Stratisfear wrote:
In hindsight, there may have been more going on in terms of revealing their love for guitars than I gave the film credit for...but in a sense, what took the lead out of my pencil was that you had the feeling these three guys (and I was perfectly happy with the choices, even though I've not been much of a Jack White fan) were being driven to this secret location where suddenly sparks would fly, conversations and emotion would erupt...and nothing like that seemed to happen. There were great reminiscences from all three about childhoods and guitars (yeehah), some old footage (though unnecessarily slanted towards noise, for effect) (yeehah), as well as a little technical banter (though not nearly enough) (yeehah). On the down side, I felt like Jimmy was phoning it in (boo), Jack was contrived (boo), and the Edge frustratingly distant (boo). Like I said, those were first impressions, and I've only seen the film once. I'm keen to give it another viewing when a) I've had some time to think more about my first impressions, b) I'm not having to crane my neck downwards because the person in front of me has reclined their seat to the max, and c) it comes out on circuit/DVD here.
I recommend another watch, if only to see it on a larger than postcard size screen but... there still won't be fireworks at the "summit". It was weak and my least favourite part, especially after the set up... roadies wheeling in equipment, a large set etc. It would have come off better in someone's living room, certainly lower expectations and less guarded chat. Telling that the most interesting conversation they have is after everything is being shut down. For me, I always wondered what the stairwell Zep recorded the drums for Levee looked like, now I know ?
I would vote the director off for misleading us as to the impact of the summit, or even calling it a summit. Call it a cup of tea.
