Talihina Sky: The Story of Kings of Leon

Kings of Leon are a great band and this is a great documentary. Shows you how they came from a pretty poor religious background to become one of the biggest bands in the world. It also shows you great on and off stage footage of great performances and some epic family fighting.

Talihina Sky: The Story of Kings of Leon (2011)

*** (out of 4)

I'll admit right up front that I'm not overly familiar with Kings of Leon. I remember back on 10/28/06 I went to see Bob Dylan in Chicago and there was some buzz going around about the opening act who had also opened the show the night before. Well, it turned out to be Kings of Leon and I must admit that I was very impressed with the band and I wasn't too shocked when a couple years later I saw that they were playing bigger venues. This documentary has interviews with the band members as well as their families and tries to explain the rise of the group. We see archival footage from when the band members were children and we get some behind the scenes stuff with the bad in the studio fighting and trying to come up with a new album. As I write this, the band is in the news for canceling their summer tour and I heard about this as well as the documentary from an article in Rolling Stone. I think fans are really going to enjoy this documentary but at the same time I'm sure it's going to make many worried as it really doesn't seem like the band is doing that good. I thought hearing the family members stories as well as seeing them was a rather interesting move as many times bands try to keep their pasts hidden or at least not out in the open. We learn that the brothers grew up in a very strict and strongly religious household where they weren't even allowed to watch television. The documentary really seems as if it's blaming their religion on their current problems, which include some drugs and alcohol. I'm really not sure why the documentary wanted to shine a spotlight on the religion and I'm not sure if it was the filmmakers attempt but it really did seem like they were coming down hard on it. I thought the best moments were the scenes with the family members because it's fascinating seeing how the relatives feel about seeing their loved ones rich and famous. There are plenty of scenes with the guy's performing at shows and the before mentioned stuff in the studios and this here is something I'm sure die-hard fans will love. Those, such as myself unfamiliar with the band will probably find some of the smaller stories the most interesting but what's more interesting is if the band will still be around five or ten years from now.

I'm not sure where to begin. I just watched this movie and I'm still reeling a little.

It's raw. Emotional. Brings up adult conflicts many of us have that are colored by childhood experiences.

I'm sure the lady reviewer from the UK doesn't get the religion part. If you didn't grow up in the US bible belt and don't know what pentecostal religion is and the pull/effect it has on a person (not to mention growing up in poverty) - well, you miss a lot of the intent and context of this documentary.

It's not a spit-shined, glossy example of a band's rise to super-stardom. It's an opportunity. An opportunity to know a little about the background of some talented young men who escaped...but not totally. Because they didn't want to . . . at least not up until the time this movie was filmed. Unlike many of us, they accept their past and their family. They use what has shaped them. That's not an easy thing to do and get away with cleanly.

It was fun to watch their interactions on the road and in the recording studio, as well as on-stage and backstage. The ending interview with Caleb was remarkable in the honesty of his comments.

Like a lot of other people, I've loved their music for a long time and wish them continued success . . . but I can't help but wonder how much they've changed since the film...

Honest opinion? As a huge KOL fan I was very much looking forward to watching this, after sitting through almost 2 hours I learned more about Jesus than I have in my life time. I would say 70% of the film is based on the family of the band and their religion and religious views. It doesn't show how they got their record deal or anything like that, small snippets of concerts and making of their music. Although there were parts that was good seeing how the band were, i would not watch again and wouldn't recommend to anyone who listens to the bands music. It was more of a preach than a documentary.

I was not a fan-boy, but now have huge respect for Kings Of Leon.

I attended to movie and Q&A at the Vue in Plymouth. I laughed, I cried, I learnt, I nodded ... The documentary was superb, but the Q&A well legendary. Ends in a near riot only prevented by two burly security men.

I do not want to give anything away ...

Going to cry again, must stop

Guideline tell me to continue. OK, quote from Almost Famous:

"Listen to Tommy with a candle burning and you will see your entire future..."

Talihina Sky: The Story of Kings of Leon was my entire life, in Dolby Surround Sound.

Thanks to all at IMDb