U2 3D

Starring U2 (Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton, Larry Mullen, Jr.)
Music Produced by Carl Glanville
Director of 3D Photography Peter Anderson, ASC
Director of Photography Tom Krueger
Edited by Oliver Wicki
Directed by Catherine Owens and Mark Pellington
website: www.U23Dmovie.com

IN SHORT: Best 3D tech yet. [Rated G. 85 minutes]

"Best" in this case means that the annoying need for 3D glasses (in our case, to wear over our own pair) only generated a short headache, as opposed to the usual killers that come with the other occasional 3D film releases. Compiled from a series of concerts on the South American branch of their last world tour, the Irish megaband U2 hits the stage, plays fifteen hits in 85 minutes and gets out of town. Now, we've been a fan of U2 for many years. We'll guess that, depending on when (you) became a fan, you'll find U2 3D short at least one hit -- "I Will Follow" in our case. Luckily, I've still got a tape of the Live at Red Rocks radio concert of twenty something years back so I can always hear that gem if I need to. Still, when making an otherwise spectacular visual record of hit after hit, leaving one out makes us cynics gripe about the growing practice of deliberately leaving something for the DVD.

As we were settling down to write this, the TV entertainment shows are reporting that there is absolutely no talk of a DVD release. You know better. So do we. So, hope against hope that there is something left to stretch the disc release.

Other than that, the sound is terrific, the 3D has already been commented upon and, if you're not already a fan of of the band, U2 3D probably isn't going to bring you to your knees.

If you are a fan, find a crowded theater with a great sound system. Plant in the middle of the room at a sold out show -- so the nut cases who want to believe they're at a stadium can jump up and down and get in the way, just as at a stadium show -- and enjoy. Those old enough can join Cranky's complaint club but everyone else will either be delerious or mystified at how a concert event that is so overwhelming in real life can be so emotionless and cold to view, even in 3D.

Don't ask Cranky to explain it. We love this band. As a former soundman, we loved the sound. We weren't annoyed with the 3D glasses and, that excepted, the cinematography of this show was great. We didn't walk out pumped . . . and we can't tell you why.

We can tell you the set list which, given that it's virtually chock full o' hits, shouldn't spoil U2 3D for anyone. Still, there are always those who will complain, so the list is in white. Drag your mouse over the space to reveal the goodies.

>>
Vertigo
New Year's Day
Beautiful Day
Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own
Love and Peace
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Bullet the Blue Sky
Miss Sarajevo
U.N. Declaration of Human Rights
Pride (In the Name of Love)
Where the Streets Have No Name
One
The Fly
With Or Without You
Yahweh
<<

On average, a first run movie ticket will run you Ten Bucks. Were Cranky able to set his own price to U2 3D , he would have paid . . .

$8.00

...which would be our "buy it" rating, excepting the aforementioned statement about the film never being released. Never is a long time but we don't believe it. Then again, there is that matter of the inevitable release of Live at Red Rocks, 20 years ago (a couple of tracks were released but not the entire concert, as best we can remember.)

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