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The crowd goes wild for U2.

Whether or not you're a fan, admit it: U2 is the biggest band in the world. It may not be the most recognizable or influential, but everything about this band spells H-U-G-E. If Bono's not singing about God, you can bet your ass he's crooning about world peace or the big L. And if a song doesn't end with cathartic, highly emotional swells, well, it's not by U2. So it makes perfect sense that they star in the first live-action 3D concert film -- so much so we're hard-pressed to think of another band that could fit the bill without seeming out of place.

The Edge, Adam Clayton and Bono perform in a purple haze.

Shot during the Vertigo tour at arenas in South America (Bono claims he feels more connected with the folks there than in, say, the U.S.), the project wipes away what we've come to expect from rock docs. There's no backstage footage, no celebs spouting off about Bono's brilliance, no strolls down memory lane to the band's humble beginnings (given Bono's tendency to pop up as a talking head in "Why's he there?" docs like Leonard Cohen: I'm Your Man and Bukowski: Born into This, that's surprising). Instead, it's 85 minutes of arena-rock spectacle. And though it's the first 3D feature of its kind, directors Catherine Owens and Mark Pellington are smart enough to avoid banking on 3D novelties. Bassist Adam Clayton may lean forward into the camera during "Beautiful Day" but, largely, everything feels organic, and shots from the crowd's perspective are particularly impressive.

Like any live U2 show a lot depends on whether you can stomach Bono's theatrics. He wears a bandana that's labeled "Coexist" and rose-tinted glasses; he flails his arms like he's flying to some holy ground; and he loves dramatic moves like having a voiceover read the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Still, watching staples like "New Year's Day" and "With or Without You" performed by a band that knows how to entertain isn't without its charms.

by Tim Lowery

Photos: ©2008 by 3ality Digital Entertainment. All rights reserved.