Rating: 
Summary: 'This Is' Taps Our Funnybone
Review: While maybe not the funniest film ever made, though you can make a case for it, Spinal Tap is surely the most inventive. Spawning a slew of ripoffs and inspiring some pretty well stylized movies, Bob Roberts and Boogie Nights to name a few, the mockumentary format in the hands of directors less capable than Rob Reiner has been ridden into the ground. From start to finish the fab four manage to make constant (ugh...) jerks! of themselves. Co-written by the cast I image it was as much fun for them to make as it is for us to watch. Christopher Guest (Jamie Lee Curtis' husband if you're interested) and Michael McKean have the most prominant roles as a pair of guitarists (that's right, two lead guitarists) playing in a down-on-their-luck band called, you guested it - Spinal Tap. They wale out some of the most side-splittingly funny songs ever captured on tape and during one performance find themselves playing amdist midgets and an eighteen inch model of Stone Hinge, you've gotta see it to realize how funny it actually is. Maybe the best part of this DVD is the commentary track by the band, playing it in character and equally funny now as they were sixteen years ago. You won't see me give many comedies a five star review but I can't help but when a movie can keep me laughing like this one did.
Rating:
Summary: Great!!
Review: This is a great movie. Can hardly believe that McKean did such a good job as a musician; seeing as he has been on X-files and Dream On. I mean, what a verstitile (sp) actor! And who could deny that the charater know as Nigel Tufnel is non other than Jeff Beck! Give it 2 thumbs up!!
Rating:
Summary: One of the Greatest Comedies of All Time
Review: This is without a doubt one of the greatest comedies ever. If you don't understand the humor, it might be just because it is extreamly subtle, and you might need another viewing. It's almost too hard to explain how this movie works. It almost seems as if it's trying really hard to be a legit. documentary, but it is always soooo funny. Buy this movie. The DVD rules with tons of special features, and the picture quality and remastered sound is great. This is a great purchase for you colletion overall!!
Rating:
Summary: Hilarious take on the music industry
Review: Musicians and music lovers completely adore this movie! It's one of the few movies that I can watch with nearly any group of friends and have us all enjoy completely. This pseudo-documentary follows a metal band through their various incarnations and drummer replacements. The DVD version is even better than the original - with special features not found on the videos. It's even funnier to think that this band used to play LA to practice for the movie - and nobody realized they were a parody! Many of the people in the movie are musicians as well as actors (or instead of?) so the whole thing is wonderfully authentic as it gouges a hole in the music industry. A definite must-have for any DVD collection!
Rating: 
Summary: Reiner "Taps" Into Something Special
Review: An aging, fading British rock group is touring America, and on hand to document the occasion is a filmmaker who has been blown away by their sound since the first time he heard them; and the result is offered up here for the perusal of all, in "This Is Spinal Tap," without question the best feature length parody of a rock band ever made, directed by Rob Reiner. When the band returns to the U.S. to promote their latest album, "Smell The Glove," director Marty DiBergi (Reiner) accompanies them on tour, conducting interviews and taping performances, in an effort to get it all down for posterity. And get it all he does; the highs and lows, the drama and pathos, the words, wisdom and witticisms of this legendary rock group. It's all here, and we owe it all to a man of incredible intuition, imagination and foresight, Marty DiBergi. But, with all seriousness aside, folks... When this film was released in 1984, it was fresh and new, cutting edge satire that seemed almost outrageous and scathingly intemperate; and to some extent, it still does today. The difference now, however, is that the times have caught up to and surpassed the parody of the movie. By anyone's standards, much of this film now seems quite tame, though the subject of the satire remains every bit as relevant today as it did then. The interviews, conducted and delivered with such dry humor and subtle wit, readily withstand the test of time and are as funny now as ever; but the songs, especially the lyrics, pale now somewhat in the wake of such acts as Marilyn Manson, Rob Zombie, Slipknot, Monster Magnet, System Of A Down, Coal Chamber, Pantera and Alice In Chains (just to mention a few), all of whom in reality have gone far beyond the parameters set by Spinal Tap. And with today's accessibility to such a wide variety of groups and music via MTV, MTVX, VH-1 and all the other myriad cable connections, it's simply taken the "sting" out of the impact of the film. Like science fiction that has become science fact, our culture and society has contextually changed it's frame of reference, which of course must change the way we perceive a film like "Spinal Tap." What can never change is the quality of the overall movie, the precision of the satire, and the caliber of the performances and direction. With genuine sincerity, Reiner/DiBergi delivers a truly believable "Rockumentary." His pace and timing are impeccable, and his eye for detail is thorough (though much of it will be lost on today's generation). The performances are first rate all around: Michael McKean, totally credible as David St. Hubbins (lead guitar, vocals), possibly the best character he's ever done; Christopher Guest as Nigel Tufnel (lead guitar, vocals); Harry Shearer as Derek Smalls (bass, vocals); and, of course Reiner, who"is" DeBergi. Also turning in notable performances are Bruno Kirby (Tommy Pischedda), R.J. Parnell (Mick Shrimpton, drummer), David Kaff (Viv Savage, keyboards, vocals), Tony Hendra (Ian Faith), Fran Drescher (Bobbi Flekman), and Patrick Macnee (Sir Denis Eaton-Hogg). Though it may have lost some of it's edge due to changing times, "This Is Spinal Tap" will forever remain a milestone in cinematic history. The songs may be dated but the humor is timeless; this is top-notch satire, and the parody set the standard in the rock genre for those who followed, like Weird Al Yankovic. The appeal of this film is going to vary from generation to generation, and it follows that the level of appreciation is going to vary; but the fact will always remain that this is a unique movie that succinctly captures the spirit and essence of an entire era. And for that, Reiner and Co. get a tip of the hat.
Rating:
Summary: I'm getting coal for Christmas
Review: My wife bought me this video for Christmas this year, but I couldn't help myself and, while she was away, tore it open and gleefully watched it three times in a row. I had seen this thing twice before, but had forgotten just how funny it was. Easily my favorite movie of all time. The great thing about Tap is that the actors never jab you in the ribs and laugh at the characters along with you - an act of treason too often seen in comedy. They could have easily gone over the top and turned the film into The Naked Gun or Airplane (funny films in their own way, but not at all sharp satire), but their restraint in handling their characters and the story makes the movie. The songs are not hilarious becuase they are Weird Al- or Spike Jones-style novelty items; they are hilarious because they are incredibly close to what they satirize. Those things are funniest which come nearest their intended targets, and Tap is consistently dead-on without whacking you over the head with the jokes. This is not "serious" satire (Doctor Strangelove, etc.) that has some huge point to make about society. It is a brilliant skewering of rock and roll, executed with the perfect blend of creativity, insanity, and restraint. It makes me laugh until I pee myself every time I watch it. A must-have particularly for musicians and music fans.
Rating:
Summary: Tons of special features make this a MUST BUY
Review: When this film hit theaters in 1984, it made less than $ 4 million dollars at North American box offices. But this is also true for the Monty Python films. This is a very good film in the same kind of satirical spirit as the Pythons. It's not the same as Python humor, but very similar. This is a great film with many funny moments. However, the best part of this new DVD release is the special features. Tons of great special features! These special features are what you are really buying the DVD for. You get over an hour of additional footage that does not appear in the film. This additional footage is great stuff. Some of it should have been used in the actual film. You also get a humorous inteview with the director, Rob Reiner, who has gone on to direct many successful films. The DVD also provides 4 music videos: Listen to the Flower People, Tonight, I'm Gonna Rock You Tonight, etc. However, by far the best special feature is the audio commentary by the Tapsters: Derek, Nigel and David. The actors are in character while doing the audio commentary. Great stuff. Watching the movie with the new audio commentary is awesome. It's like a whole new Tap movie! Great idea on their parts. In the end, you get over 1 hour and 45 minutes of bunus footage and special extras. If you love/like Tap or are looking for a great DVD disc that's worth the price, then buy this DVD! It's the best DVD disc I own because of all the great special features. All DVD releases should strive to provide all the great stuff that this DVD provides. This disc captures the revolutionary potential of DVD technology.
Rating:
Summary: A truely classic, influential, and essential movie!
Review: This movie has always been one of my absolute favorites, and the new DVD version (which I just bought 2 days ago) is so loaded with extras as to be a necessary purchase by any SPINAL TAP fan. The mockumentary style was first perfected with Rob Reiner's amazing satire of a declining hard rock band, and this movie manages to serve both as a comedy, and an eerily authentic seeming documentary. The performances are all spectacular, although I'll always see Christopher Guest's performance as Nigel Tufnel, the lead guitarist, as the most inspired. That most of the dialogue was inprovised is amazing. That this movie is available with such a wealth of extras is amazing as well. For all fans of comedy, rock, or just plain fantastic cinema, buy this movie!!!
Rating:
Summary: a comedy classic that makes me laugh every time I see it!
Review: ...I could go into a long-winded explanation as to why you should see THIS IS SPINAL TAP but I won't. Just see the movie & you'll understand why everyone has declared it one of the great comedy films of all time! It's one joke after another..."armadillos in our trousers"...getting lost in the basement on the way to the stage in Cleveland...having to open for a jazz festival/magic show..."smell the glove"...the stonehenge model...on & on! Great stuff..!!!
Rating:
Summary: This one goes to Eleven!!!!
Review: A while back I reviewed the DVD release of PINK FLOYD-THE WALL and gave it a perfect review for it's extra content and actually making you feel good about spending your hard earned money for a DVD player. The same goes here for THIS IS SPINAL TAP. The extras that have been provided on this DVD are excellent. Including almost an hours worth of outtakes which in some cases should've been used in the movie itself. Also included are the videos that were done to promote the movie, tv spots and an in character interview with Marty DiBergi which is pretty funny but my favorite is the commentary done over the movie by the 3 members of Spinal Tap themselves. Most of the time the commentary drowns out the movie but it's good to check out once before you watch the movie and if you know the comical capibilities of Derek,David and Nigel you know it's worth checking out. PINK FLOYD-THE WALL is the BEST DVD I own at this point but THIS IS SPINAL TAP definitely comes very close.
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