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Anvil: The Story of Anvil |  | Director: Sacha Gervasi
Actors: Robb Reiner, Steve 'Lips' Kudlow, Tiziana Arrigoni, Kevin Goocher, Glenn Gyorffy
Studio: VH1 Films
Category: DVD
List Price: $24.98
Buy Used: $3.21
as of 9/10/2010 01:44 CDT details
You Save: $21.77 (87%)
New (36) Used (36) from $3.21
Seller: moviesandgamestore
Rating:  71 reviews
Sales Rank: 9934
Format: Color, Dolby, DVD, Widescreen, Closed-captioned, NTSC
Languages: French Canadian (Subtitled), English (Original Language)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Region: 1
Discs: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Running Time: 80 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 7.4 x 5.3 x 0.6
MPN: 894316800122
UPC: 894316800122
EAN: 0894316800122
ASIN: B002DLB1IO
Theatrical Release Date: 2008
Release Date: October 6, 2009
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Amazon.com
Is Anvil the real Spinal Tap? That's a label that could be applied to any number of hapless hard rock bands, but there's enough evidence in Anvil: The Story of Anvil to suggest that these guys may have, uh, tapped into the motherlode. The parallels are many, including getting lost on the way to a gig, playing before 174 people in a 10,000 capacity venue (in Transylvania, yet), inept management, ridiculous songs (even Nigel Tufnel and David St. Hubbins couldn't match "Thumb Hang," an Anvil tune about the Spanish Inquisition)… heck, they even visit (the real) Stonehenge. But dig deeper and you'll find some real heart in this 2007 documentary. Two hearts, actually--the ones belonging to singer-guitarist Steve "Lips" Kudlow and drummer Robb Reiner (remove one "b" and you've got the director of This Is Spinal Tap). These two were there when the Canadian metal band formed in the early '80s and went on to share festival stages with the likes of Bon Jovi and Whitesnake. Now, a quarter century later (a new bassist and guitarist joined in the '90s), Reiner and Kudlow are in their fifties, living in Toronto with wives, kids, and menial jobs. But they still haven't given up their undying belief that with a new album (their thirteenth) and couple of breaks, they will be rock stars. It doesn't happen on a mostly disastrous European tour organized by a well-meaning but inexperienced fan. It doesn't happen when they reunite with British producer Chris Tsangarides (Black Sabbath, Thin Lizzy) but find little interest in the new recording. But Kudlow, despite some bleak moments, is remarkably resilient (of the tour, he says, "Things went drastically wrong. But at least there was a tour for them to go wrong on"). And while it's a sad truth that Anvil just isn't that good--they're nowhere near the level of some of the bands they inspired, like Anthrax and Metallica--only the hardest of heart will resist rooting for them. Bonus material includes deleted scenes and commentary by director (and former roadie) Sacha Gervasi. --Sam Graham
Product Description
AT 14, THEY MADE A PACT TO ROCK TOGETHER FOREVER. THEY MEANT IT.
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 71
 Enjoyable September 9, 2010
Leslie A Munday (Bellevue, WA United States)
Despite being a sort of poorer version of Spinal Tap (which I would rate at 4*s), this d(m)ocumentary held my interest for 80 minutes.
It's difficult to tell how much was real, and what was put on for the camera. Having seen Anvil play Reading in 1981(or was that 2?), I know something of their background (from Toronto), play crappy heavy metal (oops, did I say that out loud).
Then saw them last weekend and they haven't changed a bit (well maybe the bassist has). Music still as bad.
This was a band destined to go nowhere .. and they would have succeeded, but for this film.
If you liked Spinal Tap, you won't be bored by this, only this band is for real (for the most part).
A bit hyped - Spinal Tap it's not. August 4, 2010
C. Rocklein
The movie is kind of a curiosity giving us these guys whose persistence is hard not to admire especially if you've ever liked metal or played in a band. We learn a bit about the business along the way. Substantially speaking though it's hard to give the movie much more than 3 stars. From the reviews and write-ups I was expecting a bit more. "The greatest movie about rock n roll ever made" touts the cover - I don't think so. As a documentary it had some interesting moments but was long even at 80 minutes. It bordered on the over-sentimental - "reality TV" style.
While it may be worth a watch, you might want to rent before handing over the cash. And speaking of cash, if this movie doesn't boost their album sales, nothing will. I'm sure it has already though. Anvil it seems put themselves back on the map with this movie, and for all the lack of competent managers producers and marketers that they blame their failure on, whoever produced this movie did a pretty slick job on the marketing.
 Heartbreaking but ultimately inspirational... July 23, 2010
NEOPROG RAN (EL PASO TX)
Lips... I know how you feel. I've been in the same band since 1980 and things have not always gone as I hoped. I've had an Amp short out while playing a talent show and endless personnel changes- people quitting left and right and endless setbacks. Many times I have felt like throwing in the towel but I've soldiered on through the years. This movie is a classic for all those musicians out there that have never given up and continue to this day for the music- it's all about the music. Long live the spirit of Anvil. It's a good thing a disgruntled member joined in 1988 or I wouldn't be talking about this band anymore. He has helped to continue our band and hopefully they will film our story and we will get some recognition. The bottom line is that musicians love music but they also love to be recognized for their artisic creations.
Anvil Goes to Eleven July 12, 2010
Glenn Gallagher (Sacramento, CA)
To watch "Anvil: The Story of Anvil" is to be reminded that your faith in human nature is not misguided; that hope springs eternal, that it is never too late in your life to strive for greatness. The movie just might reaffirm your faith in humanity. Here's four guys that just will not give up; at least for the two original members of the band who have kept Anvil going for more than 30 years.
Are they a real-life Spinal Tap? Yes. However, they are also real people with real dreams, desires, hopes, and fears. These guys inspired me because they did not give up, even when trapped in the European tour straight out of Dante's Inferno, with each date becoming increasingly surreal and pathetic. Even the ending of the movie is so Spinal Tap-like, it's a case of life imitating art, when, at the end of their rope, they are asked to play a gig in Japan that revitalizes their career (just like the end of Spinal Tap). Quite surreal. I hope these guys get the success they deserve.
One of the bonus features on the DVD is an interesting, if not long-winded interview with Lars Ulrich of Metallica. Man, that guy could talk the ears off of a donkey. He gives some good props to Robb Reiner, the drummer of Anvil. Although you can tell Lars is a little self-centered, he seems generous with his praise, and doesn't quite live up to his mean reputation.
Another bonus feature is "a day in the life" of Lips, the lead singer and guitarist of Anvil, as we follow him around in his job at a food-preparation warehouse (it's clear that this is a low-paying, strenuous job). Kind of sad in a way, but Lips seems to accept his lot in life with almost zen-like serenity. Everybody should be as positive as Lips, the world would be a much better place.
 A man is not old until regrets take the place of dreams. - John Barrymore July 11, 2010
stoic (Mobile AL)
In the 1980s, heavy metal was the rage in popular music. Anvil was a Canadian band that included Steve "Lips" Kudlow and Robb Reiner. Unfortunately, Anvil never quite made it. About twenty years after heavy metal died, filmmakers caught up with Kudlow and Reiner. The result is the charming documentary Anvil: The Story of Anvil.
By the 2000s, Anvil was releasing music on obscure record labels and touring small bars. The documentary includes memorable footage from a disastrous European tour. The tour was organized by a fan and the band was left with no transportation, few fans at their gigs, and - often - no pay.
But the Anvil documentary is not just another "Spinal Tap" in which viewers jeer at a bunch of losers. Viewers cheer for these guys. Why?
Anvil is a story of friendship. Viewers like Lips and Reiner because they come across as down-to-earth guys who love to play heavy metal. Both men come from Jewish immigrant families. Reiner's family supported his involvement in music; Lips' did not. Their friendship is closer than the relationship that either enjoys with his wife.
Also, this is a movie about dreamers and the importance of dreams in our lives. In their early-fifties, Kudlow and Reiner work menial jobs to support themselves but they will not surrender their dreams. Viewers will consider how far they'd go to keep a dream alive.
Anvil is a great film - watch it.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 71
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