U2: Vertigo 2005 - Live from Chicago (2005)

Nice effects though.

Good , But It Is Overrated By Some

Great movie. Not sure what people expected but I found it highly entertaining.

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

This show nearly calms my despair of losing U2. I think that their album (HTDAAB) was much better than the previous one thus giving them a lot more songs to touch us! Next, the set design was cool because it summarized all their previous projects but in a more friendly way: running colors (as Popmart), circled staged (as Elevation), video screens (as Zoo TV).Next, they put at least new songs in their track list: "electric co", cat dubh", "40".At last, Bono can show all his traits without hiding them behind masks: he is playful and funny ("cat dubh"), moving (speaking about his father on "SYCMIOYO"), caring (when he invited a child on "into the heart") and politician (with the flags!).But as their previous shows, when they turn to their hits or have weak new songs ("love and piece or else"), they are deadly boring! As in "discotheque", they can reach but still they can't grab the perfect show!

You see, this is the problem with reviewing a title after the prolific Theo Robertson has already done it; you end up writing a review that either spends a couple of paragraphs agreeing with him or simply repeating what he has said. He tends to have good taste and put his opinion forward really well and it leaves the rest of us poor b*ggers with little to say! He is correct when he talks about how strong a concert this is for U2 fans. Having been born and bred in Northern Ireland I am contractually obliged to lack rhythm, be cynical, have an acerbic sense of humour and like U2, so naturally I enjoyed this concert film.The range of tracks is one of the biggest selling points, everything from the recent Vertigo back to classics from Joshua Tree etc. It does make the concert feel slightly more special and honest, because it doesn't feel like they are there just as part of selling their latest wares. The variety also means there are very few weaker album tracks – it isn't quite a greatest hits tour but, like Theo says, it shows respect to the fan base by basically saying "we know you are here for the last 20 years, not just the last album" and I must admit I appreciated that aspect of the concert. The circular stage didn't come across that well on the screen mainly because the camera always ensured we had a good view. Personally I'm not sure if it does make for a better gig because I've only ever been to concerts in smaller venues with a set stage – never really been one for whom stadium gigs appeal.The one downside is that Bono has become a bit full of himself and, even though the fans in the stadium on these two nights lapped it up, I wasn't that impressed. Another reviewer said he was almost a caricature of himself – I can't say it better than that so I'll steal their words. Particularly hard to swallow were the moments where he was pretty pretentious; his prayer and his "all religions" headband were just grating and the fact that a cheering crowd didn't cover it in my front room highlighted it as rather more embarrassing. Luckily the overall performance covers up for moments like this and the actual delivery from the group as a whole.Overall then a fine concert film for fans of U2 with sufficient hits to make it accessible and of value to the casual viewer. Yes Bono is a bit of a prat at times but this doesn't take too much away from the total performance. The track selection is good, the stage presence is good and with a good sound system the audience reactions come over well. Well worth seeing for U2 fans.

I have to admit that I do like a lot of U2's music. I also thought this was a really good concert. Good production, good sound - they still know how to work an audience.My only gripe (and here's where I offend someone) is that I have a hard time watching U2 now because of Bono. In the last 10-15 years I'll admit that he has done a lot of impressive things in the humanitarian arena, but for God's sake, take off the friggin' glasses. At this point he has become a literal cartoon of himself. I honestly think that the ridicule he gets from the media because of this persona he has developed detracts from the band as a whole.Is he afraid that his eyes will blind us in some sort of supernatural display of his God-like powers? I just don't know. I doubtthat I ever will know.I suppose it's sort of like Bryan Adams wearing the same white t-shirt and denim jacket from 1983 to 1998.But that's my opinion...

What makes this concert better than say something from U2's RATTLE AND HUM era is summed up by the first song . Halfway through Vertigo Bono sings " There's a place I go and I am far away " which are the lyrics to Stories For Boys a song that was written away back in 1979 . We're also treated ( And it is a treat ) to The Electric Co a song from U2's first album Boy from 1980 It's a truly great mix of songs from the bands different eras , we hear Sunday Bloody Sunday from War , Running To Stand Still from The Joshua Tree , Mysterious Ways from Actung Baby and Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own from their latest album . This is showing respect for their audience , imagine you've followed every tour from the early 1990s . What would you prefer as a fan ? Seeing Bono and the boys perform most of their latest album or hear an eclectic mix of tunes from the last 25 years ? If this video is anything to go by the Vertigo tour might just be the best ever Respect too on the way the stage is set up . All too often the stage at concerts are very static but here we see an oval stage in the centre of the crowd where Bono , Edge Adam and even Larry swap positions throughout the concert so everyone in the audience has a shot of being near the action . Again the fans are being shown respect by the band If you're a die hard fan you'll want to watch this but perhaps more importantly if you're a casual music fan you'll also want to see this simply because it shows why U2 are the most successful band of the last 25 years . Highly recommended