Bon Jovi: Live at Madison Square Garden [Blu-ray]

This is the way you want to see Bon Jovi. Has all their stuff, performed well.

I had to recheck my system and recalibrate it several times before I realized that this DVD is perhaps one of the worst mixed concert DVDs I've ever listened to. Everything is out of phase, there is no significantly directional low end, and the vocals are disembodied and do NOT fit into the sound stage. It's as if someone who never mixed 5.1 suddenly just threw in a plug in (ahem, Waves anyone?) that extrapolated a 5.1 mix from a 2.1 mix without doing the work that it actually takes to do it. I would believe that is the main problem, except that the 2.1 mix is almost as bad. Let me qualify my opinion by stating that I'm a professional audio engineer and musician, so, take it for what you will...Trust me, this DVD is already being used in MANY recording classes and mixing classes as an unfortunate example of How NOT to mix audio for a concert...Then there's all the "jumping" video---this is very unprofessional. There is absolutely no way the filmmakers wouldn't have known beforehand that some of the mounts they were using were NOT sturdy under the SPL's of a live show. OK, so maybe they didn't think about it---oh well, then WHY did the video mixer/editors include all that shaky crap? No excuse...ugh. And while we're on the video editing---could we NOT edit a little better when we're dealing with crowd shots? I mean, the 300 lb. grossness is not what I'm paying to see---I mean, c'mon--- jiggling sweat all over the place---out of time dancing---I'll have nightmares for a LONG time. For that reason alone, this film should've been rated "F" for "Fugly". I've never been a fan of crowd shots at all anyways, but especially not when they include the sagging, middle aged, drunk crosseyed sweaty obese women trying to dance and just stand up with their hamburgers dripping from their mouths. Don't think that's pretty? Didn't think so...Then there's the performances---well. Let's just say this wasn't one of the band's hottest nights. Lots of errors, lots of out of tune guitar, and lots of badness in the BG vox, lots of bass guitar flubs and several places where the drums get out of time with the SMPTE track...I was shocked. There was another rhythm guitarist backing up Ritchie, but because the mix was so bad, Ritchie (?sp.) was "on his own" (and not for the good) most of the night. As far Jon, he was, as usual, near perfect, vocally, but the mix covered him up and distracted from the quality of his voice. As well, the OBVIOUSLY overblown attempt to channel "The Boss" just seemed silly, from the V neck chest exposed leather to the out stretched hands gesturing the audience aimlessly, Jon is beyond this. Richie, bless him, still thinks he's the second coming of Stevie Ray, and between the two of them, you just sort of feel like you're watching an SNL skit...OK, the documentary is pretty good. But, man, I just get a sick feeling when Bon Jovi tells the band to "just have fun" at the beginning---it just seems so contrived, so paternalistic, so arrogant, so condescending all at once, when I'm sure he didn't intend it.I'm going to petition the company to allow a competent mixing engineer to redo this package. When/if that happens, I will consider rebuying it. For now, I am returning it. For all its flaws, most of which are acceptable (although the performances are nearly reasons to have NOT released this DVD), the amateurish, inept mix is most definitely NOT one of them.If you're a very big Bon Jovi fan, and you want a good documentary, then buy this disc. If you're just wanting the concert, then I'd suggest you wait on a better mix, or a new release that will hopefully employ more professional mixing engineers. If the mix were just acceptable, I would have given this at least 3 stars; however, it is nowhere near that and I was torn between a 1 and a 2 star rating, so I erred on the higher end but I don't feel good about it.

This concert dvd was totally awesome! Brought back alot of memories when Bon Jovi's music was brand new out on airwaves! Very good quality of video & acoustics.

Brought back memories of the past with rocker Bon Jovi in a concert setting.

Ive waited for a long time for a Bon Jovi Blu Ray concert, and this didn't disappoint!! WOW!!! Some are critical ofthe band themselves, looking tired and "just not into it". I beg to differ. I'm only 3 years older than Jon , and wish I had half his emery!! Tico still believes his drum set is out to hurt him, and he hurts them right back./ Ritchie, is well, Ritchie, doing what he does best!!! As to answer a couple on critics on sound quality, ever think it might be your surround sound system?? If you just play it through your tv speakers, you WILL be disappointed, BUT if you have a top quality system, it sounds like you are in the audience!!! This was recorded live at Madison Square Gardens in 2008, so not really "up to date". But with as many hits as they have and use in this concert/documentary, its worth EVERY PENNY I SPENT!!

My wife is a huge Bon Jovi fan. So I bought this DVD for her and she watches it nearly every day. The sound quality is there and they play all their hit songs. The video quality is pretty good as well. You can tell that Jon Bon Jovi is holding back his voice however and doesn't sing the high parts on some songs like the chorus of Living on a Prayer. Instead he points the mic at the audience and has them sing it (an old audience participation trick to make them feel good while the singer saves the effort). But he's still entertaining enough to watch. He does interact with the audience well and that's why he is still around. Still a lot more acoustic playing than I like but I didn't buy it for me so if the wife is happy then I'm happy. It's directed more for girls, that's what Bon Jovi really is all about anyways. So if your girlfriend or wife likes him they will love it.

I've been us in Amara Organics Moisturizer for quite some time now & LOVE it !! As someone who HATES moisturizers, I've FINALLY found one that's I'd totally awesome !! It's full of good ingredients, a little goes a very long way, my skin drinks it in quickly & it's a family business who make it here in the USA !! I won't be without it !! :)And the Bon Jovi DVD is a must have for a devoted fan !! Finally, I've a DVD with Jon's absolutely beautiful rendition of Hallelujah !! It's one of the best version available & he does it so well, it gives me goose bumps !! Truly enjoying this DVD treasure !!

Lo bueno es que contiene la gran mayoria de las canciones famosas del grupo, muy buen sonido, excelente imagen.Alguna gente se queja de la calidad justamente del audio y confrontando esas opiniones con lo que vi personalmente en un concierto en vivo, llegué a la conclusión que el sonido está masterizado "asi". Protegiendo la voz de Bon Jovi que en rigor nunca fue tan poderosa y los coros que acompañan y hacen que todo sea escuchabled e una buena forma.En sintesis lo recomiendo, el menu para elegir la cancion que quieres lo valoro.Los extras no los he visto aún

An excellent blu ray concert of one of Bon Jovi’s best ever performances. Excellent sound & vision quality. A fantastic purchase.

Just like going to the concert. Loved every moment.

I know some people have slated this concert for it's format, yes slightly odd to have separate videos instead of them just being as part of the concert, but to me it's a minor grumbling. I already owned this previously on DVD and so can make the direct comparisons. DVD picture & sound were both sufficient in my opinion. Blu ray is far superior on the picture quality, richer blacks and more vibrant colours and Richie's sparkly bits look even better in HD. Sound was a little disappointing, I'd have thought the option of DTS should have been available having said that I guess unless you have a detached house you won't be able to have it on full often anyway! I'm a die hard Bon Jovi fan and maybe a little blinkered in my opinions but I love this concert, I know some people find fault with it but I would highly recommend it, Jon's singing while amongst the crowd and Richie's version of "I'll Be There For You" are amazing in themselves!

i bought this as early xmas pressie for my dad as hes a jovi fan ( at 70 ), i must admit likign some of the songs as well. the blu ray picture i will say is stunning...out of my blu ray music concert/music collection out of 5 blu rays id put it at 3rd best... my collectiomn consists of mj -this is it , mj - moonwalker, springsteen london calling , ac/dc live at river plate.... all are 4/5 material at worst tho with the boss as the best pic ive seen so far...i have a panny sc-bt230 blu-ray surround system and for some reason the sound is pretty low qaulity ...i have to whack the volume up to get a half-decent listen :( could be the disc , but its not my player is the others are fineso it losses a star ... i did think of givign it a 3 just on this issue alone as at the end of the day this is a music disc.....but benefit of the doubt

5 stars for the inclusion of Sambora's excellent rendition of I'll be there for you. However.......About 50% of the songs are done justice, but you can't get past the fact that JBJ's voice has had it. Listening to Always just had me cringing. What a shame. Appreciate that nobody's voice can withstand the years and that the high notes on Livin' on a prayer are never going to be reached again. But if you're going to keep going then you had better reach the peaks that you have set yourself, and as a singer JBJ can notOh and the 'bonus' documentary.......well it foretells everything you need to know about the reasons for Sambora's departure. Jon, what were you thinking!?