Customer Reviews

Henry Rollins: Shock and Awe - The Tour

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is probably the best Henry Rollins "DVD" I've seen, I actually saw him live on this tour a few weeks after this DVD was filmed, it was one of the best shows I've ever been too, so I already knew most of the material that was on here, but its great to be able to watch it whenever I want. Henry is on top of his game here, the stories are great, the only bad thing is that his live show is about 3 hours long and they cut it down to an hour and a half for the DVD so some of the stories are cut short, like the tour in Afghanistan, and the President Bush, and the William Shatner stories, and some great stories didn't make it on the DVD, but that doesn't really matter, its' still a great DVD, if you are a fan of Henry Rollins then I highly recommend this, if you are just a fan of good amusing stories then I also highly recommend this.

Thats pretty much it, you probably already know what to expect if you've heard Henry's other spoken word material. But I suggest if you ever get a chance to see him live, then do it, it's well worth the 20 bucks.

I've missed two chances to see Henry Rollins live because they were sold out. Watching this dvd (along with the other one, "Live at Luna Park") is not a bad consolation prize. Like comedian Bill Maher, I like that Henry Rollins tells stories with humor, instead of the usual stand up comic routine of one liners. I imagine its probably more difficult to pull off a lengthy monologue where you discuss topics at length, with humourous presentation. Henry Rollins is great at it. He has the odd noises down, and the different voices, an actor in his own right. I've never been a fan of his music, as I don't like hard rock/metal, but I do own this dvd and a spoken word cd, and a book of his. He's an intelligent guy with a lot to say.

I did find it hard to believe that he doesn't get a lot of phone calls from friends, though, or a hard time finding his dream woman. It says a lot that he is looking for an intelligent woman (aren't we all?) and comes up disappointed when he finds out she reads books he wouldn't touch (for the "populist/mass market appeal") or listens to music he doesn't like. He's funny in how he expresses his shock of discovery about another person with habits or interests he doesn't share...but doesn't that make him a little bit judgmental and narcissistic? I loved hearing how even he, famous as he is, gets nervous when meeting icons like Ike Turner and William Shatner; his solution to ending calls by telemarketers (quite brilliant!), and his aw-shucks humility when meeting soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. He is entertaining to watch and I enjoyed this dvd a lot. I hope he will go on another spoken word tour, as I think he would be much better live, but until then, there's this one, "Live at Luna Park" and another one coming out soon. They will suffice, as his physical energy and manner of speaking add a lot to the presentation of overall funny insights and experiences. He's the man!

If you want it real and not rehersed night after night, you must get Hank's "Shock and Awe". I have known of him from the simple fact he is a counter culture icon and from his days with Black Flag. Not a huge fan of the Rollins Band nor have I read any of his poetry. Basically I am just like average Joe who might rent this just to see what the hype is about. Let me tell you this, the dude has alot to say! This is as real and as hilarious as it can get. His angry adrenaline fueled delivery and the story weaving of the things he has seen and done will keep you mesmerized from start to finish. Just ensure the little ones are in bed before you hit play. Although his views are insightful and the stories are funny as hell, it is Henry after all! (Just remember "Crash Helmets and Bite Plates")

If you have read some of the reviews for his other items, don't get caught up in the individuals that say his best days are behind him and that they have heard the stories told differently.......take the performance at face value and laugh until you can't breath. I did.

this DVD rules

it's stand up comedy and great story telling

you dont have to be a black flag fan to like it

the way he walks out and takes control of the show as he grips his mic lookin like he feels like crackin skulls with it as only rollins can do

he has his own style and its a nice long show you really get in to it cuz its great story telling

you owe it to yourself to check this out

it will go great in your stand up comedy DVD collection

Rollins recounts his USO experiences, performing in Afghanistan for U.S. troops. Ever the gadfly of the Bush administration's confused, contradictory conservatism, he spells out a truth so obvious but no one every acknowledges -- the soldiers fighting over there are not the same as those who send them over there, and no matter what side of the political divide you ride, and if your against any war or policy or administrator, the very reason your AGAINST such is because your FOR the troops.

His stories here as always vacillate between the humorous and the serious until the two are one and the same. More great cosmopolitan observations in a time when we're just beginning to get away from media casting everything as black or white when there are really more different shades of gray than could fill a one hundred crayon box of Crayolas with the sharpener in the back that featured nothing but different grays. Thanks again, Mr. Rollins.

Pretty funny. But the political allusions are boring when its from 5 years ago and you've heard enough of it.

While not the type of guy you would expect to do standup, Henry Rollins really does a good job. Beginning with political jokes which aren't his forte, Rollins starts slow. That is, until he gets to his own anecdotes. From being on the road to visiting Bangram Air Base in "sunny Afghanistan," he moves seemlessly from one story to the next. Great DVD!

If there was one bit that watching it would render you laughing to the point of incontinence, it is Rollins' description of what would embody "unleashing compassion" on someone (AH'M GONNA LOOOOOOOOOOVE YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU! AAAAAAGGGGGHHHH!)

What else is there?

More riffing on Bush (at least the drunk chimp is good for something other than sending kids off to die for his and his daddy's egos) and his cronies in the Fourth Reich.

A really fantastic story about his USO tour appearances and landing over in a warzone.

His story about hitting on telemarketers who call.

Meeting Ike Turner (and living to tell the tale).

Okay, it's Rollins. He's not exactly Mr. Indie Cred anymore for those of you who are too hip to watch/listen someone who achieves mass appeal. I used to be/am still in some respects one of you, but for all of his starf******, Rollins is still more of a punk than some kid plunking down mom and dad's dough for hair dye and a Good Charlotte (touring this summer with Goodnight Moon and Ramona Quimby: Age Eight! (lol) t-shirt. Buy it and laugh yourself soiled.

Signed,

epsteinsmutha

if mr rollins ran for president he would win!!!!! he is more intellegent and well rounded than anyone i have ever read , spoke to, or even heard of.....i recomend anything by this man....vidio, audio, or written word......

Henry Rollins is like the neighbor who constantly purchases new gadgets to mount on the walls of his garage as some weird pack rat feng shui disorder. He's a front-of-the-class brown-noser blowing bubbles in his milk for the peanut gallery while batting lashes at the teacher. He's irrelevant because he's a shameless pundit for middle-class ennui, with a doctorate in blab. When they come out with the Henry Rollins android in the year 2120, its "soliloquy" button will never wear out, but you'll have to stock up on the "projectile vomiting" button. I remember the first time I saw the "Liar" video, Rollins all puffy-faced, eyes bright as a bunny caught in headlights, doing a constipated impression of Iggy Stooge, railing on and on about some kind of video game that made him mad because he couldn't figure out how to get to the next level.