| Overall Grade: |
A+ |
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| Story: |
A+ |
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| Acting: |
A+ |
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| Direction: |
A |
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| Visuals: |
A |
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At the Peak of Rock-n-Roll Greatness
by Richard (movies profile)
Nov 16, 2007
2
of
2 people found this review helpful
Spinal Tap is a band that has spoken to generations of rock-n-roll fans, although it has never been clear exactly what they are saying. After all, as co-lead guitarist Nigel Tuffnel has noted, "lyrics are very overrated." What is clear is that this rockumentary captures the power and raw sexual energy of England's loudest band.
I can remember in high school going to a planetarium and watching this movie with the stars above me (well, I found out later they were really just lights) and tripping with my friends. I was also fortunate enough to see Spinal Tap at the Willie Nelson Farmers Aid IV which was the gig where their backdrop caught on fire and destroyed part of their set and some of the equipment of the Charlie Daniels band. But, I digress...
This picture shows an insiders view of the talented fingers of Nigel, the amazing vocal range of David St. Hubbins and the intimidating "package" of Derek Smalls. Although some of the more memorable scenes did not survive the director's knife (such as the band's appearance on the Hollywood Squares), it does capture the excitement surrounding the band's Smell the Glove tour of 1982. Not since the band's first American appearance on the Merv Griffin show has the band gained such exposure, and not since opening the 1984 World Series with a 13 minute musical interpretation of the National Anthem, has Spinal Tap been introduced to more fans than ever. Sadly, the world demonstrates it cannot appreciate the artistic expression of this band, and the commercial struggles they continue to endure reflect a public that lacks the creative imagination to value songs like Big Bottom, Sex Farm Woman and Christmas with the Devil.
Yet this movie shows that the fine line between clever and stupid is one that Spinal Tap is not afraid to cross - indeed leap - over. |
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