Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of War of the Worlds Live (2006)

This fantastic concert was generously extracted and uploaded for me by a very good friend in Denmark. I realized my chances of finding this for sale in NTSC were fairly slim, so my good buddy found it in a library, rented it, and provided the full range for me. And now, for all of you :)

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Amazon.com wrote: I can only assume if you far enough to read this review, you are a fan, or at least an owner, of the album of Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of `The War of the Worlds'. If you are, then I think you will be pleasantly surprised what a fantastic job they did bringing this to the stage so true to its original form, and then of course on to DVD. If not in on what its all about, then I urge you to still watch this - it's a unique album, and a unique stage experience. The show itself uses a mixture of elements. The orchestra and the band are on stage, and various characters walk on and act and sing their roles. This all works very well, with a dramatic backdrop of sub-cinema standard cgi graphics going on, on the massive screen behind the orchestra. In addition, a large almost life sized Martian's Fighting Machine has been made, and even Richard Burton is featured - not just his voice, but an animated projection of his head, on a large sculpted bust hung above the stage. In fact, these two much-hyped elements of the show are the weakest. If you can't have the real Richard Burton, they should have stuck to his voice, instead of a rather unconvincingly animated photograph. And the Fighting Machine has undeniable scale, but for all that adds little to proceedings. No, the star of the show is the music and the musicians. There are some of the original participants involved.. some of the musicians involved were on the original album, such as Justin Hayward singing the ever popular `Forever Autumn', and Chris Thompson reprising his `Thunder Child'. The other participants are now either dead or too old for the roles.. so we have (surprisingly) Russell Watson playing the Parson, and the less well known but perfectly cast Tara Blaise as Beth his wife, and the excellent Alexis James as the artilleryman - who may even be better than David Essex' version! So apart from the show, what else is present on the two disc version..? Well, this is where the DVD crosses over from being an interesting rental to a worthwhile purchase. There are a multitude of extras - some of them the usual `This-is-how-we-made-it' publicity, and some uninvolving talking heads. However, there is a one hour long documentary of the tour, which is amazingly candid. This shows the principal contributors from an early stage as they start rehearsing, through to the first night and some footnotes from the end of the brief tour. Worthwhile moments are - the tension as the original cgi efforts do not impress, Russell Watson acting surprisingly childishly, and seeing some of the rather excellent unsung heroes - the understudies.. the male understudy actually had to understudy all 4 male parts, and when Watson twists his ankle he is called upon and succeeds admirably. The final conversation with Wayne suggest the show could be back - a tantalizing thought for all those like me who missed it this time round. All in all - timeless music, great musicians, and a pretty good show with excellent sound, packaged with genuinely entertaining extras - what's not to like?

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Amazon.com also wrote: I first heard the original album (the double LP version) many years ago and I was hooked. At about that time the, then then fledgling, Doctor Who Weekly started to run a comic strip version and, of course, I had to get the original novel (with the Jeff Wayne style artwork cover, of course). Over the years I listened to that LP more than any other I have ever owned. I bought the "Highlights" version on LP too! Like many other reviewers I moved up to the CD version once I owned a CD player and have even bought two more CD versions (each reportedly enhanced over their predecessors). When the 6CD and 1DVD Collector's Edition came out with the stunning book (very similar to the original LP version) I added that to my already big collection of Jeff Wayne versions. I am also proud to own the two UlladubUlla remix albums as well (part from one appears on the DVD as a new Prologue). When I heard there was to be a stage version I was wary as I was aware that both the early film and the Tom Cruise vehicle didn't stay so true to the book as Jeff Wayne's Musical Version. As I write this I am listening to and watching the stage version in Cinema Surround Sound and it is awesome!! The sound is so true to the original concept and the CGI and action sequences as the orchestra plays around them are neatly worked into the drama of the music. The head of Richard Burton is a neat twist and works well. The "real" Fighting Machine looks impressive as it stands high above the whole event. So many of the original cast are no longer with us and yet those who took their places did an excellent job. For me Tara Blaise was fantastic and gave her part real pathos. Justin Hayward and Chris Thompson were so good live and it was a real pleasure that so many of the surviving participants in the original album were still able to appear. Jeff Wayne, himself, is obviously in his element as he conducts and his smile couldn't be broader throughout. Special mention to the girl playing the harp and the lass at the percussion desk, they were so in the music too!! The orchestra as a whole were faultless, I have to wonder how many of them were even born when the original album was released, or how many of them have owned the work in one format or another and were, therefore, delighted to be a part of yet another historic landmark in the life of THE most successful concept album EVER! The Black Smoke Band too give the production their all and gave the alien-ness of the Martians such an amazing quality when coupled with the CGI effects. All in all it IS another huge step forward for this late 70's idea. If memory serves me the original LP was the longest chart running album ever alongside Meatloaf's "Bat Out Of Hell" and I only hope that this format version of Jeff Wayne's work only serves to bring a new generation or more into the fold of fans of this masterpiece. Visually stunning, aurally perfect and a worthy purchase . BUY IT. Footnote: A shame his other concept album (Spartacus) never really caught on.

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This is a magnificent show, and I highly encourage anyone who even has a passing interest in either progressive rock or science fiction to check it out. Here are a few screenshots (kept at actual aspect ratio) to whet your appetite (I had to use GIF, as the PNGs were too big for the server to accept):