ZOOTVTOURist
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Why "U2 3D" is a disappointment ...
Two nights ago, I watched the movie in my hometown Munich. Me and my friends have been looking forward to this event for moths. The promoted ground breaking "U2 3D". The ground beneath my feet actually did break, but in another way than hoped for ...
The conditions were perfect: the top-modern cinema, spectacular seats and an excellent sound system. Of course there were some of the themselves calling U2-fans, who dring way too much beer, who stink (in narrow seats not that comfortable), who chatter during the film – and might fit better in Oktoberfest or Daytona at spring break. How I hate these stupid lads always behaving like human apes. But then there was the majority: Elder people, from their (mid-) 30ies upwards. In a cinema, even at the now premiere of "U2 3D" at its best a third-full. Hm, ..
The running girl and suddenly "Vertigo" crashing in with full power. The band, U2 are on stage. Or maybe not. In fact they are only on screen, taped, in my glasses, a kind of ZOO TV moment for everyone, everyone and so for my brain, that – strange impression after the first minutes – didn't get there.
On the contrary, I really witnessed myself observing all of this, from the outside – and not being into it, being part of it. There was no real soul, neither on screen with the band posing for the cameras (with Bono being more professional, while thinner than ever Larry didn't give a smile until the bitter end ...) neither from myself. Flashes of fascination for the technical aspects, yes, but very often all of it looked like a 2D rather than 3D. Yes, Bono close, Larry close, Edge on fire, Adam and his instrument close, fine. But after three songs choreograohed like this, you have it, it becomes the U2-clichee for critics: Bono the self-loving missionary man leading a singing mass with no real individuals – you only get to listen to them, when during the too many crowd-pleaser songs in the film their volume has been (artificially) turned up by the film makers or completely turned off (artificially).
And you feel & name it: This is not a U2 gig, this isn't even the experience of being moved to tears like when having watched "Rattle And Hum", a movie with a message creating images being icons until today.
This "U2 3D" is far from such an artistic quality and emotional experience, it is becoming lacklustre – not worthy the nice idea presenting the band in 3D. I really felt alienated from this, you name it 'product'.
Unnecessary cuts even inbetween the same song, the crowd jumping like hell in one second, while the next picture showing them all sleeping ("Streets"), too much band, band, band, while the crowd is only a huge anonymous mass (of welcomed ticket payers?), who seem to celebrate every coughing on stage. Bono obviously having restrained himself not to let out any little snippet as part of the songs – which made tunes like "Vertigo", "B-Day", "WOWY" and others at its best nice or o.k. performed, but far from the energy these songs had on many, many nights of the tour.
A tune like "SYCMIOYO" didn't develop its full chilling glory with too many cuts, a way too short "sing" by Bono in the middle. And who advised the band to put a low-energy, rather pointless version of the once "Bullet The Blue Sky" in such a short movie – preventing another tune to be performed?
This leads to another point: In "U2 3D" you get the image of the band's 'Greatest Hits'/ live war horses performed for the masses, as mass sing alongs, damaging tunes like "WOWY" or "One" – "oh-oh-oh-oh ..." And, yes, there is the near silence of "Miss Sarajewo", there is a bit of what could have been in 3D during a (pretty boring) version of "The Fly" and a brutally butchered studio-live version of "Yahweh" – but that's not saving this film, not at all.
What you get is an obviously mislead project from the early beginning: A pretty short movie. A film wanting to bring the band closer to you, which is only a few times fascinating, the most part only boring (no backstage scenery, no hotel rooms, no city walks, no nothing – only the same moves, that only the most blind hardcore fand might praiss as "awesome!"). A film wanting to be a document of the tour, which it is not. A film wanting to present you some tunes, clustered together with no real concept, no surprise. And a real director is missing: Phil Joanou, Anton Corbijn or Martin Scorsese – why didn't you do it? Please, Miss Catherine Owens, if all or most of this falls into your responsibility – please stay out of the next tour!
Where's a storyboard, a frame? One of a zillion ideas: Why not take the girld pumping in the inner circle at the beginning, following her in the show and letting her wave good-bye at the end. Why not show some of the cities, show the band, present some onterference during the so-called concert footage? It should have been a movie, no?
A missed opportunity, a creative let-down and a commercial flop too, I do fear. Because who out there, apart from the most hardcore fans cares for such a mistaken film?
As a real hardcore fan, I really have to admit: We may need three chords & the truth – but I don't need this movie. Sorry.
Two nights ago, I watched the movie in my hometown Munich. Me and my friends have been looking forward to this event for moths. The promoted ground breaking "U2 3D". The ground beneath my feet actually did break, but in another way than hoped for ...
The conditions were perfect: the top-modern cinema, spectacular seats and an excellent sound system. Of course there were some of the themselves calling U2-fans, who dring way too much beer, who stink (in narrow seats not that comfortable), who chatter during the film – and might fit better in Oktoberfest or Daytona at spring break. How I hate these stupid lads always behaving like human apes. But then there was the majority: Elder people, from their (mid-) 30ies upwards. In a cinema, even at the now premiere of "U2 3D" at its best a third-full. Hm, ..
The running girl and suddenly "Vertigo" crashing in with full power. The band, U2 are on stage. Or maybe not. In fact they are only on screen, taped, in my glasses, a kind of ZOO TV moment for everyone, everyone and so for my brain, that – strange impression after the first minutes – didn't get there.
On the contrary, I really witnessed myself observing all of this, from the outside – and not being into it, being part of it. There was no real soul, neither on screen with the band posing for the cameras (with Bono being more professional, while thinner than ever Larry didn't give a smile until the bitter end ...) neither from myself. Flashes of fascination for the technical aspects, yes, but very often all of it looked like a 2D rather than 3D. Yes, Bono close, Larry close, Edge on fire, Adam and his instrument close, fine. But after three songs choreograohed like this, you have it, it becomes the U2-clichee for critics: Bono the self-loving missionary man leading a singing mass with no real individuals – you only get to listen to them, when during the too many crowd-pleaser songs in the film their volume has been (artificially) turned up by the film makers or completely turned off (artificially).
And you feel & name it: This is not a U2 gig, this isn't even the experience of being moved to tears like when having watched "Rattle And Hum", a movie with a message creating images being icons until today.
This "U2 3D" is far from such an artistic quality and emotional experience, it is becoming lacklustre – not worthy the nice idea presenting the band in 3D. I really felt alienated from this, you name it 'product'.
Unnecessary cuts even inbetween the same song, the crowd jumping like hell in one second, while the next picture showing them all sleeping ("Streets"), too much band, band, band, while the crowd is only a huge anonymous mass (of welcomed ticket payers?), who seem to celebrate every coughing on stage. Bono obviously having restrained himself not to let out any little snippet as part of the songs – which made tunes like "Vertigo", "B-Day", "WOWY" and others at its best nice or o.k. performed, but far from the energy these songs had on many, many nights of the tour.
A tune like "SYCMIOYO" didn't develop its full chilling glory with too many cuts, a way too short "sing" by Bono in the middle. And who advised the band to put a low-energy, rather pointless version of the once "Bullet The Blue Sky" in such a short movie – preventing another tune to be performed?
This leads to another point: In "U2 3D" you get the image of the band's 'Greatest Hits'/ live war horses performed for the masses, as mass sing alongs, damaging tunes like "WOWY" or "One" – "oh-oh-oh-oh ..." And, yes, there is the near silence of "Miss Sarajewo", there is a bit of what could have been in 3D during a (pretty boring) version of "The Fly" and a brutally butchered studio-live version of "Yahweh" – but that's not saving this film, not at all.
What you get is an obviously mislead project from the early beginning: A pretty short movie. A film wanting to bring the band closer to you, which is only a few times fascinating, the most part only boring (no backstage scenery, no hotel rooms, no city walks, no nothing – only the same moves, that only the most blind hardcore fand might praiss as "awesome!"). A film wanting to be a document of the tour, which it is not. A film wanting to present you some tunes, clustered together with no real concept, no surprise. And a real director is missing: Phil Joanou, Anton Corbijn or Martin Scorsese – why didn't you do it? Please, Miss Catherine Owens, if all or most of this falls into your responsibility – please stay out of the next tour!
Where's a storyboard, a frame? One of a zillion ideas: Why not take the girld pumping in the inner circle at the beginning, following her in the show and letting her wave good-bye at the end. Why not show some of the cities, show the band, present some onterference during the so-called concert footage? It should have been a movie, no?
A missed opportunity, a creative let-down and a commercial flop too, I do fear. Because who out there, apart from the most hardcore fans cares for such a mistaken film?
As a real hardcore fan, I really have to admit: We may need three chords & the truth – but I don't need this movie. Sorry.
Last edited:
You
smilies.
- that's why I wrote this posting, I guess. Even more, because I estimate that '05/'06 outing on stage as one of the best tours U2 ever have made in their live career. 
