This Is Spinal Tap [VHS]

The very pinnacle of 'mockumentaries'. To anyone who had witnessed (first hand or otherwise) the excesses of the 70s rock culture and then witnessed how bands tried to claw back a fan base (in the wake of the 'New Wave of - Brit - Heavy Metal'?) that had succumbed to punk and new wave (and the new romantics) in an almost suicidal belief in their own 'greatness', beggars belief in a first-time director. Only in 'The Princess Bride' did Reiner surpass his previous masterpiece.So much of the script rings so very true that one can almost believe it true. Were it not for the 'Stonehenge' stage set, the bowing of the guitar with an actual violin and the 'tragic' deaths of their legion of drummers, bordering on farce, one may conceive of it as simply that; farce.However, it did not take Reiner and his cohorts to craft a script that was only marginlly adrift of the reality.

I was recommended this film by a jazz musician from the Sixties. I had never heard of it before.So, as soon as I had some money, I ordered a Blu-ray disc. Since I live in India and the disc was Region B, it did not play and I eventually had to ask Amazon to replace it with a DVD. Yes, I had to wait a lot, but it was definitely worth it.This has to be the ultimate twentieth century rock group spoof I have seen! Anyone who has followed any rock 'n' roll group seriously would be able to relate to it, and see the junkyard that rock has become. The Extras of the movie have interviews that tell exactly from which rock group they took which particular element. But what they miss is the reference to The Beach Boys and The Moody Blues in the short fictional footage from the Sixties. It is amazing how they have tried to recreate the same audio/video quality from the Sixties, while the rest of the film is in Eighties.The short footage is a take on a lot of Sixties artists trying to jump on the psychedelic bandwagon: wear colorful clothes, sing about love and beauty and flower power, add a little bit of sitar here and there and you have a hit. I wonder how they miss the reference to Blue Öyster Cult, which is evident in the title of the film (note the 'n̈'). There is also a reference to Deep Purple, where David shouts 'Spinal Tap Mark Two!'Leaving aside the references to different bands, the film is primarily a spoof on British groups, because, well, 'all-the-good-stuff-comes-from-there.'It mocks the socialite circles that rock musicians have to go into, record labels, band managers, their attempt to boost sales because of racy covers, stage imagery, British rockers feeling unfettered once they enter the States and trying to be more wild. At another level, it traces the journey of rock from its beginnings in the Fifties, as the band members of Spinal Tap were in a skiffle rock group (very common in those days, and the story of almost every rocker in the Sixties), then in a psychedelic group (which mocks The Rolling Stones and The Moody Blues), then in a hard rock/heavy metal group like Priest or Maiden. The ending of the movie is a hilarious take on any-and-every rock group making it big in Japan. I could go on, because every shot in the film is a commentary on some or the other aspect of society and music industry.If you're interested in twentieth century pop/rock culture, you cannot do without this film.

I remember, many years ago, saying to someone that apparently people think Spinal Tap really were a group, and was most amused to see a look of confusion spread across their face. You can see their point. Perhaps if Patrick Macnee wasn't in it, I may have fallen for it.This borders on genius, albeit cringe makingly embarassing genius. It's understated, but only just, to allow disbelief to be totally suspended. Briiliant.

Both discs covered a sticky film of some kind residue. Wouldn't play in dvd player.Had to buy some specialist disc cleaner to remove the mess before we could play the discs.Not impressed

Having been involved in the music business for many years I can truly say that, although a comedy "rockumentary", this film isn't all that far from the truth: a bit of hyperbole here and there but otherwise it hits the mark. Saying that even if you've no involvement in music you will find this film absorbing and very very funny.The film basically revolve around the rock band Spinal Tap, their excesses and there fall from the top as music tastes change within their record company and their management goes from mistake to mistake. All the characters are larger than life but oddly endearing and believable. The scene with the customoised amplifiers is most often cited but there are many more e.g. the pods used to start a concert, the miniature Stonehenge....Just one more thing, my cousins a drummer, what's his life insurance premium going to be?

I'm surprised more reviewers haven't commented on the the two shoddy let-downs which spoil this set.Of course, the film is fantastic - worth five of anybody's stars.However, why is only half of the `Return of Spinal Tap` concert on this disc. It doesn't even fade out, it just stops without explanation after 57 minutes. I wish I'd watched this before my original copy had been taken down the charity shop - copies now sell at higher prices than you can buy this 3 disc set for!Then there'd the Live Earth footage - again the footage just stops after one song (I think the band played three) ,and the short film isn't on the disc either.Yes - there are plenty of high quality extras on here, but the omissions spoil the package for me.May be the 30th anniversary edition will get it right?

Well this is typical British humour accurately portraying posturing head banging popsters but it didn’t seem to have the sense of fun I thought it had first time around. Worth keeping in your collection though and watch after a curry and a few vodka laden ales one a year.

Good story line that could be applied to many a band's tumultuous search for fame and glory, from Metallica to Anvil. If you love music, you will love this comedic biopic of a harsh but beautiful industry.