ScoobyMint
Disappointment for a huge fan!
Freaktana
A Major Disappointment
Grimossfer
Clever and entertaining enough to recommend even to members of the 1%
Staci Frederick
Blistering performances.
James McGovern
I was absolutely in full frontal excitement when I bought this, I really couldn't wait to watch my heroes live for the first time. I was way too young to have seen Led Zeppelin in person(at least in their heyday) so I couldn't wait. And I'm not gonna' lie I was extremely disappointed by it. But after settling down I realised it's not that bad. It would be ridiculous to assume that Led Zeppelin would be able to replicate the structural perfection of the studio on a stage, and why would they want to. The spontaneity of the performance is captured, not amazingly but at least to the point that one song will suddenly drift into another or a guitar solo will be a completely 'on the spot' concoction. Sure the fantasy sections are pieces of pure over-the-top self appraisals. Robert Plants section is especially vain. Overall though there is enough quality musicianship to buy this. Great song performances include a touching 'Rain Song', an absolutely astounding 'Since I've Been Loving You'(in which Plants voice resembles a Luciferian angel's), and a powerful heart grabbing 'Black Dog'. Worth a watch.
didi-5
This film is rather an odd mix of sizzling live performances from Led Zeppelin, a sort of story line with guns and cars, and some avant-garde shots of nothing in particular. And it is a very long film indeed.If it only included the live footage alone, 'The Song Remains The Same' would be very special, as it showcases the classic line-up at the top of their game. It's a delight to watch Robert Plant sing his heart out, and Jimmy Page deliver one breathless solo after another. And in true concert video style, you get to see a lot of sweaty close-ups which take you right into the action.The other stuff I can give or take, really, and I'm not sure whether I like or hate it. It does slow the film down (as does the occasional arty shot during the live show - as in Stairway to Heaven). However, there is enough here to please any fan, devout or casual, and as such, this is one of the best rock band films ever made.
bob the moo
I'm not a massive fan of Led Zeppelin but I think that this is at least partly due to me missing them totally from my musical education. I got some albums recently to try and rectify this and was surprised by how many of the songs I already knew without knowing it was them. Following on from that I watched this film which manages to flick from being good to being ridiculous on almost a scene by scene basis. Now, I'm not totally sure of the history here but I am led to understand that the film came at a time when the band was under great strain and not at their best. For me this didn't show too much in the concert footage, which I found to be enjoyable as a live performance but also technically well captured and recorded. Those who have seen them elsewhere may disagree but I have nothing else to work with here.However the remainder of the film is mostly poor. Between (and under) the live performances are bit of other material, almost none of which works. The stuff that had potential is the behind the scenes stuff and I did want more of that, with perhaps a bit of structure and meaning to it sadly I got none of this. Even still though, these bits are brilliant compared to the pretentious nonsense that the band came up with for the rest of the film. Absurd home movies and fantasy sequences are played out that are laughable in the extreme. I really do want to believe that the band had given up trying to prevent the film coming out so instead decided to take the p1ss, although at the same time that speaks badly of their respect for fans so I'm not sure if bad taste or bad attitude is preferable. These scenes extend the film beyond what it can bear and I was glad when it finally ended.No doubt about it that the music is good but with so much rubbish thrown in on top of it I'm just not sure if the film is worth the work involved to see the recorded performances. One for the hardcore fans much more than the casual viewer.
jimmygeekrock
What can you say about this flick? Zeppelin are the undisputed kings of hard rock and heavy metal (despite what Black Sabbath fans might claim). They make it all look effortless.SONG captures them in all their hedonistic glory, swaggering their way through their greatest hits. In seventies tradition, everyone receives a ridiculously long solo...and these can be painful to sit through. Do we really need a 15 minute drum solo, for instance? Granted, John Bonham may be rock's greatest drummer (all apologies to Keith Moon) but enough is enough.There are also the dream sequences to deal with. While I'd like to think they were committed to celluloid on a lark, their presence gives the production a ridiculous overtone. These might have been cool in the seventies, before the days of music video, but they just look dated and nonsensical today.Forget these minor quibbles, however, and enjoy the concert footage. This is grand stuff, the type you don't see anymore. These guys were the real deal!