Product Description

Michael Flatley, the internationally acclaimed master of dance returns to the stage to spearhead his powerful new dance spectacular, Celtic Tiger. With incredibly powerful music, unbelievable costumes and breathtaking special effects, Celtic Tiger is an epic masterpiece that fuses the spirit and history of Ireland with dance and music.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #29012 in DVD
• Brand: UNI DIST CORP. (MCA)
• Released on: 2005-12-13
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
• Formats: AC-3, Color, Dolby, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .25 pounds
• Running time: 107 minutes

Amazon.com
Celtic Tiger appears to be Michael Flatley's attempt at a concept album--a loose tracing of the Irish through history, from prehistoric times, to pesky run-ins with Vikings and British soldiers, to St. Paddy driving out the snakes, to... the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders? (Who knew so many of them were Irish?) The spectacle of it all is grand and ambitious in the best way of the new Las Vegas shows (O'Siegfried and McRoy?), and Flatley, the genius behind Riverdance and all its toe-tapping offspring, is simply undaunted. By anything. The traditional Irish dance, fiddling, and piping his fans adore are separated by slower segments using Martha Graham-esque modern set pieces, all well performed. But the audience doesn't really come alive unless it's Flatley, bedecked in his finery (one fave: a Gladiator tog to make Russell Crowe envious) and executing his precise, mind-bending choreography. As usual, he's surrounded himself with troupes of the best hoofers on the planet, and the comeliest female fiddlers this side of the Dixie Chicks. One of many highlights: "Celtic Fire," just Flatley on flute surrounding by the fiddling femme fatales at a dervish pace. A bonus featurette shows some behind the scenes, mostly in slow-mo, of the work going into mounting the ambitious show in Budapest. --A.T. Hurley

Customer Reviews

WONDERFUL!
I saw this show live at the Anaheim Pond, and it was spectacular! I had already seen Riverdance at the Orange County Performing Arts Center, and I saw Feet Of Flames in Las Vegas. I think this show was as good as the other two. The primary difference was Michael Flatley did less dancing in this show (when he did dance he was superb). It surprised me when Michael picked up a flute and played a beautiful solo. He did a very good job I might add.

This show was not the same as the previously mentioned shows in that this show did not focus primarily on the Irish dancing. There were other styles of dancing (modern, tap, and ballet) in Celtic Tiger that weaved a story about the history of Ireland and the Irish people who came to America. I will agree with the other reviewer that there were some patriotic moments (regarding Ireland and America) that were really good. The finale spotlighted the song "I'm a Yankee Doodle Dandy," that was written by George M. Cohan, who was a famous Irish American. What a wonderful way to end a wonderful show.

I cannot wait to get my DVD. I loved the show and I am sure that I will love the DVD. I was surprised that they were not selling the DVD at the show.

But no worries... as usual Amazon has the goods!

Different but not necessarily better... just different
First, I own the Flatley DVDs and have enjoyed all of them. Even more with repeated viewings. (Why isn't Riverdance with Michael on DVD yet?)
Second, I have seen several live Irish dancing productions and partook in some and played for some and and ______ and...(Commitments reference there - fill in the blank)
Third, I really looked forward to the show at the Garden in NYC.
The music is not there. Riverdance holds your attention with the music. Hardiman's "Lord of the Dance" (LOTD) music is just as good, if not better, at holding your attention. "Celtic Tiger" (CT) had one, maybe two, numbers that pulled at my ear.
The dancing does include several different styles and is used for good effect. However, mulling over the show as I was leaving the Garden, I thought that "LOTD" would have made more sense as a place for various styles where "CT" being an Irish story should have featured a little more Irish dancing.
And it might be me but the final dance line with the machine-gun line stomp is getting old. It appeared in Riverdance. It was featured more in "LOTD" and "Feet of Flames". It really feels like a "been there-done that" moment.
Then there is the stripper scene. Very hard to watch with my mother-in-law sitting next to me. Even my children were left wondering what that was all about.
You may enjoy this and there are moments of brilliance such as when "Captain" Flatley walks onstage but it left me feeling like this was a Work In Progress that needed about another 3 or 4 weeks to work out the rough spots.

... but I could do with more stars!
I was very lucky to see this show twice: first I won a ticket to watch the recording of the DVD in Birmingham and, next thing I knew, I was on a plane to see the Madison Square Garden performance. It's absolutely brilliant and Michael is dancing even better, if that is at all possible. If you happen to know a little about Irish history, it'll help you understand. If you don't, it's pure, first class entertainment.