The other day I watched the documentary from 2007 "Air Guitar Nation." This film chronicles the journeys of the first ever North American air guitar competition, and follows our country's representatives to the international championship in Finland. Although enjoyable and fun, I am only luke-warm in my reception towards this movie. In terms of documentaries introducing viewers to a highly competitive weirdo world we never knew existed, I kept wanting this film to become as engrossing as the vastly superior "King of Kong." Read on for a further discussion and comparison...
"Air Guitar Nation" showcases performers who dress-up outrageously and create rocker personas full of moxie. They and the judges are in on the joke of a rock-and-roll competition where no one has an instrument. However, for a while there seems like there could be a division amongst competitors between those who see air guitar as an art-form and those who see it as sort of a comedy platform. The end result is that everyone appreciates what everyone else is doing, and everyone is having a good time.
"King of Kong," on the other hand, was gripping. There was scheming, there were villains, there was heartbreak.
Although I definitely wouldn't discourage you from watching "Air Guitar Nation," my hope is that you will use the film as a mere amuse bouche before watching the very fulfilling meal that is "King of Kong." If you've already seen "Kong," maybe this little snack of "Air Guitar Nation" will leave a slightly bitter taste.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
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I doubt I will watch Air Guitar Nation. I am not a fan of documentaries as a rule. I pretty much don't watch them unless I've heard from numerous people that share some similar tastes in movies with me that it is good.
ReplyDeleteHowever, The King of Kong is definitely one of those rare exceptions. That was one of the best movies of 2007, documentary or otherwise. Anyone who hasn't seen it definitely should.
Agreed, love Kong.
ReplyDeleteMetta, you don't watch documentaries? I don't think I remember hearing that before. Have you seen Spellbound? Capturing the Friedmans? American Movie?
If anybody's interested, there's a Donkey Kong kill screen coming up...
I've seen Spellbound, and loved it. I didn't like Capturing the Friedmans, and I haven't seen American Movie.
ReplyDelete@tb: I really like documentaries and have only seen spellbound of the ones you list. I will have to watch those other ones!! Thanks for the heads up!
ReplyDeleteDidn't like Capturing the Friedmans? Really?
ReplyDeleteI mean, it's unpleasant as all hell, but I think it's pretty amazing, to think that all this footage survived. My jaw was hanging open the whole time.
Jenna, if you're into documentaries, I also recommend:
Man on Wire
Night and Fog
No Direction Home (if you like Dylan)
Paradise Lost (and the sequel, if you like the first)
Z Channel
Gimme Shelter (helps you like the Stones, but pretty incredible regardless)
Touching the Void
And special recommendation for a movie called "7 Up." This is a movie made in 1965, a one hour British television special. The director assembled a cross-section of 14 British schoolchildren and interviewed them about what they like to do, what their lives are like, their hopes and dreams, etc.
Once you watch that, watch "14 Up." Same director, same children, but 7 years later, when they're all 14.
Incredibly, they've made a movie about these people every 7 years since then. 56 Up is due out in 2012, I think. The first couple are interesting, but the series really achieves brilliance later on, beginning with 28 Up and 35 Up.
They're all available on Watch Instantly!
Man on Wire I've seen and loved. I'll have to look at the subject matter of the other ones because I'm a bit sensitive these days (hormones and babies and what not).
ReplyDeleteDoes the Watch Instantly feature work for Macs now? Anyone?
Capturing the Friedmans didn't like upset me or anything, I was just bored. I agree that it's cool that the footage survived, but I can think that's cool for about 10 minutes and then I don't need to actually watch the footage anymore.
ReplyDeleteNight and Fog is kind of a great example of my whole problem. In theory, I know it's a great movie, and for a documentary it's really, really good - Jenna, it's about the holocaust, so it's not happy viewing. But I still would rather have been watching a fictional movie.
I did love Man on Wire, probably because it was basically a heist film. I think that's my basic problem with documentaries. I like genre movies. I like action and sci-fi and fantasy more than most other genres. And documentaries, by their nature, are not as good at delivering on those genres.
However, I ADORED "Carrier" the PBS documentary mini-series. And there are some other docs that I have liked - Spellbound, March of the Penguins (even though it was too long), etc. But the bottom line for me is that if I'm going to spend my time watching a movie chances are high that I would prefer a fictional movie over a documentary. Thus, my policy of only watching documentaries which come highly recommended.
Oh, and the movie "Wordplay." I knew I was forgetting something earlier. This movie does for crosswords what Spellbound did for spelling bees. I love it.
ReplyDeleteJenna: with that restriction, take Night and Fog and Paradise Lost off the list for sure, and maybe think twice about Z Channel (involving a murder/suicide that is never seen, just talked about by friends) and Touching the Void (featuring re-enactments of a mountain climbing expedition gone wrong.) Hmm, didn't realize I suggested so many downbeat movies.
Definitely watch Wordplay, 7 Up, and American Movie. Oh, "Cinemania" is another good one. Although maybe just because I identify with movie-obsessed OCD freaks.
Oh, and yes, Watch Instantly works for Macs.
Metta: Interesting. I'll stick with my recommendation of American Movie, and if you like crosswords, you should watch Wordplay, since you liked Spellbound.
Dustin reminded me about Wordplay. I did really like that movie. The woman who walks out in the rain holding a broken umbrella that isn't covering her head is priceless.
ReplyDeleteDustin has also recommended American Movie. I'll probably take a look at that one.