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Band:U2 DVD:Zoo Tour Released by:Interscope Records Writer: Carisa Media: U2.com Click Album Cover To Buy Now

I have to say that I am a HUGE U2 fan, and have passed this passion to my daughter. A full blown fight occurred when we received the Zoo Tour DVD – not over who would watch it first but over who would get the stickers. Yes, stickers. The DVD booklet contains high quality stickers to place on your cola can. A veritable marketing fest! We were quite excited, and my husband who usually only tolerates my passion for Bono declared the first sticker would be his – Zoo Cola complete with barcode and recycling symbol.

Not one to watch MTV, one of the few bands I enjoy watching is U2. They probe my political consciousness, entertain me, make me laugh and cringe simultaneously, and make me appreciate being a woman. This engages me in their music, along with their videos and performances. Going into this I had pretty high standards. This is even better than the real thing. The picture is crisp – each detail sharp right down to the sweat on Bono’s brow. During The Fly, words flash by you just as they do the audience. In essence, your TV becomes part of the huge bank of televisions behind U2 on the stage. All of those messages U2 wants us to consider, not consider, or just plain wonder at flash by at super speed. As part of this audience, you are in the front row (luckily, not being crushed by the pack of people the camera occasionally pans in on) seeing parts of the concert that would be lost at a distance live. The dancer in Mysterious Ways gives a vivid performance– throwing her scarf to Bono in a finale that has you up and gyrating with her. Then, there’s Bono. My nearly four year old walked in and saw Bono filming himself. We had quite a few giggles at this point. It’s that instant appeal and goofiness that keeps U2 entertaining and fresh, and keep this video rolling. There is a certain artisanship and attention to detail. For example, Dirty Day fades completely into darkness and the televisions become boxes of color in a rather Mondrian-esque touch. I’ve wanted to see that for years. The DVD booklet states, “Average field of view from the human eye: 270%.” It is clear through that U2 aimed to capture all 270% of your view.

After buying the Live From Slane Castle, Ireland DVD and having it never quite work, I was pleased that this DVD doesn’t suffer the same problems. Zoo Tour starts immediately when inserted, but never fear, just hit the menu button on your remote. It gives the option of going between the songs, in addition to some sound options. The sound quality is amazing. You don’t have to turn it up loud to get the music over the crowd. The guitar solos from The Edge make you want to weep. Bono’s voice is incredible (although he nearly killed it on this tour by smoking). You never get that live band disappointment. Hook this up to your most powerful speakers – it’s just like being in the stadium. There are also points where you are transported back to the MTV moments – they recreate some of the video effects of Zoo Tour like the black and white screen with ripples to simulate old televisions, a split screen of The Edge on Numb with the footage of historic military processions, and slow motions of the dancer in Mysterious Ways. Plus, there are points where you feel like the band is in the studio jamming, like in Angel of Harlem. The mark of a great performance is that the crowd gets caught up in the action. This DVD accomplishes that most admirably. When you cry as Martin Luther King Jr. appears on the televisions during Pride, you will know that U2 can still sweep you away.

This is a great DVD for a concert night with friends. I thought it would be good as background noise, but I found myself stopping to watch instead. I was disappointed my version didn’t have all the spiffy bios and special features contained on a second disk. Instead I will be out in the stores buying it, which is probably the best for my mother/daughter relationship, because then we will have an extra copy of not only the concert DVD for my daughter to steal, but extra stickers!

Band:U2 DVD:Zoo Tour Released by:Interscope Records Writer: Carisa Media: U2.com Click Album Cover To Buy Now

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