Saturday, July 11, 2009

Anvil: The Story of Anvil

Hi kids! So I'm back from the UK, back at work, back in ye olde Regular Life. Here's to that.

The UK trip was a ton of fun, though quite exhausting, and, I gotta say, a bit disappointing if what I was expecting was "a trip to England." Because, really, I could have been anywhere in the world, for all I actually saw or experienced. I went, quite literally, from Heathrow Airport to the Four Seasons Hotel in Hampshire and then back to the airport, with not one foot set outside of either the entire time. It wasn't for lack of trying, either---but my Lords and Masters at EA UK had me scheduled pretty much the entire time, except for a couple hours here and there when I crawled back to my room for a much needed, jet-lag inspired nap. And anyway, had I wanted to go anywhere, even, as I originally hoped, to a pub--because at the very least I thought I'd at least grab a fine English brew or 10--there was nowhere to go, as the hotel was surrounded by farmland for as far as you could see. We were in the middle of nowhere. A beautiful English countryside version of nowhere, but, still, nowhere. And lest it appear like I am totally complaining, here is a photo of where I was staying:



Yeah. So, ya know: worse places to be "stuck" for three days. Still, you'd think for such a fine establishment, they would at least have some of that aforementioned fine English beer I was craving. But what were my choices? Heineken, Stella, and Corona. WTF?

Anyhoo, my luxurious accommodations continued even after I left the hotel, as I found myself randomly upgraded, in a complete lucky fluke, to business class on British Airways. And oh my god was that a revelation. Seriously, this isn't just a *little* better of a way to fly--it's like an entirely different world. I'm spoiled for life now, especially for a transcontinental flight. Better food, better service, a full open bar and kitchen for the whole flight, and, of course, the leg room. On this airline, anyway, you get a full 6-foot "pod" that is entirely yours, complete with a drawer to put yer stuff in, and a seat that reclines out all the way down to a bed, which they delightfully accompany with a real pillow and blanket. Here's a shot I took on my iphone while reclining:



It doesn't fully do it justice. Let's just say that I practically didn't even want to get off the plane after we landed. I contemplated just staying on, and telling my wife and kid that this plane was now my new address. Of course, being a righteous Berkeley type, I also was filled with indignation, having seen this stuff, and just how crappy people are treated back in Economy, knowing that they *could* get this kind of treatment. Or even 1/4 of this kind of treatment. Rather than being treated like livestock. But, hey, at least I got to live it up once, and laugh and scoff at the lower class losers stuck in steerage! Eat it, peasants!

But perhaps the highlight of the trip is what's referred to in this blog title: The movie that I watched on the plane. I have seen many rock documentaries over the years. Some are okay, some are great (like "Dig"), and some are amazing. Into that latter category I would put, off the top of my head, "Stop Making Sense," "Don't Look Back", and, though it is entirely fictional "This is Spinal Tap." But I now have to add "Anvil: The Story of Anvil", which isn't just a great rock and roll movie, it's a great movie period--one of the finest documentaries I've ever seen and easily one of the best movies I've seen in the past year.



Chronicling the sad fate of 80s Canadian heavy metal band Anvil--a band that I, like most people, probably never heard of---it is truly the "real life Spinal Tap", as others have noted: An un-ironic, true-life tale of a bunch of guys now in their 50s trying to cling on to and recapture their brief fling with rock-and-roll glory. It doesn't matter if you don't like this kind of music, or rock documentaries in general. The beauty of this movie (along with the Spinal Tapian moments of unintentional humor) is the human story: The meditation on aging and ambition and doing what you are passionate about in life--and what happens when things don't entirely go your way. It's inspiring in the most humble and innocent way. For every moment that you may feel, "Wow, these guys are a bit ridiculous and sad," there are two more that will have you cheering them on, or at least admiring them for being so devoted to their passion, and to each other. It's a love story, really, and it's an incredible one. Do yourself a favor and rent it.

13 comments:

sharon said...

Anvil is opening up for ACDC for 3 shows this summer, damnit good for them, what a great movie

sharon said...

Humm it says Sharon but this is Scott lol weird

Stephen said...

Once again, on behalf of Canada I say "You're welcome."

Well written post Mr. Green. You could become a professional movie, or rather a music documentary movie, reviewer.

And thanks for remembering to leave your pants on in that iPhone shot.

Mike said...

Nice to see that you don't have holes in your socks like back in the CGW podcast days

Anonymous said...

Stephen, if you were really a Canadian, you would've written: you're welcome, eh.

I also noticed the pants in the iphone screenshot - what the hell is that, denim?

On business class?

They must've bumped Green up without having set eyes on him.

On one of her last podcasts, before becoming the publisher of PC Gamer, Kristen Salvatore lamented that on her recent business trip to Paris she never got to see a single thing. She said that she used to envy people who said that they were traveling to such and such an exotic location for business purposes, and that she could never understand why they seemed so reluctant and unenthusiastic about the experience.

Green, are you counting the minutes - that's right, minutes - to this magnificent upcoming re-release of The Secret of Monkey Island? Myself, I've been savoring the screenshots that have been posted over on Steam - the graphic artists did an amazing job of capturing the look of the original game and yet somehow concurrently making it look modern.

The visuals remind me of a Tintin novel by Herge. The game has a very storybook feel to it. I happen to love it.

And for the very first time we're going to get to hear Dominic Armato voicing the original lines as written by Ron Gilbert.

"My name's Guybrush Threepwood, and I want to be a pirate."

The Goose.

John Rivett said...

So Jeff, you get your own individual "entertainment screen" right? Oh man, free drinks, a bed and a video system to watch while drifting off, sounds amazing...

John Rivett said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

Jeff Green, here's something you might like, or dread. Probably dread. Because I dread it too. Why? Because you introduced me to peggle.
So now I am introducing you to PEGGLE: WOW EDITION
http://www.popcap.com/promos/wow/

gg,Jeff Green, gg.

BTW the word verification for this comment is PEONS. I kid you not.

Anonymous said...

Anvil: The Story of Anvil
Added to Netflix queue.
Always looking for a good flick.
Thank you.

mario66 said...

looks rad. cant find the damn movie in Calgary, Canada

Anonymous said...

If your life feels like it is lacking the power that you want and the motivation that you need, sometimes all you have to do is shift your point of view.
puma mens shoes
nike air max ltd
NIKE air shoes
nike max ltd
cheap nike shoes
cheap puma shoes
nike shoes
puma shoes
Nike Air Max
Nike Air Rift
cheap nike shoes
cheap puma shoes
Nike Shox Torch
Puma Womens Shoes
Puma Mens Shoes
enjoy shipping

Nike shox shoes said...

Whether 60 of 16, there is in every human being's heart the lure of wonder, a unfailing childlike appetite of the what's next and a joy of the game of living

Tiffany Jewelry said...

This is a great post,which has a lot of readers.
Such kind of post giving us various knowaledge,it worthy to read.It is so wonderful.