Product Details

• Actors: James Hetfield, Kirk Hammett, Bob Rock, Metallica, Christopher Guest
• Directors: Adam Dubin
• Format: Color, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Elektra / Wea
• VHS Release Date: November 17, 1992
• Run Time: 140 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (42 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 630259751X
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #347,883 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

60 of 61 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best music documentaries I've ever seen., April 23, 2004

By 

D. Mok (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Metallica: Year and A Half Parts 1 & 2 (DVD)

I'm a both a musician and a filmmaker, so I'm extra-picky about music documentaries. This one stands as one of the best visual representations I've ever seen of what it's like to be a musician.

Sure, it's shot on video, so don't expect the glorious black-and-white photography of U2's Rattle and Hum or the lush richness of Martin Scorsese's The Last Waltz. Sure, the camera is often wobbly. But what director Adam Dubin does so well in this piece is capture the intricate details of recording an album, in Part 1. The setting was ripe for such exploration: This was shot during the crucial period when Metallica, then known as one of the most uncompromising bands in music, was first paired up with ace producer Bob Rock, known both for his crystalline productions and his rock-hard stubbornness. The ensuing conflict among band members and producer makes for endlessly fascinating viewing. Part 1 exhaustively explores every aspect of recording Metallica's eponymous 'Black Album' (obviously, you'll get much more out of this documentary if you know the album well). Highlights include Kirk Hammett's frustrating search for a solo to "The Unforgiven"; the battle between a sore-throated James Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich; and a vocal session where you become intensely aware of just how much editing is required to put together one perfect lead vocal take. If you love music but have never immersed in this process, it's extremely illuminating -- it points out to you how the music comes into being. Plus you get three videos -- the casual studio-performance piece "Nothing Else Matters"; "The Unforgiven", a beautifully photographed expressionistic piece under director Matt Mahurin's lyrical, languid treatment; and the classic "Enter Sandman", a manic romp which stands as director Wayne Isham's crowning achievement.

Part 2 is a little more for fans. With its numerous live performances and less coherent structure, this part appeals more to longtime fans of Metallica who want to see how the band works when the scope of its fanbase suddenly increased tenfold. There are still fascinating bits even for casual perusers: The tensions between the Metallica/Guns N' Roses camps when the two bands joined up for a massive, trouble-ridden tour; an after-show meeting where the Metallica members discuss changes and critique one another; and backstage footage from the Freddie Mercury tribute concert. The two official videos, "Sad but True" and "Wherever I May Roam", are passable, with near-interchangeable footage and a distinct lack of character.

I used to put on my old VHS copy of Part 1 every couple of months just to delve into the terrific in-studio interactions of Bob Rock and Metallica. The release of both volumes of this video on DVD was a pleasant surprise to me, and anybody who wants to know more about the process of being a professional musician (and star) should check this one out. After seeing the amount of painstaking work put into each stage of the band's music, you might be less inclined to crucify Metallica for fighting against Napster.

26 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Without doubt a great DVD, July 7, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Metallica: Year and A Half Parts 1 & 2 (DVD)

This is truely a good DVD. It may well be the most interesting and by far the longest documentary of any band in history. This DVD contains well over 4 hours of metallica stuff including live performances, studio rehersing and music videos. The sound and video are quite good considering that this DVD is remastered from a previous video release. The DVD is presented with really cool menus and easy to follow links between the 4 hours of footage. The picture is very sharp and the sound is presented in Dolby Digital Stereo which was very crisp and clear. A 5.1 Digital remix would have been better but to remix 4 hours is quite rediculous. This DVD is the best thing that could happen for any metallica fan! Anyone would love this DVD and it would be a great addition to anyones collection.

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Metallica...A Year and a half in the life of...., December 17, 1999

By 

Charles R Henry (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Metallica: Year and A Half Parts 1 & 2 (DVD)

WOW! Ever wonder what it's like to produce an album?...or tour with a heavy metal band? Then this is it. In part 1, see Metallica and Bob Rock make the hit "Black Album" and watch as the songs take form in the studio...mistakes, pranks, masterpieces and all.(Very candid!) In part 2, Tour with the band around the world including appearences at the MTV Music Awards, the Grammys, and a special farewell concert for Freddie Mercury of Queen where James Hetfield sings with Queen and other legendary rock stars. See what the band does in their spare time. It's one of the best DVD's in my collection. IT ROCKS!