U2 - Rattle and Hum

Rating:
Summary: A tribute to the group who wanted to pay tribute!
Review: This film is not only a must-see for every U2 fan, but it is also an opportunity to understand the origins of some of the best music released in the 1980's. The movie's celebration of many facets of American music shows the world's biggest band as eager fans and appreciators of their colleagues - both living and dead. The idea is not to analyze whether you are seeing a documentary or a concert film; the power of the music enchants you, and the cinematography effectively puts you "in the moment" with the band. A great film that can be seen over and over, and an important contribution to musical history.

Rating:
Summary: This one's a sucker!
Review: What would you call a video about a band travelling through America without a single sensible thread holding it together? A sucker!

Rating:
Summary: A Must See for U2 Fans
Review: A true documentary of an Irish band in America. I really enjoyed seeing the members of the band being interviewed and sharing their thoughts on different subjects. I also enjoyed the scenes from the different concerts around the United States from the Rattle and Hum tour. I own all the U2 albums and this was a great addition to my U2 collection.

Rating:
Summary: If you love U2, you love this video. Its as simple as that.
Review: This video excursion (a "musical journey," according to Larry Mullen Jr.) takes the viewer behind the scenes on U2's Joshua Tree tour. Some of the highlights are a pilgrimmage to Graceland, the recording of "Angel of Harlem" in the famous Sun Studios in Memphis, and -- my personal favorite -- the best rendition of "Bad" you will ever set ears to.

Rating:
Summary: U2's great & misunderstood rock film comes to DVD
Review: I have always loved U2's "Rattle and Hum", both the movie, and the acompanying soundtrack album. Both managed to catch U2 at what I consider to be the height of their artistic powers. Now that this film has come to DVD, I now appreciate it even more! The sound and picture quality is superb - in fact you should listen to it through a good set of headphones if you can! While some have complained about the "grainy" black and white photography that dominates most of the movie, I find that it really sets a mood and adds a unique dimension - a song like the dark and imposing "Exit" just would not be same filmed with bright colors and flashing lights! The interview segments are nice, especially when we get to hear drummer Larry Mullen Jr. speak about his hero Elvis, but it is the music that is the rightful focus of the movie. Songs from "The Joshua Tree" are heavily featured, including an emotional version of "Running To Stand Still" that surpasses the studio recording. Ditto for the aforementioned version of "Exit"...Wow! Other highlights include the "Angel of Harlem" recording sessions at Sun Studios, a live performance of the anti-aparthied anthem "Silver and Gold", a powerhouse version of "Desire" taken from the tour rehersals, a dark and menacing concert version of "Bullet the Blue Sky", and an emotional re-working of "Sunday Bloody Sunday", which is perhaps the esential version of that song! Bono is an engaging presence throughout the film, and it is obvious that he really poured his heart and soul into these performances. (I really wish that Bono would take himself this "seriously" again, rather than performing that "rock star parody" character that he has taken to in recent years) If you love the music of U2, then just ignore the critics and buy this movie! Those narrow-minded critics simply didn't understand the premise of this film, or the band who inspired it! "Rattle & Hum" is the story of four guys who loved rock-n-roll so much that the dedicated their entire lives to it...it's a simple as that!

Rating:
Summary: U2 AT THEIR BEST!
Review: I bought this masterpiece on VHS when it was first introduced to us back in 1988 and needless to say, it has been played hundreds of times over the past 17 years. the very first time I watched this incredible documentary/live concert footage of U2, It sent chills down my spine.
Following them since the early 1980s, and being amazed at how much this band had grown in just those few short years.
My particular favorite footage is "Where The Streets Have No Name". The most incredible version I have ever heard live.
I would have loved to been among the many fortunate fans who attended that concert at The Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona. Simply Awesome is all that I can say...
Bono also gave an incredible preformance of " Bad", "With Or Without You", and of course The Edge's Edgiest, "Bullet The Blue Sky".
Rattle and Hum remains at the top of my list as the " Best of the Best"! Ihave worn that VHS out and I have replaced it on DVD
and with total surround sound, I appreciate it even more.
U2 is certainly without a doubt, A Legend In Their Own Time....

Rating:
Summary: For a larger than life band the DVD is "ordinary"...
Review: I wouldn't put this in the same class in concert film as "The Last Waltz" or "Stop Making Sense" and Tom Waits' "Big Time" except for the concert scenes shot in color.

My opinion is that this and Pennebaker's "Depeche Mode 101" are on par with each other as well as "Elvis on Tour" and not as "dippy" as "Song Remains the Same". I recommend giving "Joshua Tree" a listen again as well as checking out "Classic Albums: Joshua Tree" to put it on before or after watching "R&H". I also feel that there's a treasure trove of outtakes they recorded and filmed around 1987-1989 that should be packaged with both "Joshua Tree" and "R&H".

You can almost hear the band and director wanting to title this one "Outside It's America" because that's where the film takes place... strangers in a strange land, so to speak.

It mixes documentary of U2 on the road without going in the tour bus. You get some backstage footage and recording in Memphis at the hallowed Sun Studios and going to Graceland playing tourist as well as an impromptu concert in San Francisco (not unlike "Where the Streets Have No Name"), but when they are on stage, it's riveting... you get noir-like black and white for most of the concerts except for the footage shot in Phoenix that just looks fantastic and sounds great throughout.

The DVD itself is just "ho-hum", yet there is just cause to package this one beautifully...

The main one is that there is still a lot of interest in the "Joshua Tree" era material, in 2007 will be 20 years old, yet is still a lot of people's favorite.

1: Include the CD and extend the CD into 2, to include more songs. B-sides from the singles included: "Hallelujah Here She Comes", "Everlasting Love", "A Room At The Heartbreak Hotel", "Dancing Barefoot", and "Unchained Melody" (most if not all are on "1980-1990" greatest hits, but it would be great if included on the CD as well as some live cuts.

2: The Lovetown tour they did after the film came out that was shown on MTV in 1989 before they would revamp themselves in the 90s.

3: The promo videos for "All I Want Is You", "Angel of Harlem" and "Desire" as well as "Merry Christmas" filmed by Phil Joanou..

4: The staggering amount of outtakes: One Tree Hill (which wound up on best of 80-90 VHS) Unforgettable Fire, Mothers of the Disappeared, Spanish Eyes, 40, New Years Day, Trip Through Your Wires, Out of Control, Stand By Me, People Get Ready, Bono in a cast continuing to tour, and hours upon hours of outtakes and TV appearances surrounding this particular tour... It would be great to see at least one full-length concert as well because the film partially captures what it was about them that people wanted more of... It was a time when they were at the top of their game as performers before they would play even bigger venues.

Phil Joanou's directed a film years later with Stephen Dorff called "Entropy" (not on DVD but might find on Lifetime Channel or VHS here), a thinly veiled story about making this film (which has U2 in cameo scenes) and had recently (as of Jan. 05) directed their "All Because of You" video in the streets of New York City.

Highly recommended, borderline on the essential, but it's a film that should definitely have the kitchen sink and is worthy of being a Criterion box set release.

Rating:
Summary: Oh. My goodness.
Review: It's easy, in these iPod-era times, to forget why we originally fell in love with U2. We still listen to "The Joshua Tree" and think that "I Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" is one of the best songs ever written in all of human history. But somewhere between "Achtung Baby" and "Atomic Bomb" Bono morphed into "the fly" we started taking U2 for granted, knowing they would always make good music (even "Pop" was listenable)(I just lost a ton of "helpful" votes saying that anything U2 does isn't perfect) but we forgot when they were great.
That's what this video is for.
I was introduced to Rattle and Hum by my wife. One day I was going through her CD collection because I was tired of mine, and came across the Rattle and Hum CD. I put it in, and couldn't belive my ears. This was U2 times seventy, "Why didn't anyone tell me there was music like this in the world?" I asked her. She smiled understandingly and said, "You should see the video." Then she gave me the video for my birthday. It was the best present ever.
Rattle and Hum writes in blazing lines of fire across your soul. There is intensity, passion, and raw rock and roll energy that surges through you and makes you see the world completely differently. If this video doesn't move you, you are clinically dead.
From Bono's classic reclaimation of "Helter Skelter" to the fading decrecendo of "All I Waint Is You", what you see is a rock and roll band at the top of their form, but still young enough and humble enough to adapt to blues and gospel along the way.
I can't explain it. Buy it, turn the lights off, take the phone off the hook, watch it, and 90 minutes later you will understand. Then you can write your own incoherent review. But at least you will know.

Rating:
Summary: U2 al 100%
Review: indiscutiblemente su mejor epoca esta aqui en este dvd no me agrada mucho blnco y negro pero ami gusto sigue siendoel mejor dvd comparado con live en boston ,go home,live from sidney,popmart en mexico y otro que esta gravado en 1983under a blood red sky COMPRALO NO TE ARREPENTIRAS!

Rating:
Summary: a must
Review: This is one of the ultimate rock movies for me. It ranks alongside The Beatles "A Hard Day's Night." It doesn't really have a story though. It's closer to a concert video, but instead of showing a single concert, it puts together some of the best performances of U2's Rattle and Hum tour. There are quite a few masterpiece performances in the movie. Of particular note is "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" which takes place in a Harlem church with a full choir. It's a very moving performance. Also I really loved "Angel of Harlem" which was performed in the Sun Studio in Memphis. It's the use of these kinds of unique performances that make this special. For fans of U2's 80's songs, this is the ultimate collection. It's a must have for every U2 fan.