In the realm of concert films, \u201cRockshow\u201d never seemed to get much love. The 1980 theatrical release \u2013 the first for the start-up Miramax \u2013 was relatively brief and not celebrated by either film or music critics. The initial home entertainment releases cut out several numbers, and then the film was out of circulation until a full restored re-release in 2013 that electrified Paul McCartney\u2019s most die-hard fans but left everyone else mostly unmoved.
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Why is there so little enthusiasm? It\u2019s not the fault of the entertainers \u2013 the \u201cWings Over the World\u201d tour offered Paul McCartney and Wings at their performance peak, bringing a surplus level of energy and charisma to the stage. <\/p>\n
However, the song list is wildly uneven. Most of Wings\u2019 hit tunes up through early 1976 are here \u2013 \u201cJunior\u2019s Farm\u201d is the most obvious omission \u2013 and some of McCartney\u2019s Beatles-era favorites are included. But too much of the show is devoted to the less than remarkable selections from the band\u2019s then-current \u201cVenus and Mars\u201d album, where McCartney\u2019s penchant for cutesy and eccentric pop ditties resulted in a waste of talent. And, truth be told, McCartney\u2019s post-Beatles compositions were never as good as his classic run in the 1960s.<\/p>\n
Also, \u201cRockshow\u201d is a filmed record of a stage concert rather than a film adaptation of this type of happening. The concert lighting had a heavy emphasis on pink illumination, which may have looked great to the arena crowd but created a cinematic effect of a badly faded Eastmancolor print. \u201cRockshow\u201d had no director credit \u2013 Jack Priestley was top-billed as director of photography \u2013 and at times the camera seems to have the least interesting view.<\/p>\n
Still, \u201cRockshow\u201d is a masterwork of editing \u2013 the footage is seamlessly woven together from four different shows \u2013 and McCartney clearly having the time of his life. Indeed, McCartney even allowed bandmates Denny Laine and Jimmy McCullough to take lead vocals on several numbers. And except for a somewhat clumsy strobe light display for the \u201cLive and Let Die\u201d number, \u201cRockshow\u201d offers a reminder of what old-school concerts were all about \u2013 not pyrotechnics, not costume changes, not elaborate choreography and definitely not political commentary, but rather a celebration of music by great artists.<\/p>\n