FILM: U23D
Friday February 01, 2008 @ 04:00 PM
By: ChartAttack.com Staff

U2 REMIND US THEY'RE THE WORLD'S BIGGEST BAND. IMAX BIG.

U23D (National Geographic)
Release date: January 23, 2008
Directed by: Catherine Owens and Mark Pellington

Rating:

A rock show projected on a massive IMAX screen in 3D, as presented by National Geographic. Who besides U2 would conceive of something so over the top? It has been my secret hope that the band I love would age gracefully, to little avail. As a longtime fan, I filed into the cavernous Scotia Bank IMAX theatre with vehement skepticism, what with the tacky self-indulgence inherent to this concept. Unfortunately, I wasn't won over.

The experience began with a tedious albeit educational presentation about the marvel that is IMAX technology. Did you know you could read a newspaper in space with its xenon projector light? I didn't either. The film itself starts off with images of what we can only assume are U2 fans running through the venue halls to get to their seats, set to the cryptic chanting of the word "Everyone."

The band kick the set off to a flying start with "Vertigo," and we're finally immersed into the 3D technology we've heard so much about. Bono leans far into your face while cradling his mic stand, as Adam Clayton lunges over with his bass as if to bop you on the nose. The shots from inside the crowd make you feel like you're actually being crushed in the elated mosh pit. Beyond this point however, the 3Dness becomes besides the point, so you might as well chuck the glasses.

The rest of the set list reads like a greatest hits album with "Beautiful Day," "Sunday Bloody Sunday," "Bullet The Blue Sky," "Miss Sarajevo." There's no filler whatsoever. Notable highlights include "Love And Peace" with Bono and Larry Mullen Jr.'s Mexican percussion stand-off, and "The Fly," the only instance where the aforementioned 3D technology is fully abused in all its seizure-inducing goodness, with cheeky phrases like "I don't want to know" rhythmically flying past your face. The show ends on a dramatic note with "With Or Without You," making grown men in the audience well up in tears.

The problem with U23D is that the technology doesn't add anything to the show. If you enjoy the movie at all, it's because U2 put on a fantastic and engaging show, not because Bono seemingly reached out to touch your face. The novelty of the 3D glasses unfortunately wears off within the first song, despite all the creative possibilities it's open to. Most importantly, it feels too much like a slick neon spectacle, lacking any charm or sincerity, to ever do justice to the music.

Reviewed by Aisha Khan