Just saw the IMAX U23D film. It was amazing.

I am a huge U2 fan, been one my entire life. The first album I ever bought was U2’s Joshua Tree – on cassette. I worshiped them. In fact, when Rattle and Hum was being shown in theaters, I saw that, too (my cousin Jeanie took me and my brother Jimmy to the Regency Mall theater in Jacksonville). This IMAX film, though blew that away.

What made this so much better wasn’t that the music was better – everything U2 has ever done musically, to me, has been spot on. It was the experience.

It felt like you were really at the concert – in as much as you could. Bono, Larry, Adam and the Edge were right there. I found myself watching the Edge’s guitar work – what chords he was playing, what little tricks he was doing. Larry’s stoic drumming style was within reach. You almost felt like he was your big brother much like he is for the band. Adam’s steady, pounding bass playing kept rumbling your seat as he waived his bass around like an axe. I felt myself ducking under his bass.

And Bono, as usual, steals the show. He is such a ham, you gotta love him. He always seems to take things to the next level, making issues more poignant than we may even perceive them. His energy really paces the show and takes the band’s life performances to a new level.

In all, the experience of the 3D with the filming create a unique experience that really brings U2’s live set to life. It gives poor saps like myself, hardcore fans that can’t pony up for the seats, a chance to experience an intimate concert with my most favorite band ever.