Starring: Rick Allen, Vivian Campbell, Phil Collen
In the 1980's, Def Leppard were one of the biggest rock
bands in the world and in 1987 they released their highest-selling album,
Hysteria. In 2013, the band took up an eleven show residency at the Hard Rock
Hotel in Las Vegas, playing the Hysteria album in its entirety (and throwing in
a couple of other songs) to a live audience.
A film of Def Leppard performing at the Hard Rock Hotel
in Las Vegas in spring 2013, VIVA! Hysteria has been given a cinema release
despite it being originally intended to be straight to DVD. This, and the very
quick manner in which this film has been produced, is very clear throughout.
Unlike a lot of concert films that work in interviews or the band interacting
backstage, VIVA! Hysteria is a lot more bare bones, almost entirely consisting
of just the band performing, although an opening montage through the band's
history is a nice and well-executed touch. As far as capturing the concert
goes, the film works in what is to be expected of a rock concert on film. The
camera cuts frequently between band-members with the occasional close-up of a
female audience member singing along. However, the band is captured with enough
energy and vigour to make the performances entertaining and exciting.
Ultimately, VIVA Hysteria! is a rushed product and not very original, but it
shows Def Leppard putting on a great show and for an enthusiastic audience. A
worthwhile watch for any of the band's fans (speaking as one, myself).
Def Leppard VIVA Hysteria! is released in the UK on the
13th of September followed by a US release on October the 2nd.
Next time, Alan Cumming stars as Rudy Donatello a gay man trying to become the
legal provider for a young boy with Down Syndrome in the 70's-set drama, Any
Day Now.
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