This show nearly calms my despair of losing U2. I think that their album (HTDAAB) was much better than the previous one thus giving them a lot more songs to touch us! Next, the set design was cool because it summarized all their previous projects but in a more friendly way: running colors (as Popmart), circled staged (as Elevation), video screens (as Zoo TV).Next, they put at least new songs in their track list: "electric co", cat dubh", "40".At last, Bono can show all his traits without hiding them behind masks: he is playful and funny ("cat dubh"), moving (speaking about his father on "SYCMIOYO"), caring (when he invited a child on "into the heart") and politician (with the flags!).But as their previous shows, when they turn to their hits or have weak new songs ("love and piece or else"), they are deadly boring! As in "discotheque", they can reach but still they can't grab the perfect show!

Unbiased review from someone who is not a U2 fan.U2 lead vocalist Bono, recently said "we're reapplying for the job of best band in the world". If so, this DVD should not be their resume. In fact, let's face it, when it comes to the title of most overrated band in rock history, U2 might have a legitimate claim to the title.First, a bit of disclosure so you can see where I'm coming from and rank my review accordingly. I am NOT a U2 fan. I did buy 'WAR', and several other records by them when they came out. And, I do occasionally enjoy listening to their music, but I do not idolize them, and I call it like I see it.I do admit entering this experience with a little trepidation. U2 played nudge-nudge wink wink with the punk and alternative crowd to try to ride those coattails; They played nudge-nudge wink wink with Beatles fandom all but declaring themselves the second coming of The Beatles with 'Rattle and Hum'; They played nudge- nudge wink wink with the burgeoning Christian record market, positioning themselves as the #1 Christian rock band; They played nudge-nudge wink wink with Irish nationalism; They played nudge-nudge wink wink with activism - despite occasional proclamations by Bono in the press, they've rarely if ever outright espoused any political ideology in their music. But they never were any of those things. Or maybe a bland melange of all of them.Now, don't get me wrong, borrowing from various sources and reinventing yourself to maintain popularity is a long standing tradition in rock. Take a band like Motley Crue who started out by swiping all of Ozzy's bats-and-gloom shtick and the N.Y. Dolls glam/drag shtick and grafting them together - later to chop off their long hair and dye it to try to fit in with the post-Metallica/Nirvana hard rock landscape.But sometimes it seems like U2 just keeps throwing out trick after trick, from ZooTV to iPod promotion to keep their title long after they should have hung up their guitars.But, never let it be said I won't give someone a chance to change my mind. I wanted to see U2 again, and after hearing such good things about the 'Vertigo' tour, I decided to see what the lads were up to. I had wanted to watch U2 3D, but alas, my home theater system isn't up to the challenge (whose is?) so I opted for this concert film from the same tour instead.After watching it, I have to say it's a decent enough rock concert, but, if this is supposed to be U2 at the top of their game, I'm not impressed. For one thing, many bands' best music isn't played on the radio - this is not the case with U2 - all the concert's highlights are songs you're already familiar with - even if you're not a U2 fan, songs like 'Mysterious Ways', 'New Years Day', and of course 'Vertigo'.The audio mix is fantastic. The guitars, keyboards, vocals, and crowd noise is all very perfectly balanced to give a sound that is crisp and dynamic, while preserving all the energy of a live show, which results in a sound that blends the best of both studio and live recordings. And if you think it sounds good on your stereo - you should really listen to it with a good set of headphones. Amazing. The DVD might be the best *sounding* U2 recording out there.And the whole thing is quite the spectacle thanks to a legion of electricians and lighting guys, probably at least a dozen cameramen, and THOUSANDS of light bulbs.But, for all the non-stop flashing lights of being inside a 360-degree pinball machine... at the end of the day it's not so much a fine piece of silver as it is a lot of shiny polish on an ordinary piece of tin.It's a shame, The Beatles, The Doors or even Queen came before it was possible to get this kind of audio and video quality, because any one of those bands could blow U2 away on their own stage. And, for all his faults, even a drug-addled and bloated Vegas-era Elvis never stopped and cleared his throat in mid-song saying, "I've got a frog in my throat".When it comes right down to it. If spectacle is your thing, it's here - but, you'd be better off seeing KISS for a flashy stage show; at least they have no pretensions of artistry. If on the other hand, the artistry of the musicians is your thing - that's here too, but you'd probably be better off checking out David Bowie, Peter Gabriel or the Talking Heads for that. Still, as concert films go, the technical expertise of the craftspeople that made this film shows through. As a concert film it is fantastic. We've come a long way since Martin Scorsese's 'The Last Walz'. U2: Vertigo 05: Live from Chicago sets the standard for concert films of the new millennium.Too bad the band's talents aren't equally high.If you're a U2 fan, you'll love it. If you're not, you still might be entertained.

You see, this is the problem with reviewing a title after the prolific Theo Robertson has already done it; you end up writing a review that either spends a couple of paragraphs agreeing with him or simply repeating what he has said. He tends to have good taste and put his opinion forward really well and it leaves the rest of us poor b*ggers with little to say! He is correct when he talks about how strong a concert this is for U2 fans. Having been born and bred in Northern Ireland I am contractually obliged to lack rhythm, be cynical, have an acerbic sense of humour and like U2, so naturally I enjoyed this concert film.The range of tracks is one of the biggest selling points, everything from the recent Vertigo back to classics from Joshua Tree etc. It does make the concert feel slightly more special and honest, because it doesn't feel like they are there just as part of selling their latest wares. The variety also means there are very few weaker album tracks – it isn't quite a greatest hits tour but, like Theo says, it shows respect to the fan base by basically saying "we know you are here for the last 20 years, not just the last album" and I must admit I appreciated that aspect of the concert. The circular stage didn't come across that well on the screen mainly because the camera always ensured we had a good view. Personally I'm not sure if it does make for a better gig because I've only ever been to concerts in smaller venues with a set stage – never really been one for whom stadium gigs appeal.The one downside is that Bono has become a bit full of himself and, even though the fans in the stadium on these two nights lapped it up, I wasn't that impressed. Another reviewer said he was almost a caricature of himself – I can't say it better than that so I'll steal their words. Particularly hard to swallow were the moments where he was pretty pretentious; his prayer and his "all religions" headband were just grating and the fact that a cheering crowd didn't cover it in my front room highlighted it as rather more embarrassing. Luckily the overall performance covers up for moments like this and the actual delivery from the group as a whole.Overall then a fine concert film for fans of U2 with sufficient hits to make it accessible and of value to the casual viewer. Yes Bono is a bit of a prat at times but this doesn't take too much away from the total performance. The track selection is good, the stage presence is good and with a good sound system the audience reactions come over well. Well worth seeing for U2 fans.

I have to admit that I do like a lot of U2's music. I also thought this was a really good concert. Good production, good sound - they still know how to work an audience.My only gripe (and here's where I offend someone) is that I have a hard time watching U2 now because of Bono. In the last 10-15 years I'll admit that he has done a lot of impressive things in the humanitarian arena, but for God's sake, take off the friggin' glasses. At this point he has become a literal cartoon of himself. I honestly think that the ridicule he gets from the media because of this persona he has developed detracts from the band as a whole.Is he afraid that his eyes will blind us in some sort of supernatural display of his God-like powers? I just don't know. I doubtthat I ever will know.I suppose it's sort of like Bryan Adams wearing the same white t-shirt and denim jacket from 1983 to 1998.But that's my opinion...