This Is Spinal Tap - had me in stitches!

[Raphph]

This Is Spinal Tap -

The film was hilarious, and so were the extras.

I've reviewed it for DVD Times, check out the link in my sig. What do you guys think?

[mjb1975]

hmm - I'd never seen it before and I heard so much about it so I checked it out. I was slightly disappointed to be honest. It was amusing and I am certainly glad I can now say that I've seen it, but I was expecting it to be a bit funnier. I did like Christopher Guest's character/scenes the most (esp. the bit at the end with his skeleton T-shirt!) and I must admit their accents were nigh on perfect. Just not enough laughs for me.......sorry!

Maybe I should just give it another go.....

[Arch Stanton]

It's a film that improves with every watch.

It's Mr Stanton's top comedy choice.

[Ben H]

Am I the only person in the world to find Spinal Tap generally grossly overrated? I only laughed at about three scenes!

[tj_director]

what do you reckon?? -- does it help to have a love/knowledge for Rock N Roll and the lifestyle in general??

It's one of my favourite movies, and has me smiling to whole way through. + The DVD has some of the best extra features, which have the rare quality of making you want to watch them again. :D

But some friends who don't have that love/knowledge as mentioned before -- don't find it as amusing as i do :(

[tj_director]

Originally posted by Arch Stanton
It's a film that improves with every watch.


so very true -- i've had it in 3 versions -- VHS, DVD Criterion, and finally the R2 MGM, and i've never tired of it!! :nuts:

[Arch Stanton]

Beat you there. If had the VHS, Criterion R0, BMG R2 and now the MGM R2.


It's expensive being a Tap fan.

[charlie angel]

Sheer brilliance. The attention to detail is what makes it funny - for example - the 'cold sores' that Nigel & David have on their lips - not really a spoiler but you never know

If I ever get pressured into naming a top film of all time, it's always Spinal Tap.

"We've got armadillos in our trousers..."

[jerryg]

I'm with the Tap fans. You can't beat the "it goes up to eleven" bit.

And if you liked Spinal Tap, you might like CB4 (Cell Block 4). It's basically a complete rip-off (albeit a good one) which follows the rise and fall of a hip-hop band. Although not quite in the same class, it's still a good watch.

[urruri]

very funny film IMO

[Boink!]

I love it to bits!:D

Boink!:cool:

still can't spell for toffee, tho'

[Narshty]

Agreed.

I first saw it in early 1999, when I got the Criterion DVD for my birthday [natch]. Made me shriek with laughter then and today!

Your review has convinced me to go and get the MGM version and all those lovely extras (if only so I can watch the film without wearing out the disc!)

[JamesW]

I love Spinal Tap as well, but I find it odd that some people compared this to Almost Famous. Apart from them being about bands they're completely different! :confused:

[Dan Druff]

First viewing I thought 'Ah its OK'. Now, years later, and it must be one of the funniest films of all time, the Stonehenge sequence one of the funniest sequences in the history of movies. :)

[cervaro]

I've never seen this movie and have ordered the R4 2-disc edition from Dvdstop for around £10 + shipping. :D

[Drpepper]

Seen it so many times it still makes me laugh:D

Nigel is playing a soft piece on the piano
Marty DiBergi: It's very pretty.
Nigel Tufnel: You know, just simple lines intertwining, you know, very much like - I'm really influenced by Mozart and Bach, and it's sort of in between those, really. It's like a Mach piece, really. It's sort of -
Marty DiBergi: What do you call this?
Nigel Tufnel: Well, this piece is called "Lick My Love Pump."

[Dan Druff]

Stonehenge, where the demons dwell
Where the banshees live and they do live well
Stonehenge
Where a man is a man and the children dance to
the pipes of pan
Stonehenge
Tis a magic place where the moon doth rise
With a dragon's face
Stonehenge
Where the virgins lie
And the prayer of devils fill the midnight sky

And you my love, won't you take my hand
We'll go back in time to that mystic land
Where the dew drops cry and the cats meow
I will take you there
I will show you how

Classic! :D

[rst]

Originally posted by jerryg
I'm with the Tap fans. You can't beat the "it goes up to eleven" bit.

And if you liked Spinal Tap, you might like CB4 (Cell Block 4). It's basically a complete rip-off (albeit a good one) which follows the rise and fall of a hip-hop band. Although not quite in the same class, it's still a good watch.

Now CB4 is damm funny..:D

[orac]

Its so funny.

Its not to everyones taste, a friend borrowed it and laughed about 3 times and said it was rubbish.

Its a superb film on a superb dvd - the 65 mins of deleted footage is like having another film (almost).

I am not sure if the return of spinal tap dvd is any good, any comments?

Also what about other Christopher Guest films -

Best in Show (2000)
Waiting for Guffman (1996)

The Big Picture (1989) was quite good.

Anyone?

[tj_director]

Best In Show is a good film -- but much like Spinal Tap, the off-the-cuff dialogue may catch you out the first time you watch it, but the film certainly grows on you with repeated viewings for sure.

The style is v.similar to tap, and as a result i can see how many people may hate it, but i think it's definately worth a watch for Tap fans!! :)

I'm waiting for Guffman.. literally :rolleyes:

[Just Call Me Wanda]

I love the movie, but I think the commentary is even funnier! :)

[Jimmyboy]

I love Spinal Tap.
Wasnt there a sequel ?.

[Arch Stanton]

Originally posted by Jimmyboy
I love Spinal Tap.
Wasnt there a sequel ?.


No, but there is a concert video. Unfortunatly it's not up to much.

[bobwindy]

Originally posted by Jimmyboy

Wasnt there a sequel ?.

The return of spinal tap...it came out on a very crap R0 dvd over here in about september....it was nowhere near up to the standard of the original....not a totally weak film though

[Woz]

I thought it was just OK, some funny lines, but I guess I saw it after I had heard too much about it.

In my opinion Rob Reiner has done at least two superior films (When Harry Met Sally, and The Princess Bride - but maybe I'm just a big soppy kid :D ).

[mr_woo]

watched this on VHS ( :eek: ) for the first time a few weeks ago and must say that i really didnt laugh that much through it.

There were a couple of hilarious moments but overall i thought the film was very over-rated.

Then again i could have been in the wrong mood and as people have said it improves with every viewing so i'll maybe give it another go on dvd


Plus 65mins of deleted scenes!!!

Bloomin eck!

[Idle Child]

Originally posted by Warren Alexander

In my opinion Rob Reiner has done at least two superior films (When Harry Met Sally, and The Princess Bride - but maybe I'm just a big soppy kid :D ).

gotta disagree and say his best are Spinal Tap and Stand By Me.

great thing i love about Tap is the sublety and characterisations of the brit rockers. It's spot on. it's the way these guys seemingly appear normal, but they're really bumbling boufoons in their own stratosphere of rock and roll glamour. an awesome spoof.

everyline has a joke. it's a fine wine, gets better and better with repeat viewing.

PS. Dan Druff, i prefer the songs "gimme some money" (perfeclty apt for these forums) and "big bottom" ;) :D :nuts:

[Jimmyboy]

I think you have to be a serious rock fan in your youth to fully understand just why Spinal Tap is so damn funny.
The band themselves are so typical of what a rock band was like during the 80's rock/metal period, although its still relelvant to every rock band from any generation.
Many of the jokes are subtle and you would probably only pick up on them if you were the sort of person who wasted your teenage years in guitar shops looking at instruments you could never even come close to affording.
and I'd still my neck out and say Spinal Tap has been partly responcible for such recent hit comedy shows like "The Office".
The scene where the interviewer is told not to touch, then point, then even look at the guitars cracks me up everytime.

[SqueakyG]

I'm one of the people who watched it the first time and thought, "Bleh, it's not bad, but nothing special". But then subsequent viewings make it funnier and funnier. Now I think it's a great film!

You have to remember that in its time, it was very cutting parody. But then the big-hair rock/metal of the 80's became just as ridiculous as what Spinal Tap ridiculed... so that today, Spinal Tap looks almost as much like a real documentary as a SPOOF documentary.

[danrees]

Originally posted by Jimmyboy
and I'd still my neck out and say Spinal Tap has been partly responcible for such recent hit comedy shows like "The Office".

It's interesting that you say that, as I'd probably agree with you there. I guess if you like Tap, you like the Office, and I'd also say Louis Theroux (who I absolutely love)...

[urruri]

One of the best comedies of recent years.I love it.

[Jimmyboy]

I watched this again the other night along with the 1 hour plus of extra material (which is almost a film in itself), its one of the funniest films ever made. Infact, wasnt it labelled "funniest film ever made" by a number of critics which it still holds today ?.


Q: What happened to your last drummer ?.

A: He died choking on vomit.
Nobody knows whos vomit it was though,
Its not like you can dust for vomit !.
:D

[Kidz]

I remember flicking channels as a kid and catching Spinal Tap half way though. It was 20 minutes before I realized it was a spoof, which I guess is part of its beauty.

Incidentally, I recently watched it with a mate after telling him how funny it was and he never laughed once! Guess it definitely lists as an acquired taste.

[kanedaa]

I tried to watch Spinal Tap about 9months ago and managed about 40mins before switching off cos I thought it was utter ****.

After recent talk I decided I ought to give it another go and watched it just the other day. My thoughts this time round are that it is a good film, it managed to keep a constant smile on my face but only really raised proper laughs maybe 7/8 times which for a film with this level of praise was slightly disappointing.

Funniest moments was anything to do with their previous drummers, the 'padding' of their trousers including the airport scene, and the Cocoon not opening on stage for the bearded bloke.

dave.

[Jimmyboy]

Dave, the jokes are endless & non-stop.
Even the subtle jokes were funny.
Pop, Look & Listen

:D

[lesliedocherty]

Agree,

spinal tap, gets better with every watch,

CB4 was good aswell, not so good on the reqeat viewings though

leslie