Iron Maiden: Flight 666

Hard to believe: Brit heavy metal giants Iron Maiden have been at or near the top of their field for three decades now—despite a lack of mainstream critical acclaim or airplay. What's more, the band's audience is genuinely global, as evident in the titular documentary, which chronicles Iron Maiden's 2008 “Somewhere Back in Time” tour, comprising some 23 sold-out shows in 21 cities (from Mumbai to Monterrey [Mexico], from Sao Paolo to Sydney, in venues ranging from 12,000 to almost 60,000 capacity). Filmmakers Sam Dunn and Scott McFadyen accompanied the band, their families, and their 70-member crew, traveling in a customized Boeing 757 airliner, nicknamed “Ed Force One” (after Eddie, the Iron Maiden mascot), piloted in part by lead singer Bruce Dickinson. No major revelations emerge; now in their 50s, these boys would just as soon play golf as raise hell, but they're all very amiable guys, especially drummer Nicko McBrain. More to the point, the power of their music is undiminished, and fans will appreciate the inclusion of a 104-minute, career-spanning, 16-song concert (each tune is drawn from a different stop on the tour) offering an adrenaline-fueled celebration for both the musicians and the seething crowds that know every word of every number (including favorites such as “Number of the Beast” and “Run to the Hills”). With his high-register, almost operatic shriek, Dickinson is the absolute archetype of the heavy metal vocalist. Add to that three (!) lead guitarists, all wailing furiously away at breakneck speed, and you have a tight, extraordinarily precise, thoroughly entertaining show that looks awesome on Blu-ray and sounds fantastic with DTS-HD Master Audio, PCM 5.1, and Dolby Digital stereo options. Highly recommended. Aud: P. (S. Graham)