Joanna Mccarty
Amazing worth wacthing. So good. Biased but well made with many good points.
Donald Seymour
This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.
Guillelmina
The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.
TxMike
I found this on Netflix streaming movies. I am roughly the same age as most of the member of the Eagles group, I have some recollection of hearing their songs back in the 1970s but nothing more. I knew absolutely nothing about them. I had no idea who Glen Frey and Don Henley were in the 1970s.Jump to the 2000s, maybe 10 or 12 years ago, a friend gave me the DVD of the Eagles returning to performing as a group in 1994, "Hell Freezes Over", because they once had said hell would have to freeze over before they reunited.The DVD itself is great, it gives a bit of the preparation they went through to get a few new songs and get concert ready. They coined the inside phrase "are you puking?" because that is the feeling they were to get as they were nervous about performing again in front of a big audience. So I only knew them as 40-something men, clean-cut and business- like. But this documentary "History of the Eagles" shows them starting out as kids, in their early 20s, scruffy with long hair and a few beards. And then there was Joe Walsh, by his later admission always on drugs and/or alcohol during his waking hours, a talented musician who loved to trash hotel rooms just for the fun. I believe he said his record was $28,000 damage to one room. As Henley says, many hotels banned them from ever returning. But they obviously had talent and they pooled their talent to become one of the most successful groups of the 1970s. Their "Hotel California" will likely live forever. The film also traces their issues with managers, producers, and recording companies. And how strong personalities caused them to quit in 1980.Now late in life the biggest revelation is Joe Walsh, he was forced by Henley and Frey to enter rehab before they would try to reunite. Walsh now says they saved his life and in fact he is a much nicer person in old age.Now I am an even bigger fan of the Eagles. This film documents what they went through, but I suppose it isn't greatly different from what many similar bands went through during that period. Or perhaps any period!
BenDecho
(You *will* find spoilers in this review if you haven't seen the film) I'm giving this film a "5" for the things I didn't know (musically) about the band, but they lost "5" for why things happened to the band.This movie is basically an ego boost for (in their eyes) how great Glenn Frey and Don Henley are. It really makes it look like anyone else in the band, either past or present, should bow down and thank them for allowing them in the band.Until seeing this film, I thought Don Felder was sort of the problem with the band. Then we learn, he *was* the problem with the band, according to Glenn Frey. Don Felder was a musician, and Don & Glenn wanted to use their fame to promote liberal politicians.I am a person who believes singers should sing, actors should act. They should stay out of politics and force their agenda on others, especially their band.I always knew Joe Walsh was a bit to the left before this film. I tried to overlook it, as I would probably have never learned to play guitar if it wasn't for the "James Gang Rides Again" 8-track tape (which I still own, and is laying on my desk).There are some real shockers in this film, there is a lot I already knew from being a fan, but what ruins it for me was they kicked out the biggest money maker (writer of Hotel California) for not seeing eye-to-eye with Don & Glenn's political views.Why were we mad at Van Halen for so many years? They just couldn't grow up and perform as the 4 musicians we paid millions of dollars on buying their music, but they refused to agree to play together and entertain us. And for now, 3 out of 4 are back together.Why are we mad at Led Zeppelin? Well, 3 of them (John Bonham has passed away). They cannot give their fans what they want, to see the remaining 3 of them, perhaps with Jason Bonham ( John Bonham's son) on drums, perform again, and give those of us that wished we had seen them years ago a chance to, today.Why were we mad at The Beatles? Same thing... ego (as they called it, creative differences).But The Eagles did the same thing, only it wasn't "creative" differences, it was differences of opinions. If you don't 100% agree with Glenn Frey, you're out of the band.I loved the old clips, I loved the very few minutes of the early band and their input. It got old listening to Joe Walsh and Timothy B. Schmit more or less doing "Heil Henley & Frey" throughout.Unfortunately, The Eagles are never the band they once were, and I doubt they ever will be. This film has brought many fans closer, and drove even more away.After failure sales in an exclusive deal with Wal-Mart on the "Long Road Out of Eden" CD in 2007, why can't this talented band put out another compilation of music and not ride on the music of the past? After seeing this film, I believe the answer is obvious.
luiet
**CONTAINS SPOILERS** This is not watching the "Eagles" & their history? This, is living it! It's an extremely well done story of the band! It's "Ups & Downs", personal relationships & absolutely the best music from days gone by! The only complain I'd have? Is the show at the Capital Center, being too short! Amazing performances, when young & wild, all 2 weeks before the "Hotel California" album came out & seeing that song played in 1977 is worth the price of the entire package! I saw that tour & the memories rush back to that time! If you're an "Eagles" fan? This is a must get! Brutally honest, no sugar, yet nothing but a great story, told candidly & very well produced! The production should have been nominated & The Music? Not nominated? It's so sad there's no category for "Classic Rock"? Parents? Will never buy more music than kids, of all ages!
steve-flaunty-770-898945
The reviewers before me have pretty much summed this film up. I would put my money on 80% of the viewing demographic will have grown up with the Eagles and many of them, like myself, would know them first and foremost for their music. All of us have heard snippets of stories and probably read differing opinions as to how they imploded and reassembled and then generally just came and went again at random. Many of us would have been to a concert, possibly more than one and seen them in the flesh, marveling again at their magical ability to blend voices and instruments into some of the best music produced in modern times. This documentary knits it all together. There will be millions of words written online over the coming months and perhaps years critiquing this film for better or for worse.I have adopted the stance that this is a group of musicians that are just as human as all the rest of us, extraordinarily gifted in their chosen fields and were at the intersection of preparation and opportunity just at the right time. The addition of a copious amount of personal home movie footage, some never aired before adds the essential layer to the production and wraps the package up like a tightly constructed wine. I'm sure there are many who will be watching this who will see themselves in the background of some of the footage, even at the third encores and will will be gasping in their living rooms grateful for the fact that the passage of time is the best camouflage for human recognition. Could you just imagine..." OMG Mom, I don't believe you did that ! How am I going to explain this to my friends !! "
