MovieChat Forums > Metal: A Headbanger's Journey (2006) Discussion > Did any non-metalhead like this?

Did any non-metalhead like this?

posted 14 years ago by Novosibirsk
3 replies | jump to latest

I listen to some metal (Opeth, Dream Theather), but Im no headbanger, and this film seemed like an average VH1 special.

The first annoying thing was the author, especially how he kept forcing himself into the movie. OK, he is a metalhead, I didnt need to actually know that but it doesnt matter. But then he keeps showing himself saying unremarkable crap like "this concert was awesome!" Yeah so hes an average metalhead and a bird-like ginger guy... real valuable information there.

More importantly the issues (and there were so many!) werent deeply explored at all.
Groupies - The most famous one says its the womens choice and thats it. But WHY do so many women wish to whore themselves out to musicians? Thats never even raised.
Metals obsession with death - ooh its because we send our grampas to retirement homes and dont see them die... a completely idiotic freshmans anwser!
Satanic imagery - ... Alice Cooper laughs at it - and thats it??
Church burning - urm theyre bad I guess? ...
etc.

Stuff that was awkward to him like homoeroticism and the fact that metal is for most teens (including himself) an unimagitive way of rebelling against their parents he didnt even want to touch.

In conclusion if someone other than Big Bird had directed this, a journalist and not a fanboy, then it couldve been an interesting film (for everyone not just heavy metal fans).

Does anyone agree/wish to argue?

[–] wolfenskarn 14 years ago

You give me a headache.

_
You know what I hate? People who take certain films seriously.

[–] rebanex 10 years ago

"The first annoying thing was the author, especially how he kept forcing himself into the movie. OK, he is a metalhead, I didnt need to actually know that.."

By this statement alone I can tell you're not a metalhead but you already established that in your first sentence so it doesn't matter. Just thought it was interesting. Any metalhead would enjoy the participation of the author himself because metal is just that; personal. It's personal for the metalheads and the author is a metalhead thus it is natural and adds very much to the actual documentary than you might think being a non-metalhead.

Anyway, since I am very much one I am biased to answer your main question which was "Did any non-metalhead like this?"

As for the other questions you raised. There's not much to say about the "groupies" topic at all more than what was said in the doc. It's their choice and they want to be a part of the music. They want to be a part of the scene. It's rock'n'roll. I don't even understand the other problems you had with the film but then again I've watched several other documentaries about the Church burnings e.g. and the dark part of metal so I am biased because this doc was a good complimentary movie for me but I can see where you're coming from.
If you really want to know more though I suggest you look up documentaries like "Until The Light Takes Us".

[–] MrBullo 10 years ago

"Did any non-metalhead like this?"

Yeah, me. It really couldn't cover in detail all the issues you mentioned unless you wish it to be a 3+ hours movie.

I like the older metal pioneers such as Led Zep, Deep Purple, Sabbath, AC/DC, and some Van Halen and Metallica, but cannot tolerate the screeching almost-castrato singing style of bands such as Pantera.

Nevertheless, I found this documentary interesting and award it a 9/10.