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Summary: Backlash (?)
Review: Backlash. That was the word to describe the reception that this film and album got when it was released 13 years ago. U2 got slammed by the media and public for overexposure and posturing when RATTLE AND HUM first came out. They were criticized for (a) taking themselves too seriously (b) trying to ingratiate themselves with rock and roll's legends (c) trying to put themselves up with those same rock and roll legends. Thirteen years later this film and album still hold up as one of rock and roll's finest live albums by one of rock's best acts. Revisiting RATTLE AND HUM in 2001, I can make the following conclusions: (1) yes, U2 did take themselves seriously, but when they didn't they were also criticized (as evidenced in the Pop album and Popmart Tour) so the critics can't have it both ways and (2) U2 can take their rightful place amongst the rock legends they were fans of. After 20+ years, they've proved themselves time and time again and they've earned it.
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Summary: Rock History
Review: First and foremost this DVD provides an excellent Dolby Digital rendition of many of U2's greatest songs of the 80's. Excellent concert footage is complimented with documentary footage both on and off the stage during their triumphant Joshua Tree tour.
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Summary: It's a musical Journey....
Review: Having never been to a U2 concert, but still being a fan of their music, I bought this DVD to experience the band at the height of their artistic powers, and let me tell you, it did not disappoint one bit. If you're fortunate enough to have a decoder with a "Live Stadium" setting, this would be the DVD to play it on. Tracks that particularly stood out were "bullet the blue sky" and "with or without you", both of which highlighted the band's excellent showmanship with the use of very effective stage lighting. Not too be missed also is Bono's political statement made in "Sunday Bloody Sunday", finished of nicely with "in the name of love". If you don't get goosebumps at some stage of watching this....you're probably dead. The ultimate concert DVD by far
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Summary: U2's musical journeys in America
Review: Rattle and Hum came on the heels of the Joshua Tree tour and followed the band on its self-described "musical journey" through America. Most of the footage is in grainy black and white for the documentary segments, and finer detail for the concert excerpts. Some songs are in colour but they don't arrive until later in the film. The reason for this has something to do with the mood of the song as felt by the band. "With or Without You" and "Where The Streets Have No Name" are in colour showing the tour delivering what the fans want, while songs like "Pride" and "Silver and Gold" give another slant on the performance. There are some really great onstage camera panning moments, placing you right with the band instead of just in front of them. The video image is anamorphic (1.85:1) and is a mixed bag because of the combination grainy documentary segments to the higher quality concert scenes. The sound mix also varies. I found "Where the Streets..." had the bass level too quiet for my liking but it picked up in different songs. The extras are limited to one movie trailer, a bit disappointing. If you are a U2 fan then this title should find a place in your collection right now.
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Summary: Just amazing
Review: Well, it's such an amazing video, if u like U2, u gotta have it. It's the best band of the whole world.
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Summary: great but misleading!
Review: Just received this DVD (from...-they had the best price) and it's great but I am a little upset that I was misled by the notion of "11 bonus songs". Where are they? Where is Sympathy for the Devil, Gloria or Ruby Tuesday???? Are they referring to the couple of lines they sing at the end of "Bad"?
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Summary: Outside it's america
Review: I already had the album Rattle and Hum when I first saw the movie. I didn't care about the gospel 'still haven;t found' or the 'freedom for my people' until I saw the film. this is a musical journey through the roots of american music where U2 found their inspiration for a lot of songs. perfect..
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Summary: Into The Arms Of America
Review: Rattle & Hum is a documterary of U2's 1987 tour of America. Director Phil Joanou follows the band to New York, Texas, Memphis, San Francisco, Denver and Arizona. The movie is shot in black and white for the most part until the end when a couple of concert sequences appear in color. The sharp contrast is startling and gives the film an added power. One of the more poignant scenes is the band's visit to Graceland and Sun Studios as the visit the cradle of rock 'n' roll. For four guys from Dublin, Ireland this visit is like a visit to the Holy Land and it is treated with justifiable reverence. While the interviews and look at the behind the scenes are nice, the meat of any rock film are the live performances and U2 does not disappoint. Their performance of "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" with a Harlem choir in a church is uplifting. The do a gut wrenching take on "Sunday Bloody Sunday" and haunting version of "With Or Without You". They practically explode off the screen with the rampaging "Bullet The Blue Sky". Rattle & Hum is a must for any U2 fan and now that fourteen years have past and the band has changed its image and look a couple of times, it is interesting to look at them in a simpler time.
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Summary: A band in transition
Review: Rattle and Hum presents U2 at a moment of time when they were still a band possessed with the innocent romanticism of The Joshua Tree but beginning to teeter over into pretention and self-importance. Fortunately, the band was intelligent and self-aware enough to avoid falling completely into those traps. As a concert movie, this movie is one of the best I've ever seen. The off-stage stuff can be a little uneven. To answer the previous reviewer who wondered about the "extra 11 tracks:" They are simply referring to the fact that there are 11 songs in the film that do not appear on the soundtrack album (and several songs on the CD that aren't in the movie).
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Summary: Great DVD, but where are the extras?
Review: This DVD is very entertaining, but, how do you access the 11 extra tracks not included on the CD version of Rattle & Hum? If you know this answer, please write a review with the answer included, and clear up some confusion. I really want to see the extra tracks, or at least hear them. THANKS!
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