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19 out of 22 people found the following review useful:
A walk down memory lane...(wince), 25 May 2006
9/10
Author: micame-1 from United States

As a former metal groupie (the horror!), when I saw this depiction of the lonely lives and substance-riddled minds of my heroes, it actually inspired me to go to college! It is a poignant, wistful, sad, and insightful look at a genre of music that instilled fear in the hearts of parents(well, at least in mine), and a venue for teens to unleash their anger toward a misunderstanding world.

The best kind of musical documentary is always done best through the eyes of a true fan, and Penelope Spheeris is no exception. While to the casual viewer the film may seem shallow and all fluff (which is how the LA metal was widely portrayed), if one looks past the hair, excess, bravado, t & a, and flowing alcohol,it is easy to uncover the painfully lonely, opportunistic, naiveté' of the struggling bands, and even some of those who "made it." The scene with Chris Holmes guzzling vodka in his pool was simply heartbreaking...and the expressions on his mother's face were fully able to convey her harsh reality. Some of the "classic" performers... Aerosmith, Ozzy, and Lemmy were able to reflect on the business with some learned wisdom, while Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons attempted to convey a fantasy life that appeared way too scripted and laughable (I'm still a huge KISS fan, though). One interesting element in viewing the film almost 20 years later, is how some of the bands downplayed or sidestepped the issue of drug use (note the expressions on their faces when substances are discussed), then appear on "Behind the Music" years later to reveal their debilitating addictions.

Having been involved peripherally in the scene for a few years, I can say that Spheeris' portrayal was 100% accurate based on what I witnessed. I would've liked to have seen the inclusion of other important bands of the LA scene (Motley Crue, Skid Row, etc), and a separate documentary highlighting British metal (Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest)would've been fantastic.

It was a fun, irreverent, and exciting time! I can look back at it and laugh since I emerged relatively unscathed... although I am somewhat embarrassed by the extraordinary heights of my hair and the plunging depths of my blouses in "86.

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17 out of 21 people found the following review useful:
Odin, Odin, Odin., 8 April 1999
10/10
Author: (drinkenstein@hotmail.com) from boise, ID

This is possibly the most entertaining sequel in film history. The first "Decline" film presented the punk rock scene of the late seventies/early eighties and captured the rebellion and dissatisfaction found in that movement. This film focuses on the much more entertaining glam-metal scene of the late eighties. We witness such awesome sights as W.A.S.P.'s Chris Holmes getting loaded in his pool while his mom sits pool-side contemplating a very late abortion. Our old pal Ozzy's juice-pouring methods are something to behold and my new favorite band Odin sits in a hot tub with a bunch of metal-sluts and tells us how they want to be bigger than Zepplin and the Stones. This is intercut with their live performance where the lead singer expresses less range than Mark Slaughter and has no ass in his pants! We hear about struggling metal-heads who use women for their money and their food (they of course plan to pay them back with furs and cars when they get big.) And the always entertaining Poison treats us to a healthy dose of rock n' roll stupidity. This film contains some of the stupidest people I have ever witnessed. Why it won no Oscars is beyond me. I think it is one of the truly great films of the decade.

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11 out of 12 people found the following review useful:
A timeless piece of rock documentary, 20 April 2001
10/10
Author: tywebb from United States



I have read the comment of my fellow viewer and apparent Heavy Metal Connisseur, who says this film falls short of completely covering the Heavy Metal scene at the time.

But I really don't think that that's what Spheeris was trying to do. This film is so much more. Like any truly great documentary, it somehow manages to capture life, raw and unfiltered.

The characters are funny, loveable, sad, pitiful, admirable, inspiring, bewildering, all at the same time. A very odd, strangely fascinating and mystifying mix of moods and emotions and realness that is stranger than fiction.

Like Paul Thomas Anderson and other great filmmakers, Spheeris has this talent of having compassion for her subjects, rather than judging them in some way. It is what it is. She gets out of the way and lets an utterly fascinating and at times "un-real" segment of life tell its own story. A timeless piece of rock documentary.

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8 out of 9 people found the following review useful:
Captivating., 14 September 2002
8/10
Author: Matt..377 from United States

A rock documentary ranging from interviews with seen-it-all veterans such as Ozzy Osbourne, Gene Simmons, Steven Tyler, to the up-and-comers of the era such as Faster Pussycat, Poison, and London. A revealing and fascinating chronicle on the 1980s scene of excess.

In retrospect, the film is actually funny in spots. Newbies such as London, Odin, and Seduce were quoted as saying "I will make it as a rock star" when asked what will happen if they don't make it. "We WILL make it." Amusing that they disappeared forever just months after this movie (and those statements) was made.

*** out of ****. Out of print and tough to find, but well worth the effort.

MPAA: Rated R for graphic, pervasive language and brief nudity.

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7 out of 9 people found the following review useful:
The "real" Spinal Tap, 5 December 2001
8/10
Author: Phil Katsikas from Vancouver, Canada

Every bit as funny as "This is Spinal Tap" but it's the real deal documentary and these poor guys aren't trying to be funny. Ozzy Osbourne is a gas. Every nobody interviewed was sure they'd be the next Steve Tyler. These dudes look like ladies.

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4 out of 4 people found the following review useful:
The Decline Indeed, 24 August 2006
6/10
Author: mnigara from San Francisco

These comments are appropriate as a straight reading of the film, but I don't think Spheeris meant to create a more comprehensive view of heavy metal, and I don't think she was naive about the breadth of heavy metal. I think the title says it all if read as an ironic commentary on the original "Punk Years" film. The first film is such a brilliant snapshot of a certain time, and the social problems, great music, politics, and lifestyles on display are directly and deliberately contrasted with the dummies (NOT talking about Lemmy, Mustaine, and Aero here) in the "Metal Years" film. It's as if Spheeris, after capturing such a visceral authenticity--something so intense--in the "Punk Years" film, asked What the hell happened? seven years later in the "Metal Years" film. The "Punk Years" isn't a "decline" at all, but the "Metal Years" certainly represents one in so many ways if viewed through the lens of 1981.

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4 out of 4 people found the following review useful:
Hard rock, Hollywood, the mid 1980's..., 25 October 1998
10/10
Author: Cameron Scholtz from Phoenix, AZ

During the opening credits, there is a great pan shot across a line of fans waiting for a rock show. It sets the stage, so to speak, for a very entertaining--and informative--look at the heavy metal scene in the late 1980's. The movie concentrates on Hollywood, which was aruguably the epicenter of hard rock throughout that decade.

The decadence, flamboyance and unabashed immaturity in some the movie's scenes appears cheesy and fake when compared to other music eras...particularly the proceeding grunge period in Seattle. That said, it contains fantastic interviews and footage of some of the 80's biggest rock stars--and rock locations.

Every period and genre in music should have its story documented. And this movie is like a time capsule of hard rock in the 80's.

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6 out of 8 people found the following review useful:
Excellent, 17 April 2003
9/10
Author: Wayne Malin (wwaayynnee51@hotmail.com) from United States

Great documentary of the heavy metal scene of the late 1980s. Unlike the first "Decline..." this movie concentrates more on interviews than concert footage. There are just fascinating talks with old time performers (Alice Cooper, Aerosmith, Ozzy Osbourne) and newcomers (Odin, WASP, Poison). The contrasts and their views on music, drugs and sex are very interesting and illuminating. The movie makes no judgments on the performers or their music...they leave that up to the audience. The whole feeling of the film is actually uplifting and very funny. The bands come across as very upbeat and accessible. The interviews with fans of the music are just as fun. Interesting to see Ozzy Osbourne years before that reality show he did for MTV.

The only depressing footage is an interview with Chris Holmes of WASP. He's drunk out of his mind and makes it quite clear that he hates life, is an alcoholic, had a heavily dysfunctional childhood and will be dead soon. Very scary to watch and sad.

That aside, this is a great, accurate documentary of heavy metal. A must-see.

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3 out of 4 people found the following review useful:
wow..weren't they all so freshfaced and gullible ?, 6 June 2006
8/10
Author: mrgadger from United Kingdom

nothing but fond memories of this gem. didn't it just cheer you up ? the sheer "we are gonna make it" "big hair metal is gonna live forever" and "of course we'll get a record deal"..with that much gusto behind it all..i almost believed most of them !!! great to look back at shallow bands with even shallower fans...great ideals such as "we're in it for the girls" etc...love it!! OK , i know some of the more obtuse interviewees really should have been left on the editing room floor but in retrospect if you removed some of these wizards then it wouldn't be half the film it is...it needs the looneys to maintain the levity and balance. from faster pussycat making themselves look as straight as john inman at a hitchens closing down sale to the monumental lemmy giving it the "run it up the flagpole, see who salutes it" anecdote, as a whole the film just.......works.

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6 out of 10 people found the following review useful:
YAY THE BEST ROCK & ROLL MOVIE EVER!!!!!, 15 May 2000
Author: Mykii Suicide PBF from UK

I LOVE THIS MOVIE SOOO MUCH IT HURTS

It's brilliant

the best bits are chris holmes from W.A.S.P. drinking himself to an early grave in a swimming pool while his mother watches and frowns every time he says the "F" word, Odin being laughably awful and claiming they'll be bigger than the Stones and Zeppelin ("What if you don't make it?" "Oh but we will!" "Yeah but what if you don't?" "Oh, but we will though, see!?!")

ha ha

It has interviews with Aerosmith, Poison, Lemmy, Ozzy Osbourne (before he went all new-metal and put together the Ozzfest (grrr), Faster Pussycat, Riki Rachtman, Janet Gardner (before Vixen got big) & Megadeth and Live stuff from FASTER PUSSYCAT !!!

this film is totally amazing

It's just a shame it's really hard to find in the UK!

100000000000000000000r out of 10

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