Feel Good Scene

Perfection

Joy Division - Disorder

U2 3D

I finally got the chance to see U2 3D last week. The people at the Imax in Darling Harbour had kept me waiting for nearly 3 months with a vague promise that the film would be returning to its gigantic(biggest in the world no-less) screen soon. I would not claim to be a huge U2 fan, I like them and their music but would not consider myself a die-hard at all. I was, however, blown away by their flirtation with 3D technology. I have to take my hat off to them for experimenting and stating that they were not interested in making a profit but simply trying something new (It did, of course, go on to make a profit). The result looks and sounds amazing. Whatever your opinions on Bono might be, he is a showman and not many others can command a stadium filled to the rafters with as much ease as he manages. He insisted on shooting the footage in Latin America as the fans' passion most resembled that of the Irish fans. I reckon this concert film will live on long to remember an era when the biggest band in the world* hailed from a little island on the verge of western Europe. I felt goosebumps quiet often while watching and also a sense of pride in seeing the crowd bellowing out the Irish quartet's best known tracks. It was a very satisfying music experience and I would have to agree with many critics who feel it is even better than the real thing. Sorry, couldn't resist.

*is that a fair comment?

Joy Division- Film & Documentary

Anton Corbijn's 2007 biopic film Control is, without doubt, at the top end of my list of favourite films. I could watch it repeatedly with its mix of music performance and story based on the life of Joy Division frontman Ian Curtis. Sam Riley's performance as Curtis garnered wide critical acclaim on its release at the Cannes film festival. The film charts the life of Curtis as he grows up in Manchester, leads the band from 1977-1980, to his suicide on the eve of Joy Division's first U.S. tour in 1980.


This year a documentary entitled Joy Division, based on the Manchester band, has been released. Directed by Grant Gee and featuring archive footage of the band in their prime, Joy Division recalls how the band was formed, their musical progression, the tragedy that ended it all and the legacy that survived. It also contains present-day interviews with the band looking back over the critical moments in the Joy Division story. The revelation by the other members of the band that they did not attend Curtis' funeral came as a shock to me but shows the mixed emotions at the time and how young they all were at their peak. The documentary also explores the almost instant formation of New Order and their rise.

Both of these releases are compulsive viewing. If you are not already a Joy Division fan you will be on watching these. Just try and stop yourself listening to their music afterwards. It's not possible. As the annual month of abstinence continues you could do worse then spend a Saturday night in, exploring the rise and fall of Curtis & co.

Joy Division - 'Dead Souls'