A very real and state-of-the-art 3-D experience showing the undubbed work of the one the greatest rock bands and several of the greatest rock audiences, in the world
Directed by Catherine Owens and Mark Pellington, "U2 3D" is a production of 3ality Digital Entertainment starring Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr. Concentrating on the front line, the film brings the talent and charisma of lead man Bono and guitarist, the Edge, right into your lap, especially in the Dolby screening room setting this reviewer experienced. In other words, the Dolby Surround Sound was in its own back yard and the result was outstanding.
The effect is the same as being there only without the physical abuse of being in a soccer stadium in Mexico City or Buenos Aires amongst thousands of the most rabid rock fans in the world. The film allows the maximum enjoyment of the sights and sounds without the threat of imminent death should you make a wrong move.
Unfortunately, the 3-D effect still requires those funky cardboard glasses; but the finished product of this latest leap into digital 3-D is worth the price of admission. The zoom shots are completely in focus all the time and there seems to be less of the eye-strain / headache feelings that accompanied previous high-voltage 3-D experiences. The scenes jump around as much as the stoners climbing on each other’s backs in the film; but the overall effect is that the viewer is part of the action rather than being on board a ship on a stormy sea.
The picture is from the band’s 2005-6 “Vertigo” tour and includes parts of several concerts in Mexico City and Buenos Aires. The high definition digital camera work is by Peter Anderson and Tom Krueger and the technology of the 3-D transformation is about as good as it gets. In fact, the 3-D effects threaten to take over the entire show as the film becomes more of a demonstration of what 3-D can be than an exposition of a great band’s musicianship.
As the zoom feature is a large part of the new technology, there are abundant zooms in the film even when it is clear they don’t add much to the overall effect. The ability to bring out one of the rear musicians into the forefront is a good thing, but there is only so much one wants to see of most drummers, in any event. The digital is clear and sharp at all times but if anything the overall movie is perhaps too much in focus all the time. The fact is, nothing ever changes with regard to the graininess, color or sharpness of the images.
Maybe this is the same issue that aficionados of traditional vinyl records have with digital recordings. They are just too repeatable, accurate and maybe even a bit harsh in their repeatability and accuracy.
In any event, if you love U2 and if you want a new experience watching a great concert, don’t miss this flick. At 85 minutes the film is not overly long, but you can rest assured that the quality is there—reported completely without audio dubs or special digital sound processing. Make sure the theatre is equipped with a Dolby sound system, or something you know to be equivalent, because the sound is critical.
Release: January 25, 2008
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