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=> GENERAL DISCUSSION => Topic started by: helicon1 on January 24, 2008, 07:42:00 am
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I went to the natural history museum last night. To preface, I know and like U2's music but not totally crazy about them. But they really set a standard for concert films. Do yourself a favor and see it.
The 3D element wasn't overdone but rather used to amplify the scope, depth and detail of a show. Camera angles were used to make you feel like a spectator but also the performer. Every instrument, especially the drum set, was spectacularly detailed and the sound was fantastic.
The lady at the sales counter said it's only running through the end of February. Totally cool experience.
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I'm going Friday night...excited! I've heard its great.
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Saw it last night in Baltimore and I agree with the review. It's nice that the 3D isn't really overdone. There are only a few real gimmicky 3D shots in the film (who knew Bono had such fat fingers?). The crowd level shots where you see heads and arms in front of you are really amazing.
One minor complaint...was it me or could you still see the some of the "shadows" around moving objects on the screen? I'm wondering if it is because we were sitting off to the side of the theater. Also, they could've turned up the volume a few notches to drown out all the idiot talkers :mad:
P.S. Make sure you stay through the end credits.
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saw it last night, too. pretty damn amazing stuff. my brain spent the first 15 minutes trying to come to terms with what i was seeing, took a while to process. flying in over the crowd, or seeing thousands of people jump up and down from an overhead vantage point was downright psychedelic.
recommended.
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Does Bono take a dump onstage to the delight of the adoring crowd, ala Thom Yorke?
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no, but he is pretty pompous at moments... then again, he's bono - what do you expect. you'd better come either liking or expecting it. i could have done without a reading of the opening articles of the universal declaration of human rights at the end of miss sarajevo, tho.
the really cool thing about his behavior is that it gives the internet hipster-haters something to moan about.
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Up here in PA, it's at Harrisburg's Whitaker center. Tonight, if you pay to see "Vertigo USA-America's leading U2 Tribute band" you get to see the film at midnight for free.
And this is in a TRUE Imax theater. If I'm paying $16 to see a wet, nude, computer-enhanced Angelina Jolie in 3D I want her to be on a five story screen dammit! Not some regular movie screen that says it's "IMAX."
My complaint is the set list. Couldn't they have put a few more newer songs in the set list? I'm so sick of hearing "With or Without You", "Pride (In the Name of Love)", "Where the Streets Have No Name", "Sunday Bloody Sunday" and "New Year's Day" it's not even funny. Sure, they have to do a couple of those but cutting two or three of those out and putting in some newer songs (even from "Zooropa") would be a lot more interesting.
Can you IMAGINE if they had this technology back in 1993? Zoo TV in Imax 3D?
Brian
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Just to clarify, do we hate hipsters, or are we hipsters that also hate?
Originally posted by sweetcell:
the really cool thing about his behavior is that it gives the internet hipster-haters something to moan about.
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Self hatred is never a good thing!
Originally posted by nkotb:
Just to clarify, do we hate hipsters,
Originally posted by sweetcell:
the really cool thing about his behavior is that it gives the internet hipster-haters something to moan about.
[/b]
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Originally posted by nkotb:
Just to clarify, do we hate hipsters, or are we hipsters that also hate?
both :(
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Without reading what anybody else has said yet...
Everybody should go see this movie. It is hands down the greatest concert movie ever made, and one of the best movie going experiences I've ever had. U2 aside, this is just purely incredible cinema. Do yourself a favor and go see it while it is on an IMAX screen.
I think I'll probably see this at least three times in the theatre.
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agreed, i'll be seeing this movie more than once too.
Originally posted by Brian Wallace:
Up here in PA, it's at Harrisburg's Whitaker center. Tonight, if you pay to see "Vertigo USA-America's leading U2 Tribute band" you get to see the film at midnight for free.
And this is in a TRUE Imax theater. If I'm paying $16 to see a wet, nude, computer-enhanced Angelina Jolie in 3D I want her to be on a five story screen dammit! Not some regular movie screen that says it's "IMAX."
My complaint is the set list. Couldn't they have put a few more newer songs in the set list? I'm so sick of hearing "With or Without You", "Pride (In the Name of Love)", "Where the Streets Have No Name", "Sunday Bloody Sunday" and "New Year's Day" it's not even funny. Sure, they have to do a couple of those but cutting two or three of those out and putting in some newer songs (even from "Zooropa") would be a lot more interesting.
Can you IMAGINE if they had this technology back in 1993? Zoo TV in Imax 3D?
Brian
agreed about the setlist, they should have dumped some of the "big hits" that we've all heared a thousand times before in favor of some newer stuff ("new" in terms of how often you hear them perform it).
but brian, isn't U2 an irrelevant doesn't-speak-to-my-generation old-timers band?
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Originally posted by sweetcell:
but brian, isn't U2 an irrelevant doesn't-speak-to-my-generation old-timers band?
Yes. Yes, they are. If I had my druthers, I'd like to see MCR3D or BrodyDalle3D or even CourtneyLove3D just to see her stage dive and smack someone with her guitar (in 3D!) but I guess I'll take what they give me.
Brian
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Okay, now I've read what everybody else said...
Going to see this shouldn't have anything to do with U2 at all, in my opinion. If you like U2, it is just a bonus. It is just a groundbreaking technological film to me - you feel completely immersed in it. Not only that, they USE the medium in all facets - they incorporate the 3D element into post-production, they isolate the audio mix at times to further bring out the 3D elements...it just is incredible. Can't recommend it enough.
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That explains the drunken near midnight (et) phone call I received from the Director last night. Must have been a U2 gizzphoria!
I'm going to see it in Denver this weekend.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
That explains the drunken near midnight (et) phone call I received from the Director last night. Must have been a U2 gizzphoria!
I'm going to see it in Denver this weekend.
Ha! Yeah - he was rolling out of the bar with me and sweetcell, actually. I think we were all making phone calls about it.
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Originally posted by callat703:
Ha! Yeah - he was rolling out of the bar with me and sweetcell, actually. I think we were all making phone calls about it.
Damn. I hate missing a good time!
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Originally posted by callat703:
Okay, now I've read what everybody else said...
Going to see this shouldn't have anything to do with U2 at all, in my opinion. If you like U2, it is just a bonus. It is just a groundbreaking technological film to me - you feel completely immersed in it. Not only that, they USE the medium in all facets - they incorporate the 3D element into post-production, they isolate the audio mix at times to further bring out the 3D elements...it just is incredible. Can't recommend it enough.
IMAX and 3D movies have been around forever. But after seeing this last night, I can't see how this isn't the future of motion pictures and/or concert films.
In the past, both technologies were outrageously expensive to produce. I wonder if that has/or will change to expand it's reach.
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Originally posted by Glass Arm Shattering:
Originally posted by callat703:
Okay, now I've read what everybody else said...
Going to see this shouldn't have anything to do with U2 at all, in my opinion. If you like U2, it is just a bonus. It is just a groundbreaking technological film to me - you feel completely immersed in it. Not only that, they USE the medium in all facets - they incorporate the 3D element into post-production, they isolate the audio mix at times to further bring out the 3D elements...it just is incredible. Can't recommend it enough.
IMAX and 3D movies have been around forever. But after seeing this last night, I can't see how this isn't the future of motion pictures and/or concert films.
In the past, both technologies were outrageously expensive to produce. I wonder if that has/or will change to expand it's reach. [/b]
Completely agreed. I've seen other IMAX and 3D movies, but NOTHING was near this.
I found myself hoping throughout the film that I could somehow watch sports like that at some point in the future.
But yeah, I really hope that this is a viable means for making movies in the future. I also think the IMAX element really matters - I don't know that it would have the same impact unless you felt immersed in it.
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Hello?!?!?! Just think of the PORN you could do in this format. "Pirates", one of the Wicked blockbusters or any of the "Island Fever" films?
I'd never leave the theater.
Brian
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Originally posted by callat703:
they isolate the audio mix at times to further bring out the 3D elements
this was done subtlely, and to great effect. they often panned (in 3D) just one instrument or vocal part. i didn't think the volume needed to be cranked up, sounded just right to me.
Originally posted by callat703:
I found myself hoping throughout the film that I could somehow watch sports like that at some point in the future.
3D football?!? :)
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I too was very surprised by how much this blew my mind. Being a self admitted uber fan, I had high expectations, but this far exceeded even my wildest dreams for what a concert film could be. I left thinking, those might have been the best concert seats I have ever had.
A couple thoughts that haven't been mentioned here:
(1) GREAT call on filming this in South America. If any group of people should be in 3D, it's the Brazilians and Argentinians. Liquid sex throughout the crowd.
(2) From the very beginning I could already tell the technology had come a long way since the last 3D movie I saw (Jaws 3:3D)
(3) They did an excellent job of not boring you with the same shots over and over again, and really worked in the backgrounds nicely.
(4) I agree with the set list critiques. With or Without You seemed forced at best. I would have much rather seen Walk On or Kite.
(5) The Fly really pointed out how amazing this technology would have been if it existed to this extent during Zoo TV.
Two enthusiastic thumbs up from Smackie.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
(3) They did an excellent job of not boring you with the same shots over and over again, and really worked in the backgrounds nicely.
one of my major annoyances with concert footage over the past decade is the non-stop quick shots (what i've come to call hyperactive camera cycling). the camera never sticks with any shot longer than two seconds - bugs the hell outta me. i realize it's a concession that concert-filming directors have to make to the TV audience b/c it has ADD. anyways, this film definitely does a better job than most, but i would have been fine with sticking with a given shot for a tad longer.
Originally posted by vansmack:
(5) The Fly really pointed out how amazing this technology would have been if it existed to this extent during Zoo TV.
brian wallace is the fly? don't get it.
if i can get out of work at a decent time, i'm going to go see it again tonight.
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I saw it last night, what a great experience, the sound was flawless, and Ill definitely see it again without a doubt...
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I saw it in Philly on Saturday...can I just say how awesome it was to see the incredible detail, like what was Larry Mullen drinking? Who would ever notice that he has a glass strategically placed near him, or the careful attention to where certain things are placed on the stage. Truly a neat experience. The setlist could have been tweaked some, and I wouldn't have minded if the movie was 10 or 15 minutes longer at all. Poor Bono's voice seemed shot during "With or Without You" though. I can't imagine that one day this will be the norm for everything from action movies to documentaries to concerts to animation. It was really something.
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Where can you find information on this? As in, where is it playing, what times is it playing at.
For some reason, I have this fear of getting permission from the wife to go, driving there, parking, "preparing", and then showing up at the gate only to find out that it's sold out.
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Originally posted by Relaxer:
Where can you find information on this?
Info Here (http://purchase.tickets.com/buy/TicketPurchase?organ_val=21156&venue_val=202321)
Buy your tickets in advance as some dates/times have been sold out. Don't know if that trend will continue.
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managed to catch the movie again tonight. people really need to go see this while it's still in IMAX theaters. there are plans to move it to regular theaters with digital projectors, but it's sooooooo much cooler on the really really big screen. nothing like seeing a 20-foot bono plant a big ol'smooch right on the lips of a 20-foot clayton!
tonight's showing was about two-thirds full, much more than when i first saw it (a later show on opening night - still don't get it). i'd definitely suggest getting your tickets in advance, and arriving 15 minutes before showtime to nab a good seat - my recommendation is two-thirds to three quarters of the way to the back, as centered as possible.
answer for lily1, below: both times at smithsonian for me. i don't think there is a huge difference between imax theaters, they all have to be up to a certain spec. i'd go to whichever imax is closest/most convenient for you.
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those of you in dc-you've all seen it at the imax at the smithsonian museum of natural history? or have you seen it at another theatre/imax in the area?
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Caught it at the Museum of Natural History and yeah, it was literally redonkulous. The 3D is unreal.
I thought the setlist was good. Started pretty new-song heavy and then moved more classic-heavy. Enough new stuff to place it in the time, but enough old stuff to give it a more timeless quality.
Agree that the South American crowd was a highlight.
Bono's schtick can seem lame outside the moment of a live show (I don't think footage of the Zoo Tv tour has aged well although its probably my favorite show ever) but I thought he and his message of 'coexist' came off well. You can see that it has an effect - inspring the crowd . . . and you the viewer.
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when i first saw it last week, the crowd in the theater was really quiet. last night, between songs people were cheering, clapping, whistling... acting like they were at a concert. fun.
bono did seem to be phoning it in a little on some of the older songs. can't blame him, singing "sunday bloody sunday" for 25 years has got to get old.
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Apparently Bono was here last week and is in DC a lot for his lobbying office down at 14th&I called DATA, "Debt AIDS Trade Africa". I wonder if Bono laughed at The Onion headline about the other U2 guys saying they don't care about that stuff... I know I did
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Also, the older material is appropriate for an exhibition at the Natural History museum.
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went tonight at the smithsonian. sold out. as were the other 2 showings tonight.
got there an hour ahead of time to be first 20 folks in and score the recommended dead center, 2/3 up seats. mission successful!
FANFECKINTASTIC. seriously. wow. "miss sarajevo" was stunning. loved "the fly". though as much as the boys were following similiar set lists for that entire tour (i saw them 5 times in 2005), i was surprised "bullet the blue sky" was performed in argentina. its such a us centric song (though widely performed in europe...), seemed out of place.
mr lily turned to me at end of show and said "if we come back tommorow, how much do you think they'll mix up the set list?" ie, its that good. music, shots selected, all the stage stuff you got to see. wow. even if you're not a u2 fan, you'll be impressioned just from the filming angle.
checking schedule to go at least 2 more times.
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I generally liked it - saw the REAL-D presentation over at Gallery Place - but I thought the setlist wasn't all that - kind of got bored 3/4 of the way in.