Uno, Dos Tres: U2 Rock Out in 3D

Photo: moviestripe.com

Screened at the Singapore Science Centre at $15 a ticket, U2 3D offered a new kind of musical experience for little more than the price of watching a movie. A complimentary poster was also given out with each ticket.

U2 3D showcases footage from the Irish rock band's Vertigo tour. It was filmed on the final leg of the tour in South America, mostly in Argentina and Brazil.

Lead singer Bono makes the most of the 3D effect. Photo: outnow.ch

To enhance the sensation of being in the crowd, many of the shots were positioned behind the audience, hands waving and camera phones sticking out. But it was the varied close-ups and arial shots that made the biggest difference, as it would be impossible to view the band from those angles if in the audience.

“It was a nice, new experience,” said U2 fan Allyson Tan, 27, one of TWG's viewing companions. “You get the feel of being there even though you know you are watching a movie.”

But what about movie goers who are not familiar with U2's music? Beth Peng, 17, who also enjoyed the show, reckons it would still be worth a watch. “I think it would be quite interesting even for non-U2 fans. It's something different, and they would probably enjoy a few of the songs anyway.”

U2 are known to promote various humanitarian causes, such as peace in the Middle East. Photo: ppanlwk.wordpress.com

Despite the fun, there were a few areas where the experience fell short. The Omnimax theatre was under renovation, so the film was screened at a temporary cinema at the Annex. “The whole cinema was too bright and the screen was too small. It made us very conscious of the fact that we were watching a movie,” Allyson explained. She added that if she could watch the film on the Omnimax's panoramic round screen instead, it would have been a lot more exciting.

Still, considering the critical praise that U2 3D has received internationally, we might well see a new trend in concert films in the next year or two. If you have never seen your favourite band perform live in Singapore, a watching a 3D movie of their tour might be the next best thing. The Science Centre will be screening U2 3D until February 27 2011, and tickets are first come first serve.

More information can be found here.

Due to cinema restrictions, TWG did not take any photos inside the cinema.

TWG RATING: 7/10.

Preview clips (although not in 3D, obviously)