Movies that Rock

[About2Crash]

Film, like music is an artform plagued by mediocrity. For every single piece worth mentioning, there will be at least two dozen copy cats, and another hundred worth tossing in the garbage. Music brings you to places that can't be explained in words or visuals, to places unknown to the human mind. Film however has one up on music in that a film can be about anything, even about making a film. So a natural fit of course would be to blend the two together. No, I don't mean music videos. I mean movies about all things that rock. This is my personal top ten movies about all things rock and metal.

And don't worry, it doesn't include this...



10. Heavy Metal: A Headbangers Journey



Never before has there been a completely unbiased documentary about all things metal without focusing on the negatives or the positives. It simply shows what metal is and is able to go from Black Sabbath to Burzum all in the span of an hour and a half. The dvd has a special fourty minute documentary on Black Metal which makes up for the briefness in the original flick. For anyone who is a fan of heavy metal and wants a more worldly point of view.

9. Crossroads



Ok, ok. So I know that this movie is more about blues music than anything, but who cares? Awesome guitar playing, a guitar duel between Steve Vai and the karate kid, and lengthy discussions of the power of soul in blues music. Not to mention that the guitar duel is over a sold soul to the devil. If it wasn't for the blues we wouldn't have metal and even though the plot is practically The Karate Kid over again, it doesn't make it any less enjoyable. This flick rocks.

8. High Fidelity



Again, this movie has very little to do with metal or rock but more with how music fans act as a whole. I think that every one of us can relate to Jack Black in this film and can say that he encompasses the rock and metal fanbase all in one performance. Also, the fact that John Cusack's character can't stop making lists of everything brings me back to the point that we always have to compare things rather than just enjoying as much as we can. Good film for fans of music.

7. A Hard Days Night



Say what you will about The Beatles. Maybe you say that they are just the most overblown sensation in recent memory and their revolution was all hype. Maybe you believe that they single handedly created modern music over a ten year period. Either way, you can't deny their talent not only as musicians and writers, but as comic personalities. This movie plays as a great comic farce as well as a sharp satire on Beatlemania and how they seem to just coast along completely unaware of how big they really are. It's refreshing to see that even if someone is as famous as John, Paul, George, or Ringo that they can still be humble and genuinely nice. Not to mention that the music rocks too.

6. Metalocalypse



Okay okay... so this isn't a movie. But there is no denying that no one since Spinal Tap has made such a good satire of heavy metal culture without insulting it and actually knowing it's target. Add tons of cursing and violence with subtle (or not so subtle) in jokes and you have comedic metal gold. (Come on, the grocery store is called Finntrolls for Christ's sake!)

5. Anvil: The Story of Anvil



Chances are, you've heard of Anvil. Chances also are, you've never heard Anvil. Absolute legends in their own minds and in the minds of few around them, they are highly respected from everyone in the know and completely ignored by the rest. This is a heartbreaking and heartwarming story about a couple of guys that just want to be rockstars and what they are willing to do to get it. Lips may be one of the most fun people to hear talk and definitely someone that I would love to have lunch with and hear what he has to say. Never for a second do they give off a "Holier than thou" rockstar persona. In fact, they sound like us, a bunch of fans. The ending of the flick would put a smile on anyone, not just fans of heavy metal. If anything, this movie's success is probably the best thing the band could have had for at least two decades.

4. School of Rock



Jack Black here for his second time on the list, further showing us that he is Hollywood's biggest advocate for all things rock and metal. His performance as a rock and roll loser that won't give up and will do anything for the glory that is rock puts a smile on my face every time I see it. Seeing the looks on the kids faces (who play their own instruments) when they are given a Rush or a Yes album reminds me of the first time I heard such great sounds. The songs towards the end are great little rockers and prove that the power of rock and metal is only good. Also, for anyone saying that the movie has nothing to do with metal, try and find the Cannibal Corpse sticker on Dewey's window. It's there.

3. Woodstock



Three days of love and music. And so sparked a revolution. Woodstock is now seen as a time of worthless hippies and lame hippy music. But this was when music was free and powerful and everyone understood it. It could also be that everyone was just on drugs. But despite that, the film is expertly shot and will give you an appreciation for bands you never thought you'd give a care about.



2. This is Spinal Tap



Who else but Spinal Tap? Taking the piss out of rock and roll while giving just as much back this is an undeniable classic filled with more memorable gags than most director's entire filmography. Stonehenge, Hello Cleveland, drummers, puppet shows, big bottoms, sex farm, getting stuck in pods. All of it is relevant and always will be as long as people are putting on shows. An absolute classic.

1. Almost Famous



And here we are. At number one is my favorite movie about rock of all time: Almost Famous. Told from the perspective of a fifteen year old boy on the trip of a lifetime touring with a band for Rolling Stone magazine. The authenticity is practically dripping off of the screen and anyone who has any appreciation for all things rock can fall in love. This movie is about the power of music and how even when we do horrible things, we are all human. If you've ever picked up an instrument or put on a pair of headphones, you owe it to yourself to see this masterpiece.

[Missy]

Steel Dragon~!!!!

[N00bs]

Rock Star was cool. Good flick. But your list is solid never the less.

[About2Crash]

Movies that weren't included that people may ask about:

Rock Star - The Steel Dragon songs are awesome. But I have a definite feeling that the makers of the film thought that Motley Crue was as heavy as it got. Plus, the entire notion that "being in band for 6 months, getting tired of it, and then going and making grunge music" king of killed it for me. Never the less, there are some awesome bits in it so it averages out to be a pretty good movie with some really good music.

Airheads - This movie is only cared about for one quote about Lemmy.

Detroit Rock City - Granted, this is a horrible movie. Granted, the movie is also extremely funny. But not funny enough to be on the list.

Heavy Metal in Baghdad/Global Metal - Haven't seen either yet, but both seem to just be treading the ground of "A Headbanger's Journey"

That Thing You Do - This is a really funny movie, but not as good as the others.

Aqua Teen Hunger Force the Movie - The opening is about as metal as it gets, but it's not all about metal so it's not here.

Heavy Metal - While this is pretty metal, it's not actually about metal.

[Iced]

Haha I love Crossroads.
That guitar duel is epic..

[Erik]

I would never have put hard days night or Woodstock above Airheads if we are talking about metal film. Rock era and metal are different and while there is some cross over, other movies deserve those spots.

I agree with your exclusion of Rock Star...the ending basically summed up the 80s but, ignored the fact that the thrash bands of the 80s spawned the death and black metal of the late 80s early 90s.

and how Steve Vai lost to the Karate Kid...only in Hollywood.

[About2Crash]

We're not talking about metal film. Talking about rock and metal film haha.

[Sigurd]

The grocery store is actually called Fintrolls, the guys in Finntroll were flattered but thought that the typo was sort of funny since Fintroll basically means "pretty troll" haha.

Anyway, I haven't seen half of those movies, perhaps I should.

[Iced]

They've also had Burzums and Dimmu Burger restaurants, St. Necrophagist Hospital, a Gorgoroth store, Carpathian Forest High School, Mr. Gojira's Driving School, etc.

[N00bs]

I would of probably added "Trick or Treat" in my top 10. Cheesy horror flick but the music is excellent.

[Amok]

Cool Top Ten article. I'm the only feller I know who didn't like School of Rock. I'd be like Jack Black in High Fidelity if I worked in a Metal store.

[Sigurd]

I didn't like School of Rock haha.

[Wigg]

Crash, have you seen The Boat That Rocked? It's pretty good and has a great 60s soundtrack.

[locusmortis]

woah!....where's cannibal holocaust ....

[About2Crash]

Doesn't have anything to do with rock music haha.

[N00bs]

I didnt care for school of rock either.

[Blaise]

What the hizzy School of Rock is awesome. I learned the "power stance" from that movie. How could you not appreciate this



I would also like to add the movie "Help!" by the Beatles. I love that movie. I think it has a funnier story than "A Hard Days Night" too.

I just rememberd Tenascious D and the Pick of Destiny....This is one of my favorite scenes (minus the F bombs).

[About2Crash]

Tenacious D was up there on the list, but I think that we had enough Jack Black and High Fidelity and School are better IMO.

[locusmortis]

Originally Posted by About2Crash

Doesn't have anything to do with rock music haha.

you put some blast beats to the gore parts and you got yourself a death metal song haha

[herrieman]

A spotless article again, fun to read, good to fill my own lists hereafter.
Crossroads is a great movie, I have been searching for it for a long time. Vai played both guitar duellists of course. I don't think Karate Kid could do it.
High Fidelity is a very funny (in several ways) movie, very recognizable.
Anvil - must see - will see - probably buy.
School of Rock A+
The Woodstock movie, seeing all these (young versions of) artists, especially Joe Cocker, warms me every time it's on TV (mostly... nowadays). The movie builds up the climax to Jimi Hendrix, but bands like The Doors (did not come, if I remember correctly) and CCR (did not give permission to use visuals) should have been on it too.
Detroit Rock City .. I watched it last week for, I think, the 25th time. Awesome.

Honorable mention: Blues Brothers. If you show Crossroads you might as well list this one.

Great, Crash!!! Thanks.