Muse

When I first thought about my expectations of this film, I was thinking about how it would compare to their records, their DVDs and their live shows. How would watching a gig in the cinema match up? After watching the film I realised you can’t compare it, as it’s a completely different experience but at the same time is a combination of all the other mediums put together.

It’s not like a gig because you don’t get to be part of atmosphere, but you get to experience the atmosphere. The sound of the crowd singing along with ‘Follow Me’ is so intense as the 60,000 strong chorus overtakes the band. Often with live gig films you don’t get the sense of the excitement and mood of the crowd, but in 4K it’s not just the super crisp, super clear picture but the outstanding sound that really gives you that live blast of sound you get from a gig.

The other big difference is the view you get. First big advantage (especially for the more vertically challenged!) is you have the best seat in the house. You’re not just in the crowd watching the stage like you would be at a gig, you’re stage left seeing the guitar changes, you’re on stage with the band looking into the crowd. You can see up close the eye contact between the band, the smiles and the ‘oh my god, this is crazy’ looks they give each other after hearing the roar of the crowd.

Not only did the sense of atmosphere impress me, but the show itself was very entertaining. Musically Muse are at their finest. Matt Bellamy is singing every note pitch perfect with ease and throwing out guitar riffs like it was second nature. The solid rhythm section of bass player Chris Wolstenholme and drummer Dom Howard hold down every beat with metronomic precision. With the unique views you get from the comfort of your seat you can really appreciate how talented this band are.

Aside from the music their stagecraft is amazing. Matt Bellamy is running and singing at the same time and manages to cover almost every square inch of the stage. There’s a sense of theatre with the big screens depicting stories to accompany songs and some of the songs are accompanied by performers on stage such as the evil businessman throwing stacks of money into the crowd or the acrobat that descends from a giant inflatable lightbulb. Yes it sounds weird, but it’s crazy in a good way and really adds to the performance rather than distracting or seeming out of place. It’s almost like an opera, which is very fitting for the location and the vocal styling of Mr. Bellamy.

I have to be honest and say before I went to see Muse live at Rome Olympic Stadium I was sceptical about how good it would actually be. How much would the cinema actually bring to the experience? Turns out quite a lot. This needs to be seen on the big screen to get the most out of every site and sound. It’s a must see for every Muse fan without a doubt, especially if you didn’t get a chance to see them on tour this year. I left the cinema completely blown away by one of the best live bands around right now and also a bit gutted that I didn’t get to see this show in person.

Check out the trailer here: http://youtu.be/Igd3v5xrct8