Glory Daze: The Life and Times of Michael Alig

Great movie documentary about Michael Alig. If you were in NY at that time, watch it to remember, and if you were not, like me, it will take you there and you will you wish to be there...You for sure will not get bored while watching it. All those interviews, with the everyone who loved him or hate him, or both; those old images from NYC. Simply fascinating, how the movie can take you to that weird church where everyone partied like if there was no tomorrow. No doubt you have to watch it, and you will love it. If you like to party, crime documentaries, or just if you want to learn a bit about an interesting character like Michael Alig...You know where to go Great Job. I love it!

You should understand when going into this 2 hours plus movie, that it isn't merely a biography of one NYC personality, but rather a documentary about New York itself. Through the eyes and words of legendary club promoter/celebutante Michael Alig, and the countless amazing personalities that knew him and were in that scene, the viewer is given a very in-depth tour of NYC then, and the NYC of today, which is barely recognizable as the same place. The incredible thing about this film, is that it spends so much time focusing on how everything began, and all that is so fascinating, that when they finally get to the famous murder, we have forgotten all about it. And when it comes, it is a real jolt, almost like we are seeing it all unfold in real-time.

Someone put a staggering amount of time and thought into this production. Everyone who was there in any way, is interviewed in depth, as we get to know this collection of very talented people of all ages and backgrounds. And we don't just get to hear from the club people, we also get interviews with New York detectives, journalists, Alig's family members, as well as people who weren't even around at the time, but whos lives were somehow inspired or changed by the mere legend of 80's/90's NYC club life. We even get a good background on Angel Melendez, who was at the center of this incredible drama, but has always been sadly overlooked in other documentaries and news stories about the murder. He was the victim, and this movie finally gives him the recognition that he deserves. Anyone who was there at that time, such as myself, (a regular patron of Limelight's "Disco 2000" Wednesdays,) or for anyone interested in art, or film, or music, needs to see this amazing film. I believe it is the most complete and in depth documentary ever. There isn't a boring second, or boring person from the first frame to the last. And those many scenes of the "Golden Days" of New York City, will fill you with a sense of amazement and bittersweet nostalgia. You might find yourself saying, "wow, was it really that incredible..." and you know that it was.

Not necessarily a documentary that we need, but it is one that Michael Alig needed. The life, times and legacy of the Club Kids will forever be a fascination of those who participated, as well as those that didn't. It is... Alluring. It is... Exciting. And it is... Horrifying.

'Party Monster: The Shockumentary' is the better doc, but it's unfinished. And whatever it left on the table 'Glory Daze' picks up. Unfortunately, GD spends a little too much time revisiting the old days and not enough time with the follow up... Creating a final product that is far too long and extremely unpolished... But still, very much a must see.

Before we get into this, I wanna take a moment to pay my respects and condolences to the friends and family of Andre "Angel" Melendez. What happened to him was senseless, brutal, and a stain on what was otherwise one of the wildest and most creative eras of New York nightlife.

Now, let's talk Glory Daze: The Life and Times of Michael Alig.

See, I actually went to the Limelight quite a few times back in the '90s. But I wasn't there for the Club Kid nights-I was there for the metal nights. The punk shows. The real loud, grimy, headbanging, beer-soaked mayhem that took over that old church on certain nights of the week. And this is something the documentary should have touched on, because the Limelight wasn't just glow sticks, platform boots, and people dressed like sentient candy necklaces. It was also a major hub for metalheads, punks, goths-anyone looking for something raw and electric. But of course, that whole scene got swallowed up by the neon-and-glitter legacy of Michael Alig, James St. James, and the rest of the Club Kid mafia.

That being said, they ain't lying about what the Club Kid scene did to NYC. You felt their presence. It wasn't just the Limelight-it was all of Manhattan, bleeding into the boroughs. The insane fashion, the underground parties, the way they manipulated media and turned themselves into these larger-than-life cartoon characters. The documentary nails that vibe, and if you weren't there, trust me-it really was that crazy. There was nothing like it, before or since.

And then, of course, we get to Michael Alig. The enfant terrible, the creative genius, the ultimate party promoter, and-oh yeah-the guy who let his drug-fueled ego get so out of control that it ended with a murder. Some say Alig killed the Club Kid scene when he killed Angel, but honestly, these things have a shelf life. Social movements like that burn bright, then burn out. Still, it's real interesting to think about how this whole thing would be viewed if Alig hadn't done what he did. Would he be some kind of underground Warhol figure today? A cultural relic from a wilder time? Or would the scene have naturally fizzled, leaving him a footnote instead of an infamous headline?

The real gut-punch of this documentary, though, is the final act-Alig's release from prison. Watching this once-king of the nightlife world stumble into an era of smartphones, Instagram, and internet cancel culture is surreal. You can tell he has no idea how to exist in this world. And the most brain-melting part? If he hadn't gone to prison, if he had just naturally progressed with the times, he probably would have dominated social media. He was built for it. The self-promotion, the spectacle, the endless hunger for attention-he'd be an influencer god. But instead, we get this weird, sad, out-of-place version of him trying to reclaim something that's long gone.

It's a lot to take in.

If you have even the slightest curiosity about this era of the '90s, this documentary is worth a watch. And if you were there like I was, it's almost mandatory. A relic of a time when the underground felt like the center of the universe, and somehow, some of us actually made it out alive.