... The problem with Jim Morrison's life was that it had no first and third. His childhood was lost in a mist of denial and his adulthood was interrupted by an early death, caused by his relentless campaign against his own mind and body. What he left behind was a protracted adolescence, during ... Read review
The Doorsis Oliver Stone's epic, typically portentous homage to the band that soundtracked ... more
his youth. As is generally the case with Stone's films, its scope is impressively wide. He places The Doors at the eye of a 1960s cultural and political maelstro...
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Release Date: 1999-12-23, Audio CD, Wea International
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The Doors were a distillation of their time. The Music they made was raw yet poetic, angry ... more
yet seductive. The stage show at its best was dramatic, brilliant theatre - artistic expression transcending all form. Jim Morrison's sensual stage presence, charged with strength and energy, capable of projecting a sense of danger, spoke to young audiences' fantasies and became a catalyst for an era. Their songs have kept The Doors in that rare pantheon of groups whose music evokes the memory of the turbulent 60s and continues to make fans not only of those who lived during that time but also of following generations as well.This is their story.
Superb value with three classic Doors titles on one DVD. Dance On Fire: An all music ... more
collection of live and televised performances, promotional clips and behind the scenes footage. Features LA Woman, Riders on the Storm & Light My Fire. Live At The Hollywood Bowl: The 1968 legendary concert. The only complete live concert of the Doors ever filmed. The Soft Parade: This collection of footage drawn from The Doors private archives features the band's last television appearance on PBS in 1969.
Even darker than their purple-hued debut, the Doors' follow-up, Strange Days, closed 1967 ... more
with an ominous flourish. Highlighted mostly by short, radio- friendly tunes such as the bluesy "Love Me Two Times" and the cabaret-style "People Are Strange" and featuring a smattering of edgy recitations ("Horse Latitudes") and smoky rockers ("My Eyes Have Seen You"), the album features a centerpiece that was another ambitious extended track, "When the Music's Over". On it, Morrison railed at everything from organised religion to pollution, and his rallying cry--"We want the world, and we want it now!"--became a call to arms for the counterculture rising up around the band. --Billy Altman
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Production Year: 2004 - Drama - Director: Nick Cassavetes - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over, 12 years and over - Starring: Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling, Gena Rowlands
Production Year: 1995 - Drama - Director: Ang Lee - Original Language: English - Classification: Universal - Starring: Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman, Kate Winslet, Hugh Grant, Greg Wise, Hugh Laurie, Robert Hardy
Advantages: great music and some great portrayals Disadvantages: dosnt get at the heart of the subject
Even though the title of the film would suggest that this film is the story of the band as a whole that is pretty much a fallacy. Like most things with this band the front man, Jim Morrison, over shadows all else and here we are treated to a wonderful view of the times and the scene, but it is totally focused on the one person. That's not to say that it's not a very engaging story, for fans and non-fans alike, but the hidden depths of the make up ... ...its not the aim of the film to understand the complexities of the band members relationships or the hidden messages and meanings behind the words and music, it is merely a biographical story of one mans fifteen minutes of fame and the path he took that lead to his famously untimely death. F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote that the problem with American lives is that they have no second act. The problem with Jim Morrison's life was that it had no first and ... more
Even though the title of the film would suggest that this film is the story of the band as a whole that is pretty much a fallacy. Like most things with this band the front man, Jim Morrison, over shadows all else and here we are treated to a wonderful view of the times and the scene, but it is totally focused on the one person. That's not to say that it's not a very engaging story, for fans and non-fans alike, but the hidden depths of the make up of the band are not probed very far. That said its not the aim of the film to understand the complexities of the band members relationships or the hidden messages and meanings behind the words and music, it is merely a biographical story of one mans fifteen minutes of fame and the path he took that lead to his famously untimely death. F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote that the problem with American lives is that they have no second act. The problem with Jim Morrison's life was that it had no first and third. His childhood was lost in a mist of denial and his adulthood was interrupted by an early death, caused by his relentless campaign against his own mind and body. What he left behind was a protracted adolescence, during which he recorded some great rock 'n' roll.
The film opens with Morrison's (Val Kilmer) film school days where his art film style and the confrontational and often adult nature of his work seemed to bring only derision, so showing glimpses of the rock star image to come, we walked out. Sometime later he meets fellow classmate Ray Manzarek and after sharing some of his poetry with him is persuaded to join a band that he is putting together. The film moves swiftly on through these early sessions which contain the birth of some of their most identifiable songs such as "Break On Through" and "Light My Fire" which is forgivable as the film has a seven year career to fit into just over two hours. During the bands early shows we see Morrison as a shy and unnatural performer in complete contrast to the icon he was about to become. With the bands increased success and Morrison's increased pushing back his drug and alcohol threshold we see the once reserved and thoughtful poet evolve into a leather clad rock god, and by the time he delivers those immortal lines, "I am the Lizard King, I can do anything" we know that his transformation is complete.
The band and its journey is always secondary to the story of its singer and the main relationship dealt with is not between the band members but between Jim and Pamela (Meg Ryan) a hippie chick who seems as troubled and fragile as her boyfriend. Their relationship is as destructive and unfulfilling as every other aspect of Morrison's life, you get the idea that for all his iconic status and the brilliant music that is his legacy, this guy was no fun to be around. Fixated with death and danger, this was always going to be a case of being better to burn out that to fade away and as quickly as he rose to fame, fell apart in a substance fuelled tailspin. Someone once described watching this film of his life, like being stuck in a bar watching an obnoxious drunk when you are not drinking.
But if the story is not pleasant the music makes up for it brilliantly. Using original songs as a soundtrack is good enough but the live shots are what make it all work. Considering that the four band members are actors first and foremost they look convincing when performing and Jim Morrison's original vocals are tied in seamlessly with new tracks of Val Kilter's voice and the portrayed image of the bands is never less than utterly believable. It also helps that Kilmer looks so much like Morrison that its not so much a case of acting the part its almost like a possession. Kevin Dillon as the down to earth drummer John Densmore is well cast as is Frank Whaley as guitarist Bobby Krieger, but Kyle Maclachlan as keyboard player Ray Manzarek deserves a special mention as he is convincing both in his physical appearance as well as his portrayal. The live shows are mesmerising in their visual as well as musical impact. The dark and trance like nature, the open mix of sexuality and tribal dance, the rock fuelled poetry and the glorious originality bring to life what the Doors music was all about and Morrison's constant confrontation with what he sees as a mindless and spoon fed audience is always apparent. The film also makes apparent that this onstage bacchanalian front man is actually at odds with the off stage person, who is less that idol material and often still shows moments of the thoughtful and innocent student who wrote poetry on Venice Beach all those years earlier.
As I said in the opening, this is really a film about the man rather than the band, with everyone, even his wife Pamela, are just bit parts that come and go through the booze fuelled downward spiral that was Morrison's life. It's a film that covers a short musical career; one that seemed to never be without its problems. The band members were never really close friends, the relationship between Morrison and Densmore being particularly telling. If you want to know more about that aspect of the band then the autobiographies of Densmore and Manzarek will be a good place to start, this film is more of a visually gripping but ultimately surface story of a much more complex situation. By the time the seventies got going Morrison was one of its casualties, one of the three J's that died within a year of each other, Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin being the others. Even his grave in Paris is a rock and roll holy place, a place of pilgrimage for the devout. But his graffiti adorned resting place covered with garish scarves, spray painted slogans and dead flowers sits as a blight in the tranquillity of a historic cemetery, shows us that even in death, Morrison is still no fun to be around.
Advantages: Stunning to look at. The acting is superb. Probably the best soundtrack in the world. Disadvantages: Some fact seems to have been placed to the side to make way for drama and controversy.
Many things have been given the Oliver Stone treatment. From Vietnam in 'Platoon' to presidential assassination in 'JFK'. So what happens when one of the greatest rock bands of all time are immortalised on celluloid by one of the greatest directors of all time?
I am one of the few amongst my generation. I loved The Doors before I had seen the movie. I had read the two books that it is based upon and I had naturally sample all the music that they ... ...I was not alive during the summer of love. I have not experienced the ‘revolution’ or the free love society (God I wish I had). The Doors and Jim Morrison were world leaders in these causes however. How well did this movie portray this?
The first thing that strikes you about this movie is how much Val Kilmer looks like Jim Morrison. I do not know how much make up was used (very little by all accounts) but if the Jim Morrison of the late ...
bigkenny 25.05.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Doors (DVD)
Advantages: Kilmer, a wonderful story Disadvantages: None
...for making films which expose the sleazy underbelly of history and debunk the myths that surround the received wisdom. He's also a right pain in the a*** for the US establishment and has done such stuff as JFK and Malcolm X. The Doors was one of his earlier films and paints a striking picture of rock music in the late Sixties. It focuses on The Doors and their brilliant, but controversial lead singer, Jim Morrison, played by Val Kilmer, whose face ... ...beautiful. The subject matter was pretty much made for Stone's romantic, outlaw take on 60's Americana and he certainly does it full justice. The Doors were a massive rock and roll band for a while, making such wonderful hit records as Break On Through, Light My Fire, Riders On The Storm, People Are Strange and Hello I Love You. They were made up of Morrison, the pin up of the band's sizable female following and an aspiring poet and mystic, gothic ...
dave27 24.04.2001 (28.11.2001)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Doors (DVD)
Advantages: great music Disadvantages: 'touchy' subject matter
...should watch this film. The film epitomises the old 'sex, drugs and rock'n'roll' adage, and then some! Excellent performances put across the story of The Doors with humour, wit, and some sensitivity. Littered with enough Doors tracks to keep even the most die-hard fan happy, and enough plot to keep anyone else watching enthralled to the end, this film has some classic lines of dialogue that are worth remembering for future conversations. This film ...
arachne 19.07.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Doors (DVD)
Advantages: Long, interesting, with a good spiritual thrust. Disadvantages: A bit too much.
Like the film 'Titanic', everyone who knows anything about the Doors will know what happens at the end of this film. However, Oliver Stone's biopic 'The Doors' tries to look for a reason why - while charting the rise and fall of one of the world's greatest bands. The film centralises, of course, with the band's permanently stoked-up singer, the infamous Jim Morrison, who is played by Val Kilmer - notorious himself for mood swings. Kilmer looks surprising ... ...real-life counterpart. Kyle Maclachan plays the straight-laced organist Ray Manzeric with a gusto matched only by Kilmer himself. As far as the facts go, this film skimps on the odd detail or two. Jim Morrison didn't quit film school - he got his qualification. The girl he was caught kissing in the shower room behind a gig was not the journalist woman. However, these indiscretions are often simply ways of getting a lifetime and a half of trouble ...
NotWelshMan 14.09.2000
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Review of The Doors (DVD)
Val Kilmer plays the part of Jim Morrison, the cultish singer and writer for the famous band, The Doors.
This biographical story starts with him remembering a family trip in the desert where he witnesses an Indian dying on the side of the road. Remembering that this is the middle of the desert and seeing anyone would seem to be a little odd.
He turns into a bizarre poet and starts a band with this friends at college. Morrison is a unique talent ... ...drugs, Satanism, sex and all the like.
One day, he sees a beautiful girl on the beach and follows her home, he reads poetry to her and captures her heart. Pamela Courson (Meg Ryan), falls for Morrison and the pair remain together until the end.
With Jim, still fascinated with the dark side of life, has an affair with a witch who have blood drinking rituals, Pamela finds out about this but remains with Jim. This is a well told story of Jim Morrison’s ...
michellej 30.08.2000 (09.03.2001)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of The Doors (DVD)
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Advantages: Great acting, brilliant story Disadvantages: There aren't any
a highly entertaining and compelling storyline that is in no way predictable. This is the perfect film for a girly night in? move over Bridget Jones!
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Advantages: Stomach wrenching ending Disadvantages: Those not used to intellectualy thought out movies will switch off.
Right At Your Door offers the viewer an intriguing story, and when I heard what the movie was about I waited patiently for the day it was available on DVD (I don't do cinemas regardless of how much I want to see the film). The trouble being is that while the story synopsis sounds good you have to ask does it warrant a run time of over 90 minutes?
The story is simple, a loving couple with a slightly edgy relationship awake one sunny Los Angeles day, while Brad opts to spend the day at home making music; Lexi has to travel into the city centre for a meeting. Lexi has been gone for about 30 minutes when Brad notices a stage interruption of music on the radio station. Los Angeles is under a terrorist attack as dozens of bombs go off across the city. Brad's thoughts are with Lexi, is she ok? Is she alive? As the news progresses and Brad ...
Advantages: its weird, wacky funny and compelling viewing! 40 episodes!! Disadvantages: nothing!!
This dvd is great, well it is if you're as big a kid as me!! Ive already got a couple of Trap Door videos but this dvd contains the whole of series one and two and has 40 episodes on it.
Those of you who were kids in the 80's might well remember it being on tv. It was voiced by the talented Willie Rushden.
Basically the story revolves around a blue guy called Berk who lives in a big castle with a wee skull called Boni and a spidery type thing called Drutt. Berk is the servant of the Thing Upstairs which you never get to see properly.
There is only one down side to living in the castle.......Berk at times leaves the Trap Door open, which allows weird and wonderful nasties, and now and again good things, to come out and terrorist Berk and his friends......normally with funny results!
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A drama based on the life of rock star Jim Morrison whose life came tragically to an end in a haze of drugs.
Release details
DVD Region
DVD
Studio(s)
MOMENTUM PICTURES; TECHNICOLOR DISTRIBUTION SERVICES
Release date
17/02/2003
No of Discs
1
Catalogue No
MP 029 D
Barcode
5060021171290
Editor
David Brenner
Languages
Main Language
English
Technical information
Special Features
Audio Commentary - 1. Oliver Stone - Director, Trailers, Interviews - Cast and Crew, Featurettes - 1. Behind The Scenes, 2. Making of THE DOORS, Music Video - 1. BREAK ON THROUGH, Easter Eggs
Professional reviews
Review
"...The whole movie is white hot, lapped in honeyed golds, evilly blue and black or drenched in those swoony, fiery reds. THE DOORS blasts your ears and scorches your eyes..." (Los Angeles Times, p.F1, 01/03/1991)
"...Clamorous, reverential, much-larger-than-life....Kilmer captures all of Morrisons's reckless, insinuating appeal..." (New York Times, p.C1, 01/03/1991)
"...THE DOORS is a thrilling spectacle - the KING KONG of rock movies..." (Rolling Stone, p.83-4, 21/03/1991)
DVD Description
Oliver Stone might have considered his film a tribute to the enduring power of the Doors' music, but he seems to have also intended it as a cautionary tale on the perils of both celebrity and substance abuse. Starring Val Kilmer as Jim Morrison, the film focuses on the Lizard King from his days as a UCLA film student in the early 1960s to his death in a Paris hotel in 1971. In the early days of the group's formation, Morrison is at his most benign; he's just a guy hanging out at the beach writing poetry. But as the Doors' fame begins to spread--with Morrison as the focus of attention--his drug consumption and erratic behavior increase exponentially. The rest of the band--Ray Manzarek (Kyle McLachalan), John Densmore (Kevin Dillon), and Robby Krieger (Frank Whaley)--begins to grow tired of his late arrivals, the increasing number of cancellations, and the drunken recording sessions requiring infinite retakes. But no one can help Morrison as he spirals downward into an inferno of drugs, alcohol, public obscenity, and depression. Kilmer gives an excellent performance, including a frighteningly accurate imitation of Morrison's singing. Stone's intimate familiarity with SoCal in the 1960s also provides the film with a high degree of surface verisimilitude.
![The Doors - Special Edition [DVD] [1991]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/78525315.jpg)
