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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 |
 "Extremely interesting look at the modern dynamics behind Metallica"Most people reading this review know that Metallica has been one of the preeminent thrash bands of the past 20 years - indeed, they were among the first groups to create the very sound we know as thrash. 20 years after their onset, the band found themselves in perilous circumstances once again, with tensions growing between its members. Jason Newsted, their bass player of 10+ years, had left, and the rest of the band were struggling to recapture their creative drive and fire. This is where the documentary picks up. Metallica were in the early stages of recording their first album of new material since 1997's Reload, and they were obviously having difficulties. The filmmakers capture the odyssey of finding a new bass player and the introduction of band therapy seamlessly into showing the audience where it has led the band to today. Obviously, the band members had creative control over the doc - who could imagine Lars settling for otherwise? - although they admirably let their dirty laundry air, so to speak. There are clips of all-out screaming between the members, especially between Lars and James. The absence of James for a long portion of the film, interestingly, adds tension and introduces traditional dramatic elements to what is supposed to be a documentary. It makes the film eminently watchable and worth viewing multiple times. Basically, if you want a look at what goes on in Metallica's world, this is as good as any of a chance you are going to get. For non-Metallica fans, it still has value as it's a bit funny hearing the guys talk normally to each other, without any censoring (and believe me, there is a lot to censor), as well as see a vital and dynamic band go through relationship problems. You can see the band changing and transforming as they learn to channel their anger and frustration in postive ways, and as a result, the working process improves. Ultimately, it ends on a positive note, with the band releasing their new album St. Anger and embarking on a massive world tour. Plus, the extras - which include nearly 45 minutes of deleted scenes, all worthwhile, and several interviews with the filmmakers - are well above-average from what you'd normally expect from a DVD. Simply put, this is a highly entertaining film, whether you are a Metallifan or not.  "a good movie but the band........"are a bunch of whiners. Now on to the review. I am somewhat of a metallica fan, not huge, but I do have Kill em all through And jusctice for all.This is a very good movie, gives you a look at what its like inside a studio and a band thats going through some turmoil. By the way, James Hetfield is a complete jerk in this movie "Some Kind of Money -making Scheme"Bitch , complain and egos up the kazoo. Man I rented this a Blockbuster for a buck because I was interested in what it had to show. All I know as that these guys should have quit after Reload. These guys are pussys and don't know what metal is about anymore. I or anybody else who is a true blue metal fan wouldn't be caught dead with those pompous therapists who are probably charging an arm and a leg for their lame advice. Lars is a total pain in the ass and a half-ass drummer ,just check out the lame drum beats he thinks are contributing to a sound change. Metalica are not anything close to what they used to be. Prehaps they should start reading some of the reviews to know how much they suck now "How bad Metallica has become..."This pasthetic band now releases the DVD Some Kind Of Monster, and I am ashamed that I have seen it. They document the making of St. Anus here, and I am very surprised that no one in the room said that Hetfield sounded like a moaning retard. If you've seen the documentary then you will hear how bad Hetfields voice is (the production of St. Anus makes it sound AWFUL, but its just as bad in real life). I hate Bob Rock with a vengeance now, because he TOLD Kirk how to play his guitar, thus squashing anything good that Kirk could've done. I cant remember if Lars was playing tin cans or not, I wish I knew though. And Bob Rock plays f**king bass! How homo can you get Bob? First Bon Blowme, then S***ty Pla, now St. Anus? Jesus! The only good thing about this is the appearence of Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine. He acts saddenned in the movie, but I know that he was throwing an anti-Metallica party once he went home. If you've gone to the St. anus page on amazon they have an interview with Lars' dad, Torben. He claims to like St. Anus, but its obvious that he he hates it, he even says "delete that" to one of their songs on this documentary! This thing was made only for the purpose of money making, and this truly saddens me.... For good movies by bands get Pink Floyds THE WALL and Led Zeppelins THE SONG REMAINS THE SAME. "A long, involving, personal chronicle."Good timing on the cameras for these events! After an indulgent decade following their hit success, we see Metallica's impetus has come a grinding halt, egos are out of control, and it appears the rock 'n' roll dream is cursed, as ever. So what's it like to live in a bubble? How's it feel to rattle your brain with alcohol and loud music for just a little too long? How do you still care about anything beyond your sanity and family, and where does that leave music and how you feel it? This film explores all that. So we watch what happens... The band members are so neurotic and defensive that they almost have to speak in a code... every word becomes so loaded that these grown men can't cope, they can't get beyond irritations that control their wild moods. That irritation affects us too. You want to just YELL at them to get over their personal B-S and work on the music, to believe in the music, to use their imagination, talent and opportunity to create monstrous music. It is all pretty far from them in a sense, I guess... in their artificial world, the one WE create around them with adulation and endless money... the music is oddly less meaningful. The words of the songs are hasty improvisations drawn from personal issues, inner-focused to the extreme. Musically, while creating ST ANGER Metallica seem desperate to "make something that sounds like something" rather than a record in the classical sense. I should explain. These guys are in personal chaos. There is no driving force of hungry vision compelling them to put down brilliant tracks over a few weeks. So there is a lot of distracted dragging around in makeshift studios, randomly trying out ideas and snipping together arrangements, and then they have these endless defensive analytical discussions. It really is incredible. They don't come in with songs or anything real to say, they more or less just blast out random riffs, have engineers tinker with it, and tack on some facile meaning later. Not to take away anything from ST ANGER but it sure looks as if the music was just incidental, a by-product of their hanging out and therapy while wrapped up in their arms-crossed, insular little worlds. It's just astounding to watch because the way they work is bizzarely inefficient. It's like here's another successful band in total entropy, the story of rock and roll - a self-fulfilling cliché. Metallica's ST. ANGER does carry a bit of a "whatever" quality to it, a whiff of their not being sure of where they are and what they want to do. This is a totally honest statement for them. I can recognize some of the band's human follies in myself and this film has surprising introspective value. Any one of us could be in the same weirded-out state James Hetfield seems to veer into, in the right circumstance - that's our humanity right there. Money eats people I guess - you can always pay people to comply to your demands. I recommend this film highly for what it is - whether or not there may be better or more relevant things to watch on DVD. |
