[email protected] This was a well made Film. Nice editing work. The subject matter was interesting - with lotsa' "colorful" characters - However - it was really really sad to hear all these kids talk about being a "Rock Star"...as if that's what Rock music has come down to. All the kids are pretty rotten musicians - they seem more interested in being famous rather than writing good songs...and the Teach doesn't help either - he's more interested in being a "famous" teacher than actually inspiring the kids to follow their own muse and create their own thing. With a lot of practice these kids will grow up to be good Wedding Band/Bar Band Musicians - but that's about it. I guess kids who are truly interested in making music wouldn't join a school for it anyhow - so no harm done ... and it is pretty funny watching the kids butcher and mimic classic rock. You can't teach passion, and you can't learn creativity - but it can be encouraged - and it doesn't seem like this Rock School is a good place for that. Then again it's better than nothing at all.

jdesando Anytime I learn something new about teaching, I feel my day has been made. Don Argot's documentary, Rock School, did that for me today. I watched a gifted Paul Green take a group of 9 to 17 year olds in his Paul Green School for Rock Music in Philadelphia and make them into a band playing Black Sabbath, Santana, and a Zappa that an audience bowed to at a German Zappanele concert.I learned that you can abuse learners with profanity dominated by variations of "f---" ("Don't f---ing make mistakes!") and reality about their inadequacies ("You mess up once and I'll f---ing punch your face out.") and keep your job while your students achieve undreamed of results.Green's cherubic visage, sincere love of the young, and obsession with making the right music are all ingredients of his success, which is crystallized in the memorable performances of his charges: CJ can play almost perfect guitar even sitting down with a bone malfunction, Madi sheds her dorky Sheryl Crowe bit to sing with original style, and young twins Asa and Tucker can do spot on Ozzy Osborne imitations.Unlike old fictional chestnuts such as To Sir with Love, Mr. Holland's Opus, and Dead Poets SOciety, which purport to show the gifted teacher at work, this documentary honestly shows the flaws and virtues of a dedicated facilitator living only to see his pupils excel.Rock School may have too much music and not enough insightful conversation and narration, but at least I could witness the artistic process at work. "If it wasn't for rock school, I'd probably be dead," says one student deeply hooked by the school's charismatic leader and unmitigated success. Teeners tend to exaggerate, but in this case it's certain he'd be spiritually lost without this unreal world of eccentric achievement, an after school activity like no other.Rock on.

tjconan This is my first review ever, please be gentle....This movie gives hope to a new generation of music lovers, real music, not the crap the monopolizes the radio stations today. Paul Green, while some of his antics aren't typical of music teachers, really gets through to the kids. I really enjoyed how the movie was well rounded, not just focusing on the best highlights, but also showed how he used positive and negative criticism to motivate the students, as well as their reactions to it. I enjoyed how it followed the students, those with exceptional talent and those who really enjoyed music (but lacked in the natural talent department). The culmination of the film (seeing how the film doesn't thrive on a what could happen type ending, I don't think this is a spoiler, if anything I would think it would make people want to see the movie), a performance of the most talented students at a Frank Zappa tribute festival. Wow, what talent! They really brought people to their knees. CJ will make your jaw drop. Overall I would say this movie really made me want to dive back into music. The movie is inspiring and optimistic. With talent like this, they really make you believe that Rock and Roll will live forever.

drpirahna I'm puzzled by some of the reviews I have seen. How many documentaries are over before you know it and leave you wanting more? I found it pretty amazing what these kids are capable of as well as how this all seemed to come together by accident. Paul Green teaches his students with a great deal of passion and more importantly has the respect for both their ability AND their potential ability. How many kids get to share the stage with actual rock icons? Some people seem put off by the "tough love" thing that is part of the instruction but it seemed to me that the only time he got impatient was when it was obvious that certain kids weren't trying their hardest. Besides, you can't really argue with teaching kids that they can get where they want to by working at it.