Siskel & Ebert - "This Is Spinal Tap"

2 thumbs up for the wonderful "This Is Spinal Tap", a brilliant comedy that satirizes rock 'n' roll documentaries. They both loved it.

[@ZeroChannelZero]

If Siskel gave it 1 thumb and Ebert gave it 1 thumb and you put them together it would go to 11 thumbs.

[@goopah]

Mind blown. And if they had each given it TWO thumbs up, well, let's see...I was never good at higher math, but I think 11 is the highest recorded number in human history anyway, right next to infinity.

[@stevejohnson1577]

Hahaha

[@chriscripplercruz1833]

Sounds about right to me lol

[@michaelminervini1908]

I see what you did there. nice

[@Cissy2cute]

E X C E L L E N T---------------------------- 👏🏼 👏🏼 👏🏼 👏🏼

[@johnnyw525]

I remember seeing “This is Spinal Tap” in the theatre. I loved it so much. On our way out I turned to my girlfriend and deadpanned, “They could have at least picked a better band to make a movie about”. The guy in front turned and stared at me. I think the guy in front of me thought I was being completely serious.

[@swrennie]

Bravo, sir. ; )

[@mikesilva3868]

Cool I saw this movie on DVD in 2009 from my library 😊

[@Spacejockey426]

That . . . is brilliant! That is perfectly in line with the humor of this amazing film! I hope she laughed!

[@ianjohns9398]

I see what you did there nice

[@MrMatthiasSchneider]

Haha, well done.

[@Delamthedestroyer]

"I'm lucky to work with two great visionarys in this band. David and Nigel are like fire and ice. I see my role as somewhere in the middle. Sort of like luke warm water..." - Derek Smalls.

[@pronkb000]

"So you're saying that when you play, you feel like a preserved moose onstage?"

[@selectorken]

@@pronkb000 I'd probably work with children.

[@Revelwoodie]

@@selectorken "It's such a fine line between stupid and clever."

[@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823]

@@Revelwoodie "if it looks stupid but it works, then it ain't stupid." The military

[@BrianWilliams-ii9vi]

Funny funny funny,should have gotten an Oscar

It's crazy how underrated Rob Reiner is as a Filmmaker. This film, Princess Bride, Stand by Me, When Harry Met Sally, Misery, A Few Good Men. Dude was on quite a hot streak from this film til A Few Good Men. Also, i really miss Siskel & Ebert.

[@spencerhensley5495]

If only he hadn’t of made North he would still be one of our very best filmmakers. Fortunately everything he did from 1984-92 was great.

@@spencerhensley5495 "of made"? Seriously? Go back to school.

[@hughbetcha436]

Too bad he's such a hard left nutcase in real life!

[@dlh7989]

​​@@spencerhensley5495ven after North he made The American President, and Ghosts of Mississippi I've heard is decent. It's really since the 90s that he's become a forgettable to bad filmmaker. I mostly think of his classic run through the 80s and 90s as movies that had some of the greatest screenplays ever most of all, but he certainly did justice to them.

[@jeffgill420]

He's still a MEATHEAD

[@pillettadoinswartsh4974]

I showed this movie to my girlfriend, back in 1987 or so. About half-way through, we paused it to get snacks. I asked her what she thought of it so far (as she hadn't been laughing a lot). She said, "well, it would be a lot funnier if it wasn't real." We only lasted another week or so............

[@MrMatthiasSchneider]

I've made pretty much every GF I've ever had watch this movie with me. :-D

[@azbluesdog]

In 1986 my brother and I were playing in a rock band. On an off night, we rented This is Spinal Tap on VHS and watched it with our respective girlfriends. The girls didn't get it at all. My brother and I were laughing so hard we had to pause the tape to breathe.

[@DMONEY7720]

The real version is the story of Anvil, life unfortunately imitating art

[@kevaninthe4135]

"This is Spinal Tap" is one of the most brilliant movies ever made.

[@athletic-dashole8648]

Uncle George, let's not get crazy....

[@JordanPardes]

Athletic - Dashole he's right though

[@MrRoundwound]

No. It is the most brilliant

[@daves4645]

@Lloyd Bonafide Yeah, he plays multiple characters on his radio show. That's real hard to get.

[@dimbulb1178]

A real documentary of Maroon Five would probably be funnier, albeit unintentionally.

[@1pcfred]

The stonehenge prop sequence just about killed me when I saw it. The build up and delivery was sublime.

[@brianmiller1077]

My wife to be laughed so hard she fell off the couch and kept laughing

[@1pcfred]

@@brianmiller1077 twas funny that.

[@MondoMiami]

@@brianmiller1077Yeah, that never happened.

[@EstateSaleShopper1]

I remember seeing "This Is Spinal Tap" in the theater. On our way out, I heard a guy behind me say "They could have at least picked a better band to make a movie about". Turned around and looked at him. I believe he was being completely serious. It had apparently escaped him that this was satire.

[@aquamarine99911]

lol, you hear these stories. But I thought as a band. they actually were pretty good. Sex Farm, Stonehenge, Jazz Odyssey ... they weren't bad songs. Sure they were parodies of a lot of 70s music, but the movie wouldn't have worked if they were BAD bad. I guess it just proves that there's a fine line between ... oops someone says it just below.

[@djjukeboxhero6491]

Either that or he was the best troll on the planet.

[@starfishsystems]

And these people vote in federal elections.

[@highdownmartin]

When Noel and Liam Gallagher saw a stage show of spinal tap the opening band was the clansmen(?) the folk rock pastiche group that shearer et al do in another film. Allegedly Liam growled at Noel, who are these fucking muppets? He had no idea that tap were the alter egos of the group currently on stage.

[@aquamarine99911]

@@highdownmartin So Liam's an idiot? Shocker!

[@artdeco64]

It's such a fine line between stupid and clever.

[@robertwilson973]

I've used thst line several times in real life since

[@TheLocutus70]

Movies like this...I always say they're so stupid that they're funny.

[@thesprawl2361]

@@TheLocutus70 I always say stuff like This Is Spinal Tap and The Simpsons is stupid humour written by very clever people, and that's not a criticism.

[@thesprawl2361]

@Lloyd Bonafide I think it's safe to say you're in a very, very small minority.

[@thesprawl2361]

@Lloyd Bonafide What is it you have against Spinal Tap? Widely regarded as one of the greatest comedies of all time? Did they cut your lines from the movie or something?

[@TXSugarMagnolia]

Man, I never wanted to live in a world without Siskel & Ebert. I didn't always agree with them, but dang, I sure miss them now!

[@TXSugarMagnolia]

But, God, I love this movie for a MILLION reasons. Or at least eleven...

[@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823]

TXSugarMagnolia have you seen the Sun-Times? It's ALL ads! There weren't any interesting articles or reviews like there used to be.

[@TheRealLaughingGravy]

@Michelle M - Yes, the Sun-Times is an embarrassment now. After the Daily News closed, it was the best paper in the city, now it's like the Penny Shopper.

[@MattMcIrvin]

Fuck cancer. It got them both.

[@paulcooper8818]

I liked them best when on PBS, Thursdays at 8 PM, then I could plan which movies to go see on the weekend. When they switched to syndication, the air day-time moved around so much it was hard to find and sometimes wouldn't air until late on Sunday, which made it less useful.

[@RachelsSweetie]

I've done my time in bands, and this film is so real it hurts.

[@aquamarine99911]

Decades ago I read about an English dinner party which had Sting and Sinead O'Connor,and they were repeating the lines to each other and shrieking with laughter. That's what's so great about ST, the more you know about music, the funnier it is. Ever since, I can't stand watching music-themed films where the actors are clearly just miming the playing of their instruments. Harry really was playing (or knew how to play) that bass solo while stuck in the pod.

[@MrUndersolo]

I completely understand the rock stars who watched this and thought it was a straight documentary.

[@indagdnm]

I’ve been a musician all my life and this movie gets more real with each passing year.

[@hulkjelly6876]

Played for 26 years. Very accurate.

[@anthonydavis9662]

@Lloyd Bonafide Still bitter that you got passed over, huh, Phil? Go whack off to a Lita Ford album cover and relieve some of that dad-stress.

[@johnellizz]

What amazes me about "Spinal Tap" is how they actually made TWO movies worth of scenes and jokes. When you watch the DVD with the bonus disc, you discover that the 'deleted scenes' from the film are so extensive that it's like watching a WHOLE NEW "Spinal Tap" movie that was filmed at the same time but that you never even knew existed. These scenes go on for as long as the feature length film and are just as funny!

[@atlasking6110]

ita...the bonus material is a whole 'nother movie and just as funny!

[@campbellmanderson943]

I'd love to edit the film with the unused footage.

[@cliffordshafran9250]

Has anyone made an extended version with both the original and bonus material? Strange that there's so much cutting room material, given the movie's running time of only 85 minutes. Such a brilliant and funny mockumentary!

[@markblum5059]

@@campbellmanderson943 There is a bootleg called This is Spinal Tap The 4 1/2 Workprint. It is hard to find but it turns up every now and then on ebay or other second-hand sites. It is worth having. apersonofinterest.wordpress.com/2015/10/09/this-is-spinal-tap-mark-2-the-elusive-4-5-hour-workprint/

[@montag4516]

The DVD also has an additional in-charachter audio commentary track. Runs for the entire length of the film and is equally funny.

[@SuperToughnut]

The scene where the band is attempting to harmonize over Elvis's grave with one of his songs is hilarious.

[@a2ndopynyn]

"Same key I think..." 🤣

[@DanielHBuchmann]

"Sounds fucking barbershop raga", lol.

[@pfos]

Nigel Tufnel: It really puts perspective on things though, doesn't it? David St. Hubbins: But too much! There's too much FAHkeen perspective now.

[@dvhughesdesign]

Since my baby left me... ............ left me.

[@raymondrose6596]

I saw this movie in the theatre and when they dropped the 12 inch Stonehenge on stage I burst out laughing uncontrollably. My favorite part.

[@jc4evur661]

I loved the amp that went to 11

[@skinovtheperineum1208]

That and when the fan asked later if they were going to do Stonehenge again. - P.S. it was 18 inches.

[@jc4evur661]

@@skinovtheperineum1208 18" and not 18'

[@skinovtheperineum1208]

@@jc4evur661 - You got on here to say 18 inches using another method of expression? ok

[@jc4evur661]

@@skinovtheperineum1208 Spinal Taps agent (I believe he was) wanted an 18 foot (18') Stonehenge...but accidently wrote it on the napkin as 18 inches (18") which is the size the artist made it....it was hilarious like you said

[@scottrobinson9752]

I am a live sound engineer. I spent the first 25 years of my career on the road with bands. I think for people in the touring industry, this movie has so many hilarious hidden gems. Its genius.

[@bjblues7823]

My favorite comedy of all time. I give it an 11.

[@johnjay9404]

"There's a fine line between clever and stupid." This was one liner heaven between us drunken band mates. It never gets old.

[@VIDS2013]

My friends & I have been using that since the movie came out. 😄

[@hulkjelly6876]

As a musician, this film nailed the whole "a day in the life" of a rock band. "PUPPET SHOW & Spinal Tap"

[@pfos]

Oh no. If I told them once, I told them a hundred times; to put Spinal Tap first and Puppet Show last.

[@stevenr5149]

Not the real live metal bands I follow. Nothing like them.

[@drbkap3]

My ex husband was a roadie for blue oyster cult. For one tour they actually had a t shirt with a marquee that said PUPPET SHOW/blue oyster cult. It was hilarious.

[@goodtunes2]

I bought that shirt! @@drbkap3

[@gemmaazz]

One of the signs read "Spinal TARP." 😂😂😂

[@captpicard6894]

The true test of Spinal Tap is that you watch it today and it’s still relevant, still funny, and still as fresh, unique, and entertaining as it was when it first came out. Total masterpiece.

[@anonUK]

To be fair, though, most of the people it's parodying are now dead, or near as dammit.

[@Stroheim333]

Six years _earlier,_ the mockumentary The Rutless by Eric Idle was released. A great inspiration for Spinal Tap, without doubt.

[@KOSMICKEN09]

Rutles - what is Rutless 😂

[@jerryballard371]

Todd Rundgren did the album Deface The Music which was a straight out Beatles tribute band. Could easily be mistaken for lost Beatles tapes. kzbin.info/www/bejne/h6jIqWZ8hMR9jqM

[@waynemarvin5661]

@@KOSMICKEN09 Having no rut, obviously. Uh, I think the kid was trying to write "Rutles", but he didn't have anyone to spell it for him. He should be pitied, not made fun of. The same goes for Matthew, with his "Ruttles".

[@cepson]

3:08 I don't know why I laugh hysterically every time I see Ed Begley, Jr. grin into the camera in that scene.

[@daughterofolaf]

cepson He looks so happy and we know he winds up DEED! It’s sad and hilarious.

[@zosothezephead837]

He reminds me of the "twisted old fruit" hotel receptionist.

[@MrMatthiasSchneider]

And that little inadvertent shoulder shrug at the end...

[@somebodyelse714]

@@zosothezephead837 he was just as God made him

[@SpottedSharks]

I just realized Ed Bagely was the drummer behind Michael McKean in that 60s clip. Both are in Better Call Saul.

[@thesprawl2361]

'Ed Bagely' - as in 'Ed Like-a-bagel'

[@co2metal]

@@thesprawl2361 Oh look at you, The Sprawl. Jumped right on that bagel thing you casual master of wit.

[@thesprawl2361]

@@co2metal Thanks chum. I'm going to take that as a compliment solely to annoy you.

[@co2metal]

@@thesprawl2361 That won't be enough to annoy me, The Sprawl.

[@thesprawl2361]

@@co2metal Then I'm just going to take it as a compliment.

[@fritzidler2002]

When we first saw the add on TV, it said Spinal Tap was a movie for people who had a sense of humor about rock music. One of our pals said to me and my brother, "Well, I guess it's not for you two then." But when we all saw it together, we all laughed our heads off, except the guy who said that. He hardly laughed at all. I was not really surprised by this. Know why? Because his favorite band was Kiss.

[@BlackMetalWorld]

Well I find this movie funny and all but my favorite genre is black metal and man in it's early days the genre went beyond spinal tap.

[@fromthedoor]

Kiss is the worst

[@thohangst]

+fromthedoor Yes. Yes they are. Oy, talk about non-music.

[@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823]

thohangst worst example is "Beth." THERE goes a band that SHOULD NOT be allowed to do ballads. Not even a power ballad, if memory serves. I give Detroit Rock City a pass, tho...

[@misterwishart]

I watched Spinal Tap right after watching "Live in Pompeii" by Pink Floyd; really hard to take the latter seriously now

[@jeffwalker9122]

The airport security scene with the foil wrapped cucumber down the bass players pants was pure gold!

[@djrychlak4443]

We laugh because it's true. Who hasn't been down that road before? At an airport. With pickle wrapped in foil...

[@lossratioband]

"We'd love to sit around and chat, but we gotta sit down in the lobby and wait for the limo."

[@jeffclement2979]

lossratioband my absolute favorite line delivered by Howard Hesseman

[@jamestepera3356]

Duke Fame......great name for a Rocker!

[@chrisvanderwielen1530]

I seem to remember reading somewhere about Ronnie James Dio praising this movie for actually being accurate about what life on tour for a real band is like. "Everyone has been lost in the tunnels under the stage at least one time..."

[@randyhutchinson9910]

Hahahaha, I remember that !!!

[@pronkb000]

That scene was apparently inspired by a video of Tom Petty walking through a door expecting the stage and finding himself in an indoor tennis court.

[@thedativecase9733]

I actually used this gag when I was in a group of patients being led through the corridors of a gloomy NHS hospital: "Wooo Rock n Roll!!". Everyone got the joke. That's how famous this film is.

[@kkpenney444]

I have never laughed at a movie scene more than that one. Still kills me.

[@monty4336]

The getting lost backstage scene actually happened to KISS at a concert where the elevator took them to the wrong floor. 😆

[@gkogko3704]

"I woudn't worry about it. Boston's not a big college town." Ian Faith

[@atlasking6110]

They're becoming more...selective in their appeal.

[@coccinelle80]

Gko Gko 🤣🤣🤣of course it’s not. There’s no Harvard, Boston U, MIT, etc.

[@leegsy]

Oh, hi, Liam? It's Ian. Right, Ian, how you doing?

[@Ericwvb2]

One of my favorite lines in the film. Quick, name a US city that's MORE of a college town than Boston ha ha ha.

[@happydayz7857]

Eric van Bezooijen even more impressive is the fact this movie was ad lib

[@happydayz7857]

In a recent interview I learned this movie was ad lib, with the exception of the band’s history. I can’t believe that much brilliance came out of improv.

[@keyman6689]

They had to develop each of their character's history, and that of the band, so that their improv would make sense

[@AV57]

I mean, could you imagine actually reading a script like this? This kind of stuff only comes from multiple people trying to one-up each other on the spot.

[@magistrumartium]

They're all naturally brilliant performers

[@brianmiller1077]

You can almost see Guest and McKean break character during the "shark Sandwich" review.

[@richardtheconquerer]

@@brianmiller1077 "*chuckles* they didn't print that"

[@mattsmith87]

For anyone who have worked (especially on the road) in the rock business, this is the most accurate documentary ever made.

[@amiblueful]

This is one of my favorite movies of all time. It never gets old.

[@barnabyaprobert5159]

To anyone who's played in a rock band "This Is Spinal Tap" is comedy gold. Right up there with Monty Python or the best of Mel Brooks.

[@frankphillips6001]

While the movie is absolute gold, a good number of professional musicians didn't find the movie funny at all because it hit far to close to home. Stars ranging from Sing to Dio felt the movie was far too real to be funny.

[@barnabyaprobert5159]

@@frankphillips6001 I didn't know that. Thanks for the insight!

[@sweet60]

Or it's "sea of retarded sexuality".

[@mikegike7273]

100% true. Espicially on the shit thats going on in todays world. On really bad days, I need to pull out my dvd's and watch one of these movies.

[@monty4336]

Eddie Van Halen said he thought the movie was more realistic than comedy.

[@montag4516]

The DVD version has an additional commentary audio track that's almost equally as funny because the actor's remain in charachter throughout.

[@jamesanthony8438]

I know. It's actually my favorite part of the DVD. =)

[@AD-df5tm]

That's the thing I miss most now that streaming is big. Commentary tracks were sometimes hidden gems. The spinal tap one is a good example. The anchorman commentary is another (there are all kinds of people who have nothing to do with the movie on it). The Armageddon ones where Ben Affleck trashes there movie and pisses off Micheal Bay is another haha.

[@customsongmaker]

"That movie was such a hit piece. We've heard that people saw the film, and they actually laughed!"

[@uneedtherapy42]

this was a simpler time....no rotten tomatoes yet no internet... this was always a show we watched. Loved these guys.

[@freddylopez5889]

Please, go watch Half in the Bag, those guys are like modern Roger and Gene.

[@anonb4632]

The internet was around then, just for a few academics and military men.

[@Delamthedestroyer]

"You should have seen what they wanted her to smell. It wasn't a glove believe me.."

[@Nightdare]

"What's wrong with being sexy?"

[@pronkb000]

@@Nightdare "IST. Ist."

[@Durwood71]

There will never be another team like Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert.

[@RyanInLA]

when they were alive most everyone thought they were annoying

[@whatsupguys8547]

That defines you RyaninLA

[@trikkerman1]

what about HBO Sneak Preview with Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara (Ben Stiller's mom and dad).

[@chibbykill]

Gregg and tim

[@clubhouseme]

@@trikkerman1 what about them? those two idiots are no Siskel and Ebert

[@tokyodirect4594]

Watched the movie 2 weeks ago. Totally stands up as one of the very best.

[@SmilePileProd]

The scene where he starts playing experimental free-form jazz on his bass to save that daylight rodeo show is probably one of my top ten movie moments.

[@omnipop4936]

A free-form jazz... exploration.😂

[@halweiss8671]

My favorite was the scene where you expect him to use the violin bow on the guitar, but instead uses the violin.

[@edwardofgreene]

“On the bass, Derek Smalls. He wrote this.”

[@AO-bl7cc]

Love the little sound effects that can be heard in that scene. Like the amp hiss and what sounds like an instrument that got accident unplugged

[@ggsilik]

@@halweiss8671 And then he tightens the string on the violin 😂

[@Corey-zg3bc]

the first time i watched it, the audience laughed so much that I had to see it again the next night….

[@deluge71]

What a blast from the past! I used to love watching Siskel & Ebert (RIP) as a kid.

[@harshkumarsingh4912]

This Is Spinal Tap movie here => twitter.com/3895325dde0fc845c/status/822791310893404165

[@michaelcurry97]

We've got Armadillos in our trousers. It's really quite frightening.

[@BrBill]

Siskel & Ebert didn't talk at all here about how almost every moment of the film is improvised (around an outline). Genius level work here.

[@jeffclement2979]

"Our first drummer died after choking on vomit... Not his own,someone elses"

[@seanmulloy854]

They decided it one of those crimes, better left...unsolved.

[@worstxb1playertylerteehc635]

Well we don't know who's Vomit.

[@jamesconroy7030]

YOU ARE WRONG!!!! John “Stumpy” Pepys was the first Spinal Tap Drummer. who died in a bizarre gardening accident.

[@jamesconroy7030]

@@djavidianmx1832 Especially, since the first drummer John “Stumpy” Pepys died in a bizarre gardening accident. It was the second drummer who choked on vomit.

[@jeffclement2979]

@@jamesconroy7030 Ok! I was wrong! About something that NEVER HAPPENED in tbe first place Sorry didn't mean to shout

[@sweet60]

Really one of the greatest comedies, if not movies of all time. It's one of those movies that I've seen dozens of times, and it never (because it can't) gets old. Every rock musician can relate to the antics and mishaps that torture this band. This movie was years ahead of it's time. Brilliant.

[@erilaz7]

Christopher Guest had previously performed as Nigel Tufnel on the 1979 album "Lenny & Squiggy Present Lenny and the Squigtones" (which of course featured Michael McKean as Lenny).

[@goudagirl6095]

The most brilliant mockumentary ever. If you grew up during the 70s, YOU GOT IT. Love the flick. Oh and much of the dialog was ad-libbed through the film. Turn it up to...11.

[@ms.lisamurphy269]

kelli blue Kelli - I agree wholeheartedly. Problem for me? My friends and I went to see the movie - and well - we were teenagers who just DID NOT GET IT. After about 25 minutes - we walked out. We weren’t sophisticated enough to understand satire - we thought it was a real band we’d never heard of ( which I’d actually true) And because it was my idea/ my friends weren’t happy I’d drained 4 bucks out of there dwindling allowances. Flash forward/ from that year it was released ( 1983?) to 2013. I was laid up in bed for 6 weeks with a cast on my leg. The boredom was excruciating. So I flipped through amazon movies -huh? Wow - there’s that movie. Over the years I’d heard the film mentioned repeatedly on top 10 lists, different reviews all pointing to it as a classic in the genre of satire - but more importantly- it was without exception described as utterly hilarious. What did miss at 15? ALOT!!! You know a movie is the real deal when you’re by yourself laughing till you start that coughing thing. I was dying. I understand my youthful disdain. The jokes -are in the realm of “insider” or plain just went over our daffy heads. In any case. It’s now on my list of favorite films! Only took 30 years! Happy New Year 🦋

[@SithCelia]

I first learned of this film from my grandmother back when I was a little kid. I remember her recounting the scene with Derek trapped in the pod. This is comedy that goes to an 11!

[@kdryan21]

The authorities said it was one of those things that was better left unsolved...

[@geekrockrats]

A bizarre gardening accident

[@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823]

geekrockrats how bizarre was it that legendary drummer Jeff Porcaro dies in 1990, 6 years AFTER this came out, on his lawn, rumored to be "a gardening accident." Not the drugs. No sir. A favorite drummer. I figure he would have loved this movie.

[@Antonicane]

The official ruling was that he choked 'on vomit'. It wasn't actually his vomit, it was somebody else's.

[@FanboyFilms]

You can't really dust for vomit.

[@rmartin7558]

Say what you want about Siskel and Ebert, they were ahead of the curve when it came to Spinal Tap. They got it right away. Many folks did not.

[@Ericwvb2]

Ebert doesn't always get it. He gave the awful dreck of Star Wars Ep 3 1/2 stars - an almost unwatchable disaster of a film. He gave Die Hard 2 stars, The Professional 2 1/2 stars, My Cousin Vinny 2 1/2 stars, Brazil 2 stars, Dirty Harry 3 stars, Blade Runner 3 stars, A Clockwork Orange 2 stars -- all films far superior to the execrable Ep 1.

[@denniscassley9992]

"These go to ELEVEN"...classic!!

[@stevehumphrey667]

Wasn't the question like, "Why didn't they just make 10 louder?" Moment of confusion and silence then...

[@traysutherland8491]

+s Humphrey Well, they go to eleven, so that's (pause to think) one louder

[@stevehumphrey667]

Trayton Sutherland Awesome, I'm cracking up right now! That movie is awesome. That unscripted and ad libbed stuff isn't always great but it's the one thing that really makes lose it as I enter middle age.

[@supafuckinmingster]

Probably the greatest comedy scene ever IMHO.

[@JustWasted3HoursHere]

Yep! Enjoy: kzbin.info/www/bejne/q362h2eFqcqkeKc

[@blakkat4126]

This the the way I want to remember Siskel and Elbert. Vibrant and full of life. I used to watch them before they became famous with the “thumbs up/ down thing. They were shown on PBS and they based their recommendations on “yes” or “no.” Now they’re gone.

[@photosbydoyle]

Ebert had it right. God bless him and Siskel. May they rest in peace.. There will never be two others like them! We miss you guys! You reviewed movies when movies mattered!

[@Esus4]

When they were around the newspaper ad would simply say two thumbs up and you knew then it was worth the risk of buying a ticket. Rotten Tomatoes will always be a mediocre substitute. I

[@xxxYYZxxx]

WTF, the entire newspaper, TV, and movie industry is "just like them". 🤣

[@robloxvids2233]

Best thing was those songs were played by the band. And one of them was used unironically in Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead.

[@jacktorrance2633]

The soundtrack is great!

[@ericprebys8165]

Few movies have left us with as many immortal quotes as this one. 33 years later, I still say "goes to 11" at least once a week.

[@jlaakso1706]

The fact we hear about something that "goes to 11" so many times over the year about other things I think is testament to the impact the film has had. The band should be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

[@ernestkinas5973]

The shit eating grin on Christopher Guest's face when he's joining in on the chorus of Gimme Some Money is worth the price of admission alone.

[@andrewdiamond2697]

Paul McCartney also wore the shit-eating grin at that time in history.

[@adamdesanti6713]

In the 90's during my teens I made my dad tape Siskel & Ebert on Sunday nights as it would come on at 12 midnight. I was the highlight of my monday morning breakfast watching 30 minutes of their reviews before school.

[@benahern7410]

Whenever I start thinking or hear about some kind of art. Intravenous De Milo always comes to mind.

[@taylorcarlson8684]

Kind of funny the following review is for a Jamie Lee Curtis movie, since she eventually married Christopher Guest.

[@AgentXPQ]

The whole reason why I scrolled down the comments, was to see if anyone else caught that too.

[@depaola63]

He's great!

[@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823]

Taylor Carlson in 1984, about when this came out, married since, apparently.

[@kingofallwhites]

Taylor Carlson She is also pretending to be something she isnt

[@MUFFINHEAD1985]

@@kingofallwhites hush now. No one wants to hear the truth.

[@davejss]

"How much more black can it get? The answer is none, none more black. "

[@StasisDreams]

Metallica ripped off their album cover, lol.

[@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823]

JB Metallica was CLEARLY the inspiration for ST. Proof: "Some kind of Monster." Funniest thing I ever saw.

[@doctorfeelfunny584]

Spinal Top was created in 1979. Metallica's first album was released in 1983.

[@toms4442]

@@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823 millennials!

[@MB-ln9nv]

Death sells!

[@jasonlefler3456]

While laughing along to this movie, it can be easy to miss what a dope jam the chorus of Rock n Roll Creation is.

[@jaybee9269]

It really is!

[@stevekenna]

Some of Spinal Tap's songs are actually solid examples of the ridiculous Cock Rock of the 70s and 80s.

[@aeropilot4419]

Sex Farm! 🤘🏼🤘🏼

[@patrickmichaellangan576]

Both "Siskel & Ebert" as well as "This Is Spinal Tap" are shows I'd watch over and over again.

[@tolfan4438]

Siskel and Ebert was a very popular show in it's day.for most people pre internet it was the number one place for movie reviews . Most people didn't even realize it was called "At the movies".

[@daveygivens735]

If any of you Tappers are Jonesing for a sequel I highly recommend "A Mighty Wind". It's not Tap, but it's pretty damn good.

[@BackwoodsFilms]

Definitely worth watching. It's Spinal Tap if they were folk musicians. Other good Christopher Guest films include Best in Show, Waiting for Guffman, For Your Consideration,

[@ericwalters5382]

It's a Lot more Nowtro alright.

[@FanboyFilms]

Or watch the Spinal Tap Reunion TV movie from 1992, I think it was released on DVD. Coincided with the release of the Break Like The Wind album.

[@jeffclement2979]

Davey Givens I saw the Folksmen on SNL before I saw "Tap" and it totally went over my head "Why's everybody laughing?" Didn't get Spinal Tap the first time either...but... The second and third and etc. ROTFLMAO!

[@billyboblillybob344]

@@jeffclement2979 In fairness, there are two different Folksmen. The Mark Shubb Folksmen then the Marta Shubb Folksmen.

[@davidscott7626]

Speaking as a lifelong fan of hard rock music, this movie was brilliant. Hell their music was much better than a lot of the utter crap that came later.

[@TheHardcoreRob]

The greatest “mockumentary” ever made.

[@imarriedabrkfsttaco3737]

Glad these 2 actually got the gist of thos classic. 40 years later and This Is Spinal Tarp...TAP is still hilarious. This flick was convincing enough to fool some bands when it came out.

[@duffyjohnson77]

S & E probably didn't realize it when they taped this show but TIST was completely improvised, as were all of Chris Guests subsequent mock-doc comedies. These guys belong in the pantheon of the greatest film comic geniuses with Chaplin, Keaton & the Marx Bros

[@parliamentlite]

Monty Python too!

[@hisokamorow3756]

This movie still has the "old tagger on it". My favorite and always fun to watch. The loudest Rock Band Ever.

[@raymondweaver8526]

Because they go to 11

[@hisokamorow3756]

@@raymondweaver8526 Tell it Bro, rayray ✊✌️🤙

[@toms4442]

Big bottom, talk about mud flaps my girls got them big bottom drive me out of my mind, how could I leave this behind! Pure poetry!!!

[@NATIVESUNSETS65]

It's been awhile since i've seen Spinal Tap wasn't Big Bottom when they all played bass and Derek Smalls had the ultimate overkill a Double Neck Bass LOL TAP never received their props, they were brilliant lyricists plowing bean fields SEX FARM Let's rock and roll Working on a sex farm Trying to raise some hard love Getting out my pitch fork And poking your hay. Scratching in your henhouse Sniffing at your feedbag Slipping out your back door I'm leaving my spray. Sex farm woman I'm gonna mow you down Sex farm woman I'll rake and mow you down. Sex farm woman Don't you see my silo risin' high. Working on a sex farm Hosing down your barn door Bothering your livestock They know what I need. Working up a hot sweat I'm scratching in your pea patch Plowing through your bean field Planting my seed. Sex farm woman I'll be your hired hand Sex farm woman I'll let my offer stand Sex farm woman Don't you feel my tractor rumbling by By, by, by. Working on a sex farm Wolfing down some cornbread I'm turning on the TV Joining the grange.

[@billyboblillybob344]

@J M Yes the "Live Earth" show in '07

[@jchis9852]

Greatest album of all time... Smell the Glove!

[@Tranquillado]

Listening to S&E talk about what a brilliant premise a comedic mock documentary is is mind-blowing.

[@AgentXPQ]

I think S&E are more or less right in how they review this, but there is one point I disagree with- The best comedies are usually ones that you CAN approach from a smart place, but you can also approach from a dumb place. Tap I think qualifies in this regard.

[@virginiapicker]

Good point

[@paulsneed1952]

You might say they managed to be both stupid and clever.

[@MobiusBandwidth]

there's a fine line, between stupid, and clever...

[@shaolinotter]

the Simpsons also nails this

[@RobwLPOC]

Like 95% of the entire movie's dialogue, The line was improvised Rob Reiner himself said that 1 line the absolute perfect description of the movie as a whole= "It's such a fine line between stupid and clever"

[@Scoddygoat]

Watching the DVD with the band commentary is like getting a second movie.

[@daughterofolaf]

DUDE. I agree. I hardly ever actually watch the movie without the commentary anymore because the commentary is so awesome. So many quotable lines in the commentary that I use in everyday life. :P

[@thesprawl2361]

I'll have to hunt that down...

[@uriel736]

I'm a bass player and got to jam with the drummer (rick parnell, one who's in most of the movie) a few times. Phenomenal drummer. Sadly he passed away not to long ago.

[@joadbreslin5819]

Did he spontaneously combust? (RIP, Ric.)

[@JimmyNasium]

@@joadbreslin5819no one knows. The authorities thought it best unsolved.

[@n.w.1803]

..yes, but it wasn't his own vomit..does that make it potential homicide?

[@morrisman64]

I miss those guys

[@Xayjohns]

The best film critic duo of all time

[@davidolie8392]

I have seen "Siskel and Eberting" used as a verb. They have entered the language.

[@kevbotchill]

Dude you make tge best guitar instructionals! Legendary stuff you put out

[@albertvalenzuela8417]

I'm with you, bro.

[@UDAMZ]

I only started paying attention to Roger's reviews later in life and I truly miss them. I really respected his opinions and was one reviewer you could trust.

[@chasbodaniels1744]

Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert were a terrific review team. They didn’t get along too well, but they did a great job.

[@markyncole]

If they gave any movie 2 Thumbs Up,you know it was good.

[@steverogers2603]

I didn’t always agree with Roger but I loved his writing style.

[@steverogers2603]

@@chasbodaniels1744 they actually were friends in real life, though it seemed to be a complex friendship.

[@fredtheted2259]

You can’t dust for vomit👌

[@gingercube1]

Great band! Saw 'em at a cheese rolling festival that ended tragically. Also, I hopped the fence on the Isle of Lucy. The song remains, basically, the same.

[@almostfm]

I hate to admit how many times I'd seen this movie before the "Isle of Lucy" joke clicked.

[@jackal59]

One of my favorite little details comes later in the film when they're doing the sound check before the album and Jeannie show. While playing, they call to each other for "Gimme Some Money" as "GSM" and David/Michael McKeen does a perfect Roger Daltey "My Generation" stammer on "You know what I n-n-n-n-need."

[@ROGER2095]

At the very end of the movie, during the closing credits, they interview (I think) the keyboardist: "So what's in the future? Just sex, drugs, and rock & roll?" A: "Well, as long as I have the sex and drugs, I could do without the rock & roll..."

[@imthedorf1964]

I'm pretty sure it was the drummer.

[@BScott7220]

This is my favorite line in the whole movie. 2nd: "They're experimenting with the album cover. What, do they have monkeys opening them?"

[@mauriciohernandezdiaz9825]

Drummer Mick Shrimpton (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ric_Parnell)

[@sweet60]

"I'd be a full time dreamer", and "I'd be the patron saint of fine footwear" are up there too.

[@spacetimecontinuum]

This movie is dangerous!! The first time I saw this I literally thought I might die laughing, I seriously could not catch my breath and all these years later I have YET to see anything which has made me laugh that hard. Intravenus DeMilo FTW! Tis funny that the next movie Siskel&Ebert go on to review, stars Jamie Lee Curtis who Christopher Guest goes on to marry and they are still married, yay! R.I.P Sis and Ebe x

[@LiberalsArePoop]

spacetimecontinuum It really is an amazingly funny movie, isn't it?

[@spacetimecontinuum]

***** Stonehenge, where the demons dwell, where the banshees live and they do live well, Stonehenge, where a man is man and the children dance to the pipes of Pan! ;-)

[@spacetimecontinuum]

DanR67 Brilliantly funny!

[@Kedbuka]

+She Says "I love her each weekday, each velvety cheekday, you know what I mean!"

[@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823]

Kedbuka "Talk about mudflaps..." lol, ok, nevermind...

[@jazzmann1198]

RIP Gene,and Roger

[@JohnSmith-mx8wp]

Did they choke on vomit?

[@raymondkitchen6137]

No. It was a flash-fire in a waterbed shop. Perhaps I'm mixing up their death with Stig from The Rutles. I can't remember.

[@llh3025]

@@JohnSmith-mx8wp But who's vomit? You can't dust for vomit.

[@ShamrockNRoller]

"Why do they call them little people? It's so belittling."

[@margotbronski2234]

No matter how many times I see this, I still find new laughs.

[@8triagrammer]

I was too young to appreciate how awesome Siskel was.

[@cshq177]

One of the most entertaining films ever made.

[@ScottyKirk1]

I remember an interview with Eddie Van Halen saying that he didn't think this movie was very funny when he saw it first bcuz alot of the stuff happened to him in real life.

[@ghostownaproach]

I heard somewhere probably a KZbin video, that the scene where Nigel has problems with the food before a show was based on an actual occurance where Eddie Van Halen did that same type thing.

[@andrewdiamond2697]

@@ghostownaproach I think it was David Lee Roth. Van Halen had a contract that only certain color M&Ms were permitted and required, and the unfavored colors had to be removed. It was done as a test to see if the promoters at each venue had read the contract. If they found the wrong M&M, they trashed the place.

[@Gravyballs2011]

"....the danger of having a set-piece crushed by a dwarf!"

[@randyhutchinson9910]

Hahahaha

[@felipeaguena5289]

As a heavy metal guitarist myself let me tell you something, y'all have no idea how many brands of equipment still pay homage to the 11 joke to this day

[@KimDryden19]

SO miss Ebert when he liked a film... He always cracked me up. Miss them both... :)

[@zeppelinmexicano]

The oddest thing of all is that they could play pretty well, and they always hired kick ass drummers.

[@raymondweaver8526]

Didn't several drummers die including one exploding onstage?

[@philmann3476]

@@raymondweaver8526 A lot of people spontaneously combust.

[@BinaryJoe]

They wrote all that music and the score for A Mighty Wind as well. These guys are total musicians.

[@PozerAdultRacingTeam]

Awesome movie.You know your day as a musician is going bad when you have a “Spinal Tap Moment “.

[@njlauren]

Saw this not long ago and it holds up. If anything, with the spectacle of groups well past their shelf life performing, and the inaneness of most concerts as spectacle, this holds up. One major thing is a lot of this was kind of done ad libbed it, lot of it was roughly blocked out then they shot it. Saw a reunion of these guys done by Harry Smith several years ago, it was funny as hell ( the 3 actors and Rob Reiner).

[@squamish4244]

"Rockers pushing 40", lol now rockers are pushing 70 and still at it, 40 is nothing.

[@EmileJoulbert]

Now they're pushing 80, and in the meantime a lot of them have started pushing up the daisies.

[@squamish4244]

Pushing 75 ;)

[@tracylf5409]

@@squamish4244 Hey, what matters is you're here, in the "now", baby! And seemingly of sound mind and a body capable of posting here, so "kudos"!

[@squamish4244]

Damn right!!!

[@rdubb77]

You can thank streaming for that. I'm not against technology by any means, but the royalties that were normally gotten on the sale of physical media dried up.

[@lynnturman8157]

My favorite moment in the movie is when Chris Guest is playing a guitar solo using a violin. He stops in the middle of it to tune the violin. Now THAT'S pretentious!!!

[@thohangst]

Yes, a nod to the ostentatiousness of prog rock, Emerson Lake and Palmer, Yes, etc. Brilliance.

[@seamusconley]

Definitely the best part

[@Kohntarkosz]

@@thohangst Actually, he was making fun of Jimmy Page's violin bow guitar solos, which were a feature of Led Zeppelin's shows. Supposedly, Page was so offended or appalled by the scene in the movie that he never used the violin bow again. I've actually heard there were a lot of musicians were MASSIVELY offended when the movie first cam eout, because they didn't get the joke (seeing as they kinda WERE the joke).

[@assmane999]

Kohntarkosz exactly. It hit too close to home. Sometimes a parody really captures a truth even though it is exaggerated a bit

[@martianshoes]

The Scorpions used to joke about being the “real Spinal Tap”.. And Ian Gillian, whos Black Sabbath actslly had a Mammoth Stonehenge set that crowded them off the stage, remarked laughingly in an interview that it was a “true Spinal Tap moment”...

[@jpavlvs]

I"m going to have to watch Spinal Tap again.

[@Wooley689]

I miss these guys, Siskel and Ebert were a have to watch.

[@gideonharris1493]

Trivia... When Derek goes through the metal detector several times, the airport announcers voices are them with their real accents.

[@catharineorellana3522]

"Do you have any artificial limbs...?"

[@gideonharris1493]

@@catharineorellana3522 Gold.

[@MobiusBandwidth]

surprised they didn't mention this movie was largely unscripted and improvised. brilliant film. after it came out, several major music and guitar magazines wanted in on the joke, and treated the band as if they were a real band that had been around since the 60s, which I'm sure some younger kids bought. it was a beautiful moment in time.

[@parliamentlite]

It was also something real metal fans would use to sort of weed out posers or newbies. "Dude, how about Spinal Tap? They rock!" "Oh yeah, Tap rules!" Judgment ensues.

[@Hexon66]

@@parliamentlite Who comes out on the short end of that evaluation, though?

[@studapeppahead5384]

WOW! That intro brought me back to 1984.......

[@Dave-ti2ue]

Never saw it in the theater. I rented it on VHS. I remember the first time I watched it I had no reaction to it at all. By the third or fourth viewing, I was hysterical. Took me a while to start getting it.

[@joetube141]

It was such a special time when Siskel and Ebert would come on and review movies. Nothing today compares. It made a special cinematic era even more special.

[@aeropilot4419]

Ah yes, 40 years ago … good times