mikerowerush Firstly,don't mention The Beatles in the same breath as Rush..The Beatles are/were a POP band-NEVER a Rock band...this documentary is simply superb especially for a life long fan like me-very first gig-and Rush gig ever-Feb 13th 1978..De Montfort Hall,Leicester,England-and 116 times since.i was 17..i can't fault it apart from the mistake in that The Fountainhead was the inspiration for 2112 when it was Anthem-no idea how that managed to sneak through....

AudioFileZ I approach Rush's Beyond The Lighted Stage not so much as a Rush fan as I am a big lover of music. I've never bought a Rush album or even borrowed one which is something I've always had a penchant for because I grew up making my reel to reel compilations of what I perceived as the great music I loved. So, the fact I really enjoyed this film speaks a lot to the fact I think these guys are a uniquely interesting band whose music did get my attention at certain times even if I was mainly hearing it without actually buying into it.Often unique things spring from unique situations and the musical sparseness of frigid North American rock combined with old-fashioned middle working class roots combine to create a singularly "germy" Petri dish for three young Canadians. While their parents may have escaped European oppression for three musical kids starting a band was an antidote to their own struggle to better fit in the world they were surrounded by. Like many talented and driven kids they became true artists. So true in fact they never had to follow convention or even the all powerful recording industry. This says a lot for Rush. The film makes their path look easy if, like these three, you love your work. In their case it really did turn out much like "build it and they will come" as their fan base just got larger for something like 40-years. It's pretty fascinating if you are into music and maybe only slightly interesting if you're not?This is a very straightforward story. It's bolstered by fellow musicians who were obviously smitten with the talents of the band. It's not a tragedy with drugs or alcohol though it does have elements of life's hard facts which is a consequence of living so close for so long. It's certainly a rarity that a band stays together and thrives for four decades making this a kind of special thing. I have to say if you're a fan see it definitely, though I'm almost certain the lion share has already done so. If you are a rock music lover I say see it too because these guys make very complex yet accessible music and the fact they have sold massive amounts of their music really does amaze because they did it their way which was in no way commercial or even like mush else you are likely to hear. Well done!

hanfuzzy This film does a good job of presenting and explaining what Rush is all about, and how the group has earned respect from fans, producers, DJs and other musicians (just not critics). Not quite hagiography, as it quotes some of the negative reviews and the band's own dissatisfaction with some of their albums or directions or even wardrobe choices.Unlike the filmmakers' heavy metal survey films (Headbanger's Journey and Global Metal), in this film Dunn is never on screen and is only heard once or twice asking questions of interview subjects. The spotlight (or limelight) is clearly placed on the band - this is a straight-up documentary, without dwelling on a fan's relationship to a band or genre. As in previous films by this team, the interviews with a surprisingly wide variety of subjects provide much of the meat of this film, giving a broad perspective and keeping it from having too much of a narrow viewpoint. Of course at least half the interviews are with Rush members themselves. You get a real sense of the men behind the music, including their relationships to each other, family, other musicians, and fans. A special aspect is some great earlier footage, even from family discussions while they were still in high school. There are also some powerful landscape shots while exploring Peart's response to deaths in his immediate family. And the examination of the song-writing process, including shots of original hand-written lyrics drafts, provides good value for viewers.Overall, a well-made film that does justice to the topic. Not as poignant or story-arced as Anvil: the Story of Anvil, this film has a more successful subject and didn't need to become a real-life Spinal Tap to make a interesting watch.

bs-30 Saw the premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival last night. A theater full of Rush fans guarantees that if the film faltered it would get immediate feedback. Not the case here at all. What us rabid Rush fans have been waiting for all these years has finally happened: a serious piece of film that accurately details the background of the band and their rise from obscurity to, as Geddy says "not mainstream, but OUR stream", with the ups and downs along the way. Everything is covered, from their struggle for a recording contract until their first stateside 'fans' Donna Halper from WMMS in Cleveland and Cliff Burnstein of Mercury Records helped them out, the early years w/ John Rutsey (someone who up until now was just a name - seeing and hearing him made me appreciate his early contributions to the group), the triumphant release of 2112 that gave them their independence, all the way to Neil's tragic loss of his daughter and wife years ago that almost spelled the end of the band.Peppered w/ interviews from other musicians who you would not typically think of as Rush fans (Trent Reznor, Billy Corgan, etc.) as well as those who absolutely fit the bill (Jack Black, Les Claypool, etc.) you see that their influence is not just musical but spiritual - not one of these people, except for maybe Mr. Claypool, play like Rush, but they all relate how their admiration for the band fueled their own push to be better musicians and hold onto their integrity.As you would expect, my only complaint is that it's not long enough. But that's what DVD extras are for. :) All in all a hearty thumbs-up! Be sure to catch the TV premiere in late June over at VH1/VH1Classic!And one last thought - this has solidified the growing position among us hardcore fans that it's irrelevant if they ever get into the R&R Hall of Fame. That's a popularity contest that the band has never cared for and nor do I.