The Doors – When You’re Strange DVD – review and giveaway
I had a chance to watch the new Doors’ DVD When You’re Strange: A Film About the Doors over the weekend and I have to say that I really enjoyed the Tom DiCillo-directed documentary. Like most music fans, I’m so accustomed to “VH1: Behind the Music”-style music documentaries that DiCillo’s choice of using only archival footage was a refreshing change of pace. “When You’re Strange” is essentially an overview of the band’s short time together with Johnny Depp doing the narrating. DiCillo assembled a great variety of riveting footage from Jim Morrison’s onstage antics to the surreal clips from the unreleased film “HWY”. The vintage clips have been cleaned up and restored for this release and the quality of the footage definitely adds to the enjoyment of this documentary. One of the more memorable scenes is when Morrison is simply hanging out in the crowd before “The Who” gig and fans are just in awe of his presence, some just wanting to touch his hair. Another great clip is of the band recording “Wild Child” in the studio with Morrison being a bit self-conscious with his vocals.
As expected, Morrison gets the bulk of the screentime here but the other band members (Robby Krieger, Ray Manzarek and John Densmore) make their mark by their notable instrumental performances.
I’m sure longtime fans will gripe about DiCillo not going into more detail about certain events or songs but my guess is that it would take a multi-volume set to get into the real “nitty-gritty” which simply can’t be accomplished in 86 minutes.
The bonus material on the DVD features an interview with Morrison’s dad, Admiral George Stephen Morrison, before he passed away in 2008. From what I heard, it’s the only interview he has done on camera concerning his famous son.
Title: When You’re Strange: A Film About the Doors
DVD released by: Eagle Rock Entertainment/Rhino
Directed by: Tom DiCillo
runtime: 86 minutes
released in the U.S.: July 2010
OK, as for the DVD giveaway, here’s the scoop. One lucky retroblog reader will be receiving a new DVD of “When You’re Strange: A Film About the Doors”. To enter in the drawing all you have to do is post your favorite Doors’ album in the comment section of this blog post. This will count as ONE ENTRY in the drawing. Please be sure to leave a legitimate email address or else I won’t have a way of contacting you if you’re selected as the winner.
For those that want a better chance of winning, you can also join the retroblog facebook page (which is essentially hitting the LIKE button on that page). And by “LIKING” us on facebook, you’ll get the equivalent of TWO ENTRIES in the DVD drawing. I hope that makes sense. Let me know if I’m confusing you.
Yeah, as you can see, I’m trying to build up the retroblog fanbase on facebook. Hopefully I can get enough people on there so that I can offer exclusive giveaways and contests via the facebook page in the future. It all depends on you guys!
This contest/giveway ends at 11:59pm July 31th, 2010. A winner will be picked at random from all entries and will be contacted by me via email on or around August 1st. Once the winner provides me a mailing address, it will be forwarded to Universal Music who will be sending out the prize.
No purchase necessary and the contest/giveaway is only open to U.S. residents age 18 or older. By participating in this RetroBlog contest, you agree to allow RetroBlog to post the winner’s name and city on this site.
Thanks and good luck!
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My favorite album is the self titled “The Doors”.
Studio album by The Doors
hhmmm, I don’t think there’s a Doors album by the name of “Studio album”, Sandy.
I always liked Soft Parade.
Like you on FB as wendy wallach #1
Like you on FB as wendy wallach #2
1) “The Doors”
2) Liked as Jake Boss on Facebook
“The Doors” is my favorite
LA Woman is one of my favorite albums
I always liked Morrison Hotel!
Facebook fan
Parker Ozgood
Self-titled “The Doors” would be my fave =)
Liked as Kisuke Urahara on Facebook
Gotta go with their self titled album
Liked on Facebook – Josh Littell
I’d have to say their self-titled album “the Doors” was my favorite.
Best of the Doors is my fave or LA Woman if greatest hits albums don’t count. Thanks!
The Doors is my favorite!
“The Doors”
Morrison Hotel will always strangely win out in my heart.
My favorite album is Morrison Hotel.
The Doors is my favorite album.
Self titled~
Their self titled album is the best.
Morrison Hotel is my favorite.
The self titled album is definitely my favorite, but I’ll listen to any of them.
The Doors album is definitely my fav. Thanks!
[...] Thanks again to all those that participated in the Doors – When You’re Strange DVD giveaway. [...]