[HanCinema's Film Review] "BIGBANG: 'MADE' TOUR" + Video

From spring of 2015 to spring of 2016 Big Bang went on an international tour to promote their album, Made. "BIGBANG: 'MADE' TOUR" chronicles the events of this tour in a nonlinear fashion, jumping around as necessary between production, performance, and break time. There's nothing that can really be called a narrative, just more of an overriding question- how is it that Big Bang can draw together such huge crowds from all over the world?

Advertisement

Well, as was the case with "GROW: Infinite's Real Youth Life" and "SMTOWN The Stage", attitude is the main factor. G-Dragon, Choi Seung-hyun, Taeyang, Daeseung, and Seungri all appear to really enjoy their work. "BIGBANG: 'Made' World Tour" consistently shows them taking musical practice very seriously and being very personally interested in the logistical details involved in their performance area, whether the context is a music video or an actual stage. Agitation even pops up from time to time if they feel the layout is substandard in some way.

The main cause for this attitude seems less artistic devotion and more fan devotion. Fan interviews are frequently interspersed throughout the documentary and it's generally the same story- they like Big Bang because its performers are dedicated cool guys who know how to put on a great show. Big Bang's members are obviously aware of this high standard and strive to live up to their own legend. They find the idea of disappointing their fans in any way to be morally abhorrent, and will make an extra effort on the slightest pretext.

"BIGBANG: 'Made' World Tour" also goes out of its way to highlight the band's support crew. We see interviews from the women who do their makeup, among others. Several backstage scenes make a point of showing that Big Bang's five main famous members are really just the public face of a very large team who all have to work together in order to give their fans the best possible show.

While "BIGBANG: 'Made' World Tour" is indisputably an advertisement for the Big Bang brand, it's convincing mainly because of those little touches that are spotlighted, along with the occassional song, to make Big Bang seem simultaneously heroic and human. One minute it's a huge show-stopping musical number, the next they're just unwinding and being goofy. The individual members of Big Bang acts like the kind of person many of us want to be- talented and amazing, yet humble and friendly.

As the fans would say, this is pretty inspirational stuff. If Big Bang can do it, so can we. There really is something rather refreshing looking at the Big Bang story and seeing simple sheer physical exertion for the sake of other people's happiness rather than personal glory. Yes, everyone gets paychecks, but look at it another way. Ten years have come and gone and these guys still sincerely love to get together and hang out full time for the sole purpose of putting on a great show for as many people as possible. That kind of sheer dedication can't be faked.

Review by William Schwartz

"BIGBANG: 'MADE' TOUR" is directed by Byeon Jin-ho and features G-Dragon, Taeyang, Choi Seung-hyun, Daesung and Seungri.