'Rattle and Hum' catches U2 in an interesting point in their career, as they ride the success of the Joshua Tree album and experiment with soul, blues and rock 'n' roll. The new songs include collaborations with B.B. King and Bob Dylan, and covers of the Beatles and Jimmi Hendrix.
Highlights of the film include an emotional performance of 'Sunday Bloody Sunday' following which Bono received death threats for criticising the IRA. I also enjoy Bono's duet with a gospel choir in 'I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For' and the 'Angel of Harlem' recording session in Memphis studios. In this way the film can fill in a lot of gaps in the album.
However there are several reasons why I believe that 'Rattle and Hum' works better as an album than as a film. For example, the film gives good concert footage but only the most hardcore U2 fans will find the rest of the content particularly engaging. I personally enjoyed the interviews, but largely for their comic value: Interviewer: 'So what is this movie about?' Larry: 'It's a musical journey...'
In general the film seems like a spoof rockumentary as it portrays the band as rather egotistical and self-absorbed. Personally I see that as part of the band's quirkiness but if you're not a fan of Bono you won't enjoy watching the American paparazzi fauning over him. To its credit, the film has more extra material than the album but the track list is somewhat misleading. 'Ruby Tuesday' and 'Sympathy for the Devil' are both listed even though Bono only sings a line from each!
The main problem with the film is that apart from their songs, the group have very little to say. To me, 'Rattle and Hum' was not a great album- it was just an impressive experiment into a slightly new style. I doubt that people not so keen on U2 will have the patience to sit through it, let alone enjoy it. I personally like the film, and think the £5.99 price tag is well worth it (despite the lack of extras), but I don't think everyone will share my opinion. My advice: if it's on sale at £5.99 or you're generally interested in the band, it's a good buy. If it's more expensive or you're not a big fan I would give it a miss.
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Production Year: 1999 - Music / Performing Arts - Original Language: English - Classification: Exempt - Starring: Donny Osmond, Joan Collins, Richard Attenborough
Production Year: 1992 - Music / Performing Arts - Original Language: English - Classification: Exempt - Starring: Brian May, Roger Taylor, John Deacon, David Bowie, Def Leppard, Extreme, Elton John, Bob Geldof
Rattle and Humis not a film for anyone looking for an introduction to Irish band U2's ... more
career in the 1980s, but it is a vibrant portrait of an established group making its musical pilgrimage through the America it has always imagined, from blues and gos...
Postage & Packaging: £2.69 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Rattle and Humis not a film for anyone looking for an introduction to Irish band U2's ... more
career in the 1980s, but it is a vibrant portrait of an established group making its musical pilgrimage through the America it has always imagined, from blues and gos...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Rattle and Humis not a film for anyone looking for an introduction to Irish band U2's ... more
career in the 1980s, but it is a vibrant portrait of an established group making its musical pilgrimage through the America it has always imagined, from blues and gos...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
The ill will that initially greetedRattle and Hum--the follow-up to the band's massively ... more
successfulJoshua Treealbum--was due in large part to the bloated and self-important feature film that accompanied it, which showed the band as being simultaneously...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
![U2 - Rattle And Hum [VHS] [1988]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/83952858.jpg "U2 - Rattle And Hum [VHS] [1988]")
![U2: Rattle and Hum [DVD] [1988] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/83074953.jpg "U2: Rattle and Hum [DVD] [1988] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]")
![U2 - Rattle and Hum [DVD] [1988]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/78536226.jpg "U2 - Rattle and Hum [DVD] [1988]")
Jan 18th, 2006
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![U2 - Rattle And Hum [UMD Mini for PSP] [1988]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/78506718.jpg)
