Customer Reviews

DC Talk: Free at Last - The Movie

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

They say that good things come to those who wait. In the case of dc Talk's FREE AT LAST - THE MOVIE, truer words could not have been spoken.

After a ten-year wait due to a failed attempt at a theatrical release, FREE AT LAST - THE MOVIE has finally been released to the public. The film is incomplete; it never finished the editing process and so, for example, the credits are not set, but those points are minimized once the movie starts rolling. For what we witness is an hour and half of the most entertaining and transparent footage ever shot of a Christian music act.

The movie is documentary-style, intermixed with concert footage. It's a snapshot of the FREE AT LAST world tour, and it's fun to remember what Toby, Michael, and Kevin were like on stage a decade ago. But I found myself longing for the concert segments to end so I could get back to seeing the guys off of the stage. The director was able to capture the group in some incredibly vulnerable moments and we see sides of all three guys that we've never glimpsed before. They speak freely of the struggle between fame and humility that a Christian artist constantly deals with. Personal issues pop up, as to personality quirks. Historic moments are captured, such as the first time the group performed at a Billy Graham crusade. There are cameos (Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, and even Kim from the Real World S.F.). And there are some humorous moments as well - witness Kevin and a small dog on a staircase in San Francisco. But the overriding power of the project is in the way the film captures the heart of the group. Because for all of the stresses and human fallibility that we see it abundantly clear that dc Talk is a group that above all is striving to shed pretence and present the Gospel to the world in a real and honest way.

The DVD also contains some great bonus features. There is a feature length commentary with all three members. It's pieced together from separate sittings but fits well and is definitely worth a listen. The making-of featurette was well done. There are two trailers for the film. And there's a small Easter egg to find as well.

FREE AT LAST - THE MOVIE is a masterpiece, in spite of its unfinished state and ten year age. Any fan of dc Talk should consider this a must-own. And even if you do not like dc Talk this is a film that you will want to see to because it is just plain fun to watch but, more importantly, because it will give you a glimpse of what life is truly like for these men and women who are trying to both entertain and minister to their fans. It's a tough balancing act, but this gem of a DVD allows us the best glimpse yet of what that it like. Dare I say that Christian filmmaking (today's Christian subculture kind) has never been more ambitious than this? FIVE STARS.

THIS DVD IS BETTER THAN GREAT YOU GET TO SEE WHAT THEIR LIFE WAS LIKE ON THE FREE AT LAST TOUR. YOU SEE IN THIS MOVIE THAT KMAX WAS ADOPTED, TOBY'S WIFE, WHERE THEY WENT TO COLLEGE, HOW THEY FELT BEING PART OF A BILLY GHRAM CRUSADE. YOU GET TO HEAR SEVERAL LIVE SONGS AND YOU HEAR HOW THEY FELT WHEN KURT COBAIN OF NIRVANA DIED BECAUSE THEY SAID IT WAS SAD BECAUSE THEY HIGHLY RESPECTED HIM AS A MUSICIAN. AT THE END YOU SEE WHERE THEY LIVE IN FRANKLIN TENNESSEE, THEIR STUDIO AND HOW IT WAS THE FIRST FEW TIMES THEY WERE IN THEIR STUDIO. YOU ALSO HEAR THEM WORK ON THEIR NEXT CD WHICH HAPPENED TO BE THE MOST SUCCESSFUL CHRISTIAN CD JESUS FREAK AND YOU HEAR PART OF THE SONG BUT YOU DON'T HEAR LYRICS. THIS IS A MUST HAVE FOR ANY DC TALK FAN

I bought the DVD for my kids for Christmas... :) We all enjoyed watching the behind the scenes perspective intermixed with excellent music videos of some of the key songs on the CD.

The story line was not "scripted" but it was more of a reality/documentary style with interviews of Mike, Kevin, and Toby (and others) interspersed with behind the scenes footage of the Free At Last Tour.

The visual quality of the movie was OK (being a series of video taped scenes from the tour). The editing was absolutly fabulous. I cannot think of another movie of this genre that I enjoyed more.

It truly is a MUST SEE dvd. Heck, for $...

Filmed in 1994 during dc Talk's hit Free At Last tour, this awesome DVD is a mix of energetic song performances, cameras going with the guys in tons of different places, testimonies, personal talks, and tons more. I've never seen a bad review of Free At Last: The Movie, and the descriptions I've read of it had interested me, but I didn't really care if I had it or not. Just today, I saw it on sale, and I thought "what the heck, I'll take it". So, I bought it, not knowing quite what to expect. I watched it all the way through, and it was totally inspiring and exciting from start to finish. As soon as it ended, I was left wanting more. So, I headed on to the deleted scenes, only watched one, but next time I watch the movie, I'll watch all of them. I haven't really checked out all the features except for that one deleted scene, but I saw that there were music videos, a commentary by all dc Talk members, a photo gallery, and some more.

Overall, I thought Free At Last: The Movie was absolutely awesome and I don't regret buying it. It went through a whole experience of great performances, testimonies, talks, and even some laughs. If you're a hard-core dc Talk fan, like myself, I would highly recommend this. I have to say that only a hard-core dc Talk fan wouldn't mind watching this for it's whole length (really, it has about an average movie length). Very, very awesome and well done! Here, I give it 5 stars, but I really would give it so much more! I can't wait to watch it again!

This DVD is a must for any DC TALK fan! If your like me and not only like a bands music, but you like to find out about behind the scenes and other stuff about them then this is for you! I have been a DC TALK fan for many years now and have all their albums, singles, videos etc and this just tops off my collection! Thanks guys! Buy it!

I have listed to DC Talk since the early days. I have bought every album as each has been released. All I can say is that I wish that this had been released years ago. It is encouraging to see these guys truly trying to please God through it all. It comes through in their music, and it comes through in this DVD: Toby, Mike and Kevin have their hearts on God and so should we.

Great film. There are some rough edges because it's unfinished but any fan of the group will find it fascinating.

THIS DVD WAS REALLY INCREDIBLE. I WAS NEVER A "FAN" OF SO-CALLED CHRISTIAN RAP, TILL I SAW THIS VIDEO. SEEING DC TALK BEHIND THE SCENES AND SEEING WHERE THEIR HEARTS WERE COMING FROM REALLY CHANGED MY OPINION.
IT ALSO EXPANDED MY TASTE IN MUSIC.