Hans Zimmer & Friends: Diamond in the Desert

I have to admit this wasn't exactly as I thought it would be. I once saw John Williams in concert at the Chicago Symphony and it was AMAZING. He played so many of his iconic pieces of music and in the background scenes from those movies were projected. I thought this recorded concert event would be something like that. While Hans Zimmer & Friends: Diamond in the Desert didn't project scenes from the movies in the background, you were still transported to how you felt when you watched the movies as each piece of music played. I'm not sure if he played one piece of music from each movie or if it was a compilation of pieces from each movie, but all of it was wonderful. The musicians were very good. Many of them had a bit of a staring role with each song. They really played into the drama with their outfits/costumes, make-up and movements/facial expressions. It's like some of the musicians were playing characters. The interviews were interesting. They focused on the music and the process by which it was created and/or the inspiration behind it. The interview with Zendaya was particularly moving and added another layer of context to the Lion King movie. Since this was a concert I thought the show would be contained there. However, they expanded the story to other locations for the film, and they tied it back to the concert in an interesting way. The opening scene was mesmerizing. I bet it would be a fun concert to see in person as the room would feel electric with the beating of the drums, the lightshow, and the passion with which the musicians played.

Now for a little bitter to go along with the sweet. The camera work was annoying. If you didn't mind watching the Blair Witch Project, you'll probably be ok with this. At times the camera work was almost nauseating. Camera going in circles around people until the viewer felt like they were spinning too. Fast edits from one thing to another, jumping in and out, left, right and all over. I had to really concentrate on the music because for me it was distracting. Maybe other people weren't bothered by it.

Having said that though, I'm still glad I saw this concert film and I would recommend it to anyone who appreciates the role music plays in a movie and celebrating a truly talented composer. At the end I felt like going home and rewatching the movies.

This documentary- which, I may add, is more of a concert film- showcases the most well-known works of the great Hans Zimmer. If you loved his scores in movies there is no way you won't love this production.

The concert visuals and cinematography are stunning, making it very entertaining to watch. Between performances, there are brief conversations with famous actors, directors, and musicians, where Zimmer shares his insights on various topics with his "friends."

The concert itself is impeccable, truly a masterpiece. The scores are powerful, and personally, I felt chills more than once.

On the downside, though subtle but noticeable, I found that at times what you see doesn't always match what you hear. Occasionally, the instrument highlighted on screen isn't the one most prominent in the audio.

As someone who has always been a big fan of Hans Zimmer, I absolutely loved this. I was a bit skeptical of the 2 hour and 38 minute runtime but within the first five minutes I was completley hooked. If anything I wanted more by the end of the film which was so engrossing that it felt no longer than an hour and ten minutes.

I never got a chance to see Hans Zimmer live, but this film definitely allows you to get a sense of what his concerts are like. The cinematography was great and the sound design/editing was also perfect.

Another thing I really loved was how they went about incorporating some of the actors and directors who have worked with Hans into small interview segments. It could've taken away from the incredible concert footage but it never did because the discussions were very interesting and informative.

There were many moments throughout the film where I could feel myself becoming emotional just due to the nostalgia of hearing the music I grew up on. Overall I would say if you are a diehard fan of Hans Zimmer like I am, you should definitely check this out.

Hans Zimmer & Friends: Diamonds in the Desert" is a combination of a concert report from Dubai in 2024, with short interviews with people who have influenced the work of this outstanding film music composer. Among the guests are Christopher Nolan, Dennis Villeneuve, and Jerry Bruckheimer, figures without whom Zimmer could not fully express his talent. The documentary lasts 2.5 hours, which is a very "epic" length, though it seems it could have been a bit shorter. Considering that the interviews add little to the overall theme (those who follow Zimmer's work will not be surprised), are brief, and visually look like phone recordings in a café, I would have preferred the director to focus 100% on the concert, which is interspersed with a few outdoor recordings for the title's needs. Here, the production shines, offering great editing, dynamics, and sound. I really enjoyed the performances of themes from Man of Steel, The Lion King, Gladiator, and The Dark Knight, which had a huge amount of "power." In summary, if you know Hans' music and the films it appeared in, I can't help but recommend it. It's a very nice thing, though not perfect.

We were lucky to have been able to watch this from the comfort of the Everyman Theatre in Wokingham. The music and photography simply mind blowing. The interviews (in black and white) are, in part, interesting. The musicians are incredibly talented. The "choreography" totally fitted the music. The sets outside of the concert hall (including the goat) worked well enhancing the musical experience. The concert hall footage shows the togetherness of the band. Humour with and appreciation of each other's talents throughout. Getting technical, the editing was superb, the sound quality absolutely excellent.