20130818: Documentary Review--Pagan Metal

Pagan Metal: a Documentary

1. Live action feature length film, 2009, streamed from Hulu+, 117 minutes, NR.
2. Amazon: Three stars of five from three reviews.  IMDB: not to be found.
3. Rotten Tomatoes: 'No reviews yet...' and 50% liked it from 15 audience ratings.


4. Starring the bands: Primordial (Irish), Korpiklaani (Finnish), Finntroll (Finnish, based in Helsinki), Ensiferum (Finnish, based in Helsinki), Leaves Eyes (German-Norwegian), Turisas (Finnish), and Týr (Finnish).


5. The bands not based in Helsinki seemed to think that the people and bands from Helsinki were a bit different than those from other parts of Finland.


6. The interviewer fostered a good-natured, friendly atmosphere, and there was fruitful exchange of information in the question and answer format.  Topics included: myths that Americans believe about Ireland; same for Europe; transitions from folk to pagan metal; preserving cultural identity in the face of the pressure to make Europe uniform; bands and drinking; costumes; personnel changes.  The spokesman from Primordial was particularly intelligent and well-spoken and learned.  All of the bands had interesting things to say; Korpiklaani was likely the second most verbally effective, but they all came across well.


7. The rather notorious Bill Zebub is the interviewer and director of the film.


8. One line summary: Great interviews with seven pagan metal bands from Northern Europe. 
9. Four stars of five; the information was top notch, but the delivery needed help. Still, I would recommend this film to anyone who is curious about the European music scene, or in pagan metal.

Cinematography: 5/10 Variable, but usually poor.  Looks like hand-held video, with too much zooming, jerkiness, light being too low for the camera used, soft or grainy focus.  A couple of the music videos were shot by someone else, and looked rather good.

Sound: 6/10 Also quite variable.  Most of the music clips were indecipherable in terms of vocals, which is what I've come to expect from metal.  On the other hand, one clip was so clear and beautiful that it has joined my top twenty list of all time favorites.

Acting: N/A; the film consists of interviews and musical performances.  The sincerity and humor levels were nice.

Screenplay: 10/10  The level of information exchanged in the interviews was very good.  The organization of the interviews was quite sound.