Search - Cirque du Soleil - Quidam on DVD

William B. from NINETY SIX, SC
Reviewed on 6/6/2021...

This is an amazing group of performers and this DVD is excellent. I would like to see one of their live shows one of these days. Had tickets to one last year but it was cancelled due to covid.

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A Cirque Lovers Dream

Richard H. McNees | California | 12/17/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"FINALLY! A superior capture of a Cirque du Soleil performance. I sufferied through the last two ("Novelle Experience" and "Saltimbanco") disappointing videos. Watching one missed opportunity after another, I had to draw from my memory of being at the performance to complete the picture. Or else I had to overcome annoying camera tricks. At last there is a film that enhances the experience of "Quidam" that surpasses the visions one gets from a a seat in the audience, and ALMOST equals the experience of being there.Let me explain. Camera shots and close-ups are much improved over previous ventures (I have not seen the film of "Alegria"), and now are better integrated into the overall experience. Rather than trying to perform camera stunts of their own (there are some exceptions), the viewpoint tries to capture or comment on what is being filmed.. The sound quality (captured from a live performance) is supurb.And the acts are wonderful. Many are actually more enjoyable [to me] than in my two live viewings because of the viewpoint of this film. While some are not as impressive as some past acts have been, the way the entire production encompasses their essence improves their impact. And some of the acts, quite frankly, are simply as good as it gets. But in this instance, the whole is far greater than the parts. This has always been a Cirque trait, but is particularly evident in "Quidam". The vision that permeates every frame of this film, every motion of every performer, every brush stroke in every make-up, every note in the score, every stitch in every costume-- is as advanced as anything seen in any art-form -painting, dance, theater, music, athletic arts, light, sound, technical theatre --all fully expressed in one overwhelming artistic statement that produces no less than a state of awe. Hey, but that is what you expect from Cirque du Soleil. You get it here. For the first time (in my humble opinion) on film. And now you can sit at home in comfort and admire it again and again-- and you can show your friends what it is like to be in a very special world of enchantment."

5 stars for a 5 star show

Mark Wijman | Amsterdam, The Netherlands | 11/24/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Finally it's here, Quidam on Video. My favourite touring show, with "O" taking the top marks in the fixed location department. After endless e-mails to Cirque's marketing department, on when it would be out, it comes just in time for Christmas. Shot in Amsterdam, The Netherlands back in April this year, the show does a great job capturing the images of the show. From the joyfully opening of Chris Lashua's German Wheel via the erotic Aerial contortion in silk by Isabelle Chasé to the heart-stopping Banquine finale by the entire cast. Many acts are shortend, espcially the playfull diabolos and hoop acts, others such as the Manipulation act, did not play in Amsterdam. However, the Manipulation act is replaced by the wonderfull Handbalancing, which used to alter with the diabolos back in the states but is back as a full act here. One thing is great though, and please Cirque take notice, One boring clown act per show is really enough, and really takes enough speed out of the show, Quidam would be even better without Les Malcoma and with another act!, John alone brings more laughs than those three idiots from France.Having seen the show 11 times, I would certainly say that Quidam on Video is something else than Quidam live, feeling the bass in the tent during the Statue just adds to the whole experience. Being in the tent Cirque is a 360o experience something that is very difficult to capture on tape, even with Yet, the video provides 90 minutes of non-stop entertainment that is not to be missed. The quality of both the sound is so good, it eliminates the need for a Quidam live CD, since the orginal version just lacks many of the wonderful show tracks. Indeed 5 stars for this video of this 5 star show. Simply because it does what it should do: it reminds you of a great night, it can't compete with it, but hey for the price you can't even buy a restricted view seat and then you certainly won't see and feel as much of the show as you do when you buy this wonderful tape. Now let's all keep our fingers crossed for a full version of Mystére on Video in 2003!, which shouldn't be that hard....."

Cirque du Soleil comes of age.

Phil Thompson | South Wales, UK | 02/28/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"My personal history of experiences with Cirque du Soleil is erratic - my first exposure to them being a trip to "Saltimbanco" in London's Royal Albert Hall, a performance so unexpectedly magical and so unlike any other event I have attended that I subsequently went a further five times, taking everybody I could persuade to come with me.Video purchases of this, and "Nouvelle Experience" followed, which was equally delightful.This was followed by "Alegria", which, I have to say, bitterly disappointed me. I found it lacked the sheer exuberance of "Saltimbanco", and whereas most Cirque productions seem to have a clear theme, I found "Alegria" an obtuse and disparate confusion of inferior acts to those of "Saltimbanco", chained together with clowning routines taken verbatim (with no warning nor apology) from Russian clown Slava's previous "Snowshow" production."Quidam", however, is not only as much a return to form, more a totally productive reinvention and enhancement of it, resulting in an equally magical, but also a superior, more mature, elegant offering, with a powerful theme, profound symbology, incredible acrobatic performances, layer upon layer of belief-shattering visuals, and outstanding musical moments. This is Cirque du Soleil's tour-de-force and finest moment to date, and elevates "Circus" to the league of fine art.Witness the "simple" routine whereby a hula-hoop is jettisoned so that it orbits a clown in a slowly decreasing spiral, to finally roll straight into his hand, that had been accurately positioned to accept it from the start, and you will begin to understand the level of utter control and perfection that exudes from this production at every opportunity.Towards the end of this video I was struck with the thought "if ever the human race were put on trial by extraterrestrials for their atrocities, this should be exhibit A in their defence". This video will make you gasp in awe, laugh, cry, dream, and spend some time afterwards pondering the nature of the human condition.Simply, a masterpiece."