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Metallica - Some Kind of Monster Actors: James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett Directors: Bruce Sinofsky, Joe Berlinger Number of Items: 2 Format: Color Audience Rating: R (Restricted) Studio: Paramount Home Video Product Group: DVD Release Date: 2005-01-25 Buy from Amazon |
 "Ashamed to be Danish"Good GOD!! Is it possible that Lars Ulrich could possibly be as in reality as much of a materialistic, immature, spoiled cretin as it appears in this painfully long and banal documentary?????? He is an embarassement to the Danish people! As an amateur drummer I can tell you...he is much less prolific than most pre-teen speed metal drummers I run into in the local Guitar Center!!  "wow what a shame"This DVD was a let down. I think it really showed what a tool James is. The best part is Dave Mustaine spilling his guts. Please hang it up already Metallica it's over.  "Unintentionally hilarious, eye opening and memorable"I haven't been a Metallica fan since the Black album came out. I didn't have the pleasure of being old enough to remember their great 80's legacy as the world's premier thrash metal quartet, and so I gradually lost interest in them when metallish grunge bands such as Alice in Chains and Soundgarden where making their mark. However, my own indifference toward the band allowed me to enjoy Some Kind of Monster on various levels. At the end of the film, I both understood, ridiculed, admired, laughed at, sympathized with and disliked the band all at once. The comparisons to This Is Spinal Tap are not unwarranted. Watching the spats between the dynamic duo of James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich reminded me all too well of the tension between the fictional rockers David St. Hubbins and Nigel Tufnel in the 80's comedy classic. We see the materialistic James with his dozens of hotrods, choppers and trucks as well of pictures of him after he bagged a full grown grizzly bear after it had woken up fom hibernation(oooo, great hunter), as well as seeing him knock back drinks in both old live footage and in the studio. We see the pathetically complacent Kirk surfing and enjoying horseriding in the Northern Californian countryside and talking about how "hard" life is. And it wouldn't be Metallica if we didn't see the greedy lil' Danish bastard Lars hawking millions of dollars from his decidedly average artwork being auctioned. And yet these men are still tortured? Yes, you see, because they are really torturing themselves. The devastation caused by the rock n' roll lifestyle often leads to inward thinking, bad communication and a loss of touch in reality. These guys did not have time to grow and mature as young men during their heyday which is why they are stuck in a teenaged limbo. I can only hope I don't turn into a 30-40 something who still talks like a 13 year old pothead at a record store. Other highlights include brief interviews with a very upset Jason Newstead decrying Hetfield's stranglehold over his artistic creativity as well as the band's decision to hire a therapist. I think he hit the nail on the head, as Phil Towle is a pretentious "guru to the stars" who isn't telling them anything they couldn't have discovered on their own. The part towards the end where the band is hinting at Phil that he might have worn out his welcome is also funny. Bob Rock, the mighty producer who himself was a therapist/regulator for the band now takes the couch to Phil's cheeseball "entity" speeces and also seems to straddle the fine line between the band's producer and the band's 4th-or 5th member. His frustration is subdued but notwithstanding. And there is also Dave Mustaine, the virtuoso guitarist and Megadeth frontman who was unfairly ousted from the band while on tour(he was ditched in New York city) in the early 80's. He has an intense meeting with Lars in which he expresses 20 years of pain and resentment of being second fiddle to the monster of Metallica. My favorite segment is probably the bassist audition which ends in the formidable Robert Trujillo of Suicidal Tendencies/Infectious Grooves being welcomed to the fold. Another reason I like this scene is it really capitalizes on the blatant arrogance and ignorance of Metallica towards their musical peers, namely Lars. Robert is one of the most proficient bassists around, and hearing Lars express concern that he's giving off an "unwelcoming" vibe simply because he is practicing his chops prior to jamming with the band is a fat joke. Rock and metal fans will recognize other auditions of bassists such as Pepper Keenan of Corrosion of Conformity, Scott Reeder of Kyuss and Danny Lohner of Nine Inch Nails and having the band talk to these seasoned veterans as if they where ignorant garage band rookies is both priceless and disconcerting. If you've ever wondered what Spinal Tap would be like if they where real and you want an insight into the stresses of the heavy metal and rock world than I recommend you check out Some Kind of Monster.  "Before you judge Metallica, take a look at you."I've been a huge fan of Metallica since 1986. They have never ceased to impress me! I don't understand people who say that Metallica has sold out... I call it "growing up". There's life after "Master of Puppets". Metallica has never been out to make anyone happy but themselves. They are who they are, and if you don't like it, they aren't going change just to make you happy. This is what I love about Metallica. It is great to see people who aren't afraid to acknowledge their weaknesses, or admit that they're not perfect. I can seriously identify with that. Most people are too afraid to allow themselves to become so aware of their imperfections. People are always trying to blame their problems on someone (or something) else. With "SKoM", Metallica has shown the world how they've created their own problems, and how they've chosen to deal with them. It takes a lot of integrity to open yourself up and lay yourself out on the table like Metallica has here. If everyone were as honest and bold as Metallica, the world would be a better place. Watch this movie, and learn what greatness truly is!  "Disappointing....but still interesting. "This documentary of the latest chapter of the former heavy metal kings existance is informative, you'll learn some things you didnt know before , like personal info from certain people you only imagined (when Dave Mustaine shares shares his thoughts and speaks his mind ) Its a funny movie at parts , like when there are arguments between band members ( there isnt that many real bad arguments, only one that is not violent or frightening, ...just a heated irratable situation that boils some band members over ) Parts involving Jason Usted are cool , becouse you get to hear what he thinks and feels. You get to see some of the band members kids, thats cool, if you never really gave thought to the fact that they are married and have kids (James and Lars ...while Kirk is just married as of yet) you get to see their wives and children sometimes. The part when Rob Trojillo , the new member of metallica, gets offered 1 million pasos (...dollars , i mean , or leera, or whatever)to officially join the band, is really cool. Its nice cuz one can feel the joy of getting such an opprotunity to join Metallica. You might end up feeling very happy for him. Anyway, the movie doesnt suck , but its dissapointing becouse its not raw....it has a honesty that most popular famous things lack, but its not "fist-fight" honesty, its not as deep as it is touted to be. It is rather light, and you dont sense the type of uncomfortable ackwardness you would feel in a confrontation that might result in something physical. Thats not in the movie. Its honest in ways....but its still soft. Personally...concerning the music being developed through out the film ( St.Anger) .... i know it is best to have your own self saved than makeing masterfull music and end up destroying yourself in the process with drugs and sex. but even though Metallica is on the Lesser Of The Worst Evil paths, so to speak, it doesnt give them the same powerfull ingenious inspiration. You see that type of genious trying to surface when Kirk Hammet finally loses his cool over the fact that there wont be any solos in the music. When he trys to plea his case that the band might be trying things too trendy, if that where the case , and that though the idea of no solos was in part to not be stuck to traditions of trying things new...he still didnt wanna follow what other bands did and what as trendy.... However Kirk is the least egotistical of the three and his desires get put aside in a way to just do the music for the music. Or whatever.... its suppost to be all done without anyones ego envolved. All this honesty is good , and not being egotistic is good, but originally Metallica was honest....yes, they were honest about being selfesh; and even though with big egos, they still created great music, becouse it was for real, it was raw, it wasnt over calculated , they didnt discuss it through therapy sessions, they didnt have to sit and tell eachohter how they "felt" all the time. They just acted....and even though it was destructive, thats what spawned metallica in the first place. That negative horriable expression. Now Metallica is supposivly "REBORN" ... so metallica died, and now came back from the dead and has a goal to perhaps create great music using positive energy and spirit. Can it be done. Yes it can. But will it be done. I dont know. Before i saw this film i would be more enclined to say yes, they will; but after i saw this, i start to have more doubts now. But overall, the movie is ok, its a must have if you really wanna learn more about metallica and see how they look and behave nowadays. stuff like that. or if you can afford it and it doesnt matter. well, thats what i think , later |
