More a collage than a documentary, Jeff Stein’s 1979 film about the Who, “The Kids Are Alright,” is one of the finest rock movies of all time. Joyously lacking in linearity but bursting with hyperactivity, this DVD version virtually rescues this piece of rock history. The VHS version was a chopped-up, sped-up bastardization of the original flick, but all that has been righted here, with the added bonus of Dolby 5.1 remixing. A completely hypnotic hodge-podge of performances, interview outtakes and general lunacy, it flies along like a perfectly kicked snare drum. And the bonus disc makes the whole thing simply sublime. Five hours of extras include never-before-released multi-camera-angle footage, interviews with singer Roger Daltrey and filmmaker Stein, games, a slide show and a documentary look at the restoration process, along with a detailed 32-page booklet. Pure gold . . . no foolin’.—AZ
