Watch Lady Gaga Presents The Monster Ball Tour At Madison Square Garden

In 2011, Lady Gaga presented The Monster Ball Tour at Madison Square Garden, a concert movie capturing her elaborate and electrifying live performances in support of her hit album "The Fame Monster". Directed by Laurieann Gibson, the film showcases Gaga's undeniable charisma, vocal prowess, and theatrical flair on stage, as well as her earnest and personal moments backstage and in interviews.

The film opens with a feverish montage of various clips from Gaga's New York tour date, showcasing the intricate and fantastical stage design, the enthusiastic crowd of Little Monsters (as her fans are affectionately known), and the singer's avant-garde fashion choices. The frenetic energy is palpable from the get-go, as Gaga grins and waves to her devotees before diving into her opening number, "Dance In The Dark".

From there, the film follows the show's setlist almost religiously, interspersing full performances of Gaga's biggest hits ("Paparazzi", "Telephone", "Bad Romance", and more) with snippets of backstage conversations and rehearsals. Gaga's longtime DJ and collaborator, Lady Starlight, makes several appearances, introducing one of the concert's most iconic moments: a fierce rendition of "Poker Face" performed atop a fully functioning subway train car.

Throughout the film, Gaga's personality shines through with a mix of humor, honesty, and bravado. In one touching moment, she dedicates "Speechless" to her father and assures the audience that even with all her fame and fortune, she still feels like a young girl looking up to her parents. In another, she reflects on the challenges of maintaining her image and keeping up with her own creativity, acknowledging that she sometimes feels "like a loser" and has to push herself to keep evolving.

While the concert itself is undoubtedly the main attraction, the film also gives glimpses into the intricate planning and logistics that go into such a massive production. We see Gaga rehearsing her choreography with her backing dancers, trying on various costumes and wigs, and giving notes to her lighting and sound designers. The film's editing and cinematography often emphasize the scale and grandeur of the stage show, but also make sure to highlight the individual members of Gaga's team and their contributions.

The climax of the film, of course, is the iconic encore performance of "Bad Romance", complete with Gaga's infamous anglerfish-inspired costume and pyrotechnics. The energy in the Garden is palpable as Gaga and her dancers give their all in the final minutes of the set, and the film captures every heart-pumping moment with aplomb. As Gaga bids her fans goodbye and disappears into the shadows, the cameras linger on the Little Monsters in the audience, many of whom are in tears or shaking with adrenaline.

Overall, "Lady Gaga Presents The Monster Ball Tour At Madison Square Garden" is a thrilling and intimate snapshot of one of modern pop's most influential and unique figures at the height of her powers. Whether you're a diehard fan or just appreciate a good spectacle, this film is not to be missed.

Lady Gaga Presents The Monster Ball Tour At Madison Square Garden is a 2011 music movie with a runtime of 2 hours and 10 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 8.4.