U2 3D

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 1/28/08 at 11:05pm

Okay, so I finally made it to the gigantic Imax "world's first 3D concert movie," U2 3D this evening. Or as The Edge impersonator put it on Craig Kilborn the other night, U 23 D.

I found it very difficult to warm to, at first. For all the much-vaunted intimacy promised by the super-close 3D cameras (according to the hype, the largest number of 3D cameras ever assembled for a single project, and by National Geographic, of all things!), I actually felt a more intimate connection when I saw the same tour from the opposite side of a hockey arena from the stage, and up near the ceiling.

One of the things I think is a problem in the Imax version is that the sound is mixed at even levels, so that Bono's vocals are no louder than the music. I think this is a mistake. I mean, I first saw them live 27 years and one month ago in a place that was smaller than the actual 65 foot Imax screen the movie is projected on, and I've been a fan the whole time since, so I know the songs by heart. But I'm not sure what the casual fan or the newbie would make of it.

I won't go into the set list, the shows were taken from stadium shows in Latin America, because it's part of the fun to see what comes next. But I will say I was pretty much blown away by "Miss Sarajevo," which was not included in the set the night I saw the tour.

The first song that really connected with me was "New Year's Day," quite possibly my least favorite song in the canon. Also, I thought I could live without hearing "Where the Streets Have No Name" again back when I went to see the tour but it won me over then, and it won me over on the big BIG screen too.

Perhaps my favorite in the movie is "The Fly." That alone is worth the price of admission, visually.

The movie opens wide in theaters with digital projection on February 15 all around the country. I wonder if the vocals won't be lost in the mix on a more normal theatrical sound system. I strongly recommend U2 3D for fans.

[jenna2]

Posted: 1/29/08 at 12:50am

Excellent! I've been waiting to hear something about this. I think it sounds like the perfect post-Valentine's day gift to myself.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 1/29/08 at 8:58am

I just re-read what I wrote. I realized I meant to say "Sunday Bloody Sunday" where I said "New Years Day." Oh and my ears were ringing when I went to bed last night. That movie is loud when blasted Imaxly.