The criteria for storylines and starlets has apparently lowered in Hollywood. Nowhere is this more obvious than in VIVA! Hysteria which bounds to cinema screens across the world this week. Offering nothing to any discerning viewer and relying heavily on its Def Leppard laced soundtrack and a live performance by the band themselves. Almost every hint of the movie’s intricate plot and diverse and interesting characters is diluted to the point of near non-existence thanks to the director’s obvious David Lynch influence and Darren Aronofsky delivery.
For 90 minutes the viewer is required to carefully study thousands of faces, waiting to pick up on the disappointingly weak storyline that brazenly focuses on ‘two ladies’ quest to hog monitor time before being eclipsed by the man only known as ‘I keep my arm on the ramp dude’. The quality of the actors is on par with any academy award winning nominee from the past thirteen years, made more surprising by the fact that all the stars are all new comers; however the intrusion of the background artists and camera work levels their role in the film to mere ‘attendees’.
On the plus side, you are treated to a full performance of Hysteria, the major catalyst in the story by one of the world’s most beloved and distinguished bands, Def Leppard. Joe, Rick, Viv, Phil and Richard all play a blinder and despite this being a complex communist spy / art-house / independent / drug culture / hammer horror homage to Charlie Chaplin in story, the music ends up stealing every minute. Def Leppard well done – but unknown director, you have wronged the movie industry. Next time try some character dialogue. Fortunately Joe Elliott used his opportunities to keep a few laughs coming.
UPDATED AUG 18th 2013: IRISH FANS!!!! VIVA! HYSTERIA is coming to Cineworld Cinema, Parnell Street on September 19th for one showing only. Tickets are on sale now priced €10.50 from their Official Website.
Of course, this was most likely down to the article below. There’s no doubt in my mind that Leppard were so blown away by the academic article about their life and times in Ireland that they realized not showing the film in Ireland was a terrible idea. Either way, I have my tickets booked 😀
ORIGINAL ARTICLE:
Bad news for Irish fans – there won’t be a cinema release for Def Leppard’s new live show film – Viva Hysteria. Even though they recorded Hysteria here (guilt), even though they lived, worked and loved it here (guilt, guilt) and even though Joe Elliott lives a stone’s throw away from where I’m sitting (guilt x3) – the band, who stored their equipment in Dublin, recorded their most recent albums in Dublin, practice before tours in Dublin and have brought almost every major tour they’ve ever played here – they won’t be releasing it in Irish cinemas. Well Holy Elliott, I never thought I’d see such a thing. Even just a few days after I posted a loving tribute to you – you’ve gone and assumed Irish fans won’t be interested in sitting through your performance. Well that’s fine, I’m ok. I’m just disappointed that unlike Metallica, unlike Slayer, Megadeth and Anthrax, unlike One Direction, The Jonas Brothers and Katy Perry – Leppard are the ones I can’t go and see locally.
DVD /Blu-Ray are out October 21st in Europe. For anyone outside of Ireland visit Defleppard.com for more details about local cinema screenings and so on.
…I still love you Leppard, but you have let me down.
..By the way, everyone should read that in a comically old fashioned guilt implying voice 🙂
Def Leppard In Ireland – A Quick Look (using Google Street View)
Well maybe it’s Dublin’s fault that Leppard are not releasing Viva Hysteria here… So let’s remind Leppard of our history together. According to DefLeppardUK, the band have played in Ireland a total of 14 times (Tickets There has managed to catch six of those shows) since their first gig on these shores in 1983.
They moved to Ireland in the mid-80’s when recording Hysteria and lived just outside the city centre in a little house pictured on your left. Their local was a lovely bar called The Old Punch Bowl (‘actual real authentic legit’ group photo outside the pub can be seen above) Remember lads – remember the good times. while here, they worked on their classic album – Hysteria.
Leppard loved it so much in Ireland, they decided to store their gear here and some of them even bought houses. The suspected venue where that gear was stored can be ever so slightly seen on the right. I’m not giving out details because they might still be keeping things here and I know you lot go mental for stalking. All those times I be blogging stuff and ye go mental – well no more! From now on I’ll drip feed the lot of ye.
After a few of the lads moved away (unconfirmed), it was mighty Lepp frontman, Joe Eliott, who kept the DEF torch burning this side of the UK. He has lived in Ireland since the 80’s and darn well loves it here. In fact, he likes it so much he even wanted the Gards to continue policing the area he lives in (again, picture) when they announced the station closures.
Well that’s it for now. Maybe I’ll do a real article some day, but that should be enough to help get public interest started on the 100% official genuine Def Leppard walking tour of Dublin. I leave you with a then and now shot of The Point Depot / The O2. The then photo features Leppard in the 80’s just sitting around – proper Rock (and I feel like some gimp-Perez Hilton type who needs a shower to wash off the words).
Many of Def Leppard’s army of fans will remember the disappointment of not being able to attend their residency in Last Vegas earlier this year. Fortunately, Bunim / Murray Productions, AEG and the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Vegas have stepped up to offer fans a chance to get an inside glimpse into the mighty Lepp’s world.
Def Leppard have been announced as the first artists so star in a new hard rock TV series. The multi-episode show will follow the band’s stay in Vegas; on and off the stage and provide a rare opportunity to see the chemistry the band has, that enables them to remain a dominant force in music after more than 35 years together. The show is currently called ‘Living With Def Leppard’, but Tickets There has suggested better titles such as ‘Reality of Vegas’, ‘Love and Las Vegas’, ‘Reality Bites’ and the ultimate – ‘Pour Some Reality on Me’. I’m expecting to hear back from the band momentarily.
No word on when the series will air as of yet but TT will let you know as soon as we do.
On a personal note, I hate reality TV with a venomous passion – but given the nature of this one, I’ll withhold judgement until I see it. Leppard could be risking serious personal humiliation (Ozzy, Metallica), massive drops in wider respect (Ozzy, Metallica) and a long crawl back to their current height if all goes tits up (…Metallica – Ozzy had Sabbath and it worked!). Or, they could be doing something wicked cool (Metallica – A Year and a Half In The Life of… – certainly not Some Kind of Monster). Let’s see how episode one goes, but either way it’ll be nice to see Leppard on the telly more often. Maybe then Joe can make a s*x tape and ‘’’leak’’’ it online and get them into celebrity big brother.
The criteria for storylines and starlets has apparently lowered in Hollywood. Nowhere is this more obvious than in VIVA! Hysteria which bounds to cinema screens across the world this week. Offering nothing to any discerning viewer and relying heavily on its Def Leppard laced soundtrack and a live performance by the band themselves. Almost every hint of the movie’s intricate plot and diverse and interesting characters is diluted to the point of near non-existence thanks to the director’s obvious David Lynch influence and Darren Aronofsky delivery.
For 90 minutes the viewer is required to carefully study thousands of faces, waiting to pick up on the disappointingly weak storyline that brazenly focuses on ‘two ladies’ quest to hog monitor time before being eclipsed by the man only known as ‘I keep my arm on the ramp dude’. The quality of the actors is on par with any academy award winning nominee from the past thirteen years, made more surprising by the fact that all the stars are all new comers; however the intrusion of the background artists and camera work levels their role in the film to mere ‘attendees’.
'Ticket's There' - Irish and International Music Blog 