Search - Caught in the Act on DVD

Very good show, but the video quality is improper

Youri | Moscow, Russia | 09/03/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The show itself is very good and the musicianship is just superb - modern progressive at its best! The set is long (more than 20 songs) and well balanced (includes almost all songs from the last album plus numbers from all other Arena CDs).

But since it is a review to the DVD (not a show or a band!), it's drawbacks can not be overlooked.

1) video quality is not good enough, and sometimes it is simply awful (Solomon middle and end parts)

2) sound mix also leaves much to be desired: sound level is too low, dynamic range is limited, bass is indistinct, background speakers are used only a number of times during the show, no real surround is felt (frankly, no real difference between 2.0 and 5.1 mixes can be heard more than 90 percent of the show).

But there are also some advantages: good menus, interesting extra features including interview with Clive Nolan and Mick Pointer, and, as I have already mentioned, the show itself being very good!

So my recommendation is: buy it (except for the case you are a kind of video\audio purist like me for whom modern technology should result in a product of truly high quality without such annoying defects)!"

Arena At the Arena

Carlos toro H | Medellin, Antioquia Colombia | 12/09/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Arena es una de esas bandas que no es muy conocida en este lado del planeta,pero es, sin lugar a dudas, un grupo con mucha calidad musical.Los fundadores son : Clive Nolan teclista tambien de la banda Pendragon y Mick Pointer baterista que fundara en los 80 a Marillion.



El concierto fue grabado en la gira de su ultimo trabajo llamado Contagion, contiene la mayoria de temas de este , mas una seleccion de canciones pertenecientes a los discos : The Visitor e Inmorta? La imagen esta muy bien lograda con buenos tiros de camara,muy limpia sin contener planos Bizarros,que en muchos casos fastidian al espectador,el sonido es 5.1 y estereo digital muy bien balanceado, pero muy bajito,algo que se puede solucionar subiendole a la perilla de volumen.



El vocalista Rob sowden, el guitarrita John Mitchell y el bajista Ian Salmon hacen un trabajo fantastico con mucha calidad interpretativa.



Como Encores el dvd trae tres temas de los primeros albumes : Jericho, solomon y crying for help, ademas, de otros features como biografia,discografia,fotos,etc. Este dvd es recomnedado para aquellos que les gusta el buen Rock (progresivo)y que estan cansados del rock basura con el que nos saturan en los medios de comunicacion."

A REAL TREAT!

jacetgem | montreal, quebec, Canada | 10/12/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"From one of the best progressive rock band, this DVD came at the right time with the new technology. A complete show with great filming, good light show, and good picture. It's not surprising that the set list is great when you know that this band doesn't make a lot of bad songs. The only down side; is the sound that is too low. There also some good stuff with the interviews with the band."

Prog At It,s Finest

Edward Corbett | Port Reading, New Jersey United States | 09/09/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"An amazing DVD filmed in a Krakow,Poland TV studio before a live audience.A great companion piece to Arena,s new concept album,Contagion,released earlier this year.The concert is about 2 hours long,and contains the entire aforementioned album,plus cuts from their previous albums,Pride,The Visitor,and Immortal.Lead singer,Rob Sowden is a terrific frontman,who incorporates theatrics with a great vocal range.John Mitchell is simply one of the finest guitarists that I have ever seen.He excels with Arena,s brand of melodic prog with a little metal added to the mix.John has his own band The Urbane,and also plays lead guitar in The John Wetton Band,where he must emulate the styles of Fripp,Howe,and Holdsworth.
The keyboard player is Clive Nolan,who plays keys and sings lead in his own band Shadowland.Clive is also Pendragon,s keyboardist.
Mick Pointer,on drums is from Marillion,and Ian Salmon plays bass.
The videography is first rate with numerous camera angles.The sound is awesome,since the DVD was filmed in a studio.Arena is able to recreate the sound of their records splendidly.Clive and John are really good vocalists,who compliment Rob,s leads,unlike other bands performing live,who have to hire backup singers.
John Mitchell is also a showman,who can make his guitar talk.
I saw John Mitchell play last summer with The John Wetton Band,did a little research on Arena and was hooked.I now have their entire catalog.As a collector of Concert Videos,this was one band,that I really wanted to add to my collection.I just hope they do a U.S,Tour sometime in the future.Until then,I have this visual masterpiece to enjoy."