Iron Maiden: Flight 666 – film review
So, we just got back from seeing the Iron Maiden – Flight 666 film in the Palads cinema in Copenhagen, and what an entertaining evening it was!
Before the film started there was a short introduction buy a man I didn’t know (probably someone from Iron Maiden Denmark, not sure though) and Julian Doyle, the director of Bruce Dickinson’s film Chemical Wedding. Doyle sent greetings from Mr. Dickinson and the band, as he had hung out with them in London just the day before. This was to no surprise answered by roaring cheers from the crowd.
After this it was time for a small lottery raffle among the theatre tickets, and three lucky men got to bring home one mystery Maiden bag each.
After some more greetings, it was time to sink back in the comfy chairs and just get ready for takeoff.
If someone was wondering, Flight 666 is a documentary about Iron Maidens world-tour in 2008.
It was filmed by the same man who brought us Metal: A Headbanger’s Journey, Mr. Sam Dunn.
Now, one might say that it was just your typical tour journal, but when it comes to Iron Maiden you just know that it will be something special, something big.
What made this tour special was that Iron Maiden had a wish about going out and playing in places they had seldom or never played before, and to realize this dream they had to figure out how to convince their accountants that it would pay off.
To make this all possible, a special aircraft was constructed out of a Boeing 757 which could hold Iron Maiden (of course), their entire crew and more than that, their entire stage equipment and setup. Not an easy task, as we were told through various interviews.
The plane was dubbed Ed Force One, the pilot was none other than Bruce Dickinson himself, and they were handed the flight nr. 666.
I’m not going to retell the entire film here, as I think you should go out and see it for yourself. I’m sure you won’t regret it.
Some memorable points though were when they were visited India for one. Just seeing the whole deck for the audience clad in red carpets with women sweeping flowers all over the place; and backstage they had an elephant! Unforgettable.
Also the Japan fan interviews spring to mind with the little girl who wanted to become Steve Harris’s daughter. Or the South American man who had started an Iron Maiden church!
As I said, go and see the film. These where just some highlights, there were many, many more.
The way the film was built up was by quite chronologically following the tour plan. Maiden arrive, see some fans, go to the hotel, go to the show where we see a clip of a different song for each place, they take their leave, and the next day it starts all over again.
In between this constant touring there were several interviews with the band and select parts of the crew as they spoke about each other, spare time interests, being on the road and whatever topic that might come along.
Some might argue that it would tend to drag on a bit, as it was the same deal every time, but it didn’t matter to me at least.
I was just entertained seeing all these beautiful locations from around the world, all filled with black clad heavy metal people. And listening to Iron Maiden at full blast through cinema speakers isn’t something you try everyday either, so for me the time just flew (no pun intended) by.
This was no sob film either, where the band members just sit around and verbally abuse each other and act like babies (like certain unnamed bands would send out).
No, this was a film showing a class act at its absolute top! Even though Iron Maiden has some years behind them, there is just no end to their energy it would seem. When they’re not playing concerts, they’re out exploring, or playing tennis with Wimbledon champions, or on golf tours, or… Well, I could go on, but that is not the point is it?
Now, because this was a super feel-good film, and it was visited by, if not entirely, then at least mainly Maiden fans, I was quite surprised at how calm the reactions where.
Ok, so there were shouts in the beginning, and loud cheers and clapping at the end; still, during the movie the room was dead quiet and nobody seemed to move. I can’t imagine how a group this large and dedicated managed to not start singing along to all music clips from the concerts. I know I did; sing I mean.
So, if you’re not fortunate enough to get a glimpse of Iron Maiden – Flight 666 in a cinema near you, be sure to rent or buy it as soon as you possibly can, and remember to turn the volume way up before starting.
Flight 666 is ready for takeoff!
Text: Tobias Nilsson
