Just watching this on the BBC(CURRENTLY BEING DESTROYED BY OUR GOVERNMENT).
The film is a bit of a mess,it can't decide if it is history of the band or a history of the album.
The film is half over before they start talking about the album,perhaps they should have filmed a special gig where they played the slbum?
I am a U2 fan but this is hard work.
Agree. While I liked the film I was expecting a lot more about the actual recording of Achtung Baby. It was almost like they got in the editing room and realized, "Damn, we only have 30 minutes left...better put in some stuff about the album".
shareThe final 30 min were the best. Especially how 'One' suddenly arrived out of nowhere. True magic.
shareYes! I thought the movie was a little scattered until... the 'One' part. Hearing those first few notes of what would quickly become 'One' and was true magic. I found myself weeping as if I were watching a loved one's baby being born. I then understood the movie's structure of explaining the near disintegration of the band after Rattle and Hum and them working to find "IT" again within the context of Berlin's confusion at the time. As a fan of U2 since '82, I also found it fascinating to learn about Bono's scatting method of song writing.
shareIt seems to me that the intention is to first give an insight into what lead to the mood that created Achtung Baby. How the band was perceived in the music press at the peak of their career in the 80s gives an understanding of the bands reaction to the criticism of Rattle & Hum, which again led to the awkward atmosphere that U2 & the producers had to work through.
For newbie U2 fans I reckon this is good to know.
Personally I would have liked to see more about the Zoo Tv shows and Bono's characters but appreciated that the Rattle & Hum period did get a throughout explanation. I like how strongly Achtung Baby differs from the 80s. It was funny how absurdly gloomy all their 80s session photos were. Looking through all those humourless black & white pictures is like watching a dark comedy. It's like the Achtung Baby image waved a cheerful goodbye to all that.
I think that also looking at the personalities of the band members helps reflecting on their reactions to success & critique & that is an key element to understanding Actung Baby & the concept around it.
Don't tell me, it's no use to me. Tell yourself if you want to but don't tell me.
I like your assessment. I havent actually seen it yet, but from what I've read of the official statements about the documentary, it's a story of their conversion from 80's U2, which peaked, over to a new version of U2. If they had stayed the same, they wouldnt have ever lasted. Now they're the masters of reinvention.
shareFinally saw the movie. I found the content interesting, along with the stories I never knew about U2, but as a documentary it was kinda boring and bland.
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