Blu-ray Concert Review: U2 iNNOCENSE + eXPERIENCE Live in Paris 2015

[Bob Rapoport]

Click to watch the trailer

Concert:
Video:
Audio:
Final Score:

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When a rock and roll band takes full flight, an intense and emotional experience awaits. On this night in Paris, U2 doesn’t just perform — they they connect, reflect, and lead. This is not a traditional arena spectacle.

The staging is revolutionary in its minimalism: wireless, in-the-round, with a long central stage bisecting the arena. A massive LED screen runs the length of the stage, projecting the band’s images alongside custom artwork tailored to each song’s lyrics. It’s immersive without being cluttered. Only artists operating at the very top tier have the vision and budget to execute something on this scale — and U2 owns that space.

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The Context: Paris, 2015​

These shows carried unusual emotional weight. Filmed shortly after the November 2015 terror attacks in Paris, the concerts became something more than tour dates. They became a statement.

A moving tribute unfolds during the performance, reinforcing U2’s long-standing message: love over hate. The emotional undercurrent never feels forced. It feels necessary.

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Performance & Atmosphere​

The show is often described as magnificent and electrifying, yet surprisingly intimate. Despite the arena scale, the in-the-round design pulls the audience into the narrative. Bono leads with ease — confident, relaxed, fully present. There are no awkward moments. Just natural showmanship from a frontman who understands both theater and sincerity.

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Standout Moments​

• “Elevation” – U2 held a Sweepstakes to gather some fans to bring on stage with them for this song and handed a few of them smartphones to livestream from inside the band’s performance. It’s charming, spontaneous, and uniquely modern — something you rarely see executed this smoothly.
• “Even Better Than The Real Thing” – A visual showcase. The giant dual-facing screen engages both sides of the arena simultaneously, creating a mirrored energy that feels kinetic and immersive.
• “Where The Streets Have No Name” – As always, a transcendent moment that reminds you why this band fills arenas decades into their career.

The setlist smartly balances Songs of Innocence material with career-defining hits. The show never feels nostalgic — it feels alive.

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Main Concert Set List (Blu-ray/DVD)

• People Have The Power
• The Miracle (Of Joey Ramone)
• Vertigo
• I Will Follow
• Iris (Hold Me Close)
• Cedarwood Road
• Song For Someone
• Sunday Bloody Sunday
• Raised By Wolves
• Until The End Of The World
• The Fly
• Invisible
• Even Better Than The Real Thing
• Mysterious Ways
• Elevation
• Every Breaking Wave
• October
• Bullet The Blue Sky
• Zooropa
• Where The Streets Have No Name
• Pride (In The Name Of Love)
• With Or Without You
• Stephen Hawking 'Global Citizen'
• City Of Blinding Lights
• Beautiful Day
• Mother & Child Reunion
• Bad
• One
• People Have The Power (with Eagles of Death Metal)
• I Love You All The Time (Eagles of Death Metal)

Deluxe/Bonus Material

• "Cedarwood Road" - A Gavin Friday Experience
• "The Wanderer" - On-stage tour video
• "The Troubles" - On-stage tour video
• Behind-the-scenes documentary with director Hamish Hamilton
• Music videos for Songs of Innocence singles

Audio & Video Quality​

For home theater enthusiasts, this Blu-ray delivers. The image is sharp and detailed, capturing both the massive LED screen and intimate close-ups. The mix is powerful and enveloping, placing you in the center of the arena. Crowd energy translates beautifully through the surround channels.

For those of us who value hi res audio playback — and you certainly do — this disc rewards a properly set-up system. The dynamic swings, from quiet emotional passages to full arena crescendos, are handled with control and authority.

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Bonus Content​

The Blu-ray includes substantial extras:

• Behind-the-scenes footage
• Guest performances with Eagles of Death Metal
• A powerful appearance by Patti Smith

These additions deepen the historical and emotional context of the performance.

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Final Thoughts​

This release is widely considered a must-have for U2 fans. But beyond fandom, it stands as one of the most thoughtfully produced modern arena concert films. The production is highly professional yet dreamlike. The visual subtext reinforces the music. The innovations push a megapixel-era band back toward its underground roots — direct, personal, urgent.

Of all U2’s filmed live shows — even including the spectacle at the Sphere — this one carries something special. It captures a moment in time when music served as reassurance in an unsettled world. If your system is dialed in and you want to experience what a world-class rock production can sound and feel like at home, this is a disc worth spinning.

Audio and Video Specs:

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC (13.10 Mbps)
Resolution: 1080i
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.78:1

English: Lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (96kHz, 24-bit)
English: Uncompressed LPCM 2.0 (96kHz, 24-bit)

Subtitles
English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish

Discs
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD-50)

Packaging
Booklet

Playback
2K Blu-ray: Region A, B

"Elevation" is a special moment in the show.

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