15 reviews
I was lucky enough to see Madonna perform the live songs from Rebel Heart for the first Sydney show, and her performance was impressive. This tour was inclusive, and it was an amazing feat how she travelled this show to the various nations. Also, there were a number of controversies that are well known to Madonna, but I'm not going to acknowledge these matters for this review. The runway with a large heart at the end was interesting, and the costumes were colourful for this show. The medieval costumes for "Iconic" reminded me of Game of Thrones because that night Madonna invited Gwendoline Christie to be on stage with her. The DVD and Blu-ray have special features such as an excerpt from Tears of a Clown and "Like a Prayer", and some versions a live CD from the tour.
- Benjamin_Lumb
- Apr 27, 2017
- Permalink
This is not so much a concert-film as it is a set of music videos created from a particular concert tour. There are many cuts including "instant", multiple costume changes during a song (just like a video), overlaid light effects, and so on: a little bit frenetic at times, but very well done.
If you like Madonna videos, you should like it.
I see reviews that condemn the movie because it is not the concert that they saw.
If you like Madonna videos, you should like it.
I see reviews that condemn the movie because it is not the concert that they saw.
As someone whose favorite album is Rebel Heart, my expectations were sky-high for this tour. And honestly? It delivered! Here's my detailed breakdown of the tour's highlights and a few things that could've been better.
Positives: Tracklist - Madonna, as always, nailed the balance between fresh material and iconic classics. The flow was seamless, and it hit all the right notes. Hearing True Blue out of nowhere? Instant tears! And La Vie en Rose with the ukulele? Ugh, what a beautiful and unexpected moment.
Visuals - Visually stunning. I'd say it's nearly on par with the MDNA Tour. While they have different concepts, you can feel the same level of meticulous effort here. The intro and the interludes, especially during Rebel Heart and Iconic, were chef's kiss perfection. It all felt so grand.
Choreography - From the samurai-inspired numbers to the Holy Water pole routine (Madonna spinning on a pole over a dancer is an iconic moment), the choreography was just insane. The transitions, like the nun theme, had me shook. And the classy vibe at the end? Loved how each segment had its own vibe but still worked together.
Stage Design - The stage was straight-up immaculate, especially the heart-shaped runway! We all know what Madonna herself called it, and now I can't unsee it, lol. The series of hydraulic lifts with screens? So cool. The poles during Holy Water and that rolling staircase? I still have no clue how they fit that under the stage!
Stage Presence - Honestly, I found her stage presence even more memorable than her previous tours. Unlike MDNA Tour , Madonna interacted a lot more with the crowd, which was such a treat. The encore of Unapologetic B****, with a different guest every night, was hilarious! Shoutout to Katy Perry and Ariana Grande's guest moments-they were pure gold.
Costumes - So many costume changes, and every single look was iconic. From the bejeweled minotaur headpieces to the super-long cape, and that Iconic segment gown-she killed it. The encore's bejeweled dress was perfection.
Album Cover Shot - That last segment with the flowing dress and jewelry? Pure art. The shot they used for the cover was stunning!
Negatives: Editing - Okay, we've got to talk about this. The editing? Kinda weird. The fast cuts and awkward angles at times took away from the magic. Some shots were zoomed too close or just cut too quickly, which was distracting.
Camera Quality - I had this issue with the MDNA Tour DVD, but it's even more noticeable here. The grainy quality on the DVD took away from the details of the stage and visuals, which was disappointing. And don't even get me started on the low-res interactive menu-it wasn't a great first impression.
Audio Mix - While the audio was solid in most parts, Holy Water needed more oomph. The bass-driven intro didn't hit as hard as it should have. It felt like it needed a bit more of a punch to match the energy of the visuals.
Mixed: Vocals - Her vocals were a bit of a mixed bag. I get that the choreography is exhausting, but unlike the MDNA Tour, the vocals here felt a bit more uncontrolled at times, which could be jarring. It wasn't bad, but there were moments where it felt strained. That said, she sounded beautiful during True Blue and La Vie en Rose, so not all was lost!
Conclusion: Rebel Heart Tour gave me everything I hoped for, even with a few technical hiccups. The energy, choreography, and visuals were top-tier, and though I wish the editing and audio had been polished a bit more, it's a tour I'll keep coming back to. Madonna's still the Queen, and Rebel Heart remains my favorite era!
Positives: Tracklist - Madonna, as always, nailed the balance between fresh material and iconic classics. The flow was seamless, and it hit all the right notes. Hearing True Blue out of nowhere? Instant tears! And La Vie en Rose with the ukulele? Ugh, what a beautiful and unexpected moment.
Visuals - Visually stunning. I'd say it's nearly on par with the MDNA Tour. While they have different concepts, you can feel the same level of meticulous effort here. The intro and the interludes, especially during Rebel Heart and Iconic, were chef's kiss perfection. It all felt so grand.
Choreography - From the samurai-inspired numbers to the Holy Water pole routine (Madonna spinning on a pole over a dancer is an iconic moment), the choreography was just insane. The transitions, like the nun theme, had me shook. And the classy vibe at the end? Loved how each segment had its own vibe but still worked together.
Stage Design - The stage was straight-up immaculate, especially the heart-shaped runway! We all know what Madonna herself called it, and now I can't unsee it, lol. The series of hydraulic lifts with screens? So cool. The poles during Holy Water and that rolling staircase? I still have no clue how they fit that under the stage!
Stage Presence - Honestly, I found her stage presence even more memorable than her previous tours. Unlike MDNA Tour , Madonna interacted a lot more with the crowd, which was such a treat. The encore of Unapologetic B****, with a different guest every night, was hilarious! Shoutout to Katy Perry and Ariana Grande's guest moments-they were pure gold.
Costumes - So many costume changes, and every single look was iconic. From the bejeweled minotaur headpieces to the super-long cape, and that Iconic segment gown-she killed it. The encore's bejeweled dress was perfection.
Album Cover Shot - That last segment with the flowing dress and jewelry? Pure art. The shot they used for the cover was stunning!
Negatives: Editing - Okay, we've got to talk about this. The editing? Kinda weird. The fast cuts and awkward angles at times took away from the magic. Some shots were zoomed too close or just cut too quickly, which was distracting.
Camera Quality - I had this issue with the MDNA Tour DVD, but it's even more noticeable here. The grainy quality on the DVD took away from the details of the stage and visuals, which was disappointing. And don't even get me started on the low-res interactive menu-it wasn't a great first impression.
Audio Mix - While the audio was solid in most parts, Holy Water needed more oomph. The bass-driven intro didn't hit as hard as it should have. It felt like it needed a bit more of a punch to match the energy of the visuals.
Mixed: Vocals - Her vocals were a bit of a mixed bag. I get that the choreography is exhausting, but unlike the MDNA Tour, the vocals here felt a bit more uncontrolled at times, which could be jarring. It wasn't bad, but there were moments where it felt strained. That said, she sounded beautiful during True Blue and La Vie en Rose, so not all was lost!
Conclusion: Rebel Heart Tour gave me everything I hoped for, even with a few technical hiccups. The energy, choreography, and visuals were top-tier, and though I wish the editing and audio had been polished a bit more, it's a tour I'll keep coming back to. Madonna's still the Queen, and Rebel Heart remains my favorite era!
- pranabreputation
- Oct 2, 2024
- Permalink
One of Madonna's best tours. It's a tour full of hits like True Blue, Take a Bow, Deeper and Deeper and others. Madonna shows a great performance at age 58, probably those who speak bad things of her can't make her moves. So if you can't live this moment of this living legend I'm sorry for you.
- fabinhuritter
- Feb 18, 2017
- Permalink
I attended the show here in San Juan and the whole show is breathtakingly good but when i saw the blu-ray version i was disappointed because there is so many moments that were ruined by placing the screens backdrops in front of what was going on on stage that missed great moments!!! Luv the backdrops BTW!!!
- alex-cordero-608-84517
- Aug 28, 2018
- Permalink
Whenever Madonna hits the road you know you'll be getting a top notch experience. I've been to two concerts of hers and have not seen anything like it. My review has nothing to do with the amazing concert Madonna and her team put together (although I cannot understand why the beautiful "ghosttown" was not added to the setlist).
But it was very disappointing to see how the editing destroyed this experience by using insanely frenetic cuts for reasons that go beyond anything I can understand, it's impossible to appreciate a nice take the way they did it. Plus, the amount of filters and images from the background screens that were mixed with the actual performances turned the experience of watching this very annoying. In a certain moment, they cut from the main dance routine of a song so that images of the background screens can be shown. Awful, distasteful, and almost a crime to the show and the fans who didn't get to see it live. A waste of good material.
But it was very disappointing to see how the editing destroyed this experience by using insanely frenetic cuts for reasons that go beyond anything I can understand, it's impossible to appreciate a nice take the way they did it. Plus, the amount of filters and images from the background screens that were mixed with the actual performances turned the experience of watching this very annoying. In a certain moment, they cut from the main dance routine of a song so that images of the background screens can be shown. Awful, distasteful, and almost a crime to the show and the fans who didn't get to see it live. A waste of good material.
- renanrdesouza
- Jul 8, 2017
- Permalink
I have attended the Rebel Heart tour and this movie does not represent it at all.
It looks like the director tried make concert into a music video that is supposed to be running in background in some club so people can dance to it.
There are two things fundamentally wrong:
So this is not a concert video because it does not have concert sound, no atmosphere, you can't watch it as a concert because of the cuts every 1-2 seconds.
Why watch this? If you want to watch music videos you will be better watching Madonna's music videos for songs in album. If you want to watch the show itself you can find much better "pirated" videos from the tour on Youtube.
Overall, if pirated concert videos on Youtube represent the show better than your movie, you've done it wrong.
It looks like the director tried make concert into a music video that is supposed to be running in background in some club so people can dance to it.
There are two things fundamentally wrong:
- First is the The "teenage attention span" ADHD editing. The concert footage is heavily mixed with video clips that were running on big screens on stage. Most of the time the sound does not match the picture. You can clearly see Madonna's lips don't sync with the sound. And that's not only because of overly artistic editing. It's also because the sound is not form that visuals:
- Second, the sound is for the most part is not from the concert. It's obviously not live recording which is especially evident by Madonna's vocals. Only some slower songs retain the original vocals.
So this is not a concert video because it does not have concert sound, no atmosphere, you can't watch it as a concert because of the cuts every 1-2 seconds.
Why watch this? If you want to watch music videos you will be better watching Madonna's music videos for songs in album. If you want to watch the show itself you can find much better "pirated" videos from the tour on Youtube.
Overall, if pirated concert videos on Youtube represent the show better than your movie, you've done it wrong.
Remember when Kevin Costner said that the Blond Ambition Tour was neat?, well, the edition of the Rebel Heart Tour is worse than that. The live experience was incredible, I was there at first row for two nights and I don't have enough words to describe how amazing it was.
When I watched the video edition I was disappointed, It's heavily edited, you can easily get epilepsy attacks if you watch it. you can't see anything at all because they cut the video every second or less. I appear on the recording, for a second, but that wasn't enough for me to enjoy the DVD.
She decided not to include the best parts of the show; "Love Don't Live Here anymore", "Ghosttown", "Who's That Girl" (I actually stopped recording on my phone with this one, and "Take A Bow" is just included in the Japanese version of the release.
She didn't include the full "Tears of a clown" mini concert, and the few minutes included are black and white. I mean, she is dressed as a colorful beautiful clown, yet we don't get to see that. Girl, even the Wizard of Oz had some colors.
she really needs to stop taking all the decisions, and she needs to get rid of Guy Oseary ASAP.
When I watched the video edition I was disappointed, It's heavily edited, you can easily get epilepsy attacks if you watch it. you can't see anything at all because they cut the video every second or less. I appear on the recording, for a second, but that wasn't enough for me to enjoy the DVD.
She decided not to include the best parts of the show; "Love Don't Live Here anymore", "Ghosttown", "Who's That Girl" (I actually stopped recording on my phone with this one, and "Take A Bow" is just included in the Japanese version of the release.
She didn't include the full "Tears of a clown" mini concert, and the few minutes included are black and white. I mean, she is dressed as a colorful beautiful clown, yet we don't get to see that. Girl, even the Wizard of Oz had some colors.
she really needs to stop taking all the decisions, and she needs to get rid of Guy Oseary ASAP.
- anizar_wiflfag
- Sep 13, 2017
- Permalink
Starts out with her comparing singing to going to war. Then there is the lip sinking. Let's make fun of the church and put strippers in nun outfits. Ho-hum. A few guys kissing guys. A few guys grinding each other. Political misstatements. And some boobies and the same old music on replay. SO BORING. OH, and you get to see her grandma parts hanging out over and over again. They took the best of this concert tour and spliced together a film. I have seen over 100 concerts and Kenny Rogers/Dolly Parton on a round stage was better than this slop. Even grandpa Van Halen and Aerosmith with walkers were better than Madonna. Skip it, please!
I decided to give this a shot . 2 hours of my life I'll never get back. What a disaster of a show! This woman is not funny just crass and crude. I am not a prude and have no issues with raunchy comedy but this was AWFUL! The only funny thing in this is the fact that started whining in the press that the ratings were false. Get a grip, ! Your special sucked freaking balls! No talent whatsoever. Be realistic and recognize this instead of giving this paranoid statements that there is a cabal against you. You ARE NOT THAT IMPORTANT! I am not American, not right wing and not a man. I did not vote for Trump, obviously, and honestly, don't like him one bit. So, quit this and assume that your show is a bucket of SH*T! If changes the rating system because of you... kudos! You are more of an idiot that I thought.
- admalice-63385
- Jun 22, 2017
- Permalink
Starts out with her comparing singing to going to war. Then there is the lip sinking. Let's make fun of the church and put strippers in nun outfits. Ho-hum. A few guys kissing guys. A few guys grinding each other. Political misstatements. And some boobies and the same old music on replay. SO BORING. OH, and you get to see her grandma parts hanging out over and over again. They took the best of this concert tour and spliced together a film. I have seen over 100 concerts and Kenny Rogers/Dolly Parton on a round stage was better than this slop. Even grandpa Van Halen and Aerosmith with walkers were better than Madonna. Skip it, please!
- ddssd-91899
- Jun 3, 2017
- Permalink
obviously not live recording which is especially evident by Madonna's vocals. Only some slower songs retain the original vocals.
So this is not a concert video because it does not have concert sound, no atmosphere, you can't watch it as a concert because of the cuts every 1-2 seconds.
Why watch this? If you want to watch music videos you will be better watching Madonna's music videos for songs in album. If you want to watch the show itself you can find much better "pirated" videos from the tour on Youtube.
So this is not a concert video because it does not have concert sound, no atmosphere, you can't watch it as a concert because of the cuts every 1-2 seconds.
Why watch this? If you want to watch music videos you will be better watching Madonna's music videos for songs in album. If you want to watch the show itself you can find much better "pirated" videos from the tour on Youtube.
There are two things fundamentally wrong:
First is the The "teenage attention span" ADHD editing. The concert
footage is heavily mixed with video clips that were running on big screens on stage. Most of the time the sound does not match the picture. You can clearly see Madonna's lips don't sync with the sound. And that's not only because of overly artistic editing. It's also because the sound is not form that visuals:
Second, the sound is for the most part is not from the concert. It's
obviously not live recording which is especially evident by Madonna's vocals. Only some slower songs retain the original vocals.
So this is not a concert video because it does not have concert sound, no atmosphere, you can't watch it as a concert because of the cuts every 1-2 seconds.
Why watch this? If you want to watch music videos you will be better watching Madonna's music videos for songs in album. If you want to watch the show itself you can find much better "pirated" videos from the tour on Youtube.
Overall, if pirated concert videos on Youtube represent the show better than your movie, you've done it wrong.
First is the The "teenage attention span" ADHD editing. The concert
footage is heavily mixed with video clips that were running on big screens on stage. Most of the time the sound does not match the picture. You can clearly see Madonna's lips don't sync with the sound. And that's not only because of overly artistic editing. It's also because the sound is not form that visuals:
Second, the sound is for the most part is not from the concert. It's
obviously not live recording which is especially evident by Madonna's vocals. Only some slower songs retain the original vocals.
So this is not a concert video because it does not have concert sound, no atmosphere, you can't watch it as a concert because of the cuts every 1-2 seconds.
Why watch this? If you want to watch music videos you will be better watching Madonna's music videos for songs in album. If you want to watch the show itself you can find much better "pirated" videos from the tour on Youtube.
Overall, if pirated concert videos on Youtube represent the show better than your movie, you've done it wrong.
Tried this , but after 15min I had to stop . The editing is so bad it hurt the eyes .
Shots are stitched together so random and you get different shots at rates of nearly every few seconds .
If that director or editor was not sacked , then Madonna herself it to blame to put out such a disaster of something unwatchable.
Also not understandable she is trying to move over the stage on high heels which obvious hinder her in any quick movements.
A shame that this maybe good tour is thus destroyed by an output on disc where the editing and directing is as bad as one can imagine.
This could have been something good.
Shots are stitched together so random and you get different shots at rates of nearly every few seconds .
If that director or editor was not sacked , then Madonna herself it to blame to put out such a disaster of something unwatchable.
Also not understandable she is trying to move over the stage on high heels which obvious hinder her in any quick movements.
A shame that this maybe good tour is thus destroyed by an output on disc where the editing and directing is as bad as one can imagine.
This could have been something good.
The greatest performance I've ever seen! I really loved the 'Burning Up' rock version. 'Holy Water' made me cry of laughing:) She was so serious while performing. The gig is definitely a must-see!
- samanthanotfox
- Jun 22, 2020
- Permalink