This came out in 2004 – or at least that’s when I got it. Here’s what I said about it back then (with some minor editing):
Alright is a bloody understatement.
Anybody who saw The Who’s landmark documentary The Kids are Alright in the theatres or on VHS already knows how great it is. Well, now it’s even better. Tons better.
After years of painstaking research, reconstruction and restoration, the original 1979 film has finally been relaunched as a two-disc set that arguably lives up to its billing as “The Ultimate Rock Film.” First and foremost of course, there are the unforgettable performances themselves — the literally explosive version of My Generation from The Smothers Brothers show, the electrifying Tommy cuts from Woodstock, the mini-opera A Quick One, While He’s Away from The Rolling Stones’ Rock ’n’ Roll Circus, and the masterful renditions of Baba O’Riley and Won’t Get Fooled Again filmed especially for the movie months before the death of lunatic drummer Keith Moon.
Just to see these again is enough on its own. But the truth is you’ve never seen (or heard) them quite like this. The extensive renovations made to the film — all of which are described in detail on the bonus disc — included restoring several minutes of missing footage, adjusting the colour balance in every scene, making frame-by-frame repairs to some damaged scenes, remixing the sound for 5.1 and even slowing the entire film down by about 10% (it had been sped up years ago to save time in theatres).
Cumulatively, the work is stunning, giving new clarity to the visuals, expanding the soundtrack into a pristine digital score and, ultimately, honouring the legacy of Pete Townshend and The Who in the way they deserve. And if all that isn’t enough, a slew of worthwhile extras — including a recent interview with singer Roger Daltrey, multi-angle segments, hidden goodies and (my favourite) a feature that lets you listen to just the thundering basslines of John Entwistle — make The Kids are Alright an essential addition to your DVD library. Long live rock.
