That was an excellent one.

Yo, there's no way for me to review this film without saying, take your *insert ethnicity + "ass" here* to see this film,like now. You have to see it in order to know what you're really messing with.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.

"Artifact" is a portrait of the making of 30 Seconds to Mars' third studio album, aptly entitled "This is War". The album was written and recorded independently while the band was in the midst of a brutal 10 month, 30 million dollar lawsuit with their record label EMI.In between a personal history of the band, recording sessions, and negotiations, we get a talking heads take on the record industry from industry insiders and other recording artists. In addition, there is a sequence that explains the endlessly complicated and one sided nature of the typical recording contract. Even in a digital age, there are still allowances for things like breakage and packaging.The documentary should appeal to anyone wanting to know more about the endless battle between art and commerce, whether you're an artist negotiating those shark filled waters, or an individual trying to support your favorite band. In addition, anyone who knows frontman Jared Leto only through his acting career ("Requiem for a Dream", "Dallas Buyers Club") will get a nice introduction to another side of the multi-talented artist.

Downloaded ARTIFACT this morning from VyRT, a unique insight into the exploitation artists suffer at the hands of the big record companies; how signing a record deal and working relentlessly to make incredible music, might bring success, but the price of that success is to be forever in escalating debt to corporate giants who want to own every note you play, every lyric of every song... 30 SECONDS TO MARS (Jared, Shannon, Tomo) stood their ground and fought back against this injustice and made an amazing album, "This is War". I just finished watching, I laughed, I cried, I was inspired!!! Congratulations on a great film/documentary Jared Leto !!!

I'm glad that I've found out about this soon enough to sign it with my name and am proud to be at least a very small part of it. It's a subjective story from and about Thirty Seconds To Mars being sued for 30 Million Dollars by their label and the making of "This Is War". Apart from that other musicians and former and present music executives have their say and show that the music industry uses an antiquated business-model that's not compatible with any form of art...let alone music. Artifact is compelling from beginning to end, very emotional, very funny and very informative. It sets the bar very high for every further music documentary. I was around musicians most of my life. As a producer, editor and interviewer of my own radio show I've had a common knowledge of the music industry and how it works. Befriended bands had and some still have oppressive contracts, which don't allow them to take their own decisions, but on the other hand they have to finance almost everything on their own. I thought I knew it all, but even I learned something new. This movie is important. It's time for a change !!!

Little has often been understood about the depths of the music industry and just what it means to be part of it. Artifact, a project Jared Leto worked on for five years before its online premiere yesterday, is a true testament to the pressures, stresses, strains and conflicts that come from such a business that affects the lives of so many. Over the course of just under two hours, Artifact details, with opinions from industry insiders, producers, artists and the band themselves, the battle Thirty Seconds To Mars endured in standing up for what they felt was right for them. Facing a lawsuit of 30 million dollars, the band took it upon themselves to finance and create the album which would go on to become This Is War themselves, placing themselves in all but financial ruin in the process. Jared in particular describes time and time again, in conversations with lawyers and his manager, the huge task before them, blunt in his views on those that have placed him and his band-mates in their predicament. Although the lawsuit is finally settled, with MARS successfully negotiating the terms they wanted, over the course of over 100 days, the trio and everyone working alongside them are put through the ringer - it is a testament to the band, their unity in the face of huge adversity, that what they went on to create such an impressively powerful piece of work with This Is War. Anyone who is a fan of music, has been to a concert, bought or downloaded a CD or single needs to see this film. It is the most accurately honest piece of work about the industry so few understand ever to have been made in my opinion. Artist, music fan or not - if you want to know what it means to put everything on the line in order to stand for what you believe is right, then see this, and be as I was; incredibly impressed and so proud.