Talking From the Box/Henry Rollins Goes to London

Talking From the Box/Henry Rollins Goes to London


Starring:Henry Rollins
Studio: IMAGO
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
He's been called "the angriest man in Los Angeles," but Henry Rollins is a good deal more than that. Although best known as a singer-songwriter with seminal punk rockers Black Flag and later his own Rollins Band, he is actually something of a Renaissance man, with experience as a film actor (The Chase, Heat, and others), published author and poet, and, as this two-disc set evidences, spoken-word artist. Each disc contains a single performance, both of them essentially unscripted monologues; the hourlong Talking from the Box comes from a 1992 gig at the Henry Fonda Theater in L.A., while the nearly two-hour Goes to London was filmed in that city the following year.

There's no music here, and precious little in the way of artifice--no special effects (notwithstanding some subtle editing and the use of both color and black and white), no production numbers, no props--just Rollins and his audience, which listens raptly as he rants, reads a little verse, tells some stories, and reminisces about his childhood, his life on the road, and so on. Sure, the anger is there, and the profanity flows freely. But Rollins also reveals himself to be surprisingly smart and literate, amusingly self-deprecating, generous, even vulnerable--especially during the "Two Boys" portion of Talking from the Box, when he recounts the horrific but riveting tale of the death of his best friend. Powerful stuff. --Sam Graham
Talking From the Box/Henry Rollins Goes to London
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Powerful and Amusing...typical Hank
  • Hank bears his soul and his weight on DVD...
  • Hank bears his soul and his weight on DVD...
  • Cheesy
  • Missed you in Montana (Damnit)!
 Talking From the Box/Henry Rollins Goes to London
Starring: Henry Rollins
Manufacturer: IMAGO
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Similar Items:
  1. Henry Rollins - Shock and Awe
  2. Henry Rollins: Up For It
  3. Henry Rollins: Live at Luna Park
  4. The Boxed Life
  5. Think Tank (Spoken Word)

ASIN: B00005ABVV
Release Date: 2001-04-24

Amazon.com

He's been called "the angriest man in Los Angeles," but Henry Rollins is a good deal more than that. Although best known as a singer-songwriter with seminal punk rockers Black Flag and later his own Rollins Band, he is actually something of a Renaissance man, with experience as a film actor (The Chase, Heat, and others), published author and poet, and, as this two-disc set evidences, spoken-word artist. Each disc contains a single performance, both of them essentially unscripted monologues; the hourlong Talking from the Box comes from a 1992 gig at the Henry Fonda Theater in L.A., while the nearly two-hour Goes to London was filmed in that city the following year.

There's no music here, and precious little in the way of artifice--no special effects (notwithstanding some subtle editing and the use of both color and black and white), no production numbers, no props--just Rollins and his audience, which listens raptly as he rants, reads a little verse, tells some stories, and reminisces about his childhood, his life on the road, and so on. Sure, the anger is there, and the profanity flows freely. But Rollins also reveals himself to be surprisingly smart and literate, amusingly self-deprecating, generous, even vulnerable--especially during the "Two Boys" portion of Talking from the Box, when he recounts the horrific but riveting tale of the death of his best friend. Powerful stuff. --Sam Graham

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Powerful and Amusing...typical Hank.......2002-08-18

Contrary to a certain previous review, Henry Rollins' spoken word is not about Henry whining about his past....his point isn't to prove his punk cred at all. Instead, Henry's stories are often filled with empathy towards those with a kind of strength not recognized by an anti-intellectual society that is raised on beer and football, and sees life on a one-dimensional level. His more personal moments occasionally bear the purpose of poking fun at himself, something that gives him more credibility as a thinking and searching human being than as a punk icon. As a musician, he can move a handfull of us, and exorcise his rawest angst. As a person, as a human, he can move mountains.

4 out of 5 stars Hank bears his soul and his weight on DVD..........2002-05-28

This two-fer for Rollins fans is an easter egg. Half the stories he tells on both discs are tales told already on his spoken albums, but now have a nice visual touch added in for an even more intense view of Rollins' wonderfully twisted psyche. From travel stories, to personal enlightenment, to the death of friends to masturbation technique, Rollins has a superb gift for making the most mundane experiences we all share, to tight and personal stories you were miles away from, into events the audience can take away as a present, feel they were walking with him, laugh and hate, and feel good overall. Very good, very funny, very touching. A must for anyone who likes to hear a good story.

4 out of 5 stars Hank bears his soul and his weight on DVD..........2002-05-28

This two-fer for Rollins fans is an easter egg. Half the stories he tells on both discs are tales told already on his spoken albums, but now have a nice visual touch added in for an even more intense view of Rollins' wonderfully twisted psyche. From travel stories, to personal enlightenment, to the death of friends..., Rollins has a superb gift for making the most mundane experiences we all share, to tight and personal stories you were miles away from, into events the audience can take away as a present, feel they were walking with him, laugh and hate, and feel good overall. Very good, very funny, very touching. A must for anyone who likes to hear a good story.

1 out of 5 stars Cheesy.......2002-05-28

Rollins may be able to elicit wide-eyed reactions from his white-bred, middle class 20-something, University educated audiences, but most of us who have been around the block like "Hank" has, and have survived, have done so without feeling the need to moan about how tough we had it, or how punk we used to be.

4 out of 5 stars Missed you in Montana (Damnit)!.......2001-11-11

Ok, if you already like Rollins then Im sure you already know how great he is. So lets skip that. With that said this DVD is great. Rollin's collection of stories and hard times. The man speaks alot of truth. From such comical tales as "Lost in England" to the insperational "Two Boys" and "A part of you dies". If you find yourself thinking life is hard to bare, this will help you laugh through it and cope. Alot of us know life isnt the greatest. But its us smart ones (who are thinking about buying this DVD) who realize we all must tough it out. And Rollins confirmes that same thought. And in the words of this great guy named Hank.."The only thing I got left is the fact that I am breathing. Just like you out there. And if thats all we have to go on so be it. But at least its SOMTHING. And its all I got"

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