Watch Rage Against The Machine: The Battle of Mexico City

Rage Against The Machine: The Battle of Mexico City is a riveting documentary film that captures the fiery energy and incendiary politics of one of America's most influential rock bands, Rage Against The Machine, during their historic 1999 concert in Mexico City. With a searing mix of punk, metal, and hip-hop, Rage used their explosive sound and radical lyrics to protest against corporate greed, government corruption, police brutality, and social injustice.

The film opens with footage of the massive crowd that gathered in Mexico City's Zocalo Square on October 28, 1999, waiting for Rage to take the stage. Over 40,000 fans had packed the square to see the band perform, and the atmosphere was electric with anticipation. The camera then cuts to backstage, where Rage's lead vocalist, Zack De La Rocha, is pacing nervously and scrawling lyrics on a notepad. He knows that this concert is more than just a show - it is a statement of solidarity with the Mexican people and a challenge to the oppressive forces that seek to silence them.

The film then jumps back in time to show how Rage first formed in the early 1990s, as a group of Los Angeles musicians who shared a passion for radical politics and hard-edged music. The band's explosive debut album in 1992, self-titled "Rage Against The Machine" set the tone for their incendiary career, with hits like "Killing in the Name", "Bulls on Parade", and "Freedom", which became anthems for a generation of disaffected youth. The band's members - De La Rocha on vocals, Tom Morello on guitar, Tim Commerford on bass, and Brad Wilk on drums - became known for their intense live shows and their relentless activism, fighting for causes ranging from workers' rights to anti-globalization to the Zapatista movement in Chiapas, Mexico.

The film then returns to the present, as Rage takes the stage and launches into their first song, "Testify". The audience erupts into a frenzy of moshing, shouting, and waving signs with slogans like "¡Ya Basta!" (Enough already!) and "Zapatistas en la casa" (Zapatistas in the house). The band plays a blistering set of their greatest hits, including "People of the Sun", "Bullet in the Head", and "Wake Up", and the crowd sings along with every word, showing their fervent support for the band's message of resistance.

Throughout the concert, the film intersperses footage of interviews with Rage's members and other activists, including renowned linguist and political analyst Noam Chomsky. Chomsky talks about the importance of music as a form of political expression, and how Rage's music and lyrics have inspired countless people around the world to fight against oppression and inequality. Other interviewees discuss the struggles of the Zapatista movement and the ongoing battle against neoliberal capitalism in Mexico and beyond.

The film also reveals the behind-the-scenes drama that surrounded the concert, including the band's clashes with Mexican authorities over their anti-government lyrics, the tense negotiations with record label executives who wanted to tone down the political content of the show, and the last-minute technical difficulties that threatened to derail the performance. Despite all these obstacles, Rage delivers an unforgettable performance that showcases their fierce determination to use music as a tool of social change.

In the end, Rage Against The Machine: The Battle of Mexico City is a powerful testament to the enduring legacy of one of the most important and influential bands of the modern era. It shows how music can inspire people to challenge the status quo, to fight for justice and equality, and to stand up against oppression and tyranny. With its blend of blistering live footage, insightful interviews, and stirring political commentary, the film is a must-see for anyone who believes in the power of music to change the world.

Rage Against The Machine: The Battle of Mexico City is a 2001 music movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 35 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 8.2.