U2 – ZooTV Live From Sydney

This stunning 1994 live release is given a new breath of life with a DVD reissue. Featuring remastered sound & vision as well as a whole heap of previously unseen bonus features, this is an incredible look back at a time where the band succeeded in a total makeover of their brand.
Shows like this would soon become a staple in their tours as it quickly becomes clear when watching that you're not just seeing a live show, but an experience! With a song line up ranging from their most recent stuff at the time to all the way back to their early years 'ZooTV' really is a feast for the eyes and ears. Bono is as always on top form, using most of the stage time as one of his many alter ego's The Fly, giving the band that rock 'n roll kick that is almost hypnotic, and with a 2nd disc full of behind the scenes clips, more bonus live videos and even a few Easter Eggs, there are worse ways to waste an afternoon!

2-10 Time-lapse video of the Zoo TV stage set-up and breakdown set to the soundtrack of “Some Days Are Better Than Others.” On the main menu highlight the “Extras” entry. Then press the right arrow key on your remote followed by the down key. The Zoo TV logo at the top of the screen will be highlighted. Press “Enter.” A screen with “Abort” will appear. Enter the numbers “2711” and the clip will play.

2-11 a one-minute clip of atomic bomb-themed warning drills, enter the “Extras” section on the DVD and highlight “DVD” credits. Press the down key, followed by the right key on your remote, and another “O” appears in the center of the screen. Press “Enter” and a screen with “Abort” will appear. Enter the numbers “1993” and the clip will play.

2-12 the 25-minute documentary “Interference,” enter the “Documentaries” section and select “Play All.” Fast-forward through the footage, and when you return to the menu screen, highlight the “Subtitles” menu entry. Press the down key on your remote followed by the left key to highlight an “O” in the center of the screen. Press “Enter” and you will access the clip, which also includes “The History Mix.”

Great sound in PCM and Dolby formats but no editing or picture changes of the concert recording have been made in this DVD in comparison to the 4:3 video release. There also have been no new angles or other edits. It is a one-to-one transfer from the video version.

Together with the Popmart live from Mexico City concert film, this marks U2's greatest achievement as far as a collage between the visual and the audiable can go. The stage is amazing, loaded with a vast amount of lasers, piercing lights and a gigantic video wall with highly entertaining (and didactic, mind you) projections going on for slightly over two hours. The track list speaks for itself, combining the old, well known and adored material, with the newer, electronicesque stuff of "Achtung baby" and "Zooropa". Whereas I wasn't that impressed with U2's sound and whereabouts circa 1993, this is a safe purchase. The flow of the tracks is great, the remastered sound and image will meet your modern standards to the fullest, so just lay back, relax and get blown away by this gem. Worth every penny, if only for the amazing performance of Daddy's Gonna Pay For Your Crashed Car, and the cool female dancer making her moves as Mysterious Ways is getting played by the irish lads.
U2 at their finest hour!