IF IT'S TOO LOUD, YOU'RE JUST TOO FUCKING OLD....

With the sudden global obsession that is Guitar Hero and Rock Band, this could not be a better time for a documentary involving a summit with three of the rock world's most famous and influential guitarists.

It Might Get Loud was conceived and directed by Davis Guggenheim, who also brought us the cinematic bane of anti-environmental conservatives everywhere, An Inconvenient Truth. It Might Get Loud brings together the stories of three wildly diverse guitar legends from three different generations and styles: Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin), The Edge (U2) and Jack White (The White Stripes, The Raconteurs, Dead Weather...did i forget any of his other bands? What's with all the jobs? Is this guy Jamaican? )

The center of the film is a summit meeting where the three sit on a soundstage with amps up to 11 and discuss their individual creative processes, inevitably leading to jam sessions on each other's tunes. The ultimate goal of the film, i feel, is to show that however diverse the style or the influence, the musician's true inspiration comes from within the soul.

I've always liked U2, and always felt The Edge was the true musical brains behind the band. Absolutely nobody has a sound like his. Coldplay and The Killers, among others, keep trying but there is just no matching that heavenly ringing sound he produces on their best work (Where The Streets Have No Name and I Will Follow to name just two). He even honestly shows that the strength in his playing lies in his use of technology. He demonstrates this by playing a riff with no pedals or effects and it sounds very dull and lifeless. He then switches on what seems like an arsenal of foot pedals and BANG!-- the song just comes to life like a tornado.

Jack White, on the other hand, is vehemently anti-technology and a staunch supporter of visceral attitude and gut-churning feeling which he openly links to his love of the blues. His style is reflected in his Detroit workmanlike upbringing. It's just distorted and dirty and, as the film attests, downright bloody. Snobs can complain all they want about his lack of technical prowess...Jack White is a bad-ass at getting the most unnatural sounds out of a six string.

Jimmy Page is truly the film's elder statesman. It would be redundant of me to even begin to talk of his influence on me not just as a guitar enthusiast, but a music lover overall. His mark cannot be measured enough. In the tradition of Les Paul and Jimi Hendrix, he changed everything. Sound, style, technique, recordings, showmanship...the man has done it all.

For me, he anchored my two favorite moments in the film. The camera crew watches him at home playing a 45 of "Rumble" by Link Wray, with Jimmy providing commentary through the entire song. Fifty years later, he still has this look of wonder in his eyes upon listening to this seminal electric guitar anthem. It just felt great to me to see that, with all of his accomplishments, he can still get off on listening to a song for the millionth time and feeling like it was brand new to his ears.

My other favorite scene was during the summit when Page stands up with his Les Paul and hammers out the "Whole Lotta Love" riff. The film's money shot occurs with Edge and Jack just staring and smiling like teenagers watching the creator of the riff that melted minds 40 years ago playing that monster in front of them.

It made me remember the very first time i heard that song and it brought back the very same chills to my body that i got then.

The film also pays loving and appropriate tribute to the guitarists' influences, from Son House and Muddy Waters to The Ramones and even Spinal Tap. It just helps put a little perspective on where all this genius came from...other geniuses.

For musicians and music lovers, this movie cannot be seen fast enough. It truly stopped my jaded heart from forgetting why i fell in love with rock and roll in the first place.

It Might Get Loud. It Just Feels Good.