Self-important, over-dramatic, uninspired.

Excellent, a Must See

Disturbing yet enthralling

It is both painfully honest and laugh-out-loud funny at the same time.

I give this film a 10 out of 10 because it is exactly as billed--both a behind-the-scenes and in-the-audience look at three music festivals and the train rides between them and the artists who performed and the promoters who put the whole thing together. The two-disc offering is very generous, the movie and several additional concert performances on disc one and interviews and a short about the production of the movie and more on disc two. Anyone who is a fan of these artists in particular, or of the music scene of that era in general, should not miss this ride across Canada with the Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin, the Band, and..as they always say.."more."

I was only 14 when these events took place. I didn't like most of the music then, I like slightly more of it now, but the point is that this movie is an amazing encapsulation of the peak of the hippie era and a lot of fun to watch. Where has this footage been hiding all these years? The director skillfully weaves the original shots (which look great, by the way, especially the colorful concert scenes) with current interviews with the surviving musicians. And after watching this film, it's a wonder that so many of them lived this long! As a musician, what I appreciated the most about it was how much this experience meant to those who participated. To be able to spend several days in a row with some of the most influential musicians of the time, hanging out, jamming informally, and sharing stories, would be a dream vacation for sure! The grateful looks on their faces as they recalled the trip says it all.The film also brings into focus the overriding silliness of the hippie years. The overuse of dangerous substances (which claimed Janis Joplin shortly after the tour), the anti-authoritarian posing (the idiot hippie ranting about "pigs," once thought daring and inflammatory, now just seems embarrassing), the greed (the audiences demanding a free concert), the REALLY BAD SHIRTLESS DANCING...yes, it's all here.And it's great to see Jerry Garcia looking so young, singing an old Gospel song about Jesus; Sneaky Pete Kleinow cutting some nice pedal steel solos; a very young, pimply, and utterly wasted Janis Joplin screeching away (never did understand how this was called "singing"); Sylvia's Tiny-Tim vibrato and comely red dress; and once again, all this very clear, colorful footage from the train, the countryside, and the concerts. If you want to see some of the big icons of 60s counter-cultural music just being themselves, check out FESTIVAL EXPRESS.

I liked how this film goes along in its tones moving along without too much drastic changes. There's the interspersed interviews with the original organizers, some of the band members (i.e. Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead), footage from behind the scenes at the shows and particularly on the train, and of course the musical performances. The music, if for nothing else for its core audience, makes the film essential to see. The nostalgia factor on this film is cool and inviting, unlike for example the strange non-musical segments of the Isle of Wight 1970 documentary. The Dead, Buddy Guy, Janis Joplin, Sha-na-na, the Flying Burrito Brothers, and among other acts the Band (a great rendition of 'Slippin' and Slidin'), will invite the audience of the 'hippie-rock' to check out the rare footage.As far as the film-making aspect of it goes, it does end up going more for the tried and successful Woodstock style of film-making, in which the footage is shown either in full screen or split-screen. This could be distracting and calling attention to itself in the style its done. But it works a lot more than it would if it were used on a not too good of a story- because it's got some different threads to work in. There's the audience's role in this, where in they were sometimes (maybe a lot of the time) un-cooperative with the ticket prices and police/security forces. There's the promoter's role in this, to keep this relatively low-key but expensive show on the road. And then there are the bands, who on the trains had the times of their lives, playing music, jamming, and going through the last flow of the 'era' before the 70's would take hold. Indeed, this was the last summer Joplin would have on the road. As a testament to the era it's not on the level of the original Woodstock or even the dark Gimme Shelter. But it's of high worth to anyone who'd want to seek it out- put it on, like some incense, have a party! A-

In the past thirty five years I've attended many live concerts in venues large and small, viewed countless concert videos but never have I witnessed anything to match Janis Joplin's Festival Express performances. She actually blows her backing band off the stage, astonishing, moving and untamed. I LOVED THIS MOVIE. As a document it very much captured the honesty and innocence of the times and would have carried the same impact if it had been released in the 70's, 80's or 90's. When future generations of music fans salute artists like Janis, Gerry, The Band, Buddy and the Buritto Bros the Festival Express will keep rolling on.