A never before DVD that follows the Grammy Award-winning band U2 on their musical journey from native Ireland through the United States, passing through the streets of Harlem; behind the gates and the cradle of rock n roll…… Elvis Presley's Graceland and into the recording session at the legendary Sun Studios, and what’s more playing alongside the legendary B.B. King; and center stage at an impromptu live concert in downtown San Francisco. The pack consist of nine never seen on the hit soundtrack.

The DVD cannot be classified as a film, rather it is a rockumentary that traverses the established group making its musical pilgrimage through America playing the blues, gospel, and early rock 'n' roll. Thus you have more than half the movie shot in black and white the last couple of concert sequences appear in color. The highlight of the video is U2 collaborating with a black Harlem gospel choir in a church on the song ‘I still haven’t found what I am looking for’ and their collaborative work with B.B. King. ‘When love comes to town’ with King is simply uplifting. BB King makes a series of observations about Bono that really sum up the spirit of U2. When Bono asks if he likes the song King says, " I love the song... the lyrics is real heavy... you're mighty young to write such heavy lyrics." Move on to an empty auditorium rehearsal of the song after which King remarks, "Lotta emotion right there young man... that's alright... that's alright”.

While the interviews and look at the behind the scenes are fairly well brought up, the chunk of any rock film are the live performances and U2 does not disappoint on this count. The gut wrenching take on ‘Sunday Bloody Sunday’, with Bono pouring his heart out to the situation back in Ireland is chilling, while the haunting version of ‘With Or Without You’ is captivating to say the least. The real rock force comes out on ‘Ruby Tuesday’ and ‘Bullet The Blue Sky’. Songs from ‘The Joshua Tree’ are heavily featured, including an emotional version of ‘Running To Stand Still’ that surpasses the studio recording. Don’t also miss a live performance of the anti-aparthied anthem ‘Silver and Gold’ and the song ‘Bad’ where Bono shifts in to an impromptu chorus of ‘Goodbye Ruby Tuesday’ with bits of ‘Sympathy for the Devil’ sprinkled in. You also have a ‘Exit’ where Bono throws in references to ‘Gloria’ and gets the audience into a frenzy of singing along.

The video is a must for any U2 fan and though it was released way back in 1999, now released in India about 10 years later, fans surely will not mind, for the band has changed its image and look a couple of times more aged than before. Many will welcome the old of the band which really were the gold days of U2.

The sound and picture quality is superb, and it must be watched on a good home theatre system. The "grainy" black and white photography that dominates most of the movie is excusable. Bono is an engaging presence throughout the film. Here is the story of four guys who some of the best music…….even today.

 -- Reviewed by Verus Ferreira