Bash the Anvil (Anvil! The Story of Anvil (DVD))

Member Name: sympatic

Product:	Anvil! The Story of Anvil (DVD)
Date:	15/08/09 (24 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Funny and engaging

Disadvantages: None

I got ointerested in this film when I heard an interview on Radio 5 Simon Mayo show with the Director and two of the band members about the film and the history of the band and it certainly got my interest and made me want to watch this docuentary film that follows a Canadian heavy metal band who at one time looked like they would be massive but instead they ended up having to settle down to a life of constant gigging and travelling around the world, at least with the film they are enjoying a new moment in the spotlight.

All of the band appear in the documentary and it is the impressively named lead singer Steve Lips Kudlow who grabs your attention alongside drummer Robb Reiner.

The film follows their early success in the eighties and then their virtual dsappearence from the spotlight during the nineties, it has a bit of a feel good theme running through it as they continue to pursue their dream and it is clearly a work of love for Director and also the narrator Sasha Garvesi, and it tells an interesting story indeed.

There is a slight hint of Spinal Tap about the film as it follows a disastrous European Tour that the band undertakes and there are some hilarious scenes not least the band playing a Jewish wedding which is hilarious.

This film did not get a lot of hype when it was launched but it is one I certainly recommend, it is a touching story about a band, and especially the two main protagonists who refused to give up on their dreams and clearly enjoy just playing music to a live audience. It has its funny moments and sometimes I doubted if the scenes were not really set ups rather than actual events but Garvesi is clearly a fan and does not set out to ridicule the band like someone like Theroux wold, there is no real sarcasm in his narration just a couple of tongue in cheeck references to rock cliches which in a way the band do epitomise.

Watch it and enjoy, personally it would not inspire me to download their music but I guess they would be grateful if you did.

Summary: Excellent surprise film.