U2 continues to embrace leading-edge technologies, as evidenced tonight at Sun
dance with the second screening of U2 3D, a 90-minute concert film that, with the latest/greatest use of 3D effects (mostly the work of 3ality Digital, albeit with a National Geographic logo and a chunk of change from Best Buy), puts the movie audience both in the concert audience and on the stage with the band, apparently quite convincingly.
Though it’s hardly a subjective opinion, Bono was quoted as saying, “It’s not the usual remove that you have with a concert show. It’s total immersion. You are right in the middle. You are not just in the best seat; You couldn’t be closer.” With a wink he added, “And if you don’t like this band, I can’t imagine a more horrible experience.” Frank Miller, who wrote “Sin City” and “300,” both critically-acclaimed graphic novels that were adapted into visually groundbreaking feature films, says, “I saw U2 3D and I thought the special effects were not just remarkable … but historic … the film has ushered in a new era for 3D.”
Here’s the trailer, which gets m
e excited, yes, but I should say that I’m a fan since “October,” first saw the boys perform on Thanksgiving night 1987, and missed only one tour since then. Without those goggles, I think the trailer, while technically competent and slick, is unfortunately hamstrung a bit, an example of how difficult it remains to give a taste of a 3D film in a 2D medium. Nonetheless, I’m there when it hits select theaters in two days … hello, hello … yeah-yeah, yeah-yeah, yeah-yeah, yeah.
Posted by: Colin Mangham