"Let There Be Rock" is mainly a concert movie by a couple of French students in 1980 filmed at a concert in Paris. There are different dates. Warner Brothers picked it up and distributed it with their name on it but after the WB opening, it's all very non-Hollywood.

The band members are very young in this movie. Angus looks like he's in his early twenties, but his stage presence is staggering. Bon Scott is a very entertaining stage personality but it comes across just how much this is Angus's band.

Something that also comes out in this movie is the AC/DC formula. Here it is:
Guitar Intro: Angus
First Verse: Bon
Chorus: Malcom and Phil march to the front of the stage and chant the song title a few times with Bon, then return to their spots on either side of Cliff's drums.
Guitar Solo: Angus
Second Verse: Bon
2nd Chorus: exactly the same as the first
Guitar solo: Angus
3rd Verse and Chorus: optional
Finale: Angus runs around like a top running out of speed, then either falls over or almost falls over while winding down his final solo.

This is all very entertaining and fulfilling if you're already an AC/DC fan. If you're not, I couldn't imagine how this would convert you because it all looks so similar. However, everyone should enjoy the show that Angus puts on. He is incredibily high energy, plays the guitar extremely well and never misses a note. There is A LOT of footage of Angus running around playing the guitar very well, so unless you already like it, I think it would be overkill.

In the middle of the movie, something VERY weird happens. Much like Rock City's gnomes. If you've been there, you know exactly what I mean.

All of a sudden, you see a grey Porshe 914 driving on grass on what appears to be a foggy Europe morning. Then you see inside and it's Cliff taking driving very seriously and expecting you to be impressed that he is operating a Porche. Then you see that he is "racing" a biplane. Phil gets out of the plane (someone else was flying it) and gets into the Porshe. Cliff drives them off away on the grass.

There is apparently no point to this scene and doesn't fit with the concert footage at all.

There is another scene kind of like this where Malcom is playing soccer, apparently drunk, with cheesy music and CARTOON SOUND EFFECTS whenever anyone touches the soccer ball or falls down. I think that Angus talks over this scene about Malcom a bit, but watching the movie again for that bit isn't worth it.

Spread out throughout the movie are interviews with the band members where an off-screen interviewer with a comically soothing voice asks some really stupid questions. One of the questions he asked Bon was something about World War 3, and what he would do if there was one. Bon didn't say anything very smart here, but who could? Something about not being afraid to die, or something like that.

The movie is probably split 80% concert footage, 20% surrealist weirdness.

If you're an AC/DC fan and would like a chance to see Bon Scott perform, this is a good flick, but don't watch it with your girlfriend (unless she's a fan too).



Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: VHS
Video Occasion: Good for a Rainy Day
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older