The Film
There is a wonderful moment in the utterly exhilarating documentary It Might Get Loud which summarizes the entire spirit of the film in only a few short seconds; Jimmy Page launches into "Whole Lotta Love" in front of Jack White of the White Stripes and The Edge from U2 and the two veteran guitarists can barely keep themselves from falling over and dying in the presence of a rock God. The Edge grins like a little schoolboy as Page takes us all on a very familiar journey, and Jack White looks completely mesmerized as Page rips through each chord.
It Might Get Loud is a multi-generational journey that educates as well as it entertains. Those with a fascination for the creative process will not be disappointed as the film focuses on how all three guitarists come up with their delicious chops; primarily all of the great music that inspired their individual sounds'. It is the diversity of their interests and playing styles that make the jam sessions so interesting. Those expecting a concert video might be a little disappointed as the film never veers in that direction, but there is more than enough vintage footage of Led Zeppelin, U2, and the White Stripes to satisfy the most ardent fan. The bad haircuts alone are worthy of an extra star.
Shot in 1080p, It Might Get Loud looks very impressive to say the least, although some of the historical footage of Zeppelin and U2 looks dated (well, duh!) and grainy. The footage from the jam sessions where the three get together on a soundstage in Los Angeles is very clean and detailed looking. Page, in particular, looks great for his age (love the flowing white locks) and the camera work does a marvelous job of capturing his very expressive face.
The Sound
The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack is wonderfully clear and punchy for the most part, but I don't think that Director Davis Guggenheim used the technology as well as he could have. There are a few moments where the dialog loses some of its intelligibility and I found myself cranking it up to make sure that I wasn't missing some important point. The rear surrounds do not get much of a work-out on this Blu-ray release, which is somewhat disappointing; although there are a few moments when the action switches to Led Zeppelin that the surrounds add some needed ambience.
The Extras
Included on this Blu-ray release are twenty-six minutes of deleted scenes; wonderful solo sequences where all three guitarists get the chance to strut their stuff. There are moments here that are as compelling as any sequence in the finished film, which begs the question, why not include them in the film to begin with? The bonus commentary with Director Davis Guggenheim, Producer Lesley Chilcott, and Producer Thomas Tull is informative, but not something I would listen to instead of Jimmy Page or The Edge belting out classic Zeppelin songs. The coverage from the film's Toronto Film Festival press conference is rather dry material, and generally uninteresting.
Final Thoughts
Only Director Davis Guggenheim can explain why some of the fantastic deleted scenes were left on the cutting room floor, but overall he has directed a riveting and truly fascinating documentary about three of the most influential rock guitarists from three different eras. It Might Get Loud is a must-own for those who are fascinated with rock guitar and the history behind the sound. Very highly recommended!
Product Details
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