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    • BLU-RAY REVIEW

    Elton John: The Million Dollar Piano

    Featured In Issue 188, July/August 2014

    Picture4.5
    Sound4
    WSR Score4
    Basic Information on new release titles is posted as soon as titles are announced. Once reviewed, additional data is added to the database.
    (Studio/Distributor):
    Eagle Rock Entertainment
    (Catalog Number):
    EVB334899
    (MPAA Rating):
    Not Rated
    (Rating Reason):
    (Retail Price):
    $19.98
    (Disc Type):
    Single Side, Dual Layer (BD-50)
    (Widescreen Edition):
    Yes
    (Full Screen Edition):
    No
    (Running Time In Minutes):
    155
    (Color Type):
    Color
    (Chaptered/Scene Access):
    Yes
    (Closed Captioned):
    Yes
    (Regional Coding):
    Not Indicated
    (Theatrical Year):
    2014
    (Theatrical Release):
    No
    (Direct-To-Video Release):
    Yes
    (Disc Release Date):
    07/01/14
    (THX® Digitally Mastered):
    No
    (Director):
    Chris Gero
    (Screenplay/Written By):
    (Story):
    (Music):
    (Director Of Photography):
    (Production Designer):
    (Visual Effects):
    (Costume Designer):
    (Editor):
    (Supervising Sound Editors):
    (Re-Recording Mixers):
    (Executive Producers):
    (Co-Producers):
    (Producers):
    (Academy Awards):
    (Principal Photography):
    (Theatrical Aspect Ratio):
    (Measured Disc Aspect Ratio):
    (Disc Soundtrack):
    DTS HD Lossless 5.1
    (Theatrical Sound):
    (Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
    (DTS Bit Rate):
    (Dolby Digital Bit Rate):
    (Additional Languages):
    (French Language):
    (Spanish Language):
    (Chinese Language):
    (Subtitles):
    (Cantonese Language):
    (Mandarin Language):
    (Japanese Language):
    (Italian Language):
    (German Language):
    (Portuguese Language):

    The Million Dollar Piano was captured over multiple nights in 2013 at Elton John's residency at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. The show has been running since September 2011, with the most recent leg spanning 16 shows between March 29 and April 26, 2014. The concerts are the culmination of Elton John's tracks from across his extraordinary career, performed either with his band, solo, or with percussionist Ray Cooper. The multimedia staging is phenomenal, with vast screens behind the stage, illustrating the songs and the piano itself, acting as a screen for graphics and animations. The concert video is packed with such classics as "I'm Still Standing," "Rocket Man," "Philadelphia Freedom," "Your Song," "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road," "Circle Of Life," "Blue Eyes," "Bennie And The Jets," "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me," "Crocodile Rock," "I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues," and many more. (Gary Reber)

    Special features include a making-of featurette (HD 23:04) and the featurette Live In Kiev (HD 20:36), and an eight-page color booklet.

    The 1.78:1 1080p AVC picture is engagingly stylized with plenty of glitter and lighting effects, with spectacular staging of Elton, his Million Dollar Piano by Yamaha, and his band and backup singers. Black levels are deep and solid and contrasted, with bright-colored highlights and reflections. The set design is three-dimensional, with excellent depth perspective. Background and support video enhances the sense of depth and scale. The lighting design nicely complements the staging, while maintaining natural fleshtone hues. This is a terrific concert video that is always visually engaging and exciting. (Gary Reber)

    The DTS-HD Master Audio™ 5.1-channel soundtrack is presented in LPCM in stereo and multichannel DTS that delivers an enveloping soundfield experience with the performances locked to the front channels, and hall reverberation and audience occupying the surrounds. Fidelity is good, but this is rock-and-roll and the sounds sound produced and electronic. The drums and percussion segments are nicely rhythmic and exciting. Elton's piano is front and center and commands the focus of the concert, as Elton sings his classic songbook as solo or accompanied with his band, singers, and percussionists. For Elton John fans, this will be a gratifying experience that won't disappoint. (Gary Reber)

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