Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		2.0
Overall		4.0

It Might Get Loud Blu-ray Movie Review

Blu-ray brings this wonderful Documentary to vivid sonic life.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman December 22, 2009

The biggest thrill is creating something that has the power to really connect with people. That's why I took up the guitar in the first place.

Three of Rock's greatest legends -- and the instrument that defines their careers -- are the subjects of It Might Get Loud, Director Davis Guggenheim's (An Inconvenient Truth) 2008 Documentary that injects a lifeblood into and discovers the pulse of Rock's most recognizable instrument. Though the electric guitar is at the center of It Might Get Loud, the film weaves a human journey into the tale and, ultimately, its the three personalities that prove the guitar's worth not as a static, heartless instrument but instead an extension of their creativity, wants, desires, and, indeed, their very souls. Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page, The White Stripes' Jack White, and U2's The Edge (David Evans) lead the discussion of how the instrument shaped their lives and careers, but with a surprisingly candid and strongly engaging examination of their individuality and personal histories while at the same time demonstrating the power of music and their appreciation for not only the instrument but one another and the art form that has richly blessed their lives and, certainly, the music they've in turn and in conjunction with the fabled instrument given to music lovers around the world.

Three legends, one film.

Legendary guitarists Jimmy Page, Jack White, and The Edge take viewers on a journey of discovery of both the grace and iconic stature of the electric guitar and how the instrument shaped their lives, defined their careers, and stirred their souls. The musicians cover a wide range of topics as they pertain to the instrument itself -- its elegance, the energy of its output, various enhancements, and external sound effects -- and how it became a vital part of each man's life both personally and professionally. Additionally, It Might Get Loud chronicles the early years and musical inspirations of each subject. Whether Jack White's upbringing in Detroit, Michigan; The Edge's early days as a musician in Dublin, Ireland; or Jimmy Page's musical growth in London, England; It Might Get Loud takes viewers on a fascinating journey that gives depth to the music and shape to the men's very essences, the film tracing their musical roots but also chronicling the electric guitar's impact on their lives as they converge for an afternoon of music history.

A film not only for Rock enthusiasts, guitarists, or fans of the musical legends appearing therein, It Might Get Loud is artistically strong and substantially deep enough for general audiences that appreciate first-class filmmaking, stirring documentary, musical art forms, and human drama. Indeed, It Might Get Loud is a journey not through only shaped wood and six strings but through the human condition and how a passion for something -- in this case music -- can have such a profound effect on the lives of three very different people, whether growing up in Dublin, London, or Detroit or playing various types of music. Each man's common thread lies in the guitar and its ability to not simply reproduce notes-as-vibrations but accentuate their very essences, to musically define themselves through not only their own tunes but also through those that came before and influenced their careers, abilities, and personalities. It Might Get Loud is a film that takes an otherwise lifeless object and through it explores three men's and, by extension, mankind's feelings, struggles, individualities, passions, zest for life, and art. The film is basic in structure but substantial in purpose, engaging not only for its subjects and history but also for the extension by which a man's life can be defined by his understanding of, appreciation for, and diligence to an art form that transforms lives and defines generations.

Aside from its thematic content, It Might Get Loud is a well-made Documentary that effortlessly accomplishes what it sets out to do. Though its participants aren't particularly verbose, they're engaging and contemplative, showing a depth that goes well beyond their stage presence and into a more personal and human side that's not generally associated with Rock legends. Davis Guggenheim's film is crafted with the usual array of interview and interpersonal footage between the stars but also archival clips of their younger days and various influential bands alongside a collection of handsome still photographs. Despite the rather standard tone and presentation of the material, the electrifying history of the guitar and the enthralling personal stories of the Rock stars transcend the style and supersedes the monotony of the Documentary approach. Additionally, there's no third-person voiceover here; the story of It Might Get Loud is told primarily through the words of Page, White, and Evans, lending to the film the personal touch that brings the story of the guitar and the men that made the instrument a legend come to vivid visual, aural, and emotional life. If nothing else, It Might Get Loud will leave viewers in awe of the mens' mastery of their craft and engender a desire not necessarily to follow in their footsteps but certainly to make things loud and strum out a few notes of their own.

It Might Get Loud Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

This Blu-ray release of It Might Get Loud delivers a satisfying 1080p, 1.78:1-framed transfer that's not necessarily the cleanest, smoothest, or most intricately detailed Blu-ray to date, but it shines within the context of its varied looks. The film's segments featuring Page, White, and Evans together are the most strongly realized; detail is sharp, the image is clean, and colors natural in tone. Much of the film, however, has something of a gritty, grainy appearance. Here, textures are a bit rough, fine detail isn't meticulously rendered, and colors can appears slightly muddy. Grain is rather heavy in these scenes, and the occasional white speckle appears over the image. However, one of the film's true treasures comes from various guitar close-ups; there's nothing quite like a well-worn instrument, it being something akin to a broken-in baseball glove. Scratches and dents give it character and show plenty of wear-and-tear that's a sign of both heavy usage and plenty of love, whether a classic Gibson or Jack White's red plastic Montgomery Ward special that served him through 10 years with The White Stripes. While not The International, It Might Get Loud generally looks rather good within the confines of its intended visual tone. Additionally, the film intermixes plenty of archival and in some cases decades-old standard definition material that's not at all visually appealing; scan lines, jagged edges, over-saturated colors, minimal definition and clarity, haloing, and banding are all present. Nevertheless, though the archival footage looks terrible, it's unfair to knock this disc's visual score when there's no improving on the as-is quality of some of the scenes, and they do add plenty of value to the film, just not from a purely visual perspective. All told, It Might Get Loud offers a strong 1080p image that's reflective of the unique visual tone and the compilation of various source materials of varying qualities.

It Might Get Loud Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

It Might Get Loud bursts onto Blu-ray with a stellar DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless soundtrack. A rich and invigorating presentation, the track shines with every strum of the guitar, and while there's not much else here of note, this DTS offering excels where it needs to, and the result is a grade-A listen that ranks with the best of the best of concert Blu-ray discs for its precision and clarity. Guitar riffs, as expected, are exceptionally rich and lifelike, room filling and soul-soothing, whether lighter, less-intense melodies or harder rock numbers. Every note springs to lavish life, and the film's concert scenes in particular represent some of the finest and most naturally immersive listens available. A brief rendition of a part of U2's Where the Streets Have No Name makes for perhaps the film's single finest listen. The music pours into the soundstage with startling clarity and strength, completely engulfing the listener into the concert and delivering a superb, crisp, and heart-stopping presentation that's practically as good as the real thing. The track also delivers a well-balanced yet suitably hefty low end that's tight and precise, not overbearing and loud for the sake of sheer power. Additionally, several outdoor scenes offer slight but palpable atmospherics, and dialogue reproduction is steady and true. It Might Get Loud will thrill both audiophiles and fans of the music and the musicians contained therein with yet another top-flight lossless soundtrack from Sony.

It Might Get Loud Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

It Might Get Loud blares out a few extras of note, the collection headlined by a commentary track with Director David Guggenheim, Producer Lesley Chilcott, and Producer Thomas Tull. The track is laid back and easy, the trio sharing a well-spoken and informative mixture of filmmaking tidbits, stories from the production, and information revolving around the film's star guitarists. The track is a solid compliment to the film that fans will enjoy. Next is Toronto Film Festival Press Conference (1080i, 38:26), a question-and-answer piece featuring Director Davis Guggenheim, Producers Thomas Chull and Lesley Chilcott, and musicians Jack White, The Edge, and Jimmy Page. Sony's MovieIQ feature contains the Loud playlist that allows users to collect a playlist of favorite songs as heard throughout the film. The disc will e-mail a link to a personalized web page that's updated with every song chosen by the user throughout the movie. Also included is a collection of 11 deleted scenes (1080p, 26:06); BD-Live functionality; the It Might Get Loud theatrical trailer (1080p, 2:26); and additional 1080p trailers for Soul Power, An Education, Persepolis, Every Little Step, By the People: The Election of Barack Obama, and Michael Jackson's This is It.

It Might Get Loud Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

An engaging, purposeful, and superbly-crafted Documentary, It Might Get Loud is the sum of both guitar and man, the film showcasing not only a trio of Rock legends' mastery of the instrument and constant desire to improve upon its distinctive flavor, but also how the instrument shaped their personal lives both on the stage and within their souls. Subjects Jimmy Page, Jack White, and David Evans are all equally fascinating as the film pieces together their personal journeys that placed them on the path to musical stardom and the bond they share not only through music and instrument but at a deeper level that's been developed by years of appreciating the musical arts and its impact on every aspect of their lives, both external and internal. A solid Documentary in every regard, all audiences -- fans of the music legends depicted therein or not -- will find something to treasure in It Might Get Loud. As expected, Sony's Blu-ray release is a first-class effort. Boasting a strong 1080p picture quality within the confines if the film's intended look, a soul-stirring lossless soundtrack, and a couple of worthwhile extras, It Might Get Loud deserves a home in every serious Blu-ray collection. Highly recommended.