So much average

One of my all time favorites.

If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.

Firstly, I must say that I saw Some Kind Of Monster before I saw this Classic Album doco, so my attachment to the inner workings of this band was already well established. This doco it seems was made right before the implosion that was Some Kind Of Monster, and really works to capture the tension between the band, and the egotistical traits that they would try to rub out in the future. Many parts of this doco spell out the conflict that exists within the band, but there is also a genuine feel (especially from Lars and James) that they'll sort the problems out themselves. They always have...... The reality was something very different.I think the character's body language and comments within this doco bring so much richness to the overall piece. From James, Lars, Kirk and Jason, to Bob Rock and Randy Staub (Engineer), I got a real sense of how difficult the recording of this album was for the six of them, its as though they find it just as difficult to revisit and talk about. There is definitely a lot to be read through Bob Rock's comments, and he becomes one of, if not the most integral character in this doco.The doco provides brilliant insight into the Black Album. It delves deep into the technicalities of the recording and mixing. Looking at individual track developments and the problems that arose. The bonus features on the DVD are just as good as the doco itself, and I guess the only reason they weren't included was due to time limitations. Its almost like the bonus features are part 2 of the doco....excellent!I believe this Classic Album doco differs from many of the others, and therefore gives it a much more emotional delivery. This doco looks at a band that is still actively recording, and by no means at the end of their career. In Metallica's case, when this doco was made, I guess it was right on the back of the Load/Reload and S&M backlash. It was a band that knew they had albums left in them, but had been hit with so much criticism, that going forward seemed all the more difficult. So here, they are asked to feature in a doco on their 'classic album'. As much as I'm sure they appreciated the accolade, it would have brought up many questions in their heads about the point of pushing forward. If someone is telling you the album you made 10yrs ago is your classic album, then there is a definite belief that there is not much else left to come. I think this reflects through the band members in the doco. Its not a sense of remembering 'how good we are' (as it feels in many other 'Classic Album' docos, where the band has long since retired/disbanded), but more of a sense of revisiting 'how good we were'. And therefore begs the question what has gone wrong since.I guess to summarise, this Classic Album doco for me was made at such a poignant time in the career of Metallica, that it is a must have for any serious fan, as it provides so much insight into the past, the present, and most powerfully, what was yet to come.Long Live Metallica!

Watching how Metallica created and recorded the Black Album with Bob Rock was an inspiration. I never thought much of these guys before, but I now have a much better appreciation of their work since seeing this video.Certainly Metallica fans would benefit by watching this video. You get a good sense of what drives them. Although perhaps not the most articulate individuals, they come across as genuinely concerned with how they communicate with and stay true to their fan base.Musicians will find this video particularly valuable. You get a behind-the-scenes look at the creative process. Despite, their initial reluctance at working with a big-name producer, Bob Rock brings his bag of production tricks to the project and eventually earns the band's respect. Overall, this is a good video for rock music fans to watch, even if you don't like heavy metal.

Having been a Metallica fan for as long as I can remember, this was something I had to see. It's basically about the writing, the recording and the impact of the Black Album, Metallica's best selling album of all time. And that's exactly what's wrong with it. It's seen now as a classic album by mainstream "rock" lovers, but it is not Metallica's best album, not by a long shot. There's nothing wrong with the interviews, even though some of them could have been a little longer for my taste, but the material on the Black Album just isn't strong enough to carry the label "Classic Album." With the exception of Enter Sandman, Wherever I May Roam and Sad But True, the entire album is miles away from the quality reached on Ride The Lightning, Master Of Puppets, and some parts of ...And Justice For All. No doubt the Black Album was a turning point in Metallica's career, launching them into the public eye, creating a whole new horde of fans which adore them. Kirk Hammet himself describes the Black Album as Metallica's Dark Side Of The Moon, the epic classic by Pink Floyd, but there's a glitch in his reasoning. Sure, it was Pink Floyd's best selling album ever, but it was also their best, which can't be said of the Black Album. Overall, worth the watch if you like the album. Three stars out of five

This is truly a must see documentary for the fans of Metallica. It explains the whole history behind the Black Album up until the decision of doing the S&M album. It explains the why and when of each song from The Black Album. A true classic!