LALP Documentary

DarkLord_Lalinc · December 15, 2013, 09:11:44 PM

Is it me, or the documentary in the bonus DVD in LALP feels really lackluster? I mean, it's pretty cool to see the band having a nice dinner, getting along, etc. But it really can't compare to their old documentaries (Riding the Train of Thought, The Score so Far and Chaos in Motion). I mean, the documentary in CiM is the best thing of the whole DVD. I really liked LALP and everything, but the extras fall short to the greatness we usually got in their DVDs.

TheGreatPretender · December 15, 2013, 09:16:32 PM

Quote from: DarkLord_Lalinc on December 15, 2013, 09:11:44 PM
Is it me, or the documentary in the bonus DVD in LALP feels really lackluster? I mean, it's pretty cool to see the band having a nice dinner, getting along, etc. But it really can't compare to their old documentaries (Riding the Train of Thought, The Score so Far and Chaos in Motion). I mean, the documentary in CiM is the best thing of the whole DVD. I really liked LALP and everything, but the extras fall short to the greatness we usually got in their DVDs.

But at the same time, what could the new documentary show us that we haven't seen in the previous ones? Especially after something like Chaos in Motion. Seems to me like all they could do is kind of update us on "What is Dream Theater like now that MM is in it and MP is not?" and I think it was a good enough indication. Plus unlike with the previous documentaries, we've been pretty spoiled by JR showing us videos on Youtube all throughout that touring cycle.

DarkLord_Lalinc · December 15, 2013, 09:20:29 PM

Yeah, I agree... but the LALP documentary often gets to the point of "everything in DT land is bliss, we get along incredibly well, all of our shows are amazing, our fans are amazing, etc." and I mean, that's obviously something great but Riding the Train of Thought (my favorite DT Documentary by far) has a great balance between formally documenting the tour, funny moments, musical moments, etc. Even though I respect OTE a lot (Thanks for the facts, guys) and the work they've done for the band is super professional, I do feel that DT lost a great directive asset with Mike Portnoy. The guy knew what we wanted to see and gave it to us times 100. Although I do think that both "The Score so Far..." and the "Chaos on the Road" documentaries felt a little "Mike Portnoy starring DT", but nevertheless they were great.

BlobVanDam · December 15, 2013, 09:50:32 PM

I agree. They've got a new member, so I think they had a lot they could have documented, heck even throw the full auditions on there instead of putting it on the super NASA deluxe version of the new album, or the band members can go through their live rigs like on Budokan. I enjoy that kind of thing a lot. The LALP documentary wasn't bad, but it was fairly rudimentary.

adastra · December 15, 2013, 10:07:17 PM

Quote from: DarkLord_Lalinc on December 15, 2013, 09:20:29 PM
Yeah, I agree... but the LALP documentary often gets to the point of "everything in DT land is bliss, we get along incredibly well, all of our shows are amazing, our fans are amazing, etc." and I mean, that's obviously something great but Riding the Train of Thought (my favorite DT Documentary by far) has a great balance between formally documenting the tour, funny moments, musical moments, etc. Even though I respect OTE a lot (Thanks for the facts, guys) and the work they've done for the band is super professional, I do feel that DT lost a great directive asset with Mike Portnoy. The guy knew what we wanted to see and gave it to us times 100. Although I do think that both "The Score so Far..." and the "Chaos on the Road" documentaries felt a little "Mike Portnoy starring DT", but nevertheless they were great.

Yeah, I thought so too. I wished for a little more "in-depth" documentary.

I guess I'll watch the CiM documentary tonight before going to sleep!

This doesn't really have anything to do with the DVD but about that "Everything in DT land is Bliss"-statement;
I'm getting so tired of those Blabbermouth news already

"Petrucci : We are Having so great time and Mangini is a perfect drummer!"
"Mangini : Everyone has been so kind to me and blahblahblah"

TheGreatPretender · December 15, 2013, 10:11:59 PM

Quote from: BlobVanDam on December 15, 2013, 09:50:32 PM
or the band members can go through their live rigs like on Budokan. I enjoy that kind of thing a lot.

Not me. The only time I care about their instruments is when they're playing them. As soon as it gets to "Distortion Pedal" this "Mesa Boogie" that, I just tune out. Maybe if they demonstrated the sound while explaining those things, I'd like it more, but just talking about it does nothing for me.

BlobVanDam · December 15, 2013, 10:15:59 PM

Quote from: TheGreatPretender on December 15, 2013, 10:11:59 PM
Quote from: BlobVanDam on December 15, 2013, 09:50:32 PM
or the band members can go through their live rigs like on Budokan. I enjoy that kind of thing a lot.

Not me. The only time I care about their instruments is when they're playing them. As soon as it gets to "Distortion Pedal" this "Mesa Boogie" that, I just tune out. Maybe if they demonstrated the sound while explaining those things, I'd like it more, but just talking about it does nothing for me.

Then you wouldn't have to watch it.
But JR's rig is so entirely different since Budokan, MM could show his setup, JP has a lot of guitars and pedals etc, it would be much more interesting than as Darklord pointed out, the few minutes of "DT land is bliss" stuff that feels a bit like a token addition.
I think the doco is the lesser of the extra features on LALP. The bonus songs and the cartoon were great additions though.

TheGreatPretender · December 15, 2013, 11:29:56 PM

Quote from: BlobVanDam on December 15, 2013, 10:15:59 PM
Then you wouldn't have to watch it.

Sure, but my point is that as far as I'm concerned, something like that wouldn't make my experience any better, so if they did stuff like that, I'd still say the documentary is underwhelming.
Except for JR's hydraulics, those are awesome, but even that, wasn't that something he showed us on Youtube at some point?

Quote from: BlobVanDam on December 15, 2013, 10:15:59 PM
I think the doco is the lesser of the extra features on LALP. The bonus songs and the cartoon were great additions though.

I agree with this, I think the songs from the second night were absolutely integral to the release. Without them, it would feel very underwhelming, IMO.
I still feel like not including the second half of the set (in its entirety) on LSFNY DVD was complete BS.

puppyonacid · December 16, 2013, 05:13:23 AM

The bit where MM is talking about the interaction between him and JR during shows is really genuinely funny!

But yea I think the docu does leave you wanting. I agree though that there wasn't really much else they could do other than an update.

However, it was all too brief and I did think to myself once it had finished "I would love to just see a 90 minute sound check. Why didn't they just do that?"

I would pay good monies to see something like that.

mikeyd23 · December 16, 2013, 06:47:32 AM

As a musician myself, and knowing that a large portion of DT's audience are musicians, I certainly would have liked to see an in-depth gear run down either in the documentary itself or as another separate bonus feature.

Seeing a tour of JP, JR, JMX, and MM's rigs would have been very appealing! That being said, overall I'm still a very satisfied consumer in regards to the LaLP product. The most important aspect, the actual concert itself is fantastic, so that in itself is more than enough to satisfy me.

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LALP Documentary