Product Description

Studio: Uni Dist Corp (music) Release Date: 11/18/2003

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #12782 in DVD
• Released on: 2003-11-18
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
• Formats: Color, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, DVD, Enhanced, Limited Edition, Live, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 50 minutes

Customer Reviews

'U2 Gome Home' a review by u2tour.de
The Packaging
The first surprise is that the DVD is available in two different kinds of packaging. One version comes in the usual digipack-cover as we know it from the Boston DVD. Inside you find the booklet in the usual DVD upsize format. The second version, in contrast, comes in a suprising format: its a standard cd jewel case with a booklet in the same format. A pretty unusual format for a DVD and day-to-day customers might easily mix up this version with a normal audio CD.

The Content

The DVD contains the entire slane castle concert from September 1st. 'Mysterious Ways' is not part of the concert, but listed as a 'bonus track'. The reasons for this are still unknown. The concert without Mysterious Ways lasts 1:38h, the bonus track is 6:26 min long. Furthermore the DVD contains a remastered version of the 'Unforgettable Fire' Documentary, which has been available before on the 'The Unforgettable Fire Collection' VHS from 1985. Bonus-Features include the already mentioned Mysterious Ways track, a DVD-ROM section with screensavers, desktop wallpapers, an elevation tour calendar and weblinks, plus - for the the first time ever - the possibility to view 3 songs from the show in a 360° perspective.

The Concert

The most noticeable fact about this concert is the perfect mood the band was in on this evening. What seemed somewhat artificial and nervous in the Boston show, you can see much better here - the band enjoyed playing a second time in front of such a crowd at Slane Castle. Maybe it's the fact that it was not planned to release this concert for sale. Some incidents before the shows made both Slane concerts very emotional. The huge crowd brings a terrific spirit to the homes of all U2 fans, and the interaction with fans is much better here than in Boston.

Between songs Bono tells stories, plays games with fans and makes other kinds of jokes, all this makes the recording and U2 on this evening so likable. We pass on a song by song review, as we think that each viewer has to make up his own mind about this concert. We just want to point out that U2's mood and musical performance is outstanding. In comparision with all the other live videos this is the one which transports the feeling of a live concert best. All other videos tend to be stiff in some way or too well prepared. U2 at Slane Castle 2001 is the band U2 we want to see, they act with their hearts and have fun.

The Picture

The concert was recorded with many camera perspectives although Ned O'Hanlon said in an @U2.com interview that the expenses on that show were just a small fraction compared to the expenses for recording the Boston show. The spirit of the entire show is captured very well, shots from and of the audience are used very often and reflect its enthusiasm. The video format is 16:9, the pictures are sometimes very coarse, sometimes due to special effects, but this may have to do something with the light conditions during the shooting.

The Sound

This is the first time a U2 DVD is released with DTS sound, in addition to the PCM stereo format and DolbyDigital 5.1. But we think that for a normal user there is no relevant notable difference. Bonos voice is transferred very clearly via the centre speaker. The instruments are mixed to the front speakers, from the rear speakers you can notice quiet echoes, which are sometimes irritating. The audience is well mixed into the rear-speakers. There is no crystal clear mixing as can be found on DVDs like 'Eagles - Hell Freezes Over', where each instrument can be heard on a different channel. But maybe it's not comparable, because the Eagles show was a club-gig especially prepared for this, U2 in Slane was an open-air show which was, at the time of recording, not scheduled for a release.

The Extras
'The Unforgettable Fire' documentary
As mentioned before this is a remastered version of the 'Unforgettable Fire' documentary which follows the recordings of the album of the same name at Slane Castle in 1984. The video format is 4:3 and the documentary is 28 min long. The Documentary also includes the "Pride (In The Name of Love)" video. The picture quality is not the best, it's far away from DVD-quality.

Bonus-Track 'Mysterious Ways'
Once the track list of the DVD became public, many fans were shocked as the same song which was already missing on the Boston DVD was once again cut out. For still unknown reasons the song was taken out of the usual running order of the DVD and instead placed as a bonus track. It is not as was rumoured (and feared) a so called "easter egg", but a normal track which can easily be accessed via the main menu. (Remark: Producer Ned O'Hanlon said in a recent interview that the song just didn`t really fit into the show).

DVD-Rom Bonus Tracks

The most anticipated special, the 360° view of the concert, ends up being a Quicktime video of the three songs Elevation, Beautiful Day and Where The Streets Have No Name. Users have the possibility to spin around 360° degrees in real time at the touch of their mouse. A real high-end-special-feature feeling unfortunately doesn't come across due to the lack of quality which reminds one of a cheap webcam.

The second special feature is the 'Elevation tour diary calendar and clock'.

Furthermore two screensavers in red and blue are available - their style matching the artwork of the DVD. Nice, but not really exciting.

Four desktop motives are available to polish up your Windows system. They are available in 1024x768 and 800x600 resolution.

Finally the obligatory links to U2.com and NGOs that are supported by U2 are featured. Exclusive weblinks are unfortunately missing.
You can read the entire review with screenshots also in english at .....,..

By far the best live U2 release!
I have been a loyal fan since 1988. I've seen them live 8 times live (which is not a lot compared to some, but still a good amount) and own pretty much everything you can get your hands on. This show is by far one of the most emotional and powerful shows I have seen them perform. It is also the first time that I was brought to slight tears by watching a rock and roll video (understand that Bono's father passed away the week prior. ("Communication. Talk to each other.")) Even my friend's wife, who hates all concert videos in general, was drawn into this one (My friend said that he had never seen her do this before with a concert video). I won't go into all the details, you can read some of the prior reviews for that. I'm just a 15 year fan throwing in my hearty approval.

Oh, this DVD is obviously much better than the televised version a year ago. That broadcast only played a few of the songs and interrupted them with endless commericals.

Also, for those wondering why "Mysterious Ways" is included as a bonus feature...it is because the director felt that it did not fit with emotion of the rest of the concert. I agree with his decision. You do get to see Bono's daughter come on the stage at the end (Eve) which is fun.

U2 live and at their best.
I've seen U2, and this DVD not only captures all the excitement of U2 playing at their best, it also ranks among the best live performance DVDs ever. Recorded in Ireland in 2001 (before the release of HOW TO DISMANTLE AN ATOMIC BOMB), this concert proves that U2 is still the greatest rock-and-roll band in the world. Recorded in superb 5.1 Dolby Digital Sound and DTS Sound, this DVD rattles and hums, and is full of U2's unforgettable fire. Tracks include:

1. "Elevation"
2. "Beautiful Day"
3. "Until The End Of The World"
4. "New Year's Day"
5. "Out Of Control"
6. "Sunday Bloody Sunday"
7. "Wake Up Dead Man"
8. "Stuck In A Moment"
9. "Kite"
10. "Angel of Harlem"
11. "Desire"
12. "Staring at the Sun"
13. "All I Want Is You"
14. "Where The Streets Have No Name"
15. "Pride"
16. "Bullet The Blue Sky"
17. "With or Without You"
18. "One"
19. "Walk On"
20. "Mysterious Ways."

This DVD will not only appeal to any U2 fan, it sets the highest standard possible for what a live performance DVD should be.

G. Merritt