Honolulu Weekly

For moviegoers dying to see a concert in 3-D but who refuse to be spotted buying a ticket for Hannah Montana, U2 3D has finally been released in Hawai’i. For non-fans, the too-infrequent 3-D effects will not be enough to warrant attendance for this concert film that is too straightforward and takes no chances. For fans of the super group, this is a must-see, although they probably already did see it at the Aloha Stadium concert.

Unlike their spectacular previous concert film U2: Rattle and Hum, U2 3D is a different animal. We get nothing more than spliced-together concert footage of the Vertigo tour in South America. No backstage shenanigans, no narratives or dramas on the tour, and no footage of the band members being themselves outside of the spotlights.

This wouldn’t necessarily be a bad thing considering such magnetic luminaries like Adam Clayton, Larry Mullen Jr., the Edge, and Bono, but directors Catherine Owens and Mark Pellington (Arlington Road, The Mothman Prophecies) can’t seem to tap into what makes the quartet so compelling beyond their music. In fact, it is partially because of 1988’s Rattle and Hum that U2 exists as one of the 21st century’s most mysteriously captivating rock bands and, for better or worse, culturally political forces. Phil Joanou (State of Grace, Heaven’s Prisoners) knew when he directed Hum that he should use the charismatic presences he has at his disposal to the fullest; any less would be one of those sampler CDs that are played in stores to show off how good the latest stereo system is.

But then, this film wasn’t meant to be a documentary, even though National Geographic produced it. The much-lauded 3-D effects aren’t quite as impressive as they could be. Perhaps it needed to be screened in IMAX to take full immersive advantage of the process. (Somebody on this island, replace the IMAX theater we lost. Please?) Much of the time, the footage is made up of fade-outs with spotlights shining directly at the screen, obscuring the 3-D. The being-there feeling may be realistically approximate, but in a concert movie it helps to see what is being filmed.

The only moments that are truly jaw-dropping occurs when the crowds wave their hands while men lift their girlfriends onto their shoulders, creating a diorama-ish effect; and, in the best scene, Bono stares into the camera and reaches his hand out towards you while singing ‘Sunday Bloody Sunday.’ Still, these instances are few and it makes one long for more Ö crowd footage. The rest of the 3-D is a clear spatial juxtaposition of the mike stands and the drum kit while beams of lights cut through the billowing smoke clouds.

Still, there are occasionally spine-tingling moments of raw emotional power, but they rely on the audience member being a devotee of the music. When the band bids their fans a final farewell after the encore and Bono says ‘We will never forget this,’ you believe him even though he said that in Honolulu, and he probably says that in every city he performs in. This type of ultimate predictability within the concert film can’t shake off the shadow of Rattle and Hum. U2 3-D’s eventual fate may be as a demo disc in Best Buy’s home theater section.

And because this matters to rock snobs, here’s the complete set list from the film:

‘Vertigo’ ‘Beautiful Day’ ‘New Year’s Day’ ‘Sometimes You Can’t Make It on Your Own’ ‘Love and Peace or Else’ ‘Sunday Bloody Sunday’ ‘Bullet the Blue Sky’ ‘Miss Sarajevo’ / UN Declaration of Human Rights ‘Pride (In the Name of Love)’ ‘Where the Streets Have No Name’ ‘One’ Encore: ‘The Fly’ ‘With or Without You’ During credits: ‘Yahweh’