U2: Rattle and Hum is a very interesting piece of filmmaking. Part concert film, part "rockumentary" Rattle and Hum is first a closer look at one of the most popular rock bands to survive the music scene 80 years. The camera follows the band on and off the stage during The Joshua Tree tour, and manages the trick of catching Bono, The Edge, Larry Mullen Jr. and Adam Clayton is exactly what they are. There is no right here, and for this type of film is refreshing.
Interviews with the band a perfect illustration. While most rock / pop stars in this situation would be the position of the camera, see the interviews with U2 is like watching children under-performing in the class put on the spot. You know - when the teacher asks a question and take the child who had no clue about the answer, and tries to be discreet behind in the classroom? When the director Phil Joanou asks group members to the camera, what this film is about their views, they kind of smile and laugh mischievously, and give these answers:
Larry: (in an exaggerated Irish accent) "It 'a kind of musical journey really, you know ..."
Bono: (smiles) "It's good - I was worried."
Adam: "We just wanted to capture that period in the band ... oh, f ** k I do not know."
Edge: (laughs) "And ... 'the music Let's hope that what I said would be the case"
There is a certain amount of charm in him. In addition to his impressive work, U2 is good because there are more than a bunch of guys who grew up together as friends, started the band while in high school, and continued making music together. And after so many years, they remain friends, and even how to make music together.
But the real goal of any band is their music. And this concert, some of the best of U2. Rattle and Hum gives us fantastic performances both on and off stage. There are wonderful moments here - Bono and BB King talks about their music and play together, the group sings, I still have not found what I'm looking for a church choir of Harlem, great cover versions of Beatles Helter Skelter and other songs, and they guys on a private tour of Graceland. And there are some great achievements of some of my favorite songs by the band, Bad and the operation to remain still among them. But perhaps the most important scene in this movie is the band to sing their classic Sunday Bloody Sunday. The day of the concert was a bomb the IRA killed 11 people in a small town in their homeland and their achievements in the song years was suddenly energized with fresh mind and sincere feelings.
Rattle and Hum is a great movie for what it is, but DVD is a bit lacking. First, the video here is not anywhere close to being the reference quality. Part of the reason is that many of the film was shot in 16 mm film using a high-grain to get the gravely / working class ", rocumentary" style that plays well on MTV (or used in any case back even when the cable network actually played music videos). Think of almost any video old John Mellencamp ("little ditty about Jack and Diane ..."), and you get the idea. The film is in contrast B & W to Chapter 13, when the group arrives on stage to sing, where the streets have no name, and the color is still a few songs. Rattle and Hum just never looks really good, and the fact that sometimes you can see bits of dirt and dust on the print does not help. There are also digital artifacts and edge enhancement visible light - not too much, but it is there.
On the other hand, the film has been transferred in full anamorphic widescreen DVD, which is a very welcome surprise. All in all, I would say that the quality here is what it is ... but it is certainly better than ever, this is a home video before.
The sound is mixed in Dolby Digital 5.1, and works well in capturing the atmosphere of live music. Does not turn the audience filling the rear channels and bass more solid. 5.1 mix is surprisingly wide soundstage, which is biased in forward hemisphere (as expected). Surround mix is a bit 'too directional for my taste, because this is the music - much more than usual to live - with Bono, the front-center, and the Edge and Larry Mullen Jr., scattered right and left. Yet, it works mostly. This is not the best sound you can hear a concert DVD, but it gets the job done.
The things I do not like about this DVD is the lack of extras. All you get is the theatrical trailer film - there is no discography, no story ... Band In short, you have none of those things that would be a music DVD. More frustrating, however, is that the back of the disc jacket says that nearly 11 songs are included in the concert sequences, which was not the album version of Rattle and Hum. But three of the songs are not even included on the DVD as complete - you will just extract each: Gloria, Ruby Tuesday and Sympathy for the Devil. I was totally Gloria suggested in 5.1, and was deeply disappointed when I was a few lines sung by Bono at the end of the exit. And it is not even Gloria U2 - a cover of Van Morrison. See, this is false / misleading advertising. Bummer.
For all its faults, however, Rattle and Hum is still very pleasing to my library. I've been a fan of U2 since their early establishment and, finally, have a nice DVD. Still, I wish I could get us a little something 'special. It would be nice to see the DVD version of the band's Zoo TV tour. When I saw the concert live, I can tell you it was nothing short of amazing - full media attack on the senses. What is a record that could be done! Meanwhile, if the Rattle and Hum is the best we can now ... I'll gladly take.
