The Good
Well, if you have read the review of the Rock In Rio cd, you would know that this was a great performance by the band.  This dvd captures the show with multiple cameras and the backstage footage really adds something special to the concert.  

Really, the best part of this is the second disc.  There are segments with each band member filmed during the off time before the show.  We get a good idea what the guys are up to during a tour.  The second feature, A Day In the Life, follows the band around during the preparation for the big show.  This is the same feature that is included on the second disc of the cd set.  Disc two concludes with acclaimed photographer Ross Halfin talking about some of the pictures taken during the South American tour.  My only complaint about the material on the second disc is that it is too short.

The Bad
There are two things that I really don't like about this dvd.  First, the editing that Steve Harris has done to the show is at times unwatchable.  It jumps from one camera to another at a split second pace.

The second problem is with the sound.  Rock In Rio was mixed in 5.1 surround sound, but the dvd doesn't have a regular stereo mix for those of us without a high end setup.  The sound fades and in some places, Dickinson's vocals are so low in the mix that he almost can't be heard.  The official Iron Maiden website has a write up on a possible fix to this problem, but it didn't work for me.

The Packaging
The package has a cardboard slip case that opens with a pop-up stage in front of the tremendous crowd.  The discs are held in place with two foam holders that are not very secure.  The biggest problem is that the discs could become scratched without proper holder.  I put mine in a regular cd jewel case.  The unusual packaging is neat, but I would rather have a traditional case to hold the discs.

Bottom Line
Hmmm...  This is a tough call.  I find the show itself hard to watch at times because of the super fast camera editing and the poor audio in some places.  That said, the material on the second disc is almost worth the purchase price by itself.  So, if you are a Maiden fan like me, this is probably a must have.

October 11, 2002

DISC 1:
1. Program Start
2. Intro
3. The Wicker Man
4. Ghost of the Navigator
5. Brave New World
6. Wrathchild
7. 2 Minutes to Midnight
8. Blood Brothers
9. Sign of the Cross
10. The Mercenary
11. The Trooper
12. Dream of Mirrors
13. The Clansman
14. The Evil That Men Do
15. Fear of the Dark
16. Iron Maiden
17. The Number of the Beast
18. Hallowed Be Thy Name
19. Sanctuary
20. Run to the Hills
21. Credits

DISC 2:
1. Candid Interviews
2. A Day in the Life
3. Ross Halfin Photo Diary