Search - Return to Childhood (2pc) (Ws Dub Col) on DVD

Did I watch the same DVD?

marilbil | Steel Town, USA | 03/14/2007

(2 out of 5 stars)

"I am surprised to read the glowing reviews on this disc. I was very disappointed in this show. Fish, once a great and distinctive voice, is reduced to a mere shadow of his former self here. His recent material is written for his (now) very limited vocal range and is OK here because of that. The Marillion material shows just how far south Fish's voice has gone over the years. Listening to him 'sing' his old songs is almost painful. No range. No power. It's obvious the years of hard living have taken their toll. Combine that with a sub-par band (Frank Usher is good, but he's no Rothery) and you have a disappointing listening/viewing experience at best.

How any Fish-era Marillion fan could find this DVD great is beyond me. If you want a much better option, seek out "Live at Loreley" (which isn't Marillion or Fish's best show either, but blows this away). This will only make you sad."

NOT the best, but if you are a fan then buy it!!

JP | Macon, GA | 09/14/2007

(3 out of 5 stars)

"For the record, I love Fish!! A friend who was in the army at the time (82-83 I think it was) came back from England raving about this band he'd seen in a club over there and had the Grendel EP. It was almost a year before I saw the "Jester's Tear" album and I have been listening to Marillion and Fish ever since!!

But all you people who are complaining about the decline in Fish's voice need to get into something real!! Who exactly are we talking about here - Gillan? Bruce Dickenson? Geoff Tate? No...we're talking about Fish! And I hate to burst your bubble, but Fish was never a great singer to begin with, so don't delude yourself. What he is, is a MASTER entertainer and, without a doubt, one of the greatest lyricists to ever set pen to paper!! And his voice does warm up after the first few songs but one doesn't listen to Fish for great vocals anyway!

So quit your whining! If you are a hardcore fan, a completist, then buy this, it's not that bad. The video and sound quality is good and it has a great setlist!! But it's not that great either. Fish's voice isn't aging well and, with his lifestyle, I'm not surprised. His band isn't bad either, but, as others have pointed out, it certainly isn't one of their best performances by any means. But this is a better DVD than "Fool's Circle" in any case. One day I was working in the garage (i.e. not watching it!) and it suddenly dawned on me that the band was really off that day. Had never really noticed before because I had been so focused on watching it, not really listening to it! So, performance wise, "Childhood" is a better performance that "Fool".

In my book there's really only one Fish DVD that's an absolute necessity and that's "Sunsets on Empire - Live in Poland"!! In my opinion it's head and shoulders above any other Fish DVD out there and ranks up there with the best of his (many, many) live CDs. Too bad I bought the only copy I have ever seen, though it does show up here on Amazon from time to time.

Bottom line, if you are a hardcore fan then get this. If you are looking for your first Fish DVD, spend your money on "Sunsets on Empire" instead. Of course that's solo Fish....hopefully you already have Marillion's Live at Loreley!!!
"

Fish At His Best

Russ Bellinger | Bradenton, Florida USA | 12/19/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Misplaced Childhood album was a milestone for progressive rock during the new-wave era of the eighties. It proved to me that intelligent, powerful rock was not abandoned and could still make a far more powerful statement and impact on my life. It literally brought me back to listening to progressive rock again seriously and has remained so to this day. On this live concert DVD Fish is in top form, especially on the Misplaced Childhood part of the concert. He is every bit as strong in his vocals and delivery. I was amazed by this show. I finally got to see some bits of the old Fish of Marillion days come to life as I missed the early Marillion shows. I found the overall experience of watching this DVD to be very special and worth far more than the price paid. Fish is, and always will be a master."

Better than the CD release!

Music fan | California United States | 09/09/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I'm probably one of the few people in the U.S. that can say they were a Marillion fan BEFORE Script for a Jester's Tear. I had heard 2 live tracks prior to that release. The reason I bring this up is for the people who rate this for his vocal performance. Fish was never a good singer. His range has suffered over the years but that is hardly a reason to lower the rank of an otherwise fine release. He was a lyricist first and a performer second. I can't think of many people who improve vocally after 25 years in business. So, how would you rate this? For the songs of course. I am a fan of 'most' Marillion and 'most' Fish. Like many long time fans, Misplaced Childhood is my favorite. I did review the CD release of this so I don't have to break down the songs.
What makes this DVD even better is the interview extra at the end of the CD. While it is difficult to hear the interviewers questions, it is not important. I see Fish in a whole new light after this interview - and that is a good thing.
As a side note, to the person who suggested Live from Loreley as a better release, I disagree 100%. I find that performance to be among the worst ever released by Marillion. Fish seemed depressed to me and it showed in his performance. I prefer Recital of the Script from the old days. I realize that is different from most people but that should give an idea of the kind of performance I live vs don't like."