Marketic It's no definitive masterpiece but it's damn close.

Steineded How sad is this?

Hayden Kane There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

Frances Chung Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

J Besser Wow, what a movie. Not only is it filled with great music but it always is a great time capsule of the late '70s Dead scene. It's a movie that non-Dead fans will enjoy because it truly a movie that brings you to another place and time but it never feels dated in it's presentation. A timeless classic.

atlasmb In 1970, while a freshman in college, I purchased "Workingman's Dead", a studio album that was a snapshot of The Dead in that moment. Only recently did I learn that the album's sound was heavily influenced by CS&N. It's a great album, but it does little to help one understand the phenomenon that was The Grateful Dead.If we go back to "the garden", Woodstock in 1969--their live performance that was uninspired but natural--it is a good starting point for understanding the Experience that became the band's trademark. Woodstock had a freewheelin' energy and it reflected the anarchistic vibe of the counterculture. Unfortunately, that performance was also a portent of the consequences that befall those who abandon reason for the sake of experimentation or pleasure; and the LSD-inspired sloppiness of their Woodstock set was indicative of the drug-fueled illnesses that would end Jerry Garcia's life in his fifties."The Grateful Dead" does a good job of making this a documentary by showing backstage scenes, the group interacting with fans inside and outside the venue (Winterland), the crews setting up and tearing down, etc. But this film is about the legacy of a countercultural institution. And the live performances that were edited for this film shot in 1974 feel unself-conscious, organic and true to The Dead's oeuvre and style.Their music is a blend of folk country and psychedelia, reflecting Garcia's many musical influences, his personal style, and perhaps even his early use of the banjo. As is to be expected in their concerts, extended solos and jams are de rigueur.The film would get average marks if that was all it showed. But the fans, the Deadheads, were as much a part of the experience as the group they followed, so it is in showing the audiences that the film rises to more than a concert documentary. Shots of their lyrically dancing fans, and those possessed by frenetic intensity, are an integral part of the film. And they demonstrate how their performances were like a moveable Woodstock that continued for decades.Each performance was a celebration of the Deadicated for whom concertgoing was a way of life, a calling. Other bands had their groupies, but The Dead inspired legions of faithful attendees. Fortunately, this film does a fairly solid job of depicting the obsessive and transformational commitment of their followers, the Deadheads. We see the nearly religious devotion that was a gift, not deserved, in exchange for the gift of the band's preservation of an eclectic ideal.The photography is average, though comprehensive, but the sound is-- fortunately--quite good. Near the end, we see a banner proclaiming "Dead Don't Die". It's a prayer, perhaps, that flies in the face of reality, but it somehow helps quantify the spirit of the group and this film.

gatorone1000 Hadn't watched it in 15 years. When it came out on Blu-Ray I had to get it - marvelous transfer. Wish I could say that I had seen them during this time period around '77. I was part of the crowd that jumped on the Dead bandwagon in the mid '80s. I was sixteen in '86 when 'In the Dark Came out'. The Dead were really popular at the high schools that I went to (Bullis, then George C. Marshall, VA) so I had been listening to bootlegs during the '84-'85 period when Jerry was in a coma and the band wasn't touring. Man, the day that the Dead were on the cover of Rolling Stone in '86 and they announced the Spring tour was one of the most exciting moments of my young life. I saw them probably 15 times over the next few years..

Saturday8pm ... and I LOVE this movie! Now expanded on DVD, this movie is even better, and I consider it among the very best in rock'n'roll films. Why? First, the performances are good and capture The Dead at one of it's many creative peaks. But the real show is the audience, those lovable Deadheads who party as if it's their last night on earth. The movie shows the whole scene, warts and all, from tech support to the band backstage.Now, I don't get into that scene, never did. We can have a good time without trendy chemical amusement aid. But it was a part of the peak years of stadium tours of the 1970s. The music was the catalyst and the fan support unwavering. That was the strength and weakness of the rock'n'roll scene of that time, which, while not void of trouble, certainly led to the tragedies of the late '70s that changed seating arrangements at large venues. Frankly, I have stopped going to large concerts where the cattle mentality is capable of violence. In contrast, I found my sole Grateful Dead show to be among the most peaceable shows I've ever attended, a testament to the music-loving crowd that has faithfully followed the band for generations.That love of music comes through loud and clear on "The Grateful Dead Movie". Some of the fierce loyalties make for superior humor and the sole connection for many of the attendees at these shows.At times there are sad undertones: some fans are getting their acts together and just spending some quality time with friends while others seem completely lost to the scene. For some show goers, drugs were the catalyst. But that's the way it was back then; and perhaps always will be. Some people are drawn into whatever their hearts desire and choose to make that obsession their lives, which is fine when that endeavor is a creation of their own, when it's not, that's a real loss. A groupie for life is not the life worth living, folks. Still, the love is mutual: the film clearly shows the love the band has for it's listeners. At one point, a shirtless fan is escorted onstage and presents drummer Bill Kreutzmann with a custom "California Dead" license plate. The two shake hands, and the plate is proudly displayed on the bass drum.The first disc is the original movie with the usual DVD options. I chose to have subtitles activated to enjoy the lyrics as I watched the film. There are also several audio options for the listener to enjoy, which will really impress the true fans. The second disc features eleven songs left on the cutting floor the first time around and for me, it was overkill, truly for the fan. Still, I listened to two of them. Several documentaries round out the package, and I found them all truly fascinating, particularly the "Making of the Animation" sequence. The Photo Gallery was for the discriminating fan, I found endless shots of production papers overkill, though some of Garcia's notes fascinating. Which leads me to the only downer of the package: the documentaries don't interview the entire band. It's great to see Donna Jean again reminiscing with buddy Bill Kreutzmann, and Bob Weir's spacey recollections have a melancholic tone, but where's the rest? Phil Lesh has GREAT insight of the band and life philosophies in general, and he's missed. So is Mickey Hart. But the real cavity is Garcia's absence.His recollections would have truly been the ace in the hole, particularly since "The Grateful Dead Movie" was his baby. The interviewees do the best they can to speak Garcia's piece but it's no substitute. Further, I'm sure if not for his death this project would have been hastened, as unrest hit The Grateful Dead camp upon Garcia's premature parting.Part rock show, part documentary, 100% fun, "The Grateful Dead" movie will satisfy lifelong fans and surely convert new ones, as this is as close to the real thing as one can get, since the real thing is now a part of history. One thing is for sure, if you're not a fan, you may find yourself at least liking it by the end of the film.After all, if you weren't interested, you wouldn't have picked it up, would you? Cheers: The definitive time capsule of The Grateful Dead in it's prime; fantastic animated opener; great song selection; photo gallery has great shots of the band in the early days; great natural spontaneity; good flow from band to fan and back; records the dynamics of a rock show; good for any rock'n'roll listener, fan or not; multiple audio choices; very humorous; witty; engaging; lovingly produced; superb DVD interactivity.Caveats: May be overindulgent for some; bass is muddy on some songs; some fans will disturb viewers; drug use aplenty; not all of the band is interviewed; photo gallery indulgent in places; NOT FOR KIDS!!! Let it roll!!!