AudioFileZ I approach Rush's Beyond The Lighted Stage not so much as a Rush fan as I am a big lover of music. I've never bought a Rush album or even borrowed one which is something I've always had a penchant for because I grew up making my reel to reel compilations of what I perceived as the great music I loved. So, the fact I really enjoyed this film speaks a lot to the fact I think these guys are a uniquely interesting band whose music did get my attention at certain times even if I was mainly hearing it without actually buying into it.Often unique things spring from unique situations and the musical sparseness of frigid North American rock combined with old-fashioned middle working class roots combine to create a singularly "germy" Petri dish for three young Canadians. While their parents may have escaped European oppression for three musical kids starting a band was an antidote to their own struggle to better fit in the world they were surrounded by. Like many talented and driven kids they became true artists. So true in fact they never had to follow convention or even the all powerful recording industry. This says a lot for Rush. The film makes their path look easy if, like these three, you love your work. In their case it really did turn out much like "build it and they will come" as their fan base just got larger for something like 40-years. It's pretty fascinating if you are into music and maybe only slightly interesting if you're not?This is a very straightforward story. It's bolstered by fellow musicians who were obviously smitten with the talents of the band. It's not a tragedy with drugs or alcohol though it does have elements of life's hard facts which is a consequence of living so close for so long. It's certainly a rarity that a band stays together and thrives for four decades making this a kind of special thing. I have to say if you're a fan see it definitely, though I'm almost certain the lion share has already done so. If you are a rock music lover I say see it too because these guys make very complex yet accessible music and the fact they have sold massive amounts of their music really does amaze because they did it their way which was in no way commercial or even like mush else you are likely to hear. Well done!

SnoopyStyle Three kids Alex Lifeson, drummer John Rutsey, and Geddy Lee started a band in suburban Toronto. They played in school dances, graduated to Toronto clubs, finally getting noticed in Cleveland radio, and signed to an American label. Rutsey is replaced for health reasons with Neil Peart. With bookish reserved Neil's words, the band gains a following in the 70's and beyond. The band was never superstars but has garnered a devoted cult following of mainly disenfranchised male youths. This is a wide documentary of these music nerds. There is not anything dark except for the heart-breaking tragedies suffered by Neil. The guys are fully in control of the narrative. This is not a band of sex and drug in any case. At one point, they are described as boring (not musically). For fans, this is great and for non-fans, this is the music of an interesting community of smart adolescent male outcast. It's not anything terribly dramatic but it is compelling nevertheless.

crossbow0106 Just to get it out of the way, if you have zero interest in Rush, proceed with caution. I am a casual fan and thought this was great. The best thing is it explores the relationships between the band, from the beginning. Also, along with insightful commentary from various musicians, the guys tell their own story. Always maligned by critics, this is an exploration into why they are still so popular. Even better, all three guys, especially Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson, are just good people. Neil Peart is a bit more difficult to warm up to, but you'll like him also by the end (actually, way before that). You get concert clips and the aforementioned commentary and what basically comes through is that these guys deserved every bit of fame that came their way. They are all superb musicians, actually all three amongst the best in rock. While Geddy Lee's singing voice takes a bit of getting used to (there is a funny part where various people quote critics on what they thought his voice sounded like), by the end you realize that its also part of what makes the band unique. That over 30 years on they can still sell out tours is amazing, and it really is about time they were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. The only reason I didn't give it a ten was that if you have little knowledge of the band you may feel its a bit much to go through the records one by one. However, as I am a casual fan only (to date, I have "Permanent Waves" and the two disc compilation "Chronicles" only), this documentary makes me want to go out and buy more Rush music. If that isn't an endorsement for this film, then there just isn't one. Congratulations on their well earned success and bravo to this career spanning, insightful and thoroughly entertaining documentary.

bs-30 Saw the premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival last night. A theater full of Rush fans guarantees that if the film faltered it would get immediate feedback. Not the case here at all. What us rabid Rush fans have been waiting for all these years has finally happened: a serious piece of film that accurately details the background of the band and their rise from obscurity to, as Geddy says "not mainstream, but OUR stream", with the ups and downs along the way. Everything is covered, from their struggle for a recording contract until their first stateside 'fans' Donna Halper from WMMS in Cleveland and Cliff Burnstein of Mercury Records helped them out, the early years w/ John Rutsey (someone who up until now was just a name - seeing and hearing him made me appreciate his early contributions to the group), the triumphant release of 2112 that gave them their independence, all the way to Neil's tragic loss of his daughter and wife years ago that almost spelled the end of the band.Peppered w/ interviews from other musicians who you would not typically think of as Rush fans (Trent Reznor, Billy Corgan, etc.) as well as those who absolutely fit the bill (Jack Black, Les Claypool, etc.) you see that their influence is not just musical but spiritual - not one of these people, except for maybe Mr. Claypool, play like Rush, but they all relate how their admiration for the band fueled their own push to be better musicians and hold onto their integrity.As you would expect, my only complaint is that it's not long enough. But that's what DVD extras are for. :) All in all a hearty thumbs-up! Be sure to catch the TV premiere in late June over at VH1/VH1Classic!And one last thought - this has solidified the growing position among us hardcore fans that it's irrelevant if they ever get into the R&R Hall of Fame. That's a popularity contest that the band has never cared for and nor do I.