Muse concert film from Rome now in limited release

Last night, I saw the new Muse concert film Live at Rome Olympic Stadium, July 2013 in a local cinema and was totally amazed. 

It is the first one to be presented in 4K, a format known as Ultra High Definition, which means there are four times more pixels per frame than usual. 

Due to the screening location, I was only able to view it in 2K High Definition, but the 90-minute film's attention to detail was still a wonder to behold.

Featuring most selections from a 27-song concert that took place on July 6, it is a testament to why Muse is one of the best rock bands in the world. When it comes to large venue spectacle, the British trio are in a league with the Rolling Stones and U2.

The latter group's awesome 3D concert film in 2008 was the last one I witnessed on the big screen. Muse surpass it for sheer excitement and the jaw-dropping, fire spewing chimneys  stage design.  

“This is the biggest tour we’ve done in terms of scale and production value and it’s definitely the show we’re most proud of," said Muse in a prepared statement.

"We can promise our fans, whether they managed to come to the live shows or not, an entirely new Muse concert experience.”   

Extreme close up shots of the 60,000 Italian fans throughout the entire stadium find them dancing and embracing to slower numbers and generally going bonkers to the rockers. A funky "Panic Station" amusingly features cartoon images of different world leaders and deities dancing around on the stage backdrop.

Matt Bellamy lets the music do most of the talking, but the singer/guitarist does occasionally address the crowd in Italian (he has owned a home at Lake Como near the country's small town of Bellagio).

Falling under the so-bizarre-it's-compelling-drama category is the band's traditional cover of "Feeling Good," where an actress portraying a secretary pretends to drink gasoline; "Animals" has a businessman tossing pseudo money all over the B-stage and lying flat on the floor as Bellamy sings.

Later, "Guiding Light" and "Blackout" find acrobats hanging from large inflated lightbulbs.

Seeing Bellamy sport those special sunglasses projected words and Chris Wolstenholme playing the unusual bass amid the stuttering "Madness" is riveting as always. Both guys traverse the B-stage often; they and drummer Dom Howard all sound tight on the prog-leaning alt-rock tunes. Finally, the gorgeous "Starlight" caps off the night.

All told, this film is a must-see for all Muse fans in the large format.

To view the trailer and where cinemas are presenting the limited screenings near you, go to:
http://film.muse.mu/

For those who can't make it a screening, the film will also be released on Blu-ray/CD and DVD/CD packages on Dec. 3 via Warner Bros. Records.

Photos: Gigwise/Gorgeous PR