Rating: 
Summary: great movie what can you say
Review: they essentially wrote the music to the so-called motown sound along with some gifted producers and composers who needed the "funk brothers"to make those arrangments come true so to the "badartcrtic" reviewer who said that it was the producer doesn't know about music.And then they prove it with modern musicians who sing their heart out with the exception of marvin gaye and stevie wonder (who wrote their own material and learned at the feet of the funk brothers and those same arrangers and producers)this is a great documentary and i loved every minute of both dvds go out and buy this wonderful movie.
Rating: 
Summary: Worth a look for History pundits
Review: Well,Good information on the whole history of motown, but in my opinion it lost my intrest many times due to the fact of so much talking but less music along the way. Sometimes it became confusing also for others around me who where not that familiar with motown and the talk of the band artists until they heard a familuar song, or tune from this era that they had heard on the radio in the past. Apart from the above I really liked it, but I have only played it one time so far, and maybe I need to review it for further inputs I may have missed during questons asked of me during the play time. This is not the best buy I have made, but it is history to pass on to my kids in the future.
Rating:
Summary: Man-O-Man
Review: You know...I've heard small talk in the press about the movie, watch the soundtrack win a Grammy and didn't buy it until recently. The movie was sensational for a part movie-documentary. I like the style and realized (just as the director did) that these guys needed to be out of the shadows! Now I play the soundtrack back to back -- it has such feel good tracks that someone stopped me in traffic (in NYC no less) and asked me what was the name of the CD I was playin... enough said
Rating:
Summary: Standing in the Shadow
Review: As a huge fan of the Motown sound, this DVD brought new meaning to the music. I will never listen to it the same again. I'll always hear those great musician "The Funk Brothers." I've always loved the music and the great artist, and now I know it's the Funk Brothers who have truly immortalized the sound. This great DVD has proven it. I so grateful the truth has been brought to light. It's a long overdue recognition. God Bless them all. I'm just sorry it took so long.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful
Review: Great story about a group of great musicians. This should have came out in the early seventies because these guys help lay the groundwork for R&B as we know it. The only problem I had with this DVD was the awful singing by the female vocalist that "tried" to sing Cloud Nine. Why could the producers realize that she brought nothing good to the song..
Rating:
Summary: Legends finally have their day in the sun
Review: The Funk Brothers - what an apt name for this 'family' of musicians who went through so much of popular music history as unheralded studio musicians. You don't have to be a Motown fan to enjoy this movie - just a music lover who enjoys the stories behind the sounds. During parts of this movie I wept silently - it is so moving! The story of James Jamerson Sr alone is worth telling, let alone the rest of the band. The tragedy of the tale is that too many band members did not live to garner the recognition they deserved. Some great anecdotes are espoused by these long-retired muzos, including these little beauties:
* the 3-man guitar section was known as the Oreo section for a while - two black guitarists with a white one in the middle!
* one of the drummers had to decide whether he was going to be a musician (trombonist) or a boxer - in the end he decided to be a drummer, because his lip kept getting beaten up and he couldn't play the trombone properly! At the tribute concert (in Detroit, of course), it is great to see contemporary musicians who understand the significance of the music (and are hugely talented to boot) performing with the band. The list is impressive: Joan Osborne (a wonderful rendition of 'What Becomes of the Broken-Hearted'), Chaka Khan, Ben Harper (not an electric performer but certainly soulful and sincere), and the outrageously flamboyant Bootsy Collins - and there are more besides. If I have one complaint, it is that we might have seen more of the lead artists commenting on the band - in particular Stevie Wonder, who got to work with them in his early career. It's hard to see why he would not have made a contribution to the film - there are a few photos of him and one clip from news footage in the 80s, but this does not compare to a current interview with the benefit of hindsight. However, this is a fabulous film that will leave you with an entirely different perspective on music. Thank goodness it was made!
Rating:
Summary: Do you want to feel gooood?
Review: This is the feel good CD of the year. These guys (the Funk Brothers) made not only music history, but by their rhythms defy anyone with an ounce of rhythm to stand still during their performance. Their recognition is way overdue, but the appreciation for their contributions are timeless. I hope to hear more from them soon!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: After growing up with this music, it was very satisfying to see who the musicians were. This is a very engaging docu-musical: plenty of live footage, plenty of music.
I especially loved the performances of Joan Osborne and Chaka Khan. Both are in fine voice, and it's delightful to hear them sing with this group.
Rating:
Summary: Breathtaking
Review: I had searched for several years for information regarding the Funk Brothers, but, until now, so little was known or written about them. I had only heard them mentioned on TV twice -- once during an interview with Martha Reeves and again during a documentary on the history of rock and roll. Both times peaked my interest as I already appreciated that the Motown sound was really the musicians (taking absolutely NOTHING away from the great vocalists and performers). Recognition of these outstanding men was long overdue (and that's quite an understatement). The movie is highly personal and highly entertaining. Watching the fascinating story of the men who invented the Motown sound is akin to actually being there with them at the time they were creating history in "The Snake Pit." In a sense, you are given a very unique opportunity to travel back in time and feel the same emotion they did. Kudos to Martha Reeves for being part of the film. There are also cameos by Mary Wilson, Otis Williams, and Stevie Wonder. I only wish other Motown stars had been with them during filiming or available to comment on these men who were at the heart of their success. This DVD is truly indispensible for anyone who loves Motown and soul but, most especially, for anyone who loves and appreciates popular music. PUT THIS ON YOUR SHELF!!
Rating:
Summary: OUTSTANDING!
Review: This movie made me want to visit the Motown Museum (which is one of my dreams!) You can see that the love was and always is there between the musicians. It was surprising how many people didn't know about this remarkable group of musicians. And not only it was a documentary, it was a concert movie as well. Joan Osbourne, Bootsy Collins (where was he hiding all these years?), Meschell, and others were awesome! Great DVD extras!
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