Metallica: Some Kind of Monster [2 Discs]

Joe Berlinger

Overview

"For a seemingly camera-shy band that staunchly maintained an anti-music video stance for the better part of their powerful early career, Metallica opens up quite a bit in Paramount Home Video's release of directors Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky's acclaimed and insightful documentary Metallica: Some Kind of Monster. The shot-on-video feature is presented in its original full-frame aspect shooting ratio of 1.33:1, and with evenly balanced colors and little evidence of digital artifacting, it really does look great. Audio is offered in both English Dolby Digital 5.1 and English Dolby Digital Stereo, and though the 5.1 track certainly packs a bit more punch in scenes involving Metallica's trademark brand of aggressive metal, both options sound great throughout the running time of this very dialogue-driven film. After fans have had the opportunity to watch the film and see just how close their favorite metal band came to imploding following the departure of longtime bassist Jason Newsted, they'll no doubt be eager to delve into the hearty selection of bonus materials offered on this massive, two-disc release. If the long stretches of silence and missed opportunities in the band's sparse audio commentary track initially feel somewhat disappointing (it would have been great to hear how James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett felt about Lars Ulrich's emotional meeting with former bandmate Dave Mustaine), the lively audio commentary by Berlinger and Sinofsky more than makes up for this by offering great insight from a unique perspective. In addition to offering invaluable advice about structure and the value of persistence to aspiring documentary filmmakers, the parallels that Berlinger and Sinofsky draw between themselves and the struggles faced by the band make for a truly involved and fascinating listen. If DVD lovers have become somewhat jaded by the mostly incidental deleted scenes that generally offer little extra, they'll certainly be happy to note that the deleted scenes included here are both revealing and entertaining. In addition to the amusing sight of a mellow Hammett sitting on a satanic throne during a photo session and offering the film crew cocktails, viewers also get to see the soft-spoken guitarist spend a day in traffic school before being treated to a remarkably personal trip with drummer Ulrich to his childhood home in Copenhagen. With an additional scene featuring new Metallica guitarist Robert Trujillo discussing his excitement over being accepted into the fold and the entire band discussing Dee Dee Ramone's untimely death on the eve of covering his song ""53rd and 3rd"" for a Ramones tribute album, these deleted scenes are a real treat for fans and certainly serve to enrich the viewing experience. Footage from the various premieres of Some Kind of Monster finds the band fielding numerous questions from fans and critics, with the Sundance press conference and San Francisco Film Festival appearances in particular offering notable insight into their reaction to the film. A music video offers the title track played over various clips from the film, with trailers and filmmaker biographies (which are more ""filmography"" than ""biography"") serving to round out this monstrously satisfying release that will no doubt hold a special place in the collection of die-hard Metallica fans."

Product Details

Release Date:	11/24/2014
UPC:	0097368863743
Original Release:	2003
Rating:	NR
Source:	Paramount
Region Code:	1
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Stereo, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround]
Language:	English
Time:	2:20:00
Sales rank:	40,950

Special Features

Closed Caption;40 additional scenes; Exclusive intimate interviews with Metallica about the film; Highlights from festivals and premieres; Two audio commentaries by the band and the filmmakers; Two trailers; Music video

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Metallica	Composer
Echobrain	Composer

Technical Credits

Joe Berlinger	Director,Producer,Executive Producer
Bruce Sinofsky	Director,Producer
Jon Kamen	Executive Producer
Frank Scherma	Executive Producer

Editorial Reviews

VH1's Behind the Music became a hit television show by trivializing the problems of famous rock stars. Metallica: Some Kind of Monster is just about as strong a reply to that series as one could possibly imagine. Having almost three years worth of footage (including material from intimate group therapy sessions involving the band members) must have made for a nightmare in the editing room; however, directors Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky are confident enough to take their time with the finished film. The viewer slowly learns the psychological makeup of each of the individual members. We see Lars Ulrich's self-absorbed perfectionism and learn how his relationship with his father colors it, Kirk Hammett's passive quest for calm, and James Hetfield's self-destructive qualities as well as his inner-strength in getting clean and figuring out how best to live his life. The genius of the film is how the audience gets to see how each of the three main band members interact with each other, and how they work together as a trio. The effect is so subtle that the viewer may not notice how much they know about the band until the point when Kirk Hammett subtly confronts the other two about how little they listen to him. Although it is a minor altercation, the audience understands how hard it was for Hammett to do what he does, and they understand what the other two are hearing when it happens. Although the psychological insights are the best reason to recommend this film, it also works as a look at how modern rock records are made, and as an endorsement for therapy. Some Kind of Monster reminds the audience that for all the goofy excesses (and the film certainly shows the goofy excess) of celebrity musicians' lives, they are fascinating and complicated three-dimensional people.