Highly Overrated But Still Good

disgusting, overrated, pointless

This is a tender, generous movie that likes its characters and presents them as real people, full of flaws and strengths.

if their story seems completely bonkers, almost like a feverish work of fiction, you ain't heard nothing yet.

An excellent show from the interviews with Ray Manzarek, Robby Krieger, John Densmore & others to the actual performances with Jim Morrison in top condition. Well worth watching if you enjoy The Doors. One of my favorites along with "When You're Strange" (narrated by Johnny Depp) and The Doors Live at the Bowl '68. 10/10

Whether you refer to him as The Lizard King or his self-coined anagram, Mr. Mojo Risin', the fact remains that Jim Morrison was as fascinating to watch as he was to listen to. Thus, any DVD that showcases this mesmerizing frontman, along with the rest of The Doors, captured live will always be of interest to any fan of '60s rock. And "The Doors: Soundstage Performances" turns out to be a doozy. It offers us rare footage of the band on three television programs: a Toronto show from May '67, introduced by U.N.C.L.E. agent Noel Harrison and featuring a boogying audience and an excellent version of "The End" (though edited of its Oedipal content); a B&W Danish program from 1968, sans audience, but dishing out five Doors classics in a row; and a PBS program from 1969 called "Critique," also without audience, but featuring a half dozen tunes from the band (including an ultrarare live performance of "The Soft Parade") and an interesting interview segment, during which Morrison makes some very prescient comments regarding the future of the music biz. Other highlights of this disc, for me, include a brief line reading from "The WASP" as an intro of sorts for "Love Me Two Times"; a nicely theatrical rendition of "The Unknown Soldier"; a fine, stripped-down version of "Wishful Sinful"; and the rarely played Morrison blues shuffle "Build Me A Woman." Surviving band members Ray Manzarek, Robby Krieger and John Densmore were interviewed in 2002 for this collection, and their latter-day thoughts should prove of great interest to all fans of this great band. Finally, though others have groused about the picture quality of the PBS segment, I thought it perfectly serviceable...and really, where are you going to see it any better? My advice to all is to rent this one out, plop it in, crank it up and just enjoy until the music is, well, over.

I cannot believe that I am actually the very first person to review this feature! In all honesty,it's unbelievable how many people have not seen or heard of this incredible DVD of formerly "rare" Doors footage. This is not your standard trip through The Doors of perception.I discovered this myself quite by accident in 2004,when I was a Netflix customer. It was one of the choices they offered and I had never heard of it,so I went with it. I,like most,expected yet another video filled with the same old "filmed" clips from the 1960's that people had seen many-many times. Incorrect! To my sheer delight and amazement the clips here are awesome! Along with,thankfully short,interviews with the remaining members,we are first greeted with a videotaped clip of the Doors on an Ontario,Canada TV show in May of 1967. They perform their now classic,"The End"....in full blown color! Imagine,color video tape in 1967,I had chills running through me.What this does is that,we finally have a clip that shows Jim Morrison was a flesh & blood human being and not just the rock & roll myth he's become known as. Not to mention documenting their very first ever big time TV appearance anywhere,mere weeks before "Light My Fire" hit #1 in America. Morrison is truly on fire here putting all his young energy & mania into the song and making every moment count. The audience reaction is immediate, these guys are very different than anything out there at the time and the audience's dancing and expressions show it!Next up,a rare TV clip from Copenhagen television not much later (in B& W) but still on video tape,not film. The camera-man for this mini-concert of 5 classic tracks,really knew what to do for Jim Morrison & the guys. The camera catches the complete drama & energy of Morrison's facial expressions and vocals and clues you in visually on the band's input while he does what he does best. We even get treated to "The Unknown Soldier",a controversial top 40 hit for them in 1968.Lastly,a rare 1969 appearance on PBS in New York (making them the first rock band ever on PBS!)video taped in color during the legal hassles of the infamous Miami "alleged indecent exposure" incident. We watch a now longer-haired,bearded Morrison & crew do great selections from "The Soft Parade" and other classic cuts,again 5 songs in this clip making 11 in all. Morrison's vocal on the Robby Kreiger penned,"Follow Me Down", could almost bring tears to your eyes! The video quality is not 100% perfect here,having sat on a shelf for so long,but the overall performance is truly worth it! Except for clip #1,there's no audience present for the other two,making the music and words the uninterrupted center of attention. Almost none of their top 10 singles are here on these clips (except Love Me Two Times) but even better than that is album rock staples and deeper tracks that are common place for fans of The Doors. After the performances are band commentaries on the songs performed,on who wrote what and what the meaning of some of them are.This DVD is a must have not just for Doors fans of all ages but for anyone who has never seen "The Lizard King" (Morrison) perform outside of those grainy clips of yesteryear or via Val Klimer's portrayal in the Oliver Stone film,"The Doors". Ten stars all the way folks,I can guarantee you'll not be let down. (this is..... THE.... END) .