Movie Review: U23D

National Geographic and IMAX theaters typically partner up for films about immoveable objects or forces of nature. The Grand Canyon. The Pacific Ocean.

How fitting that their newest film features the band U2, the lads from Dublin, Ireland that have been churning out a steady stream of innvotive, arena-ready post-punk for 30 years.

U23D is unlike any concert film before it. The 3-D technology that is used in the film, brought to us by a company called 3ality, is as different from your last 3-D movie as playing in the band is different than listening to it. I'm not into the gimmicky 3-D films and tricks. This film, however, places you in the middle of the action, to the extent that I think I'd rather see U2's next live show at the IMAX rather than the Staples center.

The 3-D effects are put to particularly good use during the section of the concert that throws back to the band's ZooTV era.

Bono, the Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr. play their hearts out, blending entertainment, spiritual uplift, politcal propaganda and postmodern wordplay like no other band. And they're just not losing any fans. The breathtaking scenes that pan across these enormous stadiums make it seem that everyone on the continent showed up for this particular concert.

I have only two complaints. First, the sound was actually too quiet.

The second is subtler. The editing was so great, that it threw me off when in one scene Bono seems to be greeting Brazilians. Then, later, he's addressing Argentines. I thought the guy lost track of where he was, but it turns out that they combined footage from concerts in Brazil, Argentina, and even Australia for the film. You won't belieive it, the editing is so seamless.

The film is rated G. I regret not having brought my family, friends, church...I can't recommend it enough.

On a related note...I've bookmarked a great video interview that Bono gave to Bill Hybels, a well-known megachurch pastor. In it, Bono gives a convincing argument for creating more justice in the world, especially in Africa. Here's the first of 8 videos. If you'd like to see the rest (and I recommend you do), visit the Hemet Home Loan Guy's youtube channel and click on playlists.

Joey Aszterbaum is the Hemet Home Loan Guy and a member of the Active Rain social network of real estate professionals. To buy or refinance real estate in Hemet, Riverside or California, visit www.JoeyLoans.com or call 951.285.1012