song. The couple of times I've seen Adams play it's been Summer of '69 as the chosen tune, one we are all familiar with. This time round though it's the song Adams recorded with former Spice Girl Mel C -the infectious if a little sickly When You're Gone. The lucky young lady hauled out to sing in this Lisbon concert is obviously a big fan, and although she struggles to hold a tune, she at least knows most of the words (even if Adams' English is a touch mystifying to her on occasion).

    Tracks from the album Room Service feature, though considering this is the album being promoted by the tour, they don't dominate the set. Tracks lifted from that album include Room Service, Open Road, Not Romeo Not Juliet and Flying. These new tunes join old favourites such as 18 'Til I Die, Heaven, The Only Thing That Looks Good On Me Is You, Best Of Me, Summer of '69, and Let's Make A Night To Remember.

    A decent 22 songs are performed in this concert. They are:

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Track Listing

1. Room Service
2. Open Road
3. 18 'Till I Die
4. Let's Make This A Night To Remember
5. Can't Stop This Thing We Started
6. Kids Wanna Rock
7. Back To You
8. (Everything I Do) I Do It For You
9. Summer Of '69
10. Cuts Like A Knife
11. When You're Gone
12. Not Romeo Not Juliet
13. Heaven
14. It's Only Love
15. The Only Thing That Looks Good On..
16. Cloud Number 9
17. Run To You
18. Best Of Me
19. Flying
20. All For Love
21. Straight From The Heart
22. Room Service

Transfer Quality

Video

    This is a high quality widescreen transfer that looks superb (that is if you don't mention the liberal doses of source footage from a less than stellar source). It would appear Bryan Adams has used a home movie camera - possibly quite an old one of a super 8 style vintage, to capture some of the on stage antics in extreme close-up and fire back a few shots at the audience. The result is quite a blurred and extremely grainy picture that does not look anything like a modern recording. It's a little quaint and not too bad in small doses, but the director seems to want to use a fair bit of this footage, especially early on.

    The video is presented in an aspect of 1.78:1 and is also 16x9 enhanced.

    Other than the home video footage, most of the show is shot on high definition video and as such it is extremely sharp and detailed throughout. There is no trace of any edge enhancement and there is not a single problem with shadow detail. Grain is absent (except in the aforementioned home video footage) and there is no low level noise. It really is that clear and detailed you feel like you are almost there.

    With the modest and natural looking lighting used, the colour palette isn't affected by the usual problems associated with so many concert shows. Everything is colourful, clear and well controlled.

    There are no compression artefacts present, and no video artefacts of any sort. Given the nature and youth of the source material, this is not unexpected.

    No subtitles are available on this disc, which is a bit of a shame.

    This disc is a dual layered disc with RSDL formatting.

Video Ratings Summary
Sharpness
Shadow Detail
Colour
Grain/Pixelization
Film-To-Video Artefacts
Film Artefacts
Overall

Audio

    There are three audio tracks available for your listening pleasure. Two are Dolby Digital efforts, in 5.1 and 2.0 stereo respectively. The other is a dts 5.1 track.

    The Dolby Digital and dts tracks are similar in terms of quality. Both tracks offer some of the most enveloping and immersive surround experiences you are likely to hear. You are placed squarely in the centre of the stage with instrumentation all around. The level of instrument separation and clarity is superb, while the vocals are as clear and precise as they can be.

    There is plenty of surround channel use from both 5.1 soundtracks. The usual sounds of audience clapping and cheering from the rears emanate throughout the performance to impart that 'front-row' feeling.

    The sub is nicely integrated. The Dolby Digital 5.1 track probably makes a little more use of it than the dts track, but both offer seamless bass throughout.



Audio Ratings Summary
Dialogue
Audio Sync
Clicks/Pops/Dropouts
Surround Channel Use
Subwoofer
Overall

Extras

Main Menu Audio & Animation

Music Videos

    There are three music videos to choose from here: This Side Of Paradise (3:54), Room Service (3:08) and Nowhere Fast (3:54).

Audio-Only Track

    An interview recorded for a Lisbon radio station at the time of the concert. The interview is in both English and Portuguese, with subtitles available in English, French, Spanish, German and Portuguese. It runs for a very healthy 53:37, though some of the run time is eaten into by the translator who must repeat everything Adams says in English for the benefit of the Portuguese-speaking listeners.

Gallery-Photo

    Around 40 full colour photos of the Lisbon gig, showing both back-stage and some on-stage action.

R4 vs R1

NOTE: To view non-R4 releases, your equipment needs to be multi-zone compatible and usually also NTSC compatible.

    The Region 1 disc is specified exactly the same as the Region 4 title.

Summary

    Bryan Adams - Live In Lisbon is a quality concert DVD from an artist at the peak of his game. While the mix of odd video sources sometimes leaves a little to be desired, the soundtrack is awesome and captures all the fun and unbridled excitement of a Bryan Adams concert.

    Extras are limited but well put together.

Ratings (out of 5)

Video
Audio
Extras
Plot
Overall

© Darren Walters (It's . . . just the vibe . . . of my bio)
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Review Equipment
DVDDenon DVD-3910, using RGB output
DisplayLoewe Calida (84cm). Calibrated with Digital Video Essentials (PAL). This display device is 16x9 capable.
Audio DecoderBuilt in to amplifier/receiver. Calibrated with Digital Video Essentials (PAL).
AmplificationHarmon/Kardon AVR7000.
SpeakersFront - B&W 602S2, Centre - B&W CC6S2, Rear - B&W 601S2, Sub - Energy E:xl S10

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