BLU-RAY REVIEW

U2: Rattle And Hum

Featured In Issue 112, September 2006

Picture2.5
Sound3.5
WSR Score
Basic Information on new release titles is posted as soon as titles are announced. Once reviewed, additional data is added to the database.
(Studio/Distributor):
Paramount Home Entertainment
(Catalog Number):
070364
(MPAA Rating):
PG13
(Rating Reason):
(Retail Price):
$29.95
(Disc Type):
Single Side, Dual Layer (HD-30)
(Widescreen Edition):
Yes
(Full Screen Edition):
No
(Running Time In Minutes):
98
(Color Type):
B/W With Color Sequences
(Chaptered/Scene Access):
Yes
(Closed Captioned):
Yes
(Regional Coding):
1
(Theatrical Year):
1988
(Theatrical Release):
Yes
(Direct-To-Video Release):
No
(Disc Release Date):
08/08/06
(THX® Digitally Mastered):
No
(Director):
Phil Joanou
(Screenplay/Written By):
(Story):
(Music):
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer):
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor):
(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers):
(Co-Producers):
(Producers):
(Academy Awards):
(Principal Photography):
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio):
(Measured Disc Aspect Ratio):
(Disc Soundtrack):
Dolby Digital+ Surround EX, DTS-ES Discrete 6.1
(Theatrical Sound):
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(DTS Bit Rate):
(Dolby Digital Bit Rate):
(Additional Languages):
(French Language):
(Spanish Language):
(Chinese Language):
(Subtitles):
(Cantonese Language):
(Mandarin Language):
(Japanese Language):
(Italian Language):
(German Language):
(Portuguese Language):

If you are not a fan of the rock supergroup U2, this "musical journey" called Rattle And Hum, that chronicles their acclaimed Joshua Tree tour, will likely make you change your mind. Director Phil Joanou followed the band from Dublin, Ireland and across the United States documenting their performances of such classics as "Desire," "Where The Streets Have No Name," "With Or Without You," "Pride (In The Name Of Love)" and "All I Want Is You." (Tricia Spears)

Special features are limited to a teaser trailer and previews.

As can be expected from a documentary that combines material from many different sources, fidelity varies throughout the 1.78:1 VC-1-encoded HD DVD picture. In general, however, black-and-white scenes are delivered with very good contrast and gray scale quality. Source element artifacts, like excessive film grain and specks of dirt can become a distraction at times. The color scenes show vibrant hues of blue and red that really pop out of the screen, with endless black silhouettes of the band that really set the mood well. Shadow delineation is slightly off in these scenes though, as details are difficult to pick out in the dark. While the picture is not bad, it isn't up to the standards that have been set by other HD DVD titles. (Danny Richelieu)

While the Dolby® Digital Plus EX™ 5.1-channel encoding and DTS® ES™ 6.1-channel encoding are mixed very well for a stage performance, the fidelity is just not as pristine as other productions. The soundtrack has a slightly bright character in interviews, and an edgy rubbing can be heard over the vocals at times, which can become a distraction. The Dolby track provides slightly better fidelity than the DTS encoding. As should be expected, the standout of this soundtrack is the music, and if you are a fan of U2, I probably don't need to tell you this, but you should check out this release. (Danny Richelieu)