John Lennon - The Messenger (+CD)

Advantages: An excellent source of material
Disadvantages: Makes me sad

...I'm not ashamed to say that I pretty much cry every time I've seen this film. This isn't a brown-nosing job, nor is it cynical, this is just a very well put together film on the remarkable man that was John Lennon. It does the predictable job of a documentary in outlining his childhood that was tough and sometimes unstable, and follows it through to his meeting with the rest of the boys who would make waves around the world. This is packed with home movies, archive news footage and interviews with those both close and distant from him, and some of the filming reveals the real John - the real John being someone infinitely human and with whom you are compelled to empathise. One scene in particular captures his feelings for the "lost souls" of this world. A young man is discovered in the grounds of his property. The police aren't called... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Can be seen by young and old
Disadvantages: Some parts are glanced over (historical events)

...I did not want to watch this documentary, its not that I don't like John Lennon, I honestly didn't think that it would be any good. I was wrong. It provides a readers digest version of John Lennon's life which was fine, and it concentrates mainly on John & Yoko's relationship and their thoughts and actions in regards to the Vietnam War, and the people that were responsible for the war. It was great to listen to people reliving the time of the late sixites and early seventies, and you cannot help but notice the similarities of the "corrupt" government back then to this government now (who started the Iraq war). The clips of John and Yoko were fascinating, for me, I got to respect Yoko much more - she was a woman clearly in love with John and they fitted together perfectly. You get to hear John and you can put together his... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Soundtrack, a bit of history retold
Disadvantages: Bit mushy in places

...?~ The film tells the story of when The Beatles first got together and their tour of Hamburg, Germany. At this time the band had five members: John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Pete Best and Stuart Sutcliffe. John and Stuart have met at college and are very close best friends. When John starts up his band he asks Stuart to play bass although Stuart has no previous experience of playing. Stuart is more of an artist, but being 19 years of age jumps on the opportunity to live a rock & roll life on tour. The majority of the film is set in Hamburg and there are plenty of scenes of the band playing at a seedy back street club in between strippers and exotic dancers. The band are shown performing cover tracks of songs like 'Mr Postman','Rock & Roll Music' and other rock & roll classics by the likes of Chuck Berry. Everything is running along... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful