Rating: 
Summary: Never Knew About Them
Review: With many of my favorite groups, I know they have stage hands doing backup on recordings and live concerts, but I did not know that such a group existed that did so much and lasted such a long time. Granted, my forte is not Motown, but I do like it. There has been a consistent high quality from many groups, but I was suprised at how much of it was based on the Funk Brothers. Certainly one of the best documentaries I have seen in the past two years.
Rating:
Summary: Review of Standing in the Shadown of Motown
Review: This is a great documentary for fans of Motown. I rented the DVD on a whim. What I found was a film with so much heart and soul that I have to purchase it as well as the CD. I especially liked Joan Osborne's rendition of "What Becomes of the Broken Hearted." That is perhaps one of my all-time favorite Motown songs.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best movies I have ever watched!
Review: I am 25 years old but still grew up to the tunes of Motown via my dad always listening to the oldies staions in Metro Detroit. I love the music and I am very glad that the Funk Brothers got to tell their story and got some respect of their own! Even if you are not a fan of Motown you will like this movie and learn that the music you listen to today would not be if it was not for these guys.
Rating: 
Summary: Important, enlightening, and entertaining
Review: This is important documentation of not just a band of musicians but an era in American history. The Funk Brothers, the unknown backing band of Motown's stable of stars, created a phenomenal vocabulary of sound for future musicians. They also translated the music of other genres as well as the struggle of black people in America.This is a treat. I really like the format of pairing the Funk Brothers with current singers to perform Motown classics. I've always like Motown. But I have to admit that I've generally preferred the harder-driving backbeat that came out of the Stax and Atlantic R&B labels. But watching this documentary, I realized several things:
* Motown had the far more innovative rhythms and riffs * The Funk Brothers added jazz rhythms and sounds to the vocabulary of R&B * These musicians could rock as hard as any of their contemporaries at other labels, as exemplified by later Motown hits such as Cloud Nine I'll only make two "negative" comments about the documentary:
* It should have been longer; these guys deserve more; and the shortness makes the interspersion of interviews about how the music was made with cut-aways to acted-out anecdotes seem choppy * As many others have mentioned, I'd like to see Stevie Wonder , Smokey, some of the surviving Tops and Temps, and Barry Gordy himself chime in to give these men the accolades they deserve.
Rating:
Summary: moving in a "clap the hands" musical way!!
Review: what a great film about great people who did outstanding things. All of he interviews were amazing and it is one of my all-time favorite films. I love the voice of Joan Osbourne singing "What becomes of the broken hearted" and ben harper singing "I heard it through the grapevine" musically wonderful
Rating:
Summary: Meet the soul of Motown
Review: This movie finally provides the exposure that these folks have deserved for so long. The Funk Brothers spent the vast majority of their careers driving hit after hit. They worked for scale, and received no credits. If not for this incredibly talented bunch of guys, Motown's stars would have no way to shine. Credit is finally given where it's due! This film includes modern artists doing classic Motown hits with the Funk Brothers. Most of these jams are truly inspiring. I especially went for "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted", "What's Going On?", and "Shotgun". You'll love the funky little vamp they play during the opening credits, too!! The interviews with the performers themselves are very revealing. These people all seem to have larger-than-life personalities to go with their talents. It's also good that the stories of some now-gone performers are told. Earl "Chunk of Funk" VanDyke, Benny Benjamin, and the late, great James Jamerson come to mind. Sadly, "Pistol" Allen passed away shortly after this film was completed. So, if you want to know what made Motown tick, and you want to hear live versions of some really great songs, look no further. I can't recommend "Standing in the Shadows of Motown" highly enough.
Rating:
Summary: A Shiver Down The Spine
Review: If Motown played any part in your life then this DVD is for you. Now I know there will only ever be one Marvin Gaye but it is worth the cost of this DVD alone to hear Chaka Khan's rendition of "What's Going On". Simply awesome. What a voice. Sent a shiver down my spine. Then of course there is Tom Scott's sax on 'Shotgun".Again, brilliant. Joan Osborne also deserves an honorable mention as she blasts out a great version of "heatwave". Her voice was made for Motown. And backing them up and no longer invisible are the supremely (no pun) talented Funk Brothers. It is no coincidene that the Funk Brothers played on every sinle one of my all time favourire soul tracks. Not surprising after you meet them and their great skills on this DVD. The only negative comment I have regarding this two DVD set is many of the extras are security protected and the protection can only by cleared by logging onto the Internet and verifying that you are either a U.S. or canadian citizen. For the rest of the world, forget it, you are not to be trusted.
Rating:
Summary: Simply the best
Review: I cannot say enough good things about this movie. First off all,I am partial for anything Motown,and this is the best. It is sad that these guys helped create some of the best music this side of the world,and only get a bare mention. Great documentary. Especially the Cool Jerk and Do You Love Me segments. These songs will keep you on your feet and make you want to buy a CD. Buy the video and help preserve history.
Rating:
Summary: Watch this!!
Review: I've never given Motown a thought until I watched this film. It's amazing, I get goose bumps just thinking about it. If you're a real fan of music then this film belongs in your library. This is a part of history that is as important to America as anything else you learn in school and it's beautifully presented here.
Rating:
Summary: DON'T PASS!
Review: This movie is a definitive must for anyone who has enjoyed any song produced on Motown, since most people don't know who the musicians are. THE FUNK BROTHERS played on songs like "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" by Gladys Knight & The Pips, "Singed Seadled Delivered..." by Stevie Wonder, "What's Going On" by Marvin Gaye, "Baby Love", "Do You Love Me", "My Girl" etc. etc. etc. This movie is about THE FUNK BROTHERS - everything you could and should want to know about their work is featured on these two discs. There are TONS of special features (they never seem to end...); discographies, biographies, around 20 left out scenes, jam session and MUCH MUCH more. In the movie Chaka Kahn's vocal performance is spectacular and it's very intertaining listening to Bootsy singing "Do You Love Me" and "Cool Jerk". All I knew before I saw this movie was that James Jamerson had played bass on "Grapvine" and that he was part of the Motown studio band called "The Funk Brothers", but I had no idea they had done this much! This is definetly a missing piece in the puzzle of music history and it's not only recommended - at this price it's a must.
To regret this knowledge you would have to be insane.
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