A scene from Metallica: Through the Never.
If this review had to be in pantomime, it would be me head-banging and busting out some gnarly air guitar for an hour straight – and loving every minute of it.
That's how much fun this concert film is.
But be warned: If you've never rocked-out to a Metallica song, or don't even know what throwing the horns is, this movie is not for you.
Shot in 3-D and in Imax, Through the Never is a full-on spectacle for fans. Unlike Some Kind of Monster, the 2004 documentary that nearly destroyed their street cred by baring the band's turmoil and insecurities, this time around the group cranks the volume to 11 and asks that you not think too much.
Director Nimrod Antal (Predators) makes the camera swoop and swirl around the band to capture the energy of the concert experience.
Stitched together from five shows on Metallica's 2012 tour, it also features a fictional story starring Dane DeHaan, who plays a roadie sent to pick up some precious cargo in a city where rockers are clashing with cops. It keeps the pacing of the film chugging along so you never get bored, though it proves to be pretty meaningless. Still, who needs meaning when you're just here to rock?
Dave McGinn