U2 3D – It’s U2; It’s 3D; It’s a Movie.
I love 3 D movies, I love the 3 D stuff Disney does. I was really looking forward to U2 3D. It has gotten rave reviews. Here, here and here and a whole lot of other places. (Which I didn’t read until after I got my thoughts down.)
I will never get close enough to see the wrinkles on Bono’s face and have the feeling that he is looking right at me. I will never get close enough to see the wrinkles in his palm as he reaches out toward me.
U2 3D made that possible. The rest of the 3D effects were hackneyed stuff that’s been done a kajillion times.
That’s what 3D does.
But don’t go to the movie expecting to have a concert experience. It takes the roar of the greasepaint and the smell of the crowd to get that done. The last live concert we went to was American Idol. No festival seating but they did allow a bunch to crowd the stage. If the IMAX theater would have been full, I might have believed that those fans that appeared to be standing and waving might have actually be live.
IMAX 3D sound delivered the gut thumping that you expect fromU2 music, but it didn’t hit you all over like a live concert. When the crowd reacts in a live concert, it gives me chills. That feeling is missing from the movie.
It was 90 minutes of U2 music – more than I will normally listen to, but I’m sure real U2 fans will eat it up.
Just don’t go expecting a concert experience. It was U2. It was 3D. It was a movie.
Remember way back in the day when you camped out to get tickets, and the first person in line got the first seat? None of that drawing a number lottery crap. I spent 3 nights in November around the Thanksgiving holiday outside our university arena with hundreds of other people because there was a chance that something was going to happen with some dates and U2 were going to play. My roommate and I were numbers 7 and 8 in line…. front row, Joshua Tree tour…nothing else will ever live up to that experience.
@Stepford Mom: dangerous as hell, but something you’ll never forget. Can’t say I don’t endorse the elimination of festival seats, but even with that gone – the crowd brings a lot to the experience.
U2, hmmm. Ben says they are the last rock ‘n’ roll band left standing, but I don’t know. Bono is a little too “I’m a rock star, therefore I’m entitled to inflict my opinion upon you whether you like it or not” for me.
That said, my cell phone has a custom ringtone for when Ben is calling, which is “It’s A Beautiful Day”. Because when Ben calls, it is, it is. 🙂
@Gretchen: Then I think you guys should go see it. You just to watch Ben when Bono looks deep into his eyes and reaches for him.
Ack. Gay. I’d better not take Sam, because we have warned him about grown men who are too friendly to little boys.
I am a big fan of the IMAX concert movie concept. The IMAX films I have seen in 3D are impressively immersive, like going to a real concert minus the $160 Stub Hub expense and crowded parking lots. They just need to sell $50 U2 t-shirts to complete the experience. 😉
3D Aircraft Modeling’s last blog post..National Institute For Aviation Research (NIAR)
@3D Aircraft Modeling: LOL, absolutely right on the shirts.
@3d aircraft modelling I love imax 2 since we have one in london near our house me and the family have been going there regulary and u2 concerts on those screens are really nice 2 see
U2 European tour starts soon. Presales will be available!
.-= Mike´s last blog pithMaroon 5 Presale in Peoria =-.