Metallica: This Monster Lives : The Inside Story of Some Kind of Monster

Rating:
Summary: FOR ANYONE!!!
Review: Although the book is obviously for Metallica fans, the book goes in depth about human beings and their struggles. As many did, I got the book for Christmas and I am not a big reader. To my surprise I tore through the book and finshed it in a week. A must for a metallica fan but could also catch the interest of those who enjoy looking into other peoples lives and see the human side of what today people call "Rock stars" and "celebrities". Awesome book with humor, suspense, and raw human emotion. GREAT BOOK!!!

Rating:
Summary: Some Kind of Book!
Review: As a fan of Metallica, deciding to watch the Some Kind of Monster (SKOM) documentary was a no-brainer. So was the decision to read the book, THIS MONSTER LIVES. After all, why not get a behind the scenes peak at what the documentary chronicles?

This book, written by half the SKOM directorial team, is a fascinating read. I plowed through it relatively quickly. I would have read it at an even quicker pace, but at times I felt compelled to put it down. And that wasn't for the lack of interest, nor did it have anything to do with any negative reaction to the style of the writing. What it had to do with was the in-depth glimpse at the therapy sessions.

Berlinger includes transcripts from specific therapy sessions that the members of Metallica had with (performance enhancement coach) Phil Towle. He also elaborates, throughout the book, on what we DIDN'T see in those sessions, and discusses why certain things made the cutting room floor. As a Metallica fan, these tidbits are interesting yet tough to read. It is sad to see just how close Metallica came to ceasing to exist. As a matter of fact, it is pointed out that during the filming of SKOM, it was realistic to say that there was no Metallica.

As a film fan, or for someone who is into documentaries (watching them or making them), this book serves as a great tutorial. Berlinger uses some pages in the book's beginning to fill you in on his background (and Bruce Sinofsky's as well) as a filmmaker. He takes you through Brother's Keeper and the Paradise Lost films briefly, pointing out the challenges to making a successful documentary. Interestingly enough, throughout his discussions of the making of SKOM, he intertwines his other films, making comparisons to how he filmed Metallica and how decisions he and Sinofsky made in the past, effected SKOM.

Reading this book did two things for me:
1.) It opened my eyes even wider [than the film did] as to what went on during Metallica's hiatus, therefore it touched me to see what James, Kirk and Lars, three men whom I have so much respect and admiration for, went through (Rob comes in at the end of the book, of course).

2.) It taught me a few things (all interesting) about documentaries and filmmaking.

I recommend it to Metallica fans, but also to fans of film and music in general, especially if you have seen the movie.



Rating:
Summary: Excellent film companion that stands on its own
Review: Full disclosure: I am a Metallica fan, and have seen "Metallica: Some Kind Of Monster". From a fan's standpoint, this is required reading for its inside look at the band collectively and individually. If you like Metallica, there's no question "This Monster Lives" is worth your time.
For readers who may not be overly familiar with Metallica or "Some Kind Of Monster", the depth of material covered means there's more to this book than one might think.

Film buffs in particular will find plenty to absorb. Joe Berlinger talks candidly about his professional triumphs ("Brother's Keeper"; "Paradise Lost" with cohort Bruce Sinofsky) and struggles alike ("Blair Witch 2"). The craft of filmmaking comes alive in his accounts of the editing process, budgeting, scheduling, promotion, and distribution. Even the physical toll of filming day in and day out is discussed at length.

Every story has its share of basic human drama, and like the film, it's here as well. One therapist's approach to superegos at odds, "performance coach" Phil Towle likely saved Metallica from imminent divorce - yet wasn't totally pleased with his role in the film. Berlinger brings a unique perspective of what took place and defends SKOM's portrayal of both Towle and Megadeth leader Dave Mustaine.

"This Monster Lives" combines a conversational tone with a healthy number of photos, so following along with the chain of events and players is never a problem. The book is also annotated with extra remarks and minor details - a nice touch for those who are curious. All in all, an enjoyable read that works on multiple levels, and certainly recommended for anyone who has seen (or plans to see) "Some Kind Of Monster."

Rating:
Summary: This Monster Rocks!!!
Review: I cannot imagine a Metallica fan not reading this book..It is very insightful to the trials that Metallica has gone through and actually gives you an inside look to the movie where you can actually get a feeling for what the group has gone through..I was very surprised at the easiness it was to read this book and how much Metallica has gone though over the years and how they stuck together...A must read for anyone even interested in the band, music, or the industry!!!!

CasperMetallicaFan

Rating:
Summary: Awesome
Review: I recieved this book this past Christmas, and after seeing the movie, I couldn't wait to start reading it. Once I did start, I couldn't put it down and finished it in just a few days. This book doesn't just dig into the making of Some Kind of Monster, but also, much like the movie, digs deeper into the minds of its subjects, Metallica. It explores not just the life and pysche of these celebrities, but explores the human mind. The author relates his own story to his experience with Metallica, points that often you as a reader can relate to as well. This is an excellent read not just for the Metallica fan, but for anyone who likes to explore and learn about the human mind and how it can be affected. Great book!

Rating:
Summary: Loved it!!
Review: I've seen the movie 5 times and wanted to read the book when I heard about it. Glad I took the time it really goes into more info on what was going on behind the camera. Love the inserts of the actual sessions with Phil. Also where Joe tells about what had just happened before a certain part of the movie or what happened right after something we had viewed in the movie. He tells about his {Joe} relationship with Bruce and how it wasn't real solid at the time. I passed mine onto my son. He loved it also. Thanks Joe for the great read. A must for any Metallica fan and I have suggested to non Metallica fans to read it. And thanks for SKOM. Great job!

Rating:
Summary: 'Monster' Book Revives Reading
Review: In a time where sitting down and reading book is as rare as finding a good slice of pizza outside of New York; and attention span's are shorter than the line at a showing of Gigli, Joe Berlinger and Greg Milner's "This Monster Lives," certainly brought back a good reason to throw on your favorite pajama pants, grab a hot beverage, snuggle into that oh-so-comfortable spot on the couch, and lose yourself in a great piece of literature.

"This Monster Lives," delves into the behind-closed-doors aspect of the movie Metallica: Some Kind of Monster, which was dreamt up and filmed by acclaimed documentary filmmakers Bruce Sinofsky and co-author of the book, Joe Berlinger. Berlinger and Sinofsky, best known for their HBO documentaries, Paradise Lost : The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills, Paradise Lost 2: Revelations and Brother's Keeper, filmed rock band Metallica through what could quite easily be considered the roughest and bumpiest road in the Bay Area band's tumultuous career. "This Monster Lives," tells the story of how the idea of making a movie about Metallica came to be, how that idea became a reality, and how it didn`t become another This is Spinal Tap.

Joe Berlinger and Greg Milner tactfully give us the insider's look at what it was like to work with one of the world's most successful rock bands of all time. From pitching the idea to the band and management to the red carpet premiere(s) of the movie, "This Monster Lives," lets the reader feel like they were there every step of the way, becoming absorbed into this world of rock 'n roll, filmmaking and yes, even therapy sessions.

For someone who can't get through a magazine article without stopping mid-way through to go do something else, I felt compelled to read chapter after chapter until I found myself either late for work or looking up to see that it was 4am and I had to be up in a couple of hours. All in all, "This Monster Lives,' is certainly a great book for anyone that's ever had the strive to accomplish a seemingly impossible project. You don't have to be a musician, an author, a filmmaker or even a fan of Metallica to appreciate the art that both Metallica and Berlinger, Sinofksy and Milner have released. "This Monster Lives" did for books what Metallica has done for music. After reading it, you just might be able to find that good slice of pizza outside of New York.


Rating:
Summary: Not just a Metallica book, but a filmmaking book too.
Review: Like the movie that this book is based on, you don't have to be a fan of Metallica to enjoy it. Yes, it is a book about the making of "Some Kind of Monster", the critically acclaimed documentary about the fall and rise of Metallica. However, it gives much needed advice and direction on how a documentary is produced. What Michael Moore's "Fahrenheit 911 Reader" lacks, this book has in droves. It made me want to go buy a Mini DV videocamera and record SOMETHING!

Why didn't I give it 5 stars? Well, the author intersplices small transcripts of Phil Towle's therapy sessions with the band throughout the book, and I felt like it slowed it down. I mean, you're really getting into the filming, and BOOM! 5 pages of whining back and forth. We could have done without it, or at least it could have been moved to the back of the book as an Appendix or something.

Other than that, this is a terrific behind the scenes account of a movie that deserves all the praise it's getting, and will ever get.

Rating:
Summary: This Monster Lives
Review: This book is a must read for any serious music fan..... especially any Metallica fan. It complements SKOM and provides a "behind the scenes" look into Joe and Bruce's trials and tribulations as they worked on this "rockumentary".

As a Metallica fan it gives me an in depth look at what what it took to get to the final production.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants an in depth personal view into one of the largest bands in history!

Rating:
Summary: A great read for--practically everyone!
Review: This is really an excellent book and a phenomenal read for anyone interested in the dynamics of human relationships-- whether or not you're a Metallica fan is actually somewhat irrelevant. If you happen to have any interest in Metallica, or in the work of filmakers Berlinger & Sinofsky, or documentary filmmaking in general, or in psychotherapy, well those are added bonuses to an already engaging story about people.

This book, like the film it's based on, is not so much about the mighty Metallica, rock 'n roll legends. It's about human beings and the struggles that affect all of us, on some level: our deepest insecurities and vulnerabilities, the nuances and rivalries that often underscore even our deepest friendships, the lifelong yearning for parental approval, the survival of our pasts. Now imagine airing all of that dirty laundry in front of ever-present cameras, and presenting it to the world for mass scrutiny. That's what Metallica decided to do, and what filmmakers Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky so brilliantly captured on film. That undertaking is chronicled in this book; in it, Joe Berlinger goes one step further to provide an inside look into the behind-the-scenes process of capturing the story of flawed men who just happen to be icons and who, from this angle, seem an awful lot like the rest of us. As added evidence of the universality of the themes touched upon in the Metallica portion of the story, Joe Berlinger parallels their artistic and personal struggles with his own, touching upon the creative process and maintaining artistic relevance and control, the layered challenges and rewards of success, as well as his long and complicated relationship with professional partner, Bruce Sinofsky.

If filmmaking is your thing, there is a voyeuristic feel to this book two times over in comparison to the film, in not only observing the film's subjects deal with life, but observing the filmmaker walk a fine line between personal investment and objectivism, determine his status as friend versus business associate, weigh artistic merit against commercial success, manipulate real life by playing with time and sequencing, and gauge his personal ethics in wanting to create an intensive and emotional film that may result only from the drama that ensues from other people's personal crises. In the end, Berlinger calls the Metallica experience "the greatest professional and personal experience of my career," and the special-ness of the project for him is evident in his writing.

If therapy and the processes of purging personal demons interests you, this book is chock full of fascinating reading. You get a front-row seat at the therapy sessions Metallica underwent with their group therapist (or 'performance coach') Phil Towle, and this book offers some of the more intimate and personal moments between the band and other members of their innermost circle that didn't even make it into the final cut of the film. Therapy isn't easy or always fun, apparently, even for famous celebrity millionaires, but in the end, as we get to see in Metallica's case, the rewarding results of the personal transformations are astounding, and the reader can't help but feel immensely proud of their achievements.

And if you are a Metallica fan, this book will not disappoint or be at all redundant after having seen the film. As a huge Metallica fan myself, I assumed there was very little I didn't already know about the guys in Metallica, even after having seen Some Kind of Monster in theaters. This book was even more informative about the band, in my opinion, than was the movie, in that it just feels more personal and includes even more of the breakthroughs that occurred in therapy. This book will give any real Metallica fan an even greater insight into, for example, the history and complications of the Hetfield-Ulrich musical and personal relationship, the Jason Newsted situation and bass player auditions, and the Dave Mustaine segment of the film. For any James Hetfield fan, this book is especially poignant and the last paragraph, in which Berlinger reflects on James's long hard road and the hopeful question of his future, is bound to get any James fan a little teary-eyed. Well, it did me anyway.

Ultimately, I really enjoyed reading this book on a variety of levels (even the footnotes are interesting!), and I would recommend it to anyone interested in Metallica or filmmaking for sure--but also to anyone interested in the inner struggles that know no bounds, and the human condition.