Very well executed

Nice effects though.

A Masterpiece!

It's easily one of the freshest, sharpest and most enjoyable films of this year.

This was an amazing documentary to see on the Japanese rock band X Japan. It tells their story from the beginnings to current and is very informative. They also included many of their songs for the soundtrack, If you like Japanese rock music or just rock music in general then please see this as you will enjoy it! I give 'We Are X' a 8/10

Once again I am blown away to learn of a fantastic sounding band that I'd never heard or even heard of before. How is it that bands like this are ignored by the mainstream companies here in the US? Rather than blame low sales on downloads and music sharing they should consider the fact that they tend to hang on to outdated acts while ignoring new ones. That this band could have been popular around the world since the 1980s and never made it big here in the states astounds me.The band being discussed is X Japan, formed in 1982 by drummer/composer Yoshiki and vocalist Toshi. The film opens with their preparations to perform at Madison Square Garden in 2014. As they prepare for the show we are presented with interviews, mostly with Yoshiki, talking about his life and what drew him to perform and create music. Faced with the tragic news of his father's suicide as a child he talks of how that was the catalyst to change his life.The band wasn't hugely successful the first year it was formed but a growing following developed and by 1989 they were a huge hit. Sales of their albums around the world was in the millions. But never here in the US. That didn't stop them from achieving the popularity they did worldwide. But they still dreamed of making it big here.The story of the band is marked with tragedy as well as success. Where most documentaries about bands deal with the excess of success, the overabundance of drugs and women and loss of fortune due to spending, none of that is visible here. Instead we're presented with a story of the individuals in the band focusing mostly on its founders. The others are discussed as well but it is the things that happened in the lives of these two that mostly led the band to the path they traveled.Yoshiki's life was filled with tragedy at various points. His health has always been an issue as well. Dealing with asthma he often collapses on stage his performances are so physically demanding. Oxygen tanks are kept on hand just to help him recover. He wears a neck brace for injuries sustained while performing. He has carpal tunnel and wears a wrist band. And yet he plays like a whirling dervish, amazing to witness.Toshi had his own demons to deal with. A fantastic rock singer (who reminded me of Klaus Meine of Scorpion fame) there came a time in his life when Toshi met and fell in love with a woman he eventually married. What he didn't know was that she was part of a cult that slammed the music of X Japan and that they successfully pulled Toshi away from the band causing it to break up. This led to more tragedies I won't discuss, instead leaving them for those who choose to watch the film to learn of on their own.The intersecting lives of these two men formed the basis for some amazing rock music, orchestral at times and pulsating as well. After watching the film I found myself wanting to do something I haven't done in years, visit a record store in search of music by this band. Knowing the story behind the scenes makes their music even more touching.The film includes not just behind the scenes footage of the band and performances new and old but comments and discussions with others who enjoy the band. Fans fill the frame multiple times here. Stan Lee, who created a comic with Yoshiki is here as are Marilyn Manson and Gene Simmons who proclaims had they made it in the US they would have been the biggest band ever. It is a fascinating documentary on the biggest band you never heard of and well worth investing time in.Extras on the blu-ray include deleted scenes, deleted interviews, Sugio Yoshiki on WE AR X, a performance of "Forever Love" from their last live performance (the original lineup), a performance of "Kurenai" from their last live performance (the original lineup) and "Born to be Free", a fan video.This is a movie that you can enjoy more than once and one I know I'll add to my collection. I may have to add a few of their CDs to that collection as well.

Review from a fan's point of view.My expectations were somehow accurate when I first heard a long time ago that they were working on a documentary, made in USA. When I saw the first trailer, with the cool effects and images of Japanese swords and other Japanese cultural icons, I knew it would not be the documentary that says it all. But maybe the intention was not to be X Japan from A to Z. Not so sure if they jumped from A to Z or just went from A to B because there is a lot missing.X Japan is an amazing band. The fans liked, like and will like this band not only for their music but also for their story and the charisma of its members. This band was Japan's Beattles and Elvis Presley during the 80s and 90s, when that country was loaded with money and later going down. This was an era in Japan when many similar bands emerged from that, which was still making the popular culture bloom extravagantly. Yoshiki, the leader of the band (aka almost the band by himself), creative and passionate as he was, was going straight into this, blind folded and probably not realizing the impact he had. Now he probably does.This movie is pretty much like digging a gold mine only on the surface, while you have all the machinery to go deeper. Now don't get me wrong, it is a good movie, but not a good documentary. I thought that the overall editing was especially excellent, but sadly this is clearly not what you want to see when you watch a documentary. You want learn and leave the room with the feeling that you gained knowledge about the subject.I went to see this movie in Japan and the crowd what obviously fans who knew about the band. The reactions after the movie were very silent but I did hear a few "it was OK" because obviously, they know much more about what it is said in the movie. I didn't need confirmation to think that this movie was made for the Western countries because clearly, it was, and it's OK like that. There was numerous documentaries made in Japan and also many books written on the subject. Non-Japanese fans deserve to get something too.But my concern was more about those viewers who knew little to almost nothing about the band. The movie can't explain clearly, in a chronological order the history of the band. We get some bits and parts here and there but nothing that will make the viewer leave the room and understand X Japan and the position that the band had in Japan. I wish that they took this very first opportunity, with such a great coverage, to talk more about how the band was important, successful and how it impacted the rock scene in Japan. Although the fact that the movie does a great job on showing Yoshiki's story, emotions and passion (which is the obvious focus), it could have done the same with the other members and taught the public about how great these musicians are. For example, I think that Pata, the second guitarist since the band's early days, has about one minute of coverage. Nothing is said about how this guy joined the band and how he supported them during their struggling times at the beginning. That's just one example.Overall, if you are a fan of X Japan and know the story well, you might be disappointed because the footage and the editing is great. It does bring some emotions, like any movies should, but the lack is really the depth, and it's a little bit frustrating, especially for the fans who can't understand Japanese enough to get their information in other media than this movie.To the non-fan viewers who read this before watching, expect to have a good moment but you might not understand much about X Japan apart that it's a band coming from Japan with a leader named Yoshiki. So, if a viewer has no knowledge of the band, which also means no attachment to its charismatic leader Yoshiki, I don't know what can be expected from that. It's definitely better to listen to their music instead.

A documentary about the Japanese cult heavy metal band X Japan. A band that came to influence a generation of Japanese teenagers and musicians but that struggled with internal dramas and tragic losses.The documentary goes under the skin of band leader and drummer Yoshiki but fails to answer most of the questions that were raised during the bands mythological existence.Why did they fire their first bass player in 1992? Yoshiki won't answer that.Which cult brainwashed singer Toshi to the point where the band had to be disbanded, what did they do to him, and why?Was Hides death a suicide, or just a a tragic accident?The documentary is up close and personal, but fails to answer these questions which is largely part of why the band did what they did. We are X is still one of the most memorable music documentaries made in modern time, about a band whose whole life echo "We are X" within themselves and their millions of worldwide fans.