go on, everybody - it's great to finally hear your reactions, impressions, etc.

cc, i believe the "dramatic effect" employed in Sympathy has been pretty widely publicized
it's also part of the reason ... well no never mind! i can air more of my theories some other time.

>> And that has the become the band's main storyline.<<

well ... if that's what people buy as the band's main storyline -
which of course a lot of people will if this film winds up being treated as THE Stones film.
to me it's "seeing what Scorsese sees" - which has a lot of strong points, but also misses a lot.

very enjoyable concert film.
Great sound quality, with the song highlights being,
a touching 'As Tears Go By', and a thunderously barnstorming,
'Champagne & Reefer'.
These 2 performances, were worth the price of admission alone.


A few critisisms:-
**the hired, Paris Hilton clones, in the FOS area, who were in 95% of the shots, and didn't know the words or the songs being played.
Embarrasing faux-pas, imo.
Whoever decided to try and 'MTV Awards' the experience, by employing a gaggle of clapping, blonde sealions, has hurt this movie, and discredited themselves, in the process.
** Not one single shot of Brian, Bill or Taylor in the archive footage,
(of which not enough was used).

Anyway, a fun evening, enjoying a fun rock and roll movie, surrounded by godd people.
The 'giveaway' unique t-shirt, was a nice touch.

Poughkeepsie Journal.. Is that for real, skipstone?

highlight of the whole evening, was when the red carpet interviewer
(a heavily pregnant, Edith Bowman), was interviewing Keith, and he
presented her with his business card.

effing funny, it was.

This movie is a must for all Stones fans. I watched the Premier in last night in Glasgow and really enjoyed it.

The showing kicked off shortly after 7.30pm with a live broadcast from the red carpet in Leicester Square and interviews with all of the Stones as they arrved. The idea was nice but in reality it was all a bit strange sitting in a cinema watching live interviews with the band. Then it was into watching the movie.

The "plot" is quite simple - legendry film director makes movie about legendry band. The first fraction of the film shows Scorcese getting the stage and cameras ready and supposedly stressing over the set list. It kind of reminded me of the sequence in Gimme Shelter where the first venue is cancelled and then they have the lawyers on the open phone, etc. It's that same style.

Then it's into the gig which is inter laced with old footage and clips every now and then.

I'll try and explain the film a bit first before I talk about the songs. As I said there are some old clips thrown inbetween songs every now and then, most of which I had seen before but I thought that the timing of it was all was quite clever and often made them humorous too.

Someone mentioned earlier in this thread about the volume jumping up and down and it being annying. I didn't think that and I actually thought that it was very good. In doing this Scorcese seems to be able to focus you in on certain aspects and bring the stage out at you. I first really noticed this during She Was Hot (I think) when Lisa and Bernard became the focus at different points during the song. This theme continued throughout and you where made to focus around the stage at different times, sometimes Keith, sometimes Ronnie, sometimes the horn section, and so on. I don't think this was overwhelming and I think that it enhanced the show.

The camera angles where also very good, hard for me to explain but it was different from the usual concert footage that everyone is used to. You'll have to see it to know what I mean.

And now for the songs, less "warhorses" than your usual Stones concert film and some very nice seldom heard tunes in there. Forgive me if I get the running order wrong but as I remember it kicked off with JJF and Shattered. My early highlights where She Was Hot and As Tears Go By, the later was when I realy started to 'get into' the movie and found myself singing along only to realise that nobody else in the cinema was singing, at least that I could here The duets where good! I'd seen the trailer with Jack White and Christine Aguilera and wasn't that impressed but when I seen the full thing they where both realy good. Buddy Guy I didn't think was that great. Just My Imagination was good and Far Away Eyes was great. If you didn't know this song or know Mick Jagger then this particular segment might be a bit strange to you but to me it was great and really funny.
You Got The Silver was beautiful and amazing, I can't say any more than that.

It was fun watching this in the cinema with other Stones fans, woo woo'ing during sympathy, giving it yeah, yeah, yeah, whooo at Brown Sugar and applauding after every song as if they where actually there.

An all round good production and biography of the Stones on their latest tour. A must for all music fans.

Enjoy.

I think I've bust a button on my trousers....

I was at the Edinburgh premiere last night - the cinema was sold out and the crowd was pretty rowdy. I think a fair few were quite drunk (I certainly was), and it certainly added to the atmosphere. A lot of laughter and cheering.

Anyway, I thought the movie was a blast. Scorsese's direction was on the money and the result is a dynamic, whirling movie that just doesn't let up. She Was Hot is blistering. Shot for TV performances like the Voodoo Lounge and BTB DVDs immediately look static and uninspired in comparison.

I'd say it's good enough to convert Stones cynics into fans, and you can't really ask for much more than that...

I just thought the film was great. Period.

Only one criticism.

1) Charlies snare sound - flat sounding like he was hitting a doughnut with a wet newspaper.

Apart from that well worth the money and just to mention Imax is superb!!

NickB

You can't always get what you want.....

www.myspace.com/thesonkings

I was lucky enough to go to the London premiere last night and the band were introduced onstage at the start to great applause.

For what they're worth, a few thoughts on the film:

*Much funnier than I expected, due to choice selection of old interview clips from around the world

*Very loud sound mix in the cinema - my ears are still ringing this morning!

*It looks like the band had fun in the performance; I liked M&K singing together on (I think) Faraway Eyes and inclusion of As Tears Go By was cool

*As was You Got the Silver - real close ups of Keef

*A real highlight was Buddy Guy's appearance -mesmerising

*Jagger was simply phenomenal - how does he do it?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2008-04-03 12:19 by tomcat2006.

Hi tomcat - apart from being 'introduced' (as if that were necessary!) did the band have anything to say prior to the screening? Also, was there an aftershow party somewhere......a debauched 'Beggars Banquet' style affair perhaps?!

Quote
tomcat2006
I was lucky enough to go to the London premiere last night and the band were introduced onstage at the start to great applause.

For what they're worth, a few thoughts on the film:

*Much funnier than I expected, due to choice selection of old interview clips from around the world

*Very loud sound mix in the cinema - my ears are still ringing this morning!

*It looks like the band had fun in the performance; I liked M&K singing together on (I think) Faraway Eyes and inclusion of As Tears Go By was cool

*As was You Got the Silver - real close ups of Keef

*A real highlight was Buddy Guy's appearance -mesmerising

*Jagger was simply phenomenal - how does he do it?

I forgot to mention that earlier, Mick & Keith sharing the mic on Faraway Eyes was excellent.

Some Girls was great as well!

All these moments comming back to me, too many to remember.

I think I've bust a button on my trousers....

Had a great night at the birmingham do, a couple of empty seats but it was funny to see one guy get up and start dancing at the side of the screen halfway through the movie.

Best moments like most others the buddy guy section,faraway eyes and yes even just my imagination.Also enjoyed the build up outside leicester square.

The only thing that will spoil this film is the hired crowd at the front, why oh why did they decide to do this,its so false and instead of a 10/10 rating knocks it down to a 8/10 imho for true fans i reckon it will go down in history <hired crowd> as getting under your skin,you try to ignore it but you know deep down with a proper crowd the atmosphere would have been ten times better and who knows inspired mick to even better heights in an already outstanding performance.

Afterwards there was a guy from the local news looking for candidates to view thier opinions of the film,was tempted but unfortunately the few drinks before had rubbed off and my bravado had disappeared,but did have some pictures taken before the event with the same guy.
How long before the dvd comes out?

Seeing this in the London Imax was a great experience - the surround-sound gives the feel of being at a concert and it's peculiar to look round and see a quiet(ish) audience sitting there with all that cheering and applause going on. Although towards the end some people were applauding for real and there were certainly a few joining with Brown Sugar.

It had the same effect on me as a real concert, too - time flew by and at the end it was difficult to remember details, except that I'd enjoyed it. Good to have so many non-warhorses included, and for me they worked better than the well-known stuff. Personal favourites were Some Girls and Faraway Eyes. This is a real close-up look and listen to the band - like a front-row or even on-stage seat.

Speaking of which, I had to make a resolution that I was NOT going to allow myself to be distracted and irritated by the hired pretty-faces in the front rows (being old, fat and ugly myself this is a sore point!). If you want to let them annoy you, there they are. It's your decision. I don't think there are any shots concentrating on them - they're just in shot occasionally, and personally I'd rather look at the band.

Great sound - not actually that loud but excellent. I remember a post where someone found it annoying that the sound from the instrument currently on-camera was artificially amplified for those few seconds. I only noticed this once (Keith's guitar in one of the last few songs).

There isn't that much archive footage, but what there is is well-chosen for mostly comic effect. All that string of interviewers trying so hard to fit the Stones into their world-view - so funny to see start of the World In Action interview where they lined up the Establishment in the shape of the editor of the Times, a bishop or two and an ex-Home Secretary to confront Mr. Jagger. What really comes through is that all the time the Stones have simply been doing what they love to do - and are still doing it.

PS: forgot to say that if you stay for the end credits you'll hear a full-length version of the little semi-classical piece that Keith plays in Pirates - credited on screen as "Only Found Out Yesterday".





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2008-04-03 13:34 by Green Lady.

Quote
NickB
I just thought the film was great. Period.

Only one criticism.

1) Charlies snare sound - flat sounding like he was hitting a doughnut with a wet newspaper.

Apart from that well worth the money and just to mention Imax is superb!!

Finally someone too, mentions the lame snare sound. I did in the Berlin premiere thread from febuary.

I don't get why the hired crowd at the front would spoil the film.
of course hiring them is wrong and lousy, but they don't desturb the viewing of a Stones theatre gig.
they are just folks - maybe a bit more blond - so what?

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I need a shot of salvation, baby, once in a while.
Hear the whistle blowing, hear it for a thousand miles...

Quote
theimposter
Alright guys, thought I would drop a quick review. First off, I haven't been here in a while so let me say it is great to be here, etc. Alright on with the show.

ROTFL

ain't it good to see anything?

Southampton Harbour Lights: cinema full with 200 people, the majority of whom were too tight to pay for a proper concert ticket so this is as close as they'll get.

Alleged live broadcast of the Stones arriving - although Ediths last link was obviously recorded earlier when it was lighter.

Fantastic film and excellent surround sound mix. The archive stuff was interesting but pointless. JJF was so badly edited I thought if it keeps up like this I'm leaving but settled down (thank goodness). Rent A Crowd front row (BOO). Bruce Willis in the front row (hooray).

I think the main problem is a theatre show doesn't have widescreen scope that a stadium gig has. Nice to see one of the Mayles brothers was involved.

This will be the first BluRay disc I buy so I jump to the new format then, July I expect.

Ha - That ws me dancing at the birmingham gig.

couldn't help myself. can't sit down when there's Stones music blaring out.
hope I didn't piss many people off, thought there would be more than just me having a boogie.

anyway, plan on going to see it a few more times when it goes on general release, will sit down and enjoy it in all its majesty then.

Yeah, that place is real. In the middle of New York basically - little tiny place up North.

Actually, I think I read somewhere that the Stones played there. Quite some time ago.

Quote
Monkeytonkman
Ha - That ws me dancing at the birmingham gig.

couldn't help myself. can't sit down when there's Stones music blaring out.
hope I didn't piss many people off, thought there would be more than just me having a boogie.

anyway, plan on going to see it a few more times when it goes on general release, will sit down and enjoy it in all its majesty then.

I must admit i was tempted to join you and even the mrs turned round and said she was surprised i dident go down. At least you kept to the side and not in the middle of the picture,it did not bother me,but no doubt somebody would have had a moan.

I will also go and have another view and sit back and take it all in.

>> Not one single shot of Brian, Bill or Taylor in the archive footage <<

no Mick T, but Bill and Brian are in the archive footage - very briefly, but they're there
in the Have You Seen Your Mother Baby clip [passing more popcorn - go on everybody!]

Must admit, when the movie started, I thought I'm gonna look like a complete knob if I start rocking out. but then my natural urges took over and I just didn't give a crap, ha!

Quote
Monkeytonkman
Must admit, when the movie started, I thought I'm gonna look like a complete knob if I start rocking out. but then my natural urges took over and I just didn't give a crap, ha!

Another few drinks and i would have ended up kissing the screen,ha!

Quote
Monkeytonkman
Ha - That ws me dancing at the birmingham gig.

couldn't help myself. can't sit down when there's Stones music blaring out.
hope I didn't piss many people off, thought there would be more than just me having a boogie.

anyway, plan on going to see it a few more times when it goes on general release, will sit down and enjoy it in all its majesty then.

I'm planning to be in the back row aisle tomorrow in San Francisco as I know there is no way I will not be able to stand up and dance all through the movie!! Hope everyone is cool with that - maybe some others will join me! Sarah

Quote
sarahunwin

Quote
Monkeytonkman
Ha - That ws me dancing at the birmingham gig.

couldn't help myself. can't sit down when there's Stones music blaring out.
hope I didn't piss many people off, thought there would be more than just me having a boogie.

anyway, plan on going to see it a few more times when it goes on general release, will sit down and enjoy it in all its majesty then.

I'm planning to be in the back row aisle tomorrow in San Francisco as I know there is no way I will not be able to stand up and dance all through the movie!! Hope everyone is cool with that - maybe some others will join me! Sarah

You go for it girl, go for it. When ya gotta move ........ well, ya gotta move. Thassit really innit ?

Quote
with sssoul
>> Not one single shot of Brian, Bill or Taylor in the archive footage <<

no Mick T, but Bill and Brian are in the archive footage - very briefly, but they're there
in the Have You Seen Your Mother Baby clip [passing more popcorn - go on everybody!]

apologies - i must have committed the sin, of blinking.

For those wanting to dance in the back row, be advised at the Chicago screening the back 2-3 rows were all reserved for the "more worthy". Hopefully that will change when the film is open to the public. Back rows in the middle are always the best spots watching IMAX films IMHO.

I need to add one more thing about the movie. I found it oddly touching. In fact I almost shed a tear at the very end. The film just shows how they still love each other, despite all the differences. And during the final bow, when the 4 of them locked arms, I turned to my girlfriend and said, "You know, those 4 old guys look both bad-ass and cute at the same time."

You can feel the love in this picture, both between the band and from the lens of the director. Scorsese clearly adores them. "Shine A Light" is the most successful concert film, much better than "Lets Spend the Night Together" or "Live at the MAX".

Horrible review in Swedish newspaper Svenska Dagbladet.
[www.svd.se]
Not worth translating.

Review from BrianOrndorf.com.

---------------------------------------------------------
The brain hurts to even consider how The Rolling Stones have managed to stick together for over 45 years. Of course, there’s the legacy of chart-smashing hits, legendary albums, truckloads of cash, and magnetic personalities; still, it’s incredible to see these guys, now in their 60s, jump onstage and still boogie down with the best of them.

“Shine a Light” is a concert film of two Stones performances from 2006. The place was the Beacon Theater in New York City, and the occasion was a fundraiser for climate change with host Bill Clinton. The director is Martin Scorsese, whose own relationship with the music dates back to the earliest moments of his career; in fact, the two entities go hand in hand at this point. Scorsese has an obsession with the Stones, and it’s revealed in every last dizzying moment of this exceptional musical document.

Scorsese’s involvement here is maintaining the blueprint of the show, from the stage design to the battery of cameras arranged throughout the intimate theater ready to capture every inch of the performance. Scorsese is only a character in the film for the opening ten minutes, hustling at full “Marty” speed through preparations and openly nervous about receiving a copy of the set list before time runs out. His thumbprint is all over the picture, simply in the energetic atmosphere created through editing and shot choice. Mick Jagger’s serpentine moves are impressive, but Scorsese’s cameras blow this band up to mythical proportions, lending the group big-screen density and collaborative harmony (especially in IMAX presentations) in the same fashion found in previous concert documentaries, such as 1978’s seminal “The Last Waltz.”

At this point, the Stones are a well-oiled machine, tearing through the hits and catalog obscurities with a precision that could only come from decades of repetition. Perhaps “Light” isn’t the definitive band time capsule, but that doesn’t suggest Jagger, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood, and the original Silent Bob himself, drummer Charlie Watts, are lacking a full tank of mojo. At its best, “Light” depicts the band in an affectionate, relaxed manner, confidently performing in front of a collection of rabid fans. In fact, things are so comfortable, Richards’s playing sounds incredibly sloppy, yet the grizzled gunslinger is so assured of his hippy charms that it doesn’t really matter. By this time in Stones history, the actual guitar sound is eclipsed by the small community of musicians on stage, and, of course, by Jagger’s tireless prancing.

Mr. Mick is in top form here, busting out all the popular Jagger moves, acting as the ringmaster for the evening. Granted, two solid hours of the man gyrating around the stage can make “Light” feel endless, but the sheer physicality of his presence is hard to discount. Jagger sells every last note as if a grenade was shoved down his pants and he’s shakin’ his booty to stay alive. Some of the best parts of “Light” are when other stars come out to share the stage. The guest list includes Jack White, Buddy Guy, and Christina Aguilera (also, look fast for Bruce Willis in the audience), and they all try to keep up with the sprightly Jagger. Guy succeeds, launching into a house-on-fire version of “Champagne & Reefer” with the band that is incredible to behold. Aguilera’s moment is just as fun, but for reasons that have less to do with her golden throat and more about watching Jagger dry hump the poor woman while she tries to keep her game face on. It looks nearly incestuous.

Of particular interest are snippets of interview footage pulled from over the years, cut into the film as a reminder of history and youthful whimsy. The common question posed to the men is one of future plans and how long they see this band lasting. It’s fascinating (at times, hilarious) to watch the group unable to contemplate playing rock music in their 60s during the 60s, only to fast-forward through the years to reveal Mick and Keith becoming more comfortable with the notion of riding out their popularity for as long as they can.

Personal taste will decide if it’s more satisfying watching the Stones slink around some unusual offerings (“As Tears Go By,” “She Was Hot,” “Just My Imagination”) or come out swinging with the hits (“Sympathy for the Devil,” “Brown Sugar,” “Shattered”). It’s an agreeable mix of the obvious and the experimental, and the crowd laps up every sweaty spoonful. There’s no reason movie theater patrons should feel excluded from the glitzy experience; “Shine a Light” is an infectious marathon of bluesy rock from the men who helped kickstart the genre, and nobody is left out in the cold when the Rolling Stones hit the stage.

A-
---------------------------------------------------------
[www.brianorndorf.com]

JumpingKentFlash

Quote
erikjjf
Horrible review in Swedish newspaper Svenska Dagbladet.
[www.svd.se]
Not worth translating.

Don't send it to Keith!