Wu-Tang Clan: Of Mics and Men

Growing up listening to these guys, being from Staten Island and meeting a few of them. I might be a little biased but this Documentary is very well done and entertaining. These guys changed everything especially on the east coast during the East vs West Days.

EXCELLENT!!!!!!! Seriously, this documentary series FAR exceeded my expectations. Their impact and business sense - OMG - so impressive. The music, of course, masterful. Their message and branding of unity outreaches beyond just music. An artful expression, a body of work, of humanity! Beautifully laid out, wonderfully crafted (ie editing, production, direction). Even if you are not a hip-hop fan (or even better) this is a must see for a great understanding. For real. TOP NOTCH! Very well done. Showtime needs to give it an Emmy push in the Non-Fiction cats.

What more can I say. The Wu-Tang clan was from where I am from, and happens to be the first time I listened to Hip hop. They exploded on the scene and still from time to time will be seen in Park Hill and Stapleton in Staten Island. They have a special spot in the history of Hip Hop and still are very successful although most of them branched out on their own for solo projects. I guess you could say they put Staten Island on the map in the early 90s. Now getting to the show. It so far is very well done. The show hits on their roots , and where they grew up and started rapping. We shall see where it goes but if it's the Wu then I'm definitely watching. Good stuff.

Please don't give this 10 out of 10 because you like the Wu-Tang Clan, not the point.

Sacha Jenkins' 'Wu-Tang Clan: Of Mics & Men' is 4 hours of frustrating viewing, all over the place as a film and certainly not a fitting way to commemorate the mighty Wu-Tang Clan's 25th anniversary.

To do social history, you need to be particular about details: names, places, dates, timeline etc. For a music doc., structure interviews that shed some light on the artists' processes. And an honest visual record would cover the whole 25-year period with all its 'highs' and 'lows' (I don't remember anything shown between 2000 and 2017, a massive gap surely part of the band's history which has to be covered in some way? Solo projects, creativity, ageing, family etc.).

Too much of 'Wu-Tang Clan' is cliche-ridden, band squabbles and rambling rants about godknowswhat? Partially redeemed by RZA, interesting to listen to, bits of old film and music, obviously welcome, and the curios like 'Once Upon A Time In Shaolin', but the lack of clarity about anything, ODB's death, the band's philosophy, contractual arrangements/difficulties? And so little about the actual music itself, styles, production techniques, in-depth stuff about the MC's etc., these guys changed music forever, but 'Wu-Tang Clan' barely scrapes below the surface nor really distinguishes them from any other rap combo.

Sloppy documentary makers please take note: pointing a camera and microphone at a subject does not make you a film maker. As somebody relatively new to this band, 'Wu-Tang Clan: Of Mics & Men' gave me so little to go on I came away massively disappointed. I'm surprised RZA didn't scrap the whole project to come up with something more worthy of the rap legends.

I loved this documentary just wished it was longer. I think they should have made this 11 episodes, 1 focusing on each member & 1 on the group. Their story is so much deeper then 4 hours can present. Look forward to more info. Wu-Tang Forever