AniInterview Sorry, this movie sucks

ReaderKenka Let's be realistic.

Catangro After playing with our expectations, this turns out to be a very different sort of film.

Dana An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

GeoPierpont I will admit I fell for all the negative publicity about this couple. I could not "Imagine" any musical effort to end war. I never even gave their message a chance at all. I was one who was the first to vote when they changed the voting age. At 18 I payed absolutely no attention to anyone except what I was told in the media and my neighborhood. To this day I am harboring doubts about the genius of this musician. After watching this film and several others which highlight John's talents I am finally starting to be more democratic in my thoughts.I will admit that I was jealous of the type of relationship that was portrayed in the film. If you have had a traumatic childhood and find someone you feel safe with and have deep trust and love, that is a miracle in my opinion. Their joint efforts to share their feelings is rather dramatic and impressive. I do not believe there is a forum for expressing these sentiments any longer due to the many restrictions on free speech. Hence, this documentary will most likely be suppressed in the near future to prevent such evidence of the power of the people.When they commented on how dare someone from another country criticize the policies of another who clearly devised a significant income and notoriety, I have another view. Who in their right mind would go through all that trouble to impact their livelihood, future, good opinion, and most of all safety, if they did not really want to make a difference. I have absolutely no desire to help another country propel to a higher elevation, my conscience is not that elevated. So after seeing this film I am impressed they took the time and effort to change world views. I would be more concerned with my public image, sales, income, and profit.High recommend for those of us who fell for all the negative campaigning in the media to hate these two.

metalrox_2000 There is a line in the movie from a former FBI agent. He said "If Lennon had just kept his mouth shut, and made his music, there never would have been a problem." And there is the fundamental issue. Here was John Lennon, who had fame and fortune as a member of the Beatles. Does he continue to write disposable pop tunes, or does he use song to uncover some of the injustice in the world? Thankfully for us, he chose the later.John Lennon used his platform for the greatest good. He gave a voice to those who were shunned. He allowed Bobby Seale of the Black Panthers to have his say, and refute how the news media had portrayed him. Lennon was a man of peace, which made him a threat to men like Richard Nixon, who dedicated their lives to war.The film goes into great depth Lennon and his views, as well as the infamous fight by the Nixon Administration to deport Lennon as an "undesirable alien" simply because he spoke out. The film features interviews with both Yoko and the attorney who fought the deportation and won.The documentary focuses heavily on his activism, and reveals many details not generally known, even to the most hard core fans. The film makes great use of home movies and news clips as well.One of the strongest uses of news clips comes at the end. The public display that went on for John Lennon was unmatched by anyone up to or since then. The raw emotions of the fans gathered for the tribute to him was grim, it was real, and it brought home how beloved John Lennon was to a people tired of war.John Lennon isn't simply portrayed as a musician turned social activist. He's not portrayed as a superhero either. He's portrayed as a man who looked upon the world, and asked why. Why must there be so much death and destruction? And looking at the state of affairs in the world now, we really could use John Lennon.

Dan1863Sickles The thing that makes this movie work is not the testimony of the "designated spokesmen" who claim to carry on John Lennon's hard-core leftist "legacy." By and large these people are either hard core scam artists (i.e. Black Panthers with LOOONG criminal records pretending to "dig" nonviolence)or pathetic victims desperately clinging to lost illusions (i.e. poor crippled Ron Kovic still blaming the US government for the deadly aim of the determined NVA soldier who crippled him for life.) Where the movie works is when it catches John Lennon being himself -- jumping for joy while out for a walk with Yoko, or arguing with a very posh lady journalist from the NEW YORK TIMES who basically tells him a working class lad has "no business having opinions about what educated people do." (Hard to believe the feminist movement was once run by such a selfish, spoiled white-bread elite -- no, actually it still is!) Ironically, of all the talking heads there's only one who really seems to "get" John Lennon's attitude -- and it's actually the sole right wing guy they deigned to interview, G. Gordon Liddy. Liddy's got the Lennon attitude down perfect -- tell the truth and to hell with anyone who can't deal with it. His take on the shootings at Kent State is hands-down the most honest moment in the video, so raw and irreverent you can actually hear John Lennon howling with delight.It's a shame Lennon and Liddy never got to party together.

moonbus69 I cannot thank the directors/producers of this film enough. Using much classic film and TV footage (some possibly never seen widely before), interviews both old and new, with his music expertly mixed in, this movie is a 'must see' for even casual John Lennon and Beatles fans. It is also an intimate look at John and Yoko as a couple and of their projects together.This is a very heart-felt and well thought out memorial, and an inspiration for anyone working toward a more sane and peaceful reality/world. The film and extras should be required viewing in high school or college history, social studies, and ethics classes. Many viewpoints are presented from the wide variety of people interviewed for this documentary. Anyone wanting to understand the passion and magic of John Lennon, and the wild ride that was the USA from the late Sixties through early Seventies would find something very worthwhile in this moving film. A documentary that is definitely NOT boring, and one to watch often!