walking on thin ice, yet managing to leap off before it cracks...
It was all clear, after the roots and influences of metal were told in "Metal - A Headbanger's Journey" the next chapter was about to begin: What happens to Metal if it goes global?I guess "ambitious" is the best word to describe the second metal documentary of Sam Dunn and Scott McFadyen - it will probably never win an Oscar - but even more hearts of metal fans. I am really thankful for the fact that the two didn't get carried away too much with certain topics. It is very interesting - especially from an anthropological point of view - to see how foreign cultures react to something almost completely western. Metal doesn't incorporate as many commercial aspects as other global trends, it transports different messages which are more genuinely reflected by the fans worldwide. I think the statement of the film is Bruce Dickinsons, who claims that kids all around the world reach a state in their development where they just want to get up, scream and go wild. It think this is the base for this film - it is normal that young people have a lot of compressed energy and anger to let loose. The times of the easter rabbit, santa clause and gnomes is over. They realize that reality is cold and tough - Metal offers them a valve to let release these feelings. It's nothing bad, in fact it should be considered a treatment. Let them go wild.
But in many cultures this behavior is not welcome and mostly not understood. This film tries to explore how kids (and adults) try to be understood and not be linked to extremist thoughts or low lives.
At some points it is explained very well, at some others it unintentionally mixes politics with culture. Although Metal definitely has certain political aspects the messages are interpreted in a very different way around the globe and unfortunately this documentary doesn't fully capture these impacts. The comments of some artists, especially Tom Araya from Slayer are rather dull and prove that some musicians have no idea of the real consequences their fans face in different parts of the world. Is this good or bad? The film leaves these decisions to the viewer...
I for myself really enjoyed this journey and though it has ups and downs it draws a very impressive momentum of a genre that has mostly chosen to go its own way.
score 7/10
borkoboardo 20 June 2011
Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw2446280/35834
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