Rock School

Very few votes so far, but I can't understand why they're so low. This is an excellent, throughly entertaining documentary that lets you make your own mind up about a very interesting individual's teaching methods, and the results he gets.

I guess a lot of people just didn't approve of Paul and, as such, have given low ratings to register their disapproval. Idiots. How would you have come to feel so passionately about him if you hadn't seen such and insightful documentary? Speaking of which, this is one of the best I've seen in recent times. A love of the music involved will enhance your enjoyment I suppose, but it's not really about that. Check it out.

I actually am a student at the school of rock, the movie should be released in theaters sometime in march. Paul can be a dick sometimes, but he isn't as bad as the film portrays him to be, i think he kind of over reacted when the camera was around just for show. but otherwise this movie is great and shows through everything the students go through. it's all worth it to play in front of crowds with thousands of people to. it's gonna be really cool to see how people react to the film, or if it even gets out of select theaters, students got to record a soundtrack with actual artist like the last living ramone, and Ozzy Osbourne. And napoleon from project object, Frak Zappa's band.

This was a well made Film. Nice editing work. The subject matter was interesting - with lotsa' "colorful" characters - However - it was really really sad to hear all these kids talk about being a "Rock Star"...as if that's what Rock music has come down to. All the kids are pretty rotten musicians - they seem more interested in being famous rather than writing good songs...and the Teach doesn't help either - he's more interested in being a "famous" teacher than actually inspiring the kids to follow their own muse and create their own thing. With a lot of practice these kids will grow up to be good Wedding Band/Bar Band Musicians - but that's about it. I guess kids who are truly interested in making music wouldn't join a school for it anyhow - so no harm done ... and it is pretty funny watching the kids butcher and mimic classic rock. You can't teach passion, and you can't learn creativity - but it can be encouraged - and it doesn't seem like this Rock School is a good place for that. Then again it's better than nothing at all.

As an old rock&roll road dog who played for years and later went into production and management of younger rock bands, I think this movie has a lot to say on many levels.

I'm not going to comment on a review as such BUT the internet TV view listing I saw when I went to see if it was going to play again said that these kids had gotten good "dispite" the way the teacher had gone about doing it...

To me it's funny how a little rough language towards the kids says somehow the teaching method was a failure.

Without giving away anything about the movie I will say this: I remember going to a school as a young child where I was in a talent show. I rehearsed for weeks and won!...After it was over I realized that EVERYONE had won something.....all 50 kids!

I was placated into thinking that was how life worked, then wham, the reality of musical life hit me when I went on the road in the real world.

Let's face it, people as a rule (and young people in particular) are basic under-achievers. Sometimes all it takes is a little bit of "frustration love" to make it all click.

Music itself is a passion, not a method, and rock music even more so than most.

As a parent myself I would suggest this movie to anyone who has a musically inclined child not matter what genre' they wish to pursue.

Competition is within ones self, not against everyone else. If the fire of music is in a child it will come out if handled right, if not, then thats OK also, but don't let it just die as a faint ember of creativity...fan it into a full flame of artistic expression.

Anytime I learn something new about teaching, I feel my day has been made. Don Argot's documentary, Rock School, did that for me today. I watched a gifted Paul Green take a group of 9 to 17 year olds in his Paul Green School for Rock Music in Philadelphia and make them into a band playing Black Sabbath, Santana, and a Zappa that an audience bowed to at a German Zappanele concert.

I learned that you can abuse learners with profanity dominated by variations of "f---" ("Don't f---ing make mistakes!") and reality about their inadequacies ("You mess up once and I'll f---ing punch your face out.") and keep your job while your students achieve undreamed of results.

Green's cherubic visage, sincere love of the young, and obsession with making the right music are all ingredients of his success, which is crystallized in the memorable performances of his charges: CJ can play almost perfect guitar even sitting down with a bone malfunction, Madi sheds her dorky Sheryl Crowe bit to sing with original style, and young twins Asa and Tucker can do spot on Ozzy Osborne imitations.

Unlike old fictional chestnuts such as To Sir with Love, Mr. Holland's Opus, and Dead Poets SOciety, which purport to show the gifted teacher at work, this documentary honestly shows the flaws and virtues of a dedicated facilitator living only to see his pupils excel.

Rock School may have too much music and not enough insightful conversation and narration, but at least I could witness the artistic process at work. "If it wasn't for rock school, I'd probably be dead," says one student deeply hooked by the school's charismatic leader and unmitigated success. Teeners tend to exaggerate, but in this case it's certain he'd be spiritually lost without this unreal world of eccentric achievement, an after school activity like no other.

Rock on.