Rage Against The Machine: The Battle Of Mexico City (2001)
Outside Mexico City's Sports Pavilion, hundreds of young Rage fans rattle metal fences and throw rocks at the increasingly nervous police. Inside, a seething crowd of 5,000 lucky ticket holders cram into the cavernous pavilion chanting anti-government slogans and poking their middle fingers into the thick, sweaty air while waiting for Rage Against The Machine to storm the stage.
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Reviews
Too much of everything
Save your money for something good and enjoyable
There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes
Watching it is like watching the spectacle of a class clown at their best: you laugh at their jokes, instigate their defiance, and "ooooh" when they get in trouble.
This is one of the most powerful concerts I've ever seen (on film, or live, for that matter). Rage's electric current ignites the crowd with each song, staying very focused on the music to communicate to the audience. There is 4 or 5 breaks edited in during the concert (seperate from the performance, which can be skipped via the chapter forward command) in which various causes Rage supports are explored briefly, such as the issues and protests surrounding corporate globalization, the Zapatista resistance, NAFTA, and a couple others. Bonus materials such as an interview with Noam Chomsky and brief looks at the band's travels while in Mexico are interesting and allow the viewer a nice "inside" look at RATM's thoughts and travels.
Rage Against The Machine storms into the tightly-packed arena and begins to tear things up immediatly. The dynamite vocals of Zack de la Rocha are screamed as Tom, Brad, and Tim rip through each and every song. You can feel the adrenaline pumping action as the band slices through the night. From Testify to Freedom, Bulls on Parade to Know Your Enemy, this video is a MUST HAVE for any hard rock fan. BUY IT!!!
This disc captures Rage Against the Machine during touring, in their first performance at Mexico City's Sports Pavilion. The band's support for various political causes in Mexico, especially the anti-government Zapatista movement makes this show very interesting. The band's political propaganda is more than well received with an electric energy that transfers right onto the DVD and into your living-room and should have the CIA very interested indeed. Unfortunately front-man Zack de la Rocha's political agenda is larger than Rage Against the Machine could ever offer. Slam-dancing and stage diving will do nothing to stop neo-liberal globalism, the likes of the I.M.F., and World Bank. Zack's struggle to end the poverty that the current system offers will thankfully take him away from the world of metal heads and crowd surfers to a more diversified audience. I wish him the best of luck. As an added bonus the disc includes interview with political intellectual Noam Chomsky, and revolutionarly leader Marcos.
While I had heard about the political action during this concert--Zack, being a strong supporter of the Zapatistas, I didn't know that the concert "itself" was so electrifying. The crowd immediately reacts to RATM, and while the "leftist" imagery spliced into the video helps the viewer understand Zack, it is very distracting--esp. if you don't share "leftist" views. The audio leaves a little to be desired: the 2-channel mutes the cursing, and the 5-channel has a mixed down audience track (no audience cheering, etc.). This concert was almost shut down by the Mexican government; fortunately for you and I, it went on and was recorded.Check it out!