I don't normally write reviews, so I can't exactly say i'm deviating from the usual formula, but with a film so seemingly geared towards a particular audience like this, you can't give a straight forward, "regular" review that will satisfy everyone.
So I will split it up into sections based on the "types" of people who will see this movie. These will be based off common sense, and my friends who came with me to see the movie.
But first some small facts to clarify, yes, this is absolutely a documentary. It runs at about 97 minutes and you will definitely get plenty of face time of each musician. The movie's basic formula is: Individual Interviews on a certain subject; Cut back to the group chatting with each other; Repeat until finale.
Movie Goer Type 1:
The Fan:
I use this category first because it can potentially mix in with some of the other groups.
These are the people who are already fans of Jimmy Paige (Led Zeppelin), The Edge (U2), or Jack White (White Stripes). For these people, as i previously mentioned, you will definitely see plenty of your favorite guitarist as well as get a lengthy back story (as told by the performers personally, on location). So if you are a fan of any of these musicians you will definitely get your money's worth in the films extensive interviews including Jack white discussing his favorite songs, The Edge discussing his childhood band at school and Paige showing off where the band recorded some of their records. According to my friend who was our "fan" it was ridiculously interesting, which i could have inferred by the way he practicaly nerd-gasmed every time he saw Jimmy Paige on screen.
If your a fan of all three then God bless you because when they're not being individually interviewed, they're all together, as shown in the trailer, just talking and even jamming at the end. So this is (using the spill rating system) a HIGH FULL PRICE for fans. Its almost better than sex but with the dawn of the internet (mostly Wikipedia) and youtube you can find most of the individual guitarists info online.
Movie Goer Type 2:
The Musician (but really only Electric guitarists...):
I personally wanted to use this one first (as i'm really referring to myself here) but our group's "fan" was also a musician so i had to describe that first.
This is for the people who respect or appreciate these bands, but don't particularly care to listen to them. I'm more of a metal or jazz man my self, so I could definitely appreciate how deeply these people cared about the tone of their instruments. There are a couple scenes of The Edge standing by the beach just hitting a few strings, listening, clicking a button and then hitting them again to find the right sound. This was not the most entertaining thing in the world, but as a musician, some times its just humbling to see these people sit and just search themselves and try to communicate what they feel with their instruments. Following that train of though, like the bands or not, when it comes down to the Guitarists talking about how they write music, or what inspires them, it really just makes you want to get up and play. The level of effort and emotion these men put into their playing is... awe inspiring. You see this the most in Jack White who i'd initially just assumed was a commercial musician but is actually a really deep but cool guy. Thats not to say the Paige and The Edge aren't deep as well. They all share stories about how a certain song came up and its never boring.
I seem to be rapping up for a high rating like i did for "fans" but the fundamental difference here, is that the parts where the guys are just talking about themselves and their respective bands, the movie had a tendency to drag on. Sure some parts, like what inspires them, were really interesting and what personally interests you will vary, but a lot of it just got boring after a while. Granted, while this movie may persuade you to listen to the bands, if your not already a fan, its a LOW MATINEE. Its barely above a rental because while you really can find most of this online, its always more fun to hear and see the bands on the big screen and when the movie gets interesting, its really interesting. Also, go with a musician buddy if you've got one because you two will be out jamming for the rest of the evening after you see it.
Movie Goer Type 3:
The Casual Movie Watcher:
These are for people who are neither fans, or musicians. These are the people who just went to the movies to see a documentary on some thing. This is a split group. Among my friends, we had two "casuals" (for those counting there were 4 of us). One of them was fidgeting the whole movie and as expected, came out saying that he didn't like it (he expanded but its was less than "appropriate"). The other said that it was interesting. In the end, this is the hardest group to review for because it really depends on the viewer's personal tastes and interests. If your a music fan, but don't listen to these guys, or play guitar, the movie might get you into one of the bands and make you a fan by the end. If that doesn't happen though, the movie is just as boring as watching any documentary on a subject you have no interest in. In the end its a gamble watching this movie as a casual movie goer. The logical conclusion then, is that the movie is the definition of the rating RENTAL. It might suck you in like any documentary can, but if you get bored, which is almost as likely, you can get up and leave if you rented it.
So in the end, The score is (based on 5 ratings with Some ol' bullshit counting as 0)
For Fans: Full Price (+3)
For Musicians: Matinee (+2)
For Casual Movie Watchers:Rental (+1)
That Averages out to... A MATINEE
I'd personally give it a very High Rental though, because i came in hoping for more of seeing the three guys interacting, but you get the impression they didn't get much footage out of it until the end when they start playing. If i wanted their individual stories i would've gone online for it, but this is just my opinion now so... DECIDE FOR YOUR SELVES! NOW GO FOURTH! Thnx for reading (if anyone ever see's this...)
I loved the hell out of this movie. It shows how three different musicians approach music.
I loved the point where Jimmy Paige plays "A whole lotta Love" and The Edge's eyes widened in wonderment, He stood up as if he was getting up to greet someone walking into a room, or as if looking at car accident. He was witnessing a rock legend play a historic riff. Jack White remained seated but grinned like an idiot- Best scene of the movie.
Jack White is one of the greatest (or possibly the greatest) modern innovators of Rock. Always doing something new so this was always going to be interesting. Jimmy Paige is a legend. Edge is........very lame. U2 are kinda crap and his guitar playing is so basic its embarrassing cos i'm Irish, from ireland as in. Anything of his you think is cool, just stip away the effects and there is no talent there. The same cannot be said for the other 2.
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