Gaga Chromatica Ball

It's 2022. Lady Gaga is performing on The Chromatica Ball concert tour in Dodger Stadium in L. A. The tour was delayed due to COVID. By 2022, everybody was glad to be out without a mask. This is strictly a concert film. Lady Gaga is credited for everything. Most importantly, she's credited as director. Quite frankly, she should consider recruiting someone more skilled and experienced. This HBO special is fine. There is no behind the scenes footage or anything interesting outside of the concert.

The concert itself starts with Bad Romance and Gaga encased in an Autobot suit. One is enticed by her songs and her outfits. The problem with the first outfit is that it immobilizes her. There is a turn table but that's it. She needs more kinetic energy. She's not known for kinetic dancing. So it would be better to add theatrics. If she's immobilized, a bunch of hot shirtless men in hardhats should be ripping away the Autobot suit piece by piece. They could use heavy tools and sparks can fly. It's all for the drama. At least, it wouldn't be stationary with only the dancers to distract. All in all, this is a concert film, no more, no less. It's heaven for any Gaga fanatic.

From the moment the show begins, it's clear that Gaga has meticulously crafted an experience that transcends a typical concert, blending music, theater, and visual art into a seamless and exhilarating spectacle. Lady Gaga's Chromatica Ball is a masterclass in live performance. It's a bold, ambitious, and unforgettable show that showcases her unparalleled talent and visionary artistry. Whether you're a die-hard Little Monster or a casual listener, this concert is an experience that leaves an indelible mark, reminding us all of the transformative power of music and performance. The editing of the movie, done by Gaga herself, honoured her fans all over the world!

I've been looking forward to this since it was announced by Gaga herself, as I was only able to see The Monster Ball Tour and artRAVE as concert specials, Chromatica is one of my favourite album of hers

The Video: Let's talk technical aspects, the camera switching in sequences feel a bit too fast at times, but then again, which feature doesn't have that nowadays?, it's like watching a Guy Ritchie film, sometimes the overlay of the interludes especially when they have flash imagery can be a bit dizzying (People with photosensitive epilepsy may want to take caution), but for me it was okay and still brought on a lovely experience, The VFX used in certain sequences such as "Alice" and the "Tamara" interlude made me think there was a issue with the video until you realize it was intentional, in terms of the camera's themselves, I noticed some of the video feed looks like a cellphone recording using a high ISO, which was a nice touch as it breaks boundaries especially to be known as a 'film',

The Sound: Don't really have any complaints there as I played this back on a JBL Bar 5.1 which made the experience quite lovely for me at home, I know the film contains an ATMOS track and I wish to watch it all over again when I have an ATMOS system, can't wait for that!.

The Lady of the moment: Lady Gaga stands out with her stage presence, and she makes it known that (as previously stated) "I'm not going to lip-sync my way through an HBO special" and boy she doesn't! And she has a damn fantastic voice to go with it, I could not keep my eyes off her during her performances which actually made me wish I was there in person! But hey I'll get to watch this over and over!.

The stage: Given from her previous tours where her stages were a sight to behold, the Chromatica stage is presented in all it's simplicity along with the amazing lighting colours as it helps us focuses on what we're watching, and that's Lady Gaga!

The Interludes: This is a first on her concert specials as The Monster Ball Tour only showed the Paws Up interlude and part of the Tornado interlude (Really wished they kept all the interludes for that, would have loved to see the Manifesto film in the special), back to Chromatica Ball, all interludes are kept intact, and they seem to take on an other worldly form, one interlude that stood out for me was the "Sonnet" interlude and I found myself putting this twice on my WhatsApp status in both word and video form.

Overall View: It was definitely worth the wait and I'm so glad Mother Monster has blessed us with this concert film especially for the fact it released 1 day after my birthday, The show was really amazing and kept my glued to my couch until it was over, and as I am writing this review, I'm watching the concert again, and I must say, the surprise at the end of the show was definitely a nice touch (When you see it...) and tells me there is more great things to come!

One of the best concert documentaries to come out this year, this was such a treat for Gaga fans and those starting to love her and her music including myself. The concert and the entire film were divided into several parts of "acts" which was, first of all, just as interesting and mind-blowing than the other ones. Filled with such disco-ready and electronic-blasting performances, each number was reflective of Lady Gaga's musical versatility that encompasses pop, EDM and musical. For those just starting to deep-dive into her entire discography, I found it revealing and at the same time frustrating to have found her songs just concert-ready and filmed with such excellence and impact as was embodied in this concert film.

Lady Gaga's live performances are nothing short of spectacular, blending cutting-edge technology with her unique artistic vision. Her concerts often feature elaborate set designs, pyrotechnics, and intricate choreography, creating a visually stunning and immersive experience. Gaga's stage presence is commanding, and she has an uncanny ability to make even large venues feel intimate, engaging with her audience through heartfelt interactions and spontaneous moments.

Moreover, Gaga's musical versatility is on full display during her shows, as she effortlessly moves between playing the piano, dancing energetically, and belting out powerful vocals. Her dedication to pushing creative boundaries ensures that each performance is distinct, leaving a lasting impression on her fans. Critics and fans alike praise her for the sheer passion and intensity she brings to the stage, making every concert a memorable event.