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Amazing Journey: The Story Of The Who (2007) DVD Review




















Directed by: Paul Crowder Murray Lerner
Written by: Mark Monroe
Cast: Roger Daltrey, Pete Townshend, John Entwistle, Keith Moon, Richard Barnes, Jeffrey Baxter, John Bundrick, Dougal Butler, The Edge, Noel Gallagher, Glyn Johns, Steve Jones, Rob Ladd, Greg Lake, Kathleen Moon
Released by: Spitfire Pictures
DVD Release Date: 6th November 2007

Synopsis:
Spanning four decades, this authorized and definitive anthology of The Who relives their journey from humble beginnings to their meteoric rise to rock legend status in a 2-film DVD set. Filled with all-new interviews with band members Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend and music icons Sting, The Edge of U2, Eddie Vedder and more, this must-have collection also features electrifying rare and unreleased footage in mind-blowing 5.1 surround sound. David Wild, a contributing editor of Rolling Stone, says it it's 'brilliant.' For music that spoke to generations of fans, and refused to be classified, the answer is - and always will be - The Who.

DVD Review
How do you squish decades of rich experience, experimenting, superstardom, destruction, attitude, and pure rock n’ roll into a two-hour documentary? Amazing Journey: The Story of The Who. That’s how.

Unlike how a vinyl album delicately gets put onto a turntable, this film breaks out with a deliciously poignant statement by Who singer, Roger Daltrey. It’s uncensored, honest, and perfectly sets the stage for the story of one of the greatest rock bands of all time. The visual interludes persuade us to feel like we are simply listening to a fantastic record but the experience is so much more.

Peter Townshend and Roger Daltrey, joined by a host of friends, family, and various music industry associates, tell the story of how The Who came to be, where they went, and where they are now. With a handful of music’s biggest names like Sting, The Edge (U2), Noel Gallagher (Oasis), Eddie Vedder (Pearl Jam), and Steve Jones (Sex Pistols), the curtain in front of The Who gets ripped open, exposing the genesis, the myths, and the sad truths. For anyone who is a die hard fan of the band, much of the early backstory will prove basic but you will be able to pick out tidbits that bring new insight. With Pete and Roger talking about being born out of World War II and a running reel of historical British footage, the forces behind the conception of The Who intensely draw together.

Though Pete, Roger, and the others do the majority of the talking, there is a lackluster and supposedly ominous narrator that chimes in at awkward moments, as to fill the gaps that no one had anything to say about. Honestly, this documentary is so well done and supremely edited that the need for such an overtly forced voice seems completely unnecessary. Although it’s annoying, it soon becomes forgotten and blends into the rock n’ roll journey that took the world by storm.

The section of the film covering the early years is definitely the most enjoyable. Not only do you see where everyone came from, how they met, who stayed, who went, and how Keith Moon’s extreme bluntness and confidence started a revolution, but you observe why the group went from The Detours to The Who (to The High Numbers and then back to The Who), how they dealt with the “Mods vs. Rockers” clash in England, and how British history, like how the BBC’s ownership of the airwaves, paved a narrow path for The Who to travel down in order to be heard. The way these developing years are portrayed paint an intriguing and extraordinarily brilliant picture of how four men were able to be at the right place at the right time in the 1960s and team up to forge something truly amazing.

Often ignored in other documentaries, the expository accents in this film are short, well spaced, and, for lack of a better word, fun. Everyone’s birthday is given, which is typical, but here we also get a list of nicknames for each individual. They flash by quick but if you’re able to get a glance of them, you’ll be able to picture how great it must have been to refer to these legends by such terms. Also in accord with other musical documentaries, this one supplies the viewer with plenty of magical live concert and studio footage, concert posters, and encapsulating photographs. Because of these additions, we are exposed to a relationship with Jimi Hendrix, why The Who is forever banned from the Holiday Inn, Pete Townshend’s drunken remarks to the Sex Pistols, and a hilarious Smothers Brothers clip, which shows that Keith Moon can conquer all, even a popular variety show host while singeing a band mate’s hair .

What really brings this film to the top is its keen ability to humanize such a sensational rock n’ roll band. Yes, there are moments that are beautifully beyond our normal lives, like smashing up 1960s musical electronics, but the surface is definitely breeched and we get a deep look at the band. We see how amphetamines nearly extinguished The Who while they were trying to play more shows than was thought humanly possible, how alienation within the band set Roger Daltrey as an outsider, and countless other moments that signify years of trials and tribulations. Although the back end of the documentary is forced into a dark corner with John Entwistle and Keith Moon’s untimely deaths, it comes out on top, leaving the viewer with a somber feeling of contentment, as if a long intense journey has just been completed.

The second disc, Six Quick Ones, is fun and features some extra interviews and footage along with stellar musical performances. Also, make sure to check out the little booklet that comes with the 2-disc set. Together, these things make up an unforgettable documentary of The Who that old and new fans alike will be able to enjoy while observing the unforgettable story of one of rock n’ roll’s most iconic bands.

Source: www.realmovienews.com

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