SnoReptilePlenty Memorable, crazy movie

Afouotos Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

Calum Hutton It's a good bad... and worth a popcorn matinée. While it's easy to lament what could have been...

Taha Avalos The best films of this genre always show a path and provide a takeaway for being a better person.

Dubdub1974 This could have been very interesting but the film maker wanted to talk about "the characters" in the school and the school director (who comes off as a 40 y.o. peter pan with ADD and a foul temper) rather than the obviously hard working and gifted musicians that make up the "star group" of the school. That is a pity because they could have had for once a documentary about kids finding their way rather than losing themselves but the filmmaker went rather with the caricatural: -the genius overachiever (the good) -there's the tortured teenager (the bad) -the 9 year old twins who would not know what a beat (or singing in tune) is if it came up and hit them in the head (the comic relief) -the school director who spends his time screaming and berating these kids like it's boot camp time in full metal jacket (bare in mind these kids are between the ages of 9 and 17)- (the ugly) - Even after their triumph at the Zappa fest you don't see him once high five a kid or give him or her a compliment. Mind you that might be on purpose: You get the feeling that the filmmaker had a rather set agenda and wanted the characters to be seen in a manichaean fashion. There is a lot of editing. Overall not worth the watch unless you want to spend your time reading between the lines.

mr-human The problem with this movie for me, watching it with my 6-year-old daughter, was that this absolute jerk running the show clearly has no idea about what rock and roll is as I know it. It's about individuality, not conformity. It's about DIY, not this-foot-here-that-foot-there. I kept thinking about Dana Rohrabacher or some other such conservative jock-fascist chameleon, using their obvious rock/pop music knowledge to advance the most un-rockin' conformist agenda possible. Or Sonny Bono. Sure, there are those of you who think that musical rebellion knows no politics, but when you aren't at least a libertarian, when you're truly in the conservative jock headspace, your attitude and danger are as safe and salable as mayonnaise. Zappa would've known this asshole for what he is. A mean dick-head coach, whose only concern was that championship. Listening to this jackass put down '3-chord flannel' rock, I can only assume he meant Nirvana. A band whose converse he wouldn't be worthy to lick if they would have ever allowed anyone to lick their shoes.I still get my mailbox money from my music days--we had a lot of fun and I'll always be grateful for the recording and tours. But to see everything I love polluted down to a competitive sporting event--really turns my stomach. I said it years ago and I'll say it again now, "F*ck you, coach!"

jdesando Anytime I learn something new about teaching, I feel my day has been made. Don Argot's documentary, Rock School, did that for me today. I watched a gifted Paul Green take a group of 9 to 17 year olds in his Paul Green School for Rock Music in Philadelphia and make them into a band playing Black Sabbath, Santana, and a Zappa that an audience bowed to at a German Zappanele concert.I learned that you can abuse learners with profanity dominated by variations of "f---" ("Don't f---ing make mistakes!") and reality about their inadequacies ("You mess up once and I'll f---ing punch your face out.") and keep your job while your students achieve undreamed of results.Green's cherubic visage, sincere love of the young, and obsession with making the right music are all ingredients of his success, which is crystallized in the memorable performances of his charges: CJ can play almost perfect guitar even sitting down with a bone malfunction, Madi sheds her dorky Sheryl Crowe bit to sing with original style, and young twins Asa and Tucker can do spot on Ozzy Osborne imitations.Unlike old fictional chestnuts such as To Sir with Love, Mr. Holland's Opus, and Dead Poets SOciety, which purport to show the gifted teacher at work, this documentary honestly shows the flaws and virtues of a dedicated facilitator living only to see his pupils excel.Rock School may have too much music and not enough insightful conversation and narration, but at least I could witness the artistic process at work. "If it wasn't for rock school, I'd probably be dead," says one student deeply hooked by the school's charismatic leader and unmitigated success. Teeners tend to exaggerate, but in this case it's certain he'd be spiritually lost without this unreal world of eccentric achievement, an after school activity like no other.Rock on.

tjconan This is my first review ever, please be gentle....This movie gives hope to a new generation of music lovers, real music, not the crap the monopolizes the radio stations today. Paul Green, while some of his antics aren't typical of music teachers, really gets through to the kids. I really enjoyed how the movie was well rounded, not just focusing on the best highlights, but also showed how he used positive and negative criticism to motivate the students, as well as their reactions to it. I enjoyed how it followed the students, those with exceptional talent and those who really enjoyed music (but lacked in the natural talent department). The culmination of the film (seeing how the film doesn't thrive on a what could happen type ending, I don't think this is a spoiler, if anything I would think it would make people want to see the movie), a performance of the most talented students at a Frank Zappa tribute festival. Wow, what talent! They really brought people to their knees. CJ will make your jaw drop. Overall I would say this movie really made me want to dive back into music. The movie is inspiring and optimistic. With talent like this, they really make you believe that Rock and Roll will live forever.