Customer Reviews

U2: 360° at the Rose Bowl [Blu-ray]

5 star:		(33)
4 star:		(22)
3 star:		(13)
2 star:		(17)
1 star:		(19)

 

 

Long time fan since early 80's. Own it all. Seen them on several tours. I like the band. Seen their concert films. Was particularly moved and impressed with the U23D I saw at imax. This U2360 Blu-ray is very hard to watch. Put simply. How does the biggest band in the world. With the biggest stage and production in one of the biggest venues in the US not consider the home viewer of this DVD? One needs to capture the concert experience. The majesty of the set. The narrative of the songs and flow of the show. They have done this before in their other video releases. Other artists like Peter Gabriel and countless others get this concept. Apparently the director and editor of this production did not. Jump cuts and shaky footage can be useful for effect and to make visual points and are great when they are used sparingly. But when not a single shot lasts more than 3 seconds and there are jarring zooms and pans in them...You get a mess. We have split screens. Super imposed shots. Quick shot of Bono's shoes to a quick shot of the back of Larry's head. Those things work in a 4-5 minute song video..But a live concert has to take you there. I think of New Years day at Red Rocks. I think of Exit in Rattle and Hum. I think of Origin of Species in U23D as amazing moments of u2 on video. This concert film does not have those moments and it is not because of the performance, the sound, or their material which is great...It is because the editor and director approached this like a communication student that just got final cut pro. I will watch it again because I own it. Maybe dig around on the disc menu for alternate shots. Or just treat it like a really expensive live CD.

I'm giving this a bad review based solely on the technical aspects of the disc. The video quality is absolutely terrible. For a Blu-ray I expected so much more. The video is grainy, overexposed and all-in-all very sub-par. At first I thought maybe the look was an intentional effect that would pass. I even checked my Blu-ray player settings just to make sure it wasn't my machine. Having seen the other comments on here about the video I have to sadly accept that's the way it is. It's too bad. Having seen the 360 tour and the spectacular stage show it's a real shame this is how they chose to capture it. My standard definition DVD of the 2005 Vertigo tour looks much better than this disc. Someone else said the streaming YouTube video looks better and they're right. It does.

Some have commented about the editing looking more like a music video than a live concert, and I agree it does. It doesn't bother me too much, although I would have preferred just a straight-forward approach as opposed to all the overlays, dissolves, composite images, etc.

The concert itself is good. Bono and the boys sound good (although Bono's voice isn't what it used to be) and the set list is varied, although why they chose to leave the opening song "Breathe" out of the main concert and make it a "bonus feature" is puzzling.

I wish Bono a successful and speedy recovery from his recent injury and I hope to see U2 back out on the 360 tour soon. It would be nice to see them live again since the Blu-ray does a real injustice to the experience I remember.

as others have said --- the quality is like a regular DVD this is not high definition by any means and cutting from one band member to another gets old REALLY fast. I honestly think Bono told them not to film him in HD so it wouldn't show their age or something. I know it WAS filmed in HD because the YOUTUBE live video was more clear than this "blu-ray" (audio wasn't as good as this tho). My wife even asked me if the DVD was bootleg!!!!!!! It just looks like the put some digital garbage on it to make it look like a standard def DVD...and sometimes WORSE than standard DVD.

and WHY is BREATHE not the first track!?!?!?!?!??! (its a 'bonus' track)

ok, good points -- Bono actually sounds damn good throughout the DVD -- especially on Unforgettable Fire....and of course The Edge and the others sound good too.

I have seen many reviews regarding the quick switch of the taping..each shot lasting only a few seconds. I can understand one's fustration over this style of editing. I have viewed the past two U2 releases...'Vertigo 2005' and The Elevation Tour from Boston, both filmed by Hamish Hamilton, whose editing is quite annoying. But with the new 'Rose Bowl' video, I was pleasantly surprised. The editing wasn't as bad as the previous videos listed, the sound is very good, and my only complaint is the editing of their now famous intro and the performance of 'Breathe'. Aside from this, the dvd is actually very good, with the exception of the ending of 'Moment of Surrender' and we should be watching U2 taking their bows and walking off stage. Instead, we are transported back into the spaceship and the credits roll.

If you want to see a great opening, I mean 'Space Oddity' playing from the very beginning, as you hear a fan state....'Here we go'...go to YouTube...type in U2 Dallas..then scroll down until you see U2 Dallas-10/12/2009-Intro & Breathe. The length is 10:24. Trust me, this is a very good version of the intro and song. Watch this first, then right after, start the dvd.

Get well soon Bono!!

I've been a U2 fan for a long time and travelled hundreds of miles to see U2's opening night show at Soldier Field in September '09. What I wanted out of this video is something that would be a momento of that tour, regardless of the fact that this DVD was at the end of the tour, the setlist is similar and of course the show and band were fantastic.

I put this disk in the player only to find that some marketing genius decided it would be a good idea to SKIP THE FIRST f-ing song!!!!! When you go to a show there's a sense of excitement and build-up as the entrance music plays, as the band takes the stage, and as the first few riffs of the first song bounce off the audience creating that huge wave of joy. This video doesn't represent the tour as I remember it simply by the fact they cut all of that out and went to the second song.

I understand they are trying to push the HD/Blu-ray medium, and they included Breathe as a bonus feature, but to edit it out of the beginning of the main presentation just suck in every way.

I'm sorry but this is EPIC FAIL in my book and whoever came up with this idea should be required to do nothing more than ask "do you want fries with that" as a career.

I'm sorry but this doesn't get more than a single star for this reason alone.

I have just watched the blu-ray of this concert and have been blown away. I was a bit nervous after reading some of the negative reviews here, but as an owner of almost every U2 concert available on DVD I must say this one ranks as one of my top 3 (with Slane and Zoo TV - with Red Rocks just a little behind) as an exciting and explosive entertainment experience.

Trust me - the editing is great - it suits each song (check out Vertigo) - and adds to the excitement (it does not jump around all the time, there are long shots when there need to be). U2 are in great form as well, sounding much better than on the Vertigo tour DVD.

The stage and lighting are incredible, the setlist is great (nice to see and hear a few songs we haven't seen before - like Ultra Violet and In A Little While). I like 'Pride' as much as the next fan but have heard quite enough of it for now. The only minor quibble is I would like the band to play something off Pop again.

The extras are fun, it's nice to have the promo videos from the new album, the Berlin timelapse was interesting - did it really take 2-3 days to set everything up? Wow. Nice booklet as well.

The sound and video quality were fantastic on my setup (I watched on a large screen projector with dts sound). The blu-ray defaults to stereo so I'm wondering if some reviewers here didn't know to switch to the multi-channel sound.

Like they say - you can't please all the people all the time - but I would suggest running to the nearest store (or putting this in your Amazon basket) without delay if you like U2 or have been wondering what all the fuss is about - this is entertainment at its best.

I was fortunate enough to pick this up early, but as luck would have it, that was not the case. The video quality is pretty bad; certainly not what I am accustomed to with Blu-Ray. Luckily, it is the same price as the "standard" DVD version, because they must look about the same. Overall, I am quite disappointed with U2's first live Blu-Ray offering.

That's how I feel about this Blu Ray Concert. I saw the concert live in YouTube and I enjoyed so much that when I saw it for purchase in blu ray I jump right away. What a waste! They change everything! Don't even open the concert with the right song. The filming is obscure and cameras jump like a kangaroo. Is very hard to watch. Also the sound is not great. I like the concert even when they do not sing most of their hits songs but the filming sincerly sucks!

I will start by saying that I have just about every Live U2 DVD released including the Slane Castle Gig, Sydney Australia, Mexico City, Chicago, Red Rocks & Milan.
The cinematography with switching & fades capturing the complexity of their songs at this Rose Bowl gig is PHENOMENAL!! Considering the scope and size of this 360 stage; the state of the art cameras flying and rotating bring you to a place that is simply unattainable from being there live and actually brings the "concert experience" or should I say Reexperience? to a whole new level.
Millions of people watched this unparalleled theatrical show live around the globe. It starts with a powerful, nearly flawless, version of "Get on your Boots" and "Magnificent" and encouraging performances of "Beautiful Day" "In a little while" "until the end of the World" (incredible Camera work) "The unforgettable fire", "I'll go Crazy" is enlightening. Later in the show a message to Iran, "This is United States Calling" to "all who love freedom" for those persecuted in Iranian prisons followed by an emotional version of "Sunday Bloody Sunday" It is profound to see the fans singing along with "Amazing grace" leading into "Where the streets have no name" or witness music transcend politics and borders in SO Cal during "Vertigo"... & wrapping up with an awesome version of "Moment Of Surrender"
Each song performed that evening has it's own little story. No other band has been able to generate this type of global response & bring a genuine intimacy to this SIZE of a venue. It is really quite amazing and quite honestly super natural, in its own "mysterious way"

Before watching this show I did not care too much for their new album... but now I am discovering new things about each song as I watch this memorable evening in 2009 that was captured on film.

Regarding poor reviews...
What the whiners do not understand (Now I know why Bono wrote the song with or without you) is that this show was in Los Angeles!! the whole concert is geared to honor Hollywood and LA! that includes special effects and color!! and this is supposed to be through the eyes of a spaceship!
At the intro, the Ariel view of the Rose Bowl completely filled with a enormous crowd glowing in Neon Blue is unprecedented... People complaining about a "grainy" look to this HD concert? Maybe they did not notice that they used colored lighting almost exclusively?? HD is not going to have a "SHARP" picture you expect in this type of lighting environment!!
In my opinion it was refreshingly different, with almost surreal type effects the band & fans at times seem to glow in neon colors almost like a blend between Tron, Terminator and Fantasia!! The fast switching is executed between the musicians and the songs in a genius type manner, catching the emotions of the band and venue dancing back and forth between every note of their dynamic and ever changing music & melodies.
The audio recording & mixing with "360" surround in Dolby Digital is awesome!
After 30 years of singing Rock and Roll and touring more than any other band... I was impressed with Bono's voice, unbelievable energy & grace for this show.
Yes I too, can not wait for U23D live from Argentina to be released! But in the mean-time I am thoroughly enjoying this magic night that was captured at the Rose Bowl USA.

The editing is such that you will get a headache if you watch it too long. No shot is stationary everything is panning around the entire time and when it isn't it is a montage of multiple angles. Then no shot lasts for longer than one or two seconds. It is best to just listen to it and not watch. I had watched it on youtube the night when it was live and I can't remember it jumping around so much.
I did manage to catch the tour when it was near me. I had expensive seats that where behind the stage. I left feeling very disappointed that I pretty much only got to see the backs of their heads for the entire show. I had gone in thinking I had great seats since they where so close, how wrong I was. Sooo if you are planning to get to one of the future shows, don't bother buying seats in the back because the only thing 360 about the show is the video board.
Long time fan here.
I was at the Joshua Tree show at RFK in DC. Been to many other shows even multiple times on the same U2 tour. I am pretty sure the 360 will be my last.