Plot Details: This opinion reveals minor details about the movie's plot.

For years, fans of The Who have been stuck with VHS copies of the rockumentary The Kids Are Alright that quite frankly, did not do justice to what the film actually contained. Cuts were made, the film and the sound was sped up for time constraints, and all in all, it was just an unimpressive package. The film was brilliant, the presentation was fully short of brilliant.

And so it was in 2002 that the decision was made to completely restore The Kids Are Alright to its original length, adding in all that was lost, fixing the film speed and the soundtrack, and touching up the film's picture in all phases as well. This resulted in a painstakingly long process, but the end result is well worth the wait.

The Kids Are Alright: Special Edition is a two disc monster of a set. While not as monstrous as Led Zeppelin's DVD set that was released in mid 2003, there is still a ton of stuff here for both the casual and the diehard Who fan (there is also a one disc edition with virtually no extras, just the restored film, although it's becoming hard to find anyone who is actually stocking this version).

Perhaps the biggest complaint one could lodge against this set is that in order to fully appreciate what is contained on disc one (the restored and reconstructed film), you almost have to watch the extras on disc two first. The forty minute documentary Miracle Cure is fascinating to watch. Here, you go through each aspect of the restoration process, from the restoration services by Tim Gallegos, to the hi-def transfer by Larry Yore, to the sound restoration by Ted Hall, to the new mixing by Andy MacPherson and Jon Astley.

After you've watched that documentary, you will definitely want to see the two pieces that show you exactly what happened to the film. Trick of the Light looks at the picture quality in a side by side comparison of old to new, and the results as shown here are nothing short of remarkable. Getting In Tune, meanwhile, focuses on the audio portion that had to be fixed up. Captions appear to tell you what is old and what is new, but this is just as easily determined by looking at the clarity of the picture.

At this point, you should be able to fully appreciate the full length film called The Kids Are Alright. Released in 1979, it was directed by Jeff Stein, who was rejected when he first approached Townsend with the idea (one story goes that he cried for two hours, which incensed Townsend even more: "no one who cries for two hours could make a film about the Who." Eventually, the band manager at the time talked Townsend into it, and Stein began the painstaking process of going through mountains of old film footage.

So many look at the live footage contained on The Kids Are Alright, from the TV appearances to the footage of the 1975 tour in Detroit to Woodstock to the pair of performances filmed at Shepperton Film Studios, and consider this to be the backbone of the film. From a length standpoint, they would be right. Most of the film is the band performing in various eras. But the true backbone of the film is the candid look we get at the band when they are being interviewed (as by Russell Harty in clips throughout the film) or, in other cases, when they are just being completely and utterly goofy.

There's Steve Martin (yes, THAT Steve Martin) showing up in a skit with drummer Keith Moon in a mock destruction of a hotel room (a personal favorite: the "in case of Keith Moon, break glass" drawing that shows up early on). Ahhhh, Keith. The most free spirit in the band, and this film works so well as a tribute to what he meant to the band. His drumming here is spectacular enough in places, but his extremely fun (some might say crazy) personality helps give the film the right amount of true human emotion it needs.

Perhaps the funniest moment though comes when bassist John Entwistle (who unfortunately passed away in June of 2002) takes some gold record off the wall and uses them for skeet shooting. Having failed in his attempts with a rifle, Entwistle takes out a machine gun and blasts the records to pieces. Entwistle would later claim that the records were actually vocalist Roger Daltrey's.

But let's face it: the reason most people will watch this is for the live performances, and they are here in spades. There are 3 versions of My Generation, including the infamous version on the Smothers Brothers show where Moon packed his kit with dynamite and set it off at the end of the performance, setting Townsend's hair ablaze for a moment and causing permanent hearing damage to him as well. It's also great to see the full version of A Quick One, While He's Away taken from The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus, with a somewhat creepy looking Keith Richards giving the intro.

But the two main highlights are the performances that were staged for this very film. Stein was unable to find filmed performances of setlist standouts Baba O'Riley and Won't Get Fooled Again that matched the majesty he remembers them being performed with. So he put together a special show for 500 people or so at the Who's Shepperton Film Studios. Baba O'Riley is a joyous bit of performance footage, but it's Won't Get Fooled Again that truly takes the cake.

Mixing blue lasers into the bridge of the performance, as well as capturing a kneeling slide by Townsend, if you were to take this performance and just call it a music video on it's own, it may be considered the greatest video ever made. The aforementioned slide by Townsend has become one of the most indellible images that rock and roll has ever given the general public, and it has led to a bevy of imitators who try desparately to pull it off with the same sense of bravado that Townsend did it with (I swear, I read at least one review a year of a show where some moron lead singer or guitarist is trying to do the "Townsend slide").

The other extras on disc two are well worth your time as well, although I find myself enjoying the new interview with Roger Daltrey the most. He makes some comments and shares some memories of the time period that just about had me in stitches I was laughing so hard (especially when he recalled Entwistle and told him he'd get him back for going the way he did).

I could go on and on about this release. It is a truly magnificent piece of work that stands up extremely well today. It shows The Who for who they were. Sure, I could quibble about the tracklist (nothing from Quadrophenia is featured at all), and the film is not always perfect (in order to make it perfect, no one would've had this set in their hands until about 2010), but it is quite obvious the technical magicians did their best.

So if you have an old VHS copy of The Kids Are Alright, do what you've wanted to do for oh so long: throw it in the trash. Then jump in your car and go buy this. It may be some of the best money you've ever spent on a music DVD.



Recommended: Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Good for a Rainy Day
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 9 - 12