Frank Zappa - Baby Snakes
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Movie Reviews of Frank Zappa - Baby Snakes
Movie Review: Good DVD
Summary: 5 Stars
I really liked the animations, they're pretty crazy.
But it is pretty much documental. I was expecting something else
Movie Review: What did you expect?
Summary: 5 Stars
GOD Bless Frank Zappa; May GOD Strike down his wicked estate! His Children Suck!!!!!!!!Movie Review: a great movie ....I'll explain why I gave it four stars
Summary: 4 Stars
Ok I'll admit that at this time I dont own this dvd but have rented it five times (from netfilx) and watched it about ten times .So even though I dont own it my opinion is still valid here ...
To tell the truth I thought that this was a excellant film that is full of great concert footage , some very arty claymation , and tons of screwing around back-stage . The songs performed are from what was Zappa's more current material (at that time) and includes songs from "Zoot Allures" and "Sheik Yourbouti" ...In addition to the music you get to see the band screwing off back stage , FZ's thoughts on accordions , some weird humor , and Frank being sarcasticly anti-drug.... "That stuff is real bad for you , you should throw it away ..." and "WHAT IS THAT !?...oh thats one of those dope-fiend devices . Take it away" (he also trashes Warner bros. through out the film) ...The extras include comercials and a trailer for what Im praying will be the soon to be released Roxy dvd.
I guess that the only bad the thing would be that the footage is a little scratchy in some places . And no Im not complaining about 1970s technology but that the footage doesn't look like its been restored and remastered but rather just thrown on a DVD .Another bad part is all the goofing around gets old ( chubby with the blow up doll is really stupid and boring) but these cons dont out-weigh pros at all but are just little low points . I'm still glad that this is on dvd and readily available (used VHS copies are going for $45 now)...that and the version of "black napkins" on here isnt as good as others . (I still watched the performance again and again though in an effort to learn the song by watching Frank's left hand.)
Also since Im already on here I would like to say something to that idiot "stef" . How can you say Zappa couldnt play? or complain about the claymation in here? ...Zappa was a virtuoso guitarist!He was capable of anything with a guitar in his hands! (why do you think he improvised so much)and complaining about claymation being dated ....this was made in 1979! they didnt have all the digital stuff of today... and also you self-proclaimed "expert guitarist" keep in mind that there is a reason Zappa has his picture up in music shops next to Jimi Hendrix , Jeff Beck , and Eric Clapton and you dont! also "stef" keep in mind most self-proclaimed experts usually claim to be so because they arent talented or are so talentless and unknown no one else has anything to say about them.
Movie Review: Teriffic Zappa Concert Movie....Better Than 200 Motels
Summary: 4 Stars
*** Be warned that "Baby Snakes" IS NOT a regular movie as it is sarcastically referred to in the film's trailers. It is a concert film with one of FZ's greatest bands of the 70's with some extremely eye-popping clay animation sequences by animator Bruce Bickford thrown in between.
The concert footage is fantastic and it proves that FZ loved to entertain his audience and wanted to make sure that they had a great time.
There is audience participation where fans are invited on stage to take part in the band's antics. There is a man who is billed as the "Human Trombone" because the sounds he makes with his mouth sound exactly like, what else?, a TROMBONE!
Terry Bozzio has a great minute and a half drum solo that is not on the soundtrack album to this movie but can only be seen and heard here.
The concert is from the October 31, 1977 Halloween concert at the old Palladium in NYC. The songs performed are mostly taken from the "Sheik Yerbouti" album with some requested oldies thrown in to please the fans.
Dinah-Moe Humm is, unfortunately, the most requested song since it is shouted several times by audience memebers (and even by other fans on live cds). That request is typical among "casual fans". When you're a big FZ fan like myself and someone tells you they are the same and then mention "Dinah-Moe Humm" or "Valley Girl" as their favorite Zappa song, then I know they are either casual fans who have not heard much of Zappa's music or they are a liar. One older guy in the movie requests "Help, I'm A Rock" which brought a smile to my face.
The worst thing about the movie is footage of original mother Roy Estrada's fascination with a blow-up doll backstage and his annoying onstage routine with a gas mask and papal hat. I did not care for any of it.
Some criticize Bickford's animation claiming that it was used too much in this almost 3 hour movie. I disagree because there is enough concert footage and the animation is always changing.
I didn't care for Bickford's mind-less rantings but there's not too much of that thankfully.
All in all, this is a fantastic movie for all "true" FZ fans. 200 Motels was not as enjoyable since Zappa did not sing or speak one word in the entire movie.
In "Baby Snakes" he speaks humorous monologues, sings his classics and plays his guitar....HE DOES IT ALL!
Movie Review: Crude, Lewd, Disjointed,Cacaphonous...Pure Genius!
Summary: 4 Stars
Yes, this rockumentary is all of the above, and sometimes less. But it is in fact the sloppy, organic nature of Frank Zappa's happily self-indulgent epic "Baby Snakes" that makes it seem an even more vital document of free artistic expression, especially now, in our increasingly oppressive post 9-11 environment. There is something here for every Zappa fan. If you appreciate Zappa's loopy, wide-ranging sense of humor, it's all here,from the sophmoric (Roy Estrada's backstage "improv" antics with a blow-up doll wears out its welcome quickly) to the sublime (plenty of footage featuring Zappa's frequently hilarious onstage rants and audience interaction at thier uncensored best). For the fans (like yours truly) who prefer the 'musical genius' side, the band has a dynamite lineup-including Adrian Belew, Terry Bozio & Patrick O'Hearn (Zappa's 'secret' was to always surround himself with 'chops' players who could handle his complex arrangements). The portrait of claymation artist (and obvious acid casualty) Bruce Bicksford rambles on a bit too long, but is redeemed by the undeniable twinkle in Zappa's eye as he questions his subject in mock-serious documentary style. Still, Zappa's John Waters-type fascination with offbeat and bizarre individuals was an important part of his makeup as an artist. After all, who but FZ could have ever intuited and cultivated the poetry that lurked in the soul of a Captain Beefheart, or even a random "crazy" street person like Wild Man Fischer? Buy two copies just on principle-and give one to your favorite Republican!