Larger Than Life

I don’t know about other people, but I feel a genuine thrill each time I sit down in a darkened movie theater. (And no, it’s not because I get my kicks out of discreet yet public displays of vulgarity). No matter how fond you are of watching your precious dibidis in your flatscreen plasma TV with surround sound in your own home, it’s not quite the same as seeing it on a big screen with a couple of hundred other people. It’s kind of like watching an artist perform live as opposed to just listening to him or her on record. You can’t really claim to know and love a band if you haven’t heard them live – gasps, sighs and flying spit and all.

Of course, if transporting yourself to a concert venue to see a favorite artist takes a little more work than just moseying on over to, say Araneta Coliseum, then seeing a film about an artist performing live is the next best thing. This isn’t as simple as it sounds though. We’ve seen movies make it to the big screen with a lot less plot and storyline, but it’ll take someone with a big name and even bigger talent to sustain audience interest after a couple of songs.

Fortunately, the makers of U2 3D understood this when they set out to make the film. More than just simply recording a regular show from one of their tours as so many artists and bands have done, the Irish rockers and the filmmakers behind this ambitious project took things one significant step further by introducing the three dimensional concept to make the viewer experience what it’s like to actually be in a stadium concert. This is no small feat, even for U2, who have been at the forefront of using cutting edge technology to reach fans and keep things fresh after almost 25 years in the music business.

When you think about it, there is no other band in the world more larger-than-life than U2 that can handle being projected onto an 80-foot IMAX screen. (Maybe The Rolling Stones, but do you really want to see Mick Jagger’s tight pants and Keith Richards’ wrinkly skin magnified ten times? We can settle for Martin Scorsese’s upcoming documentary on them instead). We might still be waiting for official word on whether they’ll finally be able to make it and do a show here in Manila, but from the sweat running off Bono’s brow to the gigantic and complicated stage set-up, down to the crystal clear acoustics of the songs, U2 3D is a phenomenal experience that comes pretty damn close to the real thing. Heck, seeing Bono hold out his hand to you while singing that immortal paean to unity “One” was enough to coax out the tiniest hint of tears in my eyes. (Then again, my eyes might have still been adjusting to the 3D glasses).

I’ve read some critics pan the film for not employing a more narrative structure to tell a story and try and involve the audience more. This to me sounds absurd, because the film is first and foremost about the band being at their very best, which is performing in front of a massive crowd. It’s a concert film, and yeah, you generally have to show the concert. People who expect interviews and footage other than Bono and co. performing amid nonstop screams and howls from an audience of thousands will be greatly disappointed. Don’t say you weren’t warned.

U23D is showing now at the IMAX theater at the SM Mall of Asia and the Digital Cinema at the Block at SM North.

Email pjcana@gmail.com