The A-Listers Talk About Queen Rock Montreal (1982)
From the couple who see a lot of movies because they have AMC A-List.
Patrick: Taylor, our last two A-Lister columns, Stop Making Sense and Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour, were both about concert films. It seemed fitting we return with some thoughts on Queen Rock Montreal, the 1982 concert film restored and rereleased for IMAX screens last weekend. (Sorry folks, it was a one-weekend run!) We are entering a golden age of concert films on the big screen!
Taylor: That seems to be what's happening and I'm here for it! I recently turned 26, so I'm an old woman now. Going out and standing for extended periods of time in a hot, crowded room just doesn't appeal to me as much anymore (I kid...sort of). But sitting in comfy seats in a temperature-controlled room and being front row to a band I could never see live, (I could see Taylor Swift, but...could I have really?) Sign me UP!
Patrick: Well, we have seen Queen, but more on that later. I know the answer to this question, but our dear readers don't so I'll ask: what's your personal history with Queen?
Taylor: I don't have one, really! Other than "Bohemian Rhapsody", Queen was just the songs I liked. I would definitely say my relationship with Queen was more about my relationship to individual songs. Allow me to explain: "We Are The Champions?" I was partial to the version by Crazy Frog that was featured on the Crazy Frog Deluxe CD that I won from Radio Disney by calling in and answering the question "Which underwater mammal sleeps with their eyes open?" (The answer is dolphins). "We Will Rock You" signaled when the waves at the wave pool would start at my local water park, (Ocean Breeze, I love you!) And "Under Pressure" was the kick-ass song used in a kick-ass sequence in my middle-school hyperfixation movie, It's Kind of A Funny Story. Are you following me?
Patrick: Forget I asked. I, on the other hand, grew up with their music. I devoured their Greatest Hits Volumes I-III (collected in the Platinum Collection CD!) throughout my childhood. I actually had this exact concert film on DVD! A quick Google search shows a 2007 rerelease, which would've made me 10 years old that Christmas - the perfect age for my classic rock walking-encyclopedia Uncle Mark (to him it's just rock, not classic rock) to gift me this amazing concert. And amazing it is!
Taylor: It is truly incredible. While my relationship with Queen wasn't always substantial, I do feel like we've gotten much closer. Mainly through you! And I thank you for it! How was seeing this on the big screen for you? Nostalgic? Exciting? All of the above?
Patrick: Believe it or not, I actually didn't remember the beats of this film (two performances filmed over two nights.) I think that's largely because there isn't anything particularly individual about this show. I think I've seen enough Queen concert footage that it's all blended together. The Live Aid performance stands out, of course, but that's about it. Hell, Brian May even introduced "Love of My Life" the same way when we saw them three months ago!
Taylor: While I so enjoyed my time seeing them this past fall, no one beats Freddie in my eyes. And I don't say that to slander Adam Lambert because he really is fantastic... but he still ain't HIM!
Patrick: No one is! The charm! How many people can get away with losing more and more clothing every few songs? They ended it at the right time - if he had kept going, he wouldn't have been wearing anything but a mustache!
Taylor: Oh, to be so lucky... I have to say, as someone who is known to have bizarre taste in men (no offense, Patrick), I actually had to turn to you and say "I'm not crazy, right? He was a heartthrob, right?!" Because he is absolutely doing it for me here - I'M SORRY I SAID WHAT I SAID!
Patrick: Believe me, you're not alone. Anyway, my biggest Freddie takeaway was the fact that he never seemed to get tired, physically or vocally. This is over 90 minutes straight with little to no breaks and he never slows down. One thing I did remember from my childhood viewings, however, was the row of beers on his piano. In my kid mind, there were 27 beers on that piano. Nope! Just three! And he barely touches them! If I was Freddie Mercury, I would drink a lot more beer on stage.
Taylor: It really is an unbelievable feat. I got tired just watching him! If anything, it actually seems like he gets more energy as the show goes on. The fewer clothes, the more energy?
Patrick: The joke writes itself. To address the other guys in the band, Brian May and Roger Taylor haven't changed at all (May went grey and Taylor went full gruff, but that's it), but I do want to say that I found watching John Deacon to be a blast. The blue ensemble! The dance moves! He was a dork! In the '80s, you could be a total dork but still be in the coolest band on the planet.
Taylor: Deacon really does stick out like a sore thumb here. Not only does the bright blue draw your eyes to him, but dorky is an understatement. He's also the person in the band who interacts the least with everybody else. Freddie is always singing with Taylor or humping May, but Deacon's always keeping to himself, simply bobbing up and down. You said this when we left, but I want to touch on it here briefly - I just can't get over what it must be like for them to re-live these moments through such a clear and remastered film. We have been working through my childhood videos on VHS for the past month or so, and it feels like another lifetime ago, primarily because of how much video has changed. I just can't imagine watching myself so many years later in high definition.
Patrick: And on an IMAX screen! I'm so glad we're getting these remasters. They're so special, so much fun, the perfect way to watch them, and worth every penny (we don't pay anything.) Here's my wishlist for future IMAX releases: The Band in The Last Waltz, Prince in Sign O’ the Times, and the cast of Glee in Glee: The 3D Concert Movie.
Taylor: Uh oh, your Gleek is showing!
Patrick: We will be back next month with a double feature edition!
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