This vibrant documentary follows concert promoter Chang Weisberg and his Guerilla Union promotion team as they work furiously to ensure that what would turn out to be the last performance of notorious no-shows the Wu-Tang ... more »Clan actually takes place. Weisberg puts everything on the line to achieve the seemingly impossible: reuniting the 10 members of the Grammy-winning Wu-Tang Clan, including Method Man ("Garden State," TV's "The Wire"), RZA (composer for "Blade: Trinity" and "Kill Bill" vols. 1 and 2), and founding member, the late Ol' Dirty Bastard to perform at the 2004 "Rock the Bells" hip-hop concert. As if each Wu-Tang member is not difficult enough to work with, the venue's incompetent security, malfunctioning equipment, and riotous crowd all work in tandem to try keeping the history making show from going on. But Weisberg and his team come through to deliver a concert, and a Wu-Tang Clan performance, of a lifetime! Also featuring performances by Redman, Dilated Peoples, MC Supernatural, Sage Francis, Eyedea & Abilities, and more!« less
"At the end of a day, after the mayhem of the absolute craziness that goes into putting on this Wu-Tang Clan show -- this is a film about human integrity and unbridled passion. I barely knew anything about Wu-Tang before I went to see this movie, and it didn't matter because the heart and soul of all the characters in this doc explode from the screen and I was hooked for every single second. The concert promoter even has his mother help him at the ticket counter! I was smiling the whole time watching this. Guys, girls, Wu-Tang fans, non-Wu-tang fans -- everyone should see this film to learn the power of getting anything done if you set your mind to it! Directors Denis Hennelly and Casey Suchan found an incredible human story amid the lunacy of a WuTang concert, and I admire them for that. This is one of my favorite docs I have seen! Enjoy!"
One of the most serious looks at the life of a concert promo
B. Katz | 07/16/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I love the Wu and came the the screening at Tribeca. I got what I wanted from Wu, but moreover, I was exposed to the rough and tumble life of the promoter of ODB's last ever concert. Boy, that guy had a LONG night.
I cant recommend RTB enough. If you love hip hop, you'll learn about what goes into putting the show on (it's frightening at times). If you're new to hip hop, it will give you a glimpse of the lives of some of the most influential early greats in the genre, as well as interviews with a newer generation of rappers.
There are some tense moments, some hillarious moments (courtesy of RZA, of course!), but in the end, it's a great watch.
I hope they release the soundtrack!"
Great Documentary
J. Black | Chicago | 08/27/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I saw this documentary for the first time at the Midwest Film Festival in Chicago and I loved it! It gripped me from the beginning and took me for a ride the entire show. I've never been caught up so emotionally with a documentary in my life! I think I held my breath until the very end. I had to buy it when it became available. I highly recommend it even if you're not a hip-hop fan (which I'm not really)"
Rock the Bells is a superb documentary
Michael A. Bordieri | Boston, MA | 07/14/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Last year when I was in New York visiting a friend, she asked me to go with her to a Tribeca Film Festival screening of "Rock the Bells." I was anything but thrilled to see the movie as I knew nothing about Wu-Tang, but I grudgingly went. Well, I was blown away by this film. Can a band filled with so many combative and hot-headed members put aside their egos and unite for their rabid fan base? "Rock the Bells" follows concert promoter Chang who tries to put on one perfect concert for rabid rap fans. "Rock the Bells" pulses simultaneously with suspense, humor, and drama. As the film goes on, the main obstacle to the concert's success is ODB, the band's superstar, who proves to be the main question mark standing in the way of their reuniting. Surging with life, "Rock the Bells" is a treat for any movie or music fan in search of a well-made movie."
A masterpiece
J. M. Reyes | 05/31/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"i wasnt expecting this joint to be as ill as it was. this is a must have for any hip-hop head, period. although it has plenty of performance footage, i like the fact that it was done more from the promoter's point of view (cuz i'm a hip-hop promoter!). you get to see all the behind the scenes drama and all the work it takes to make a show of that size happen. cop this asap. my review does not do it justice."