Product Details

• Actors: Bono, Adam Clayton, Larry Mullen Jr., The Edge, Robert Hughes
• Directors: David Mallet
• Writers: Andy Schatzberg
• Producers: Andy Schatzberg
• Format: Color, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Polygram Video
• VHS Release Date: May 17, 1994
• Run Time: 120 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (46 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6303092128
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #270,282 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Ambition bites the nails of success.", April 8, 2004

By 

Brian (Cleveland, OH) - See all my reviews

This review is from: U2 - Zoo TV Live from Sydney [VHS] (VHS Tape)

If somehow you were living in a cave during the early 90's, you probably still would have heard of ZOO TV, the most ambitious tour in history. Just in case you don't know much about it, here's some background. U2 were the biggest band in the world in the 80's, but they got sick of their holier-than-thou image and making music with the simple "3 chords and the truth" style that defined their music, and which they conquered the world with in the 80's. The band nearly broke up while making "Achtung Baby," in 1991. The band survived but knew it was time for a change, in order to keep themselves and their massive fan base interested. They decided to become and simultaneously parody decadent rock-stars. To do this, they staged the most ambitious, decadent and awesome tour in history (and dated supermodels including the bassist, Adam, hooking up with Naomi Campbell, yup, Naomi:-). ZOO TV used over 36 video monitors (to parody MTV and CNN,shoving TV in the faces of fans, they used a barrage of images,half-baked subliminal messages,satellite tv from around the world, and live-feed of the war-torn people in Sarajevo- although not in this show). They also used multiple trabants (beaten-up junker cars suspended above the stage, many of them now reside suspended from the ceiling at the rock and roll hall of fame),video confessionals (which were often both funny and haunting, though none are on this tape), 2 stages (one that comes out in the middle of HUGE, and I mean mindblowingly HUGE crowds), a belly dancer (who would later become the guitarist's wife), Bono as different characters ("The Fly" and "Macphisto" on this tape, he also dressed as "mirrorball man" to parody televagelists during the american leg of the tour). Bono nightly made prank phone calls on stage to the white house or to order 10,000 pizzas (nothing that cool on this tape, though). However, all of the glitz aside, what stands out most about this concert is, of course, the music. Here, there are GREAT live versions of many "Achtung Baby" songs (many of them improved and more exciting than the album versions) , some live rarities such as "Lemon" and "Dirty Day." They also manage to incorporate a lot of their biggest hits from the 80's quite seemlessly. The result is the best, most ambitious concert-tour ever, by any band, period. This is the fastest-selling-out tour in history. Demand for tickets outweighed supply 10-1. The tour was in fact SO huge that just being on the road, and the cost of keeping and building to tour ate up profits, but that's how much U2 care about their fans, they wanted to keep ticket prices low, and still show people just what makes U2 so legendary. Although I doubt this is the best show of ZOO TV, it's all we've got, so get it. Also, get PopMart- I personally like PopMart better, but that's just a personal preference (I really dig the songs off of "Pop," and felt they were trying to take the ZOO TV concept to the next level, which they did, but with varying success). I hope U2 returns to these types of huge venues with high-concepts. I like their "stripped down" shows a lot too ("elevation 2001"), but no concert matches the excitment, interest level, ambition, and the cleverly-disguised warm-hearted fun of ZOO TV. Simply the best concert tour by the best band still making music.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must For U2 Fans, December 16, 2000

By 

Hamster Army - See all my reviews

This review is from: U2 - Zoo TV Live from Sydney [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This is U2 at their best. If you are a big U2 fan like I am you must own this video. A theatrical performance by Bono and the band in Sydney that features many songs from their Zooropa and Achtung Baby albums, among others.

One of the few if not the only times you will see/hear songs like "The Fly," "Daddy's Gonna Pay," and a full version of "Lemon," and "Zoo Station." Not only do they play these live rareties, they sound great.

During "Mysterious Ways," (the best live version I've ever heard) you can get a glimpse of Edge's wife who belly dances on stage during the song and toys with Bono.

This is an energized concert with the band at their best, putting a lot into the show for a large crowd and the many photographers and cameras.

Taking place in what is probably my favorite era of U2 music, this concert is one of the great recorded rock musical films in history...right up there with "The Wall, "The Song Remains The Same," and even "Tommy" among other films.

The music covers the entire history of the band up until that point in the early 90's and is performed with such a flair and passion that it makes for a cinematic experience U2 fans won't soon forget.

I can only hope they release a DVD version in the future, although it is available on laser disc.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's worth more like 10 or 12 stars, September 26, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: U2 - Zoo TV Live from Sydney [VHS] (VHS Tape)

The person from Chicago who says Zooropa is U2's worst album has some problems. The video features 7 songs from Achtung Baby, 5 from Zooropa, which was great album, btw, 4 from The Joshua Tree, 1 from War, 1 from The Unforgettable Fire, 1 from Rattle and Hum, and 3 cover songs. It was the most incredible show I've ever seen. And contrary to popular belief among the non-fans, U2 doesn't use corporate sponsership, they pay for it themselves. This has the best version of One I've ever heard. And New Year's Day... Edge is one talented man... playing both guitar and synthesizer and singing background. Contrary to Chi. Il, I think the moniters enhanced the songs, especially during The Fly. And then there's the time when the first cannon goes off and Adam jumps a foot. Poor guy. He didn't miss a note, though. If you don't know what Running to Stand Still is about, watch this and I guarentee you'll wonder why you didn't know before.