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U2 3D (2007)
Director: Catherine Owens, Mark Pellington
Movie review
From Time Out New York
Yes, you put on the dorky glasses and everything. But unlike yesteryear’s headache-inducements, the new computerized 3-D process is truly incredible. You really do feel like you’re standing behind some douche bag hoisting his cell phone right into your sight line. Bono seemed like he was about to hug me. (I flinched like I did at Jaws 3-D.)
The main problem with U2 3D is that it’s about U2. That’s not to say the veteran Irish band isn’t galvanizing onscreen. Indeed, its early shows at Colorado’s Red Rocks (and, transformatively, Live Aid) marked the quartet as especially videogenic. Yet you can’t help but think that such a technological advance might be better suited to, say, a reunited Mötley Crüe—some act where a lot of panties might be flying around. Or spittle. U2 puts on a classy show these days: hanging smoke, pretentious video backdrops. And when you’re moaning about MLK or “one love,” do you really need greater camera depth?
U2 3D still might become a precious object to the group’s fans, but only to those who don’t mind seeing their pop idols turned into vaguely avatar-looking sims. You bob your head discreetly during a movie concert, not dance. That’s yet another corporate stake into the heart of live music. But the virtual will never fully replace the real. While U2’s performance here is tops (the clips are culled from several seamlessly integrated South American shows and one band-only cheat), you don’t feel the press of solidarity, the shared experience that lingers dully in the ears for hours. And you miss it.
Author: Joshua Rothkopf
Time Out New York Issue 643: January 24-31
User reviews of this film
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- Jack said...
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Posted on Feb 24 2008 01:28
I liked the movie, but like the reviewer, I don't think it quite captures what it's like to be at a U2 show. OTOH, I don't think I'd get much of a kick from a Motley Crue show (even if flying panties and 3D bouncing boobs would look better than Bono ;).
I'm not sure what they'd have to do to make it more like a U2 show, but my guess is getting the audience in the theater to participate would go a long way. - Report as inappropriate
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- Jeff Sommar said...
- Posted on Jan 29 2008 10:05 Oh, you didn't feel the shared experience of a live concert? Well maybe that's because you went to a movie, douche bag.
- Report as inappropriate
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- JoAnn said...
- Posted on Jan 25 2008 18:07 Motley Crue? Are you serious?
- Report as inappropriate
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- Johnny said...
- Posted on Jan 24 2008 21:37 This guy Rothkopf is truly a dickhead! Motley Crue!... flying panties! I mean... really! Better than a tribute to MLK?!! No wonder people think our culture is imploding. BTW, this is NOT a corporate film, but an independently produced film, and it rocks. Lazy ass journalism!
- Report as inappropriate
Cast & crew
Director: Catherine Owens, Mark Pellington
Rated: G
Duration: 85 mins
US Release: Jan 25 2008
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