Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #22897 in DVD
• Released on: 2006-01-30
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
• Formats: Box set, PAL, Widescreen
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 2
• Running time: 98 minutes

Synopsis
Considered by many to be the greatest rock guitarist of all time, Hendrix was an enigmatic, contradictory character: an impassioned, extroverted performer and at the same time a timid, unsure man. Sadly, Hendrix went the way of many other rock legends, dying well before he reached middle age. This absorbing documentary gives insight into the life and career of Hendrix through both interviews and rare performances. Included are sequences from the Monterey Pop, Woodstock, and Isle of Wight Music Festivals.

Customer Reviews

Great Rockumentary, Average Film
This is a re-mastered, expanded version of the original DVD release, which has been unavailable for some time.

The difference between the two is the additional bonus material, such as the expanded interviews with the musical friends, colleagues, relatives and irrelevant types who appeared in the original release. The sound seems improved on the earlier release but the film quality is variable as before.

As a 'rockumentary', it's fine, with clips from concerts great (Monterey, Berkeley) and so-so (Isle of Wight), interspersed with interviews interesting (such as Pete Townshend) and irrelevant (Germaine Greer?!). The acoustic Hear My Train a Comin' is a gem. But with no narration to hold it together, this doesn't really hang together as a film.

Anyway, if you're a Hendrix fan, you have to have this, even if you own the original release.

Warner Bros does it again... :-(
I like the original film, although it's not as good as it could be, but it's the only real documentary of THE guitarist. This remastered version would have been nice upgrade for the original, but fake wide screen (thank you again WB) spoils it totally. I have the original 4:3 and it is 1/3 "bigger" than this fake wide screen versio, which cuts the picture. It makes me really mad why they have to do things like this, because the picture quality otherwise is much better than in the original! Only reason I'm keeping this version is the bonus disc.

Entertaining and a good light introduction to Hendrix, but not more....
I believe that this documentary is likely to appeal to two kinds of people. First, those that don't know a thing about Jimi Hendrix, and that will be able to watch an engaging introduction to his life and music that doesn't go to far but entertains. Secondly, those fans that want to have absolutely everything that has to do with Hendrix, and that will treasure this dvd.

On the other hand, I don't think that those spectators that simply want to watch an excellent documentary about a musical icon will be happy with this one, because even though it is good, it is far from outstanding or even very good. It doesn't have enough information about Jimi Hendrix, and it lacks depth. It is entertaining and a good light introduction to Hendrix, but not more.

All in all, I can say that this documentary is good, and deserves at least 3 starts out of 5, but not more. If you expect a documentary about a musician that will make you watch it again and again, give "No direction home" (by Scorcese, about Dylan) a try.

Belen Alcat