DVD Review #2: It Might Get Loud

It Might Get Loud (2009)

It Might Get Loud is either a love it or hate it proposition. I've heard the criticisms from a lot of other people about how "boring" it is or that nothing much comes from having 3 generations of guitar players in the form of Jimmy Page, The Edge and Jack White sitting around ruminating about the past and their influences. I am not one of those people that has a problem with this. I actually enjoy listening to people talk about what drove them as musicians to pick up the instrument and create music.

If you love the guitar and music in general, I think this is a great film. Sure, it would have been nice to see the 3 of them jamming for 90 minutes on as many songs as possible, but that's not what this film is about. This isn't a wank fest to show off their guitar chops. If you want that, then just stick to any one of their Live DVD's to fill in what you are missing here.

But I will say this, the moments when they all do jam together, it is the crown jewel for me as a fan. And I got a huge kick out of seeing The Edge and Jack's eyes literally popping out as soon as Jimmy started playing Whole Lotta Love. The look of sheer excitement that came across their face is equal to being a kid and opening the biggest wrapped present, knowing full well what's inside. Seeing The Edge jump up and moving closer to Jimmy to see exactly how he was playing the riff shows that even the biggest Rock stars on the planet are still just kids at heart wanting to learn as much as they can.

I think the best thing about this film is that as you are watching it, you really feel inspired to pick up an instrument, be it a guitar, bass or drums and just play something. Anything. If a movie can get you to create something out of thin air or to jam with other musicians or a group of fiends, then I think it's definitely a success as a movie.

One thing I found myself thinking about when watching this is why such and such wasn't also in the movie. The longer the film went out, my laundry list of guitar players that should have been included got longer and longer and ranged from: Joe Satriani, Brian May, Steve Vai, Jeff Beck, Billy Gibbons and on and on. This led me to think that this would have been a cool documentary style series where each new episode would have guest guitar players sit in and share their stories. Well, so much for wishing, huh?

I highly recommend this to any and all fans of guitars and music.

Rating: 5 Stars out 5

Review by Chiprocks1

It Might Get Loud (Trailer)