The Eras Tour movie review – a nostalgic look at the rise of a major star

Taylor Swift is one of the most famous musicians in the world.

So, when it was announced that the highly anticipated Eras Tour would not be making a stop in the Middle East, to say I was disappointed would be a massive understatement.

Alternatively, fans in the region can make do with a show Taylor Swift: Tour for the Agesa three-hour cinematic experience of her concert from SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.

Although it was just released in the UAE, internationally it has already become the highest-grossing musical film of all time thanks to its success in other countries such as the United States, Canada and Australia.

I was hoping to see Swift live – this is her first time on the road since 2018 – but with no stops in the region, there will be a lot of travel as well as the usual difficulties in getting tickets initially.

After learning that the film was coming out, I immediately purchased my ticket to see it at Max at Vox Cinemas to make the most of the giant 20-metre-wide screen and the special spatial audio that seemed right for the experience.

On Saturday evening, the cinema wasn’t full but I didn’t really expect it to be. This created a comfortable environment as we were all well spread out around the stage. Demand for the film included families, friends and even couples.

To my great surprise, when the movie started, I immediately felt like I had been transported to another place. From the loud cheers of her adoring fans to the photos of Swift and the appearances of her dancers and backup singers, it felt like we were right there with her.

Immediately people started singing and dancing in their seats as Swift opened playing tracks from her 2019 album Lover. While some artists tend to play shortened versions of their songs during a performance, Swift often plays them all in full, which I personally appreciate.

She then moved on to her successful 2008 crossover album fearlessand performing upbeat tracks like You belong with me And love story Which helped her become the star she is today. Then she turned to foreverIt is one of the two albums she released during the pandemic.

Listening to her transition from her early pop days to a more mature sound made me realize not only how far she has come as a singer, but also how versatile she is – something that would prove to be an ongoing theme.

While the songs from forever Tend to be softer, the Swift picked up energy back in 2017 reputation. At the time of release, it seemed like the music world wasn’t quite ready for songs like …Ready for it? And Look what you made me do With its harder, EDM-inspired sounds. However, the album is now seen as the beginning of her musical development.

Swift then took the audience back to 2010 with talk now, But just implement it fascinatedWhich made everyone in the cinema sing, especially on the bridge of the track. Personally, I would have liked to hear royalwhich is one of my favorite songs from this album.

However, I wasn’t disappointed when I drove the 2012 model year red With its optimistic paths we are never ever getting back together And i knew you were trouble. Swift even pulled out her guitar for the full 10-minute version well.

Continuing the journey, fast forward to 2020 folklore With its relaxing melodies before delving into Swift’s best album, of 2014 1989. When she sang get rid ofEveryone stood up from their seats and danced together. She finished her latest album, 2022 midnight, Perform seven tracks from it including Anti-hero And Karma.

It’s easy to get lost in nostalgia by browsing through her various albums in non-sequential order. After all, her 10 albums span over 15 years, and each “era” inevitably has its own memories attached to it.

Although this wasn’t quite like attending a live concert, it was still an impressive experience. It almost felt like I had an up-close performance to myself. I also felt like the people around me were really happy, which is what I would imagine at one of her concerts as well.

Eventually, I received friendship bracelets from fellow fans, following the trend of her shows. If you can’t see Taylor Swift live (which is getting harder and harder to do), or even if you already have, I’d say the movie is still worth seeing.

Updated: November 05, 2023 at 11:36 AM