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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 |
 "bunch of cry babies."Metallica are a bunch of cry babies. with out dave mustine or cliff burton they were nothing. Metallica first three records were the best. after that they suck big time. "This is Spinal Crap: Touchy-feely metal from San Francisco"I'll give Metallica credit for this: They oversaw the final cut of this movie, and in doing so they didn't shrink away from material that makes them seem -- to the objective non-Metallica fan, at least -- like a trio of uninspired, marginally talented, navel-gazing, inarticulate, boring, unintelligent and stuck-in-the-80s-thrash-metal-scene musicians. Lars Ulrich is the most annoying of the group, a touchy-feely type who's always chewing gum (nicorette?) and has major unresolved "issues" with bandmate and longtime friend James Hetfield. It's at Lars's insistence that the band employs a $40,000-a-month therapist to help them reconnect and get through the recording of their new album, their first in five years. Maybe the recording sessions would have gone a lot more smoothly if they had actually bothered to write songs before convening, rather than trying to write by committee through a series of dull jam sessions. The middle of the movie chronicles a year-long sabattical from recording while Hetfield takes off for a prolonged rehab stint, leaving Lars and guitarist (and resident intellectual) Kirk Hammett twiddling their thumbs and going through more therapy waiting for him to get back. There's a particuarly funny (unintentionally so) therapy session with ex-Metallica member Dave Mustaine, whose teary-eyed confession that he's always felt sorry for himself ever since he got kicked out of the band (and then went on to sell 15 MILLION RECORDS WITH MEGADETH) is effing hilarious. Eventually Hetfield comes back, looking a bit cleaned up but still as self-righteous as ever. There's about an hour's worth of more infighting and therapy, and in the end the album is finished and everyone is happy. But who cares? This film does very little to illustrate this band's importance to the outside world; everything takes place within a beer-soaked bubble. If this is one of the most influential bands in the history of metal, you'd hardly know it.  "Aging headbangers get in touch with their inner child"This is just too strange. I give Metallica credit for allowing filmmaker Bruce Sinovsky unlimited access to the two year anger, alcohol and therapy fueled soap opera that resulted in their St. Anger album. This one really shows the warts. Founders Lars Ulrich and James Hetfield frankly come across as two pampered, egotistical and selfish superstars trying desperately to keep the gravy train rolling despite their hatred for each other while guitarist Kirk Hammett and producer Bob Rock spend most of the film rolling their eyes at the childish antics of the two leaders. Aside from some studio snippets there's not much music here but lots of therapy sessions with a sports shrink the band's managers hired to keep them from each other's throats long enough to get an album in the can. Not very exciting unless you're a psychotherapy fan. You'll find more of interest on the bonus CD which has a memorable bit performed by Kirk for his driving school class, a good live version of 'Frantic' and an interesting tailgate show for Raiders fans who are a whole lot scarier than headbangers. That's when it hits you that somehow these dysfuntional spoiled rockstars somehow mangaged to come out of this with St. Anger, a great album. Beats me how...  "Interesting, Insightful, And Humorus."I bought this movie on DVD the day it came out. Since I couldn't have the chance to see it in the only dank, dark little movie theatre that it was playing at in my city. I was actually kind of dissapointed that it was not shown in widescreen format.Anyway, this movie has it all...egos are bruised, power and control are lost, much extravagant crap is bought. It was interesting to me at least to see Metallica vulnerable. To also have an insight in to the making of a record. Dubbed to be their most "controversial album". No , I didn't stutter. St. Anger was controversial in a sense that it created a ripple in their fanbase if to see if truly their fans were willing to take a journey with them in to the unknown. While many of their root fans have cried "sellout!" and jumped ship 12, 13 years ago. Well some claim to...after all somebody bought millions of copies of Load. Metallica has continued to bounce back and forth throughout the entire picture. St. Anger also saw them gain a wider audience. Mostly kids, sans teenagers. Hey, we were all teens buying Metallica records and going to the riot-barracaded shows back in the day. But back when they were playing dinky little club shows, it was mostly teenagers and college students rocking out in the audience. The movie is really actually very good if your not a Metallica fan and very excellent if you are. Aside from the widescreen problem, there was really no big band infighting. Except from a day in the studio, where James is in a crappy mood and bashes Lars' drumming. Lars in turn starts talking when then leads to a little arguing, nothing big. I would of thought we at least see some chair throwing, screaming fist fights, but no avail. What's the deal with James drinking? It wasn't out of control. He wasn't yelling at his kids or beating his wife. What's the big deal? I do wish to see more of Jason Mewsted and more of Rob Trujillo. But that of course is waht the second disc is for. On disc 2, there many hilarious and just plain hilarious additional scenes. One of my favorites is when the guys are in the studio, and Bob Rock crunches Lars' toe with his chair and Lars' flipes out. Haha too funny. "The Best Music Documentary Ever Made!!!"If you know the Metallica story this will take you deep into it more than you have EVER imagined! At well over two hours long this film is well worth the money!! Plus another disc of bonus footage. You will get into it even if you are not a fan. But if you are a Metallica fan you have to see this. It is that good and really interesting to view. This film is NOT just about them making a new record. It tackles the issues from the past that we never heard all sides of. The stand out scene for me is Lars Ulrich and Dave Mustaine from Megadeath sit in a room for the first time in 20 years. Dave talks about his sadness over being kicked out of the band in 1983. Even with his great career with Megadeath he still feels like he is in 2nd place to Metallica. Lars has to listen to this and deal with it on camera and answer his questions. I just wish this clip went on longer! This film also has new interviews with Jason Newsted the Metallica bass player that left them a few years ago. His leaving was a big surprise to the fans. The fans never really got the whole story of why he left at the time. In this, You get his side of the story and also the bands side. James now feels he could have treated him better looking back. I have always loved good music documentaries like JIMI HENDRIX(1973) THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT(The Who)1979. Or even The Beatles LET IT BE. This one is much more real and in your face than any other. This is a band showing us everything! |
