U2 3D: There Were Giants

Bono, Larry, Adam and The Edge lived among us. On rare occasions, we caught a glimpse of them. Maybe a shadow, an outline. But wherever they walked, U2 left a big impression. We’ll tell our grandkids about these four gentle giants.

One of the stranger, more elliptical verses in the Bible comes in Genesis 6:4: “There were giants in the earth in those days.” Somehow I don’t think that refers to dinosaurs. But what does it mean? People were bigger then? They walked with more presence? Carried themselves differently? I never understood that verse until I saw U2 in 3-D.

The sheer magnitude of what they have accomplished overwhelmes me. How can four rather modest Irish gents galvanize an audience with such authority? How did four rich, spoiled rock stars remain grounded enough to stick together, to create something much larger than themselves? How can God raise up such unlikely prophets? Their career and back catalogue is a miracle we’ve all been privileged to witness.

The size, the scope, the intensity of their concerts comes alive in this cinematic breakthrough. I feared that the technology would prove distracting. Visions of plastic glasses with red and blue lenses danced in my head. But U2 3D is wholly unlike any three dimensional movie we’ve ever seen. The images are so tactile, the sound is so crisp, that it literally puts viewers onstage, bouncing with the band.

U2 3D documents a stadium show in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The Vertigo Tour includes songs from “How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb” like “Sometimes You Can’t Make it on Your Own” and “Love and Peace or Else.” But the core of the concert is U2’s greatest hits. It is a “Thank You” to their fans, a literal valentine.
Congratulations to directors Catherine Owen and Mark Pellington for resisting the temptation to indulge in camera tricks. They trust the music to make its own provocative case. After the initial “wow” factor, I settled into my seat for a powerful musical experience. The editing is smooth, the use of fades and dissolves quite compelling. U2 3D effectively incorporates the visual elements from the stage show, especially the graphics and lighting. There are dramatic highlights that took my breathe away and reduced me to tears. U2 3D brings it all back home.

U2’s best songs still sound remarkably prescient. “Sunday Bloody Sunday’s” shouts of “How long?!” are unfortunately relevant today. “Bullet the Blue Sky” is all too apt for Iraq. Bono straps on a headband that urges us to “Coexist.” The cooperation of the Abraham faith traditions–Jews, Christians, Muslims–is more necessary than ever. If we refuse to build bridges, that headband will become a blindfold, an accomplice to terror. “Miss Sarajevo” rises as a tender ballad and a desperate prayer. U2 upholds the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as a timely reminder to us all.

The latter half of the concert pulls out classics like “Where the Streets Have No Name”, “One,” and “With or Without You.” They sound more like heavenly visions, biblical psalms, with each passing year. Kudos to producer Sandy Climan and the 3ality team that put together this awesome fusion of sound and fury. It premieres at the Sundance Film Fest this weekend–then find it NEXT WEEK at an IMAX theater near you.

U2 3D (Trailer)

 

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Craig Detweiler directs the ReelSpirituality Institute at Fuller Seminary. His feature documentary, Purple State of Mind, premieres in early 2008.