DVD OF THE WEEK

It might get loud ****
Dir: Davis Guggenheim
Starring: Jimmy Page, The Edge, Jack White

Jimmy Page, The Edge and Jack White are the three stellar guitarists brought together in It Might Get Loud to discuss the electric guitar and their approach, influences, formative experiences and history. Those dreaming of a big jam session will be disappointed, though there is some brief riff-swapping as each guitarist demonstrates one or two of their classic tunes to the others.
Instead, this is an amiably low-key look at three very different players, complete with some priceless early footage of a very polite 12 year old 'James” Page (he's going to do 'biological research” when he leaves school!) and a very glam teenage Edge.
Each guitarist has a very individual approach to the instrument: The Edge in thrall of technology and constantly looking for new sounds (at one point he turns off the pedals and demonstrates what he's actually playing – two slow alternating chords); Jimmy Page who wants to caress his instrument like a woman; and Jack White who likens every time he plays to doing battle with the guitar.
It's a very affectionate look at three legends, neither comprehensive or especially deep, but filled with fascinating snippets: a good watch for both fans and guitarists.

It's a while since I have seen a film as bad as New Moon (*). Raising tedious teen angst to the level of overblown opera it is a mish-mash of bad acting (though lead Kristen Stewart at least seems competent), unconvincing CGI – the werewolves are particularly cartoon-like – uninspired direction (from the man who sucked the wonder out of The Golden Compass), and idiotic storytelling. This is not filmmaking as an art, just as a way to transfer a popular book franchise into bucketloads of cash. Preaching to the converted, there is no backstory, so if you haven't seen Twilight this will make no sense and, presumably, those who have seen Twilight will find a way to ignore the sheer stupidity and gaping plot holes on display.

Pontypool (***) is a small-scale Canadian indie named after its small-town locale. It takes William S Burroughs' assertion that language is a virus and runs with it in one of the more unusual takes on the recently repopular zombie genre. A morning DJ and his two producers find themselves trapped in their radio station amongst increasingly alarming reports of rioting and carnage engulfing the town. It slowly dawns that words themselves are spreading the infection. Relying on character and ideas rather than gore this is implausible stuff but well-made and enjoyable.

If there was ever a Kiwi film you'd think could sweep the country it would be Under The Mountain (**). Based on a book be Maurice Gee which already spawned a popular children's TV series, directed by Jonathan King (who made the impressive Black Sheep), effects by Weta and with Sam Neill on hand to lend class, the story of psychic twins, who move to Auckland after their mother's death and – via the creepy house next door – discover evil aliens living under the city's volcanoes, would seem a guaranteed winner. Sadly, insufficient character development of the twins is only one of the problems in a bland script while the cinematography (aside from some lovely aerial shots) and direction seem more suited to a TV show. The meagre budget shows through in numerous ways and I suspect this will have difficulty holding the attention of all but the most dedicated kids.

Dark and broody, The Broken (***) stars Lena Headey (Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles) as a radiologist whose apparently normal existence is rocked upon encountering her double and then almost immediately being involved in a car crash. Memory loss, bad dreams and general creepiness ensue, which these days usually means a 'she was dead all along” riff, but The Broken takes a very different direction making for an effective if somewhat ill-explained little English horror outing that, refreshingly, leans towards atmosphere and mystery for its shocks.