Titreenp
SERIOUSLY. This is what the crap Hollywood still puts out?
Huievest
Instead, you get a movie that's enjoyable enough, but leaves you feeling like it could have been much, much more.
Keeley Coleman
The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;
Anoushka Slater
While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.
bob the moo
You see, this is the problem with reviewing a title after the prolific Theo Robertson has already done it; you end up writing a review that either spends a couple of paragraphs agreeing with him or simply repeating what he has said. He tends to have good taste and put his opinion forward really well and it leaves the rest of us poor b*ggers with little to say! He is correct when he talks about how strong a concert this is for U2 fans. Having been born and bred in Northern Ireland I am contractually obliged to lack rhythm, be cynical, have an acerbic sense of humour and like U2, so naturally I enjoyed this concert film.The range of tracks is one of the biggest selling points, everything from the recent Vertigo back to classics from Joshua Tree etc. It does make the concert feel slightly more special and honest, because it doesn't feel like they are there just as part of selling their latest wares. The variety also means there are very few weaker album tracks it isn't quite a greatest hits tour but, like Theo says, it shows respect to the fan base by basically saying "we know you are here for the last 20 years, not just the last album" and I must admit I appreciated that aspect of the concert. The circular stage didn't come across that well on the screen mainly because the camera always ensured we had a good view. Personally I'm not sure if it does make for a better gig because I've only ever been to concerts in smaller venues with a set stage never really been one for whom stadium gigs appeal.The one downside is that Bono has become a bit full of himself and, even though the fans in the stadium on these two nights lapped it up, I wasn't that impressed. Another reviewer said he was almost a caricature of himself I can't say it better than that so I'll steal their words. Particularly hard to swallow were the moments where he was pretty pretentious; his prayer and his "all religions" headband were just grating and the fact that a cheering crowd didn't cover it in my front room highlighted it as rather more embarrassing. Luckily the overall performance covers up for moments like this and the actual delivery from the group as a whole.Overall then a fine concert film for fans of U2 with sufficient hits to make it accessible and of value to the casual viewer. Yes Bono is a bit of a prat at times but this doesn't take too much away from the total performance. The track selection is good, the stage presence is good and with a good sound system the audience reactions come over well. Well worth seeing for U2 fans.
Lasse Elgaard
It is impressing how a band this old can still produce a concert like this! They have the same energy as for 25 years ago! Unfortunately I didn't see U2 when they came to Denmark, and I am still sad about it!! Could have been a experience of my lifetime - if it was just half as good as the show in Chicago.The best thing about this concert, is that they play a track from almost every album they have produced! Noy only the hitlist-wonders like Vertigo and Sunday Bloody Sunday. They play less known numbers like "40" and "Cry/Electric Co." I must admit that I wasn't the biggest U2 fan, so I didn't know these tracks. But they are almost as good as the biggest of all: "Elevation" and "Sunday Bloody Sunday"!Elevation is bye the way, the best track on the DVD. The way the entire Crowd shouts "ELEVATION" is extraordinary! The only thing I can compare it with, is "We Will Rock You" from the Live Aid concert from 1985. 100.000 people or more shouts "WE WILL, WE WILL ROCK YOU" along Freddie Mercury!A truly amazing music-DVD!!
eamlen
This is a must see for any music fan. It features a band at the peak of their powers and is a very strong performance from the 4 lads from Dublin. I was lucky enough to attend 3 Vertigo Tour shows and the Chicago DVD brings back all those feelings you get when you see U2 live. From the last PA song before the concert begins (a song called wake up by arcade fire) to the end it's arena rock at it's very best. There is a great mix of new and old spanning their full 25 years in the business. The new album, How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb is obviously featured heavily and doesn't look out of place among such classics as Where the Streets Have No Name and Sunday Bloody Sunday. The show ends with a fantastic closing song (40) which involves the audience singing the band off the stage. Very powerful stuff 9/10
Theo Robertson
What makes this concert better than say something from U2's RATTLE AND HUM era is summed up by the first song . Halfway through Vertigo Bono sings " There's a place I go and I am far away " which are the lyrics to Stories For Boys a song that was written away back in 1979 . We're also treated ( And it is a treat ) to The Electric Co a song from U2's first album Boy from 1980 It's a truly great mix of songs from the bands different eras , we hear Sunday Bloody Sunday from War , Running To Stand Still from The Joshua Tree , Mysterious Ways from Actung Baby and Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own from their latest album . This is showing respect for their audience , imagine you've followed every tour from the early 1990s . What would you prefer as a fan ? Seeing Bono and the boys perform most of their latest album or hear an eclectic mix of tunes from the last 25 years ? If this video is anything to go by the Vertigo tour might just be the best ever Respect too on the way the stage is set up . All too often the stage at concerts are very static but here we see an oval stage in the centre of the crowd where Bono , Edge Adam and even Larry swap positions throughout the concert so everyone in the audience has a shot of being near the action . Again the fans are being shown respect by the band If you're a die hard fan you'll want to watch this but perhaps more importantly if you're a casual music fan you'll also want to see this simply because it shows why U2 are the most successful band of the last 25 years . Highly recommended