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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 |
 "Riveting Documentary"Not a big fan of Metallica's music, I have great respect for all that they've accomplished throughout their career. I approached this documentary as a big music fan with an intense interest on watching how musicians/bands work behind the scenes when creating an album. Not only does "Some Kind of Monster" display that, it also displays a band that has lost a longtime band member, hired a therapist to help them "work through" their problems, and had their lead singer/lyricist admit himself into rehab. If watching all this unfold sounds like it would keep you interested, then pick this up! There are many great things about this movie. Namely, it's not a vanity piece where each member of Metallica is made to look like they are gods. Instead, each member is seen in different lights. The viewer respects the fact that James Hetfield's new work schedule after getting out of rehab has to slow down a bit, but feels drummer Lars Ulrich's frustration at someone else putting a limit on his creative timeline. It's very interesting to behold. What makes matters even more interesting (and I'm sure many of Metallica's fans will disagree with me) is that here is a band going through a tremendous amount of inner turmoil and very hard work all to complete a new album...and the resulting music/lyrics are really not that good. I've said I wasn't a fan, but I can appreciate and understand why other people like Metallica. With the music that was created for "St. Anger"...the magic just doesn't seem to be happening. This is a film not only for Metallica's fans, but also any fans of music who enjoy watching creative minds/struggles at work. Packed with great extras as well. A+  "Don't waste your money"Boooooring! I can not believe how anyone could find this movie "fascinating" it's just plain boring! A bunch of middle-aged whiney incredibly wealthy drunks boo-hooing about needing to have "control" over their lives.What a bunch of crybabies! Who among us really has any control in their lives.These guys are considered Gods by their millions of fans and all they can do is sit around and piss and moan about their poor pathetic lives.Give me a break! No concert footage,no glimpses into their early years,almost nothing about their wives or girlfriends or kids, just a bunch of poor sound quality clips about making just the one "some kind of monster" song.And that song is not that good anyway.I lost a tremendous amount of respect for Metallica when they made that CD with all the orchestra music "S&M".What a waste of money that CD was as well as this DVD. "Keeping it honest: warts and all."Honesty is what has underlined everything Metallica has ever done. That's also why -in daring to be seen in a sometimes quite unflattering light- this documentary is as potent and fulfilling as it is. It keeps it real. No one needs to be even a fan of Metallica to follow the movie and get absorbed in it. Yet,being a life-long 'Tallica fan I not only managed to finally see it when it when it came to my town,but was pleasantly shocked to find out that 'Some Kind Of Monster' co-director Bruce Sinofsky was also there when I was that night back in Oct. '04 to introduce the film and hold a Q & A session after the film was over. Awesome. Just like this movie. It's a movie about being infallibly human in a superhuman thing called Metallica and living to get to the other side of it all for the positive. This movie literally takes you on a truly fulfilling journey. I recommend it to anyone who appreciates fine filmaking regardless if it's about Metallica or not or whether or not you're into Metallica or not. As I was saying,you don't need to be,but it helps to be even so. Five stars: for all sorts of moments by moreover for going with bottom-line honesty and not sugarcoating themselves. That's about as Metallica as it gets. "Heavy Metal ain't easy but it's necessary"It doesn't take a fan to appreciate this movie. Rich and famous people have problems just like you and me. They may have it made but they are human also. The Mighty Metallica is not just a machine, it is comprised of men. It has tons of extras to boot!  "Good Film, but........"After watching a movie you really start to hate Lars. This movie is all about him. He shares his spotlight in the movie with James Hetfield, but overshadows James all the time. If you'll be watching this movie, pay close attention to Kirk. He looks like he doesn't have any say in the band at all. But it looks like it doesn't really bother Kirk a whole lot. He just wants to play music, make money and enjoy himself. Now I really understand why Jason Newsted left Metallica. The movie does have some good parts in it with Jason, but they all get overshadowed again by Lars. You can tell that Lars always acts in front of camera. The rest of the guys do a good job of being natural on camera. Lars is doing a performance of a lifetime. You can really tell that he has a Napoleon Complex. Being short, that man is so insecure with himself that he constantly has to prove something to somebody and that leads to being not natural on camera. (By the way, I am not pounding Lars because of Napster. I totally support Metallica's actions against Napster) James Hetfield on the other hand is shown as a very composed guy. It's definitely a new side of James that viewers learn from the film. I got nothing but positive vibe from James throughout the entire film. But anyway, watch the movie. You'll enjoy it. I really don't understand why this documentary was chosen as a Sundance Selection. Being a huge fan of Metallica, I didn't find this film to be extremely good. It has its great and funny moments, but overall I give it 3 STARS. I liked "Metallica: Year and a Half Part I & II" a lot more. |
