Stevie Wonder: Live at Last Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		0.0
Overall		4.0

Stevie Wonder: Live at Last Blu-ray Movie Review

Filmed at the O2 Arena, London, UK on September 30th and October 1st 2008, Stevie Wonder: Live at Last spurred all sorts of different emotions in me. If I recall correctly, the last time Stevie toured Europe must have been well over a decade ago, which was also the last time I saw him sing and play live. A lot has changed since then - our leaders, our country, the world we live in. Stevie’s music, however, hasn't.

A quick look at the back cover of this Blu-ray disc was all I needed to know exactly what to expect from Stevie Wonder: Live at Last: "Part-time Lover", "I Wish", "I Just Called To Say I Love You", "Isn’t She Lovely", "Lately", these are not just some of Stevie's greatest hits, these are some of the greatest hits of the 80s and 90s.

Stevie’s singing throughout the show is relaxed, even casual. At times, it seems like he is actually enjoying his own voice. During the breaks, he smiles, jokes and chats with the audience, making sure that everyone is having a good time. In a moment of inspiration, he even mentions President Obama.

Contrary to what you are likely to see published online, the selection of songs Stevie performs is very good. Opening the show is a chic intro that effectively warms up the crowd (Stevie does a lovely bluesy piece with his harmonica); then come "As If You Read My Mind", "Master Blaster (Jammin')", "Did I Hear You Say You Love Me", "All I Do", etc.

Stevie is assisted by a terrific 14-piece band, which includes his beautiful daughter Aisha on backing vocals. Halfway through the show, she sings the powerful "I'm Gonna Laugh You Right Out Of My Life". Earlier there is a terrific "UK medley" comprised of "London Bridge Is Falling Down", "Fool On The Hill", "I Want To Hold Your Hand", and "Satisfaction".

"Superstition (So What The Fuss)" and "As" are the final two songs in Stevie Wonder: Live at Last. The former gets most everyone at the O2 Arena dancing (multiple cameras zoom over the ecstatic crowds), while the latter gives the band one last chance to shine.

Master Blaster

Stevie Wonder: Live at Last Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.78:1, encoded with VC-1 and granted a 1080i "live" transfer, Stevie Wonder: Live at Last arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Motown/Universal Music.

This is a fantastic looking show! Filmed at the O2 Arena, London, UK on September 30th and October 1st 2008, Stevie Wonder: Live at Last should impress even the most demanding of the legendary musician's fans. Multiple strategically positioned cameras provide a variety of different looks at Stevie and his band - there are plenty of close-ups as well as panoramic shots. The overall quality of the transfer is strong. Clarity is excellent, detail very impressive and contrast pleasing. Furthermore, even though this is a 1080i "live" transfer, motion-judder is absolutely not an issue of concern. The stage lighting is impressive, though far from being overwhelming (heavy pyrotechnics are not used). There are no shadow issues to report. Finally, low noise most definitely does not plague the transfer (despite claims to the contrary). All in all, Stevie Wonder: Live at Last looks terrific on Blu-ray, and I personally cannot imagine fans of the musician being anything but completely satisfied with it. (Note: This is a Region-Free disc. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your PS3 or SA regardless of your geographical location).

Stevie Wonder: Live at Last Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are three audio tracks on this Blu-ray disc: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, LPCM 2.0 and Dolby Digital 5.1. I opted for the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track and later on did a few random comparisons with the other two tracks for the purpose of this review.

I must say that the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track is likely to be received differently by different people. In terms of dynamics, it certainly is very convincing. There are no disturbing balance issues to report either. This being said, I must point out that there are large portions from the show where the audience is surprisingly prominent. I personally was not bothered by it, but I could certainly see how some viewers might be slightly turned off by the excessive noise.

The LPCM 2.0 track is strong. Obviously, it lacks the depth and fluidity of the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track, but it does eliminate at least some of the excessive noise mentioned above. This being said, there are no mastering issues that I detected with it. The Dolby Digital 5.1 track is the weakest one. This is not to say that there is something terribly wrong with it, but I am convinced that after experimenting with the other two tracks, most of you will end up choosing between the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track (because of its depth and impressive range of dynamics) and the LPCM 2.0 track (because of the noise reduction). For the record, I did not detect any disturbing pops, cracks, or hissings on any of the three audio tracks.

Stevie Wonder: Live at Last Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Most unfortunately, there are absolutely no supplemental features to be found on this Blu-ray disc whatsoever.

Stevie Wonder: Live at Last Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Stevie Wonder: Live at Last is a good show, but, in my opinion, also a rather sad one - "Little Stevie" is aging, and now it certainly shows. His voice is still as impressive as it was some twenty years ago, but his body looks tired.

Folks, I know that many of you enjoy seeing great shows on Blu-ray, and I understand why - the format allows for an entirely new experience, one that recreates the live atmosphere you would witness at these events exceptionally well. This time around, however, instead of recommending that you add this terrific Blu-ray disc to your collections, I would like to encourage you to do something else: Next time Stevie Wonder comes to your area, or nearby it, go see him sing and play live. I guarantee you, you would experience something very special!