A Year and a Half in the Life of Metallica (1992) Online

This set is a definite must for anyone who calls themself a Metallica fan. Though the Black Album isn't my favorite Metallica album, Master of Puppets holds that slot, this set shows you all the great behind the scenes action of when a band records an album then tours on it. Part I is obviously the making of the album. You get to see some cool outtakes and hear the songs in the production process. You also get a peak at the real Metallica outside of studio and stage. You almost feel like you know them. Part II is the best though. Almost 2 1/2 hours of live Metallica. There are a bunch of live performances spanning the first leg of the tour as well as award shows and tribute concerts. Again you get to see more of Metallica being themselves offstage as on. Also on both parts you get to see the music videos from the album including 'Enter Sandman', 'Sad But True' and 'The Unforgiven.' When I first bought this set years ago on tape I wore them out. I could watch these over and over. Thanks to DVD they will last a long time. Definetly check this out.

The two segments involved in the documentary feature Metallica, both the black-clad public leaders of metal madness and the laid-back, long hair goofballs from down the hall playing electric guitar at 3 in the morning.

The direction was awful shaky. In terms of a documentary, director Adam Dubin chose to involve the presence of the film crew as much as possible in the privacy and business of the bandmembers to the point of where much of the material is essentially them playing to the camera. This is an effect that can alter the realism of the documentary and put the subjects into a position to where they feel compelled to "act" for the camera instead of being their true selves. There were also many baffling cuts into the middle of a joke or editing techniques that involved blending and blurring of conversations that at times some of the meaning and humor is lost. The effect is similar to walking abruptly into a roomful of laughing people, and not getting the joke.

The documentary does work best as an insight into the workings of major studio album. For example, in the first half, we get to witness the real brains behind the band in action as drummer Lars Ulrich and lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist James Hetfield butt heads and raise all hell and putting their ambitious new project titled "The Black Album" into tape. The album displayed a new mainstream style with emphasis on shorter, slicker songs. Metallica, a band that has *forever* been called "sellouts", seem to know what they were getting themselves into, and the hard work and determination evident in the documentary dispels any doubts of their merit.

Interesting to note is the minimal input lead guitarist Kirk Hammet and bassist Jason Newstead (this being only his second album with the band) contribute to the production process. They more or less are nowhere to be seen for most of the first half of the documentary. Also, note the lack of reference (reasons unknown) to Michael Kamen, the composer of the string section on the track "Nothing Else Matters", who Metallica later worked with on the "S&M" project.

Metallica nonetheless has a very drawing power, and the documentary, peppered with some awesome filming of the band doing what they do best in concert and the well-done music videos, is a must have for anyone.

I've seen all four hours of this thing at least 15 times. For Metallica fans, it doesn't get much better than this; you get to really know who these guys are and get to witness their particularly keen senses of humor.

Best bits: the constant ribbing of producer Bob Rock, watching James record the bridge solo for "Wherever I May Roam," the backstage visit from Spinal Tap, and James' session of Axl Rose ridicule.

Metallica fans MUST see this film; it is an indispensable document of the making of one of the greatest albums of all time and of the 3-year long tour that followed. Good stuff.

This is a really good DVD despite the fact Metallica is on the fringe of non existance. You go through the whole process of Metallica making their self titled Metallica cd a.k.a. "The Black Album" ! And then time to hit the road as Metallica brutalises the world with a bombastic blast of songs from both the black album and classic hits from And Justice For All and earlier hits from the days when Cliff Burton was alive. This dvd actually makes a perfect companion piece to The Metallica Box Set: Live Shit Binge and Purge.

See my nickname? That will probably let you know how my review is going to go. The video store I rented this from only had part two available, but I am damn sure gonna see part one sometime in the future. Great behind-the-scenes look at one of the last bastions of hard-rock/heavy metal. Metallica's longevity is due to the fact that their music actually creates pictures in your mind other than homies popping each other with their nines and beach bums stealing each other's sunshine. Long may they roam...

This film is a double sided roller coaster of rock and roll jumbles in jumbo jets, hail, enter Metallica. When this came out in 92 i was still in middle school and owning a VHS tape at that time was the equivalent of owning a Blue Ray disc now, it was not a healthy prospect. I ended up seeing the movie a year or two later at a friends house where we marveled at the guitar wizardry, the bombastic drumming, the lamenting vocals, the non-existent bass lines, that was metal for ya in the 90's, no bass. Now back then i actually took these idiots seriously, but after re-watching this movie last night, the tour tape vol.2, i feel like i have rediscovered four of the funniest dudes! Everything Lars Ulrich says in this movie is stupid. Throughout the film the various band mates are put into a "real world" style cubicle and probed by a huge microphone to talk about their lives and touring, blah, blah. So these interviews are funny, Lars contemplates turning "arena rock" touring on its head with various ideas meant to stimulate the audience. One is the addition of a "snake pit" the other is having like ten drum-sets on stage so he can run around the place causing havoc. For a tour video its not bad, its actually pretty damn good. You see the bowels of the huge stage where groupies and their moms get rocked, guitar purchases, hotel conversations, partying, fans, and plenty of performances and music video's. I don't think any other metal band has come close to what they did in the early 90's, relating to product sales. This double VHS paved the way for the Binge and Purge box set which was great and many more packages to follow. Yeah they went commercial they took the paycheck, but they did give fans a lot to look at and listen to for a while. And counting. Great band, greater comedians, RIP CB, eight stars.

I got this for my 11th birthday on VHS and i was so excited. I wasnt really happy with the black album but like i didnt care i was excited to have it. I watched that movie 14 times in 3 days and i was in total awe.........unfortunatly my VCR ate and destroyed the first tape. Then last summer i bought the DVD and i was so happy again......it was like i was a kid again. this movie is for all and i mean all metallica fans.....from new ones that will be created when the new album comes out next summer to the oldest fansfrom the kill em all/ride the lightning days. this movie is worth a 10.....but if i had my way it would be worth a 100000000000000 payce

A year and 1/2 in the life of METALLICA rules! It shows the recording processes and rehearsals. And includes the Enter Sandman and Unforgiven and Wherever i May Roam Music video's. It is a must see for every Metallica fan.

A real-life look at what these spectacular artists and human spirits are all about.

The movie illustrates facts about each member of Metallica's group, their honesty, straightforwardness, tell-it-like-it-is-ness, beauty, heart and soul, intelligence, human-ness, more-than-human-ness, creativity, above excellent talent, and, last but definitely not least, the messages they deliver to humanity and the truths contained in those messages.

You will laugh and you will cry. You will feel every human emotion, especially the frustration, anger, rage, love, hate, resentment at being human and all that entails; the extremes of every sensation of waking up to find out that you are a human.

Excellent movie about more than excellent people.

Great movie showing how talentless they really are! James can't sing. His singing is way off key. Good thing he only has to get one note right per take and the computer does the rest. Lars can't drum. While playing a simple beat, he gets so mad and frustrated with his own playing he breaks his snare drum with a drumstick. He should go back to playing the Muppet set he was hired on. Kirk electrocutes himself trying to play guitar. There's some real smarts for you. I use to be a Metallica fan before I watched this. They should have quit after Cliff died. All the talent left with him. Jason's bass playing just doesn't compare to Cliff's playing. Mediocre at best. R.I.P. Cliff!

Metallica is one of the greatest rock bands in the late 20th Century. Here is the full document on the making of the Black Album. Pre Production to Black Album Tour. Only other DVD's worth checking out on Metallica is Cliff'em All which covers the years with original Bassist Cliff Burton and the newly remastered and remixed to DVD... finally, The Box Set: Live S**t Binge and Purge. When placed in a Multi Disc DVD Player this Metalli-collection should blow your mind completely.

Metallica is the greatest band ever so no wonder why they put out one of the best videos i have ever seen. its funny at some times. i cant believe they do not have more videos out. this video is great and i bought the two videos when they came ou.t i did not wait for the price came down

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