Customer Reviews

25 X 5: The Continuing Adventures of the Rolling Stones

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

From the beginning with Ian Stewart and Brian Jones and the brilliance of their early work , to the time Mick Taylor replaced Jones and thereafter on Wood.

It ca be appreciated as for their early days and for the footage of Brian Jones.

If you want a rollicking good time with the Stones, this is your best bet. Fantastic footage of early concerts where the crowds go absolutely wild and girls leap on-stage. Lots of interviews, observations from the bad boys about their drug busts and crazy lives. Plus some whole songs, not just excerpts. No phony "analysis" from outsiders. This is a great way to spend your evening. When's the DVD out?

This documentary was made in 1989, just as the Stones were reemerging from squabbling to become the moneyhoarding juggernaut they'll probably still be after their grandchildren are dead. Talking head clips are interspersed with news footage, the film gaining momentum as the band mature from whiteboy blues copyists to Dark Gods of Rock. '89-era Jagger bears a terrible haircut, as do suprisingly many of his late sixties Ed Sullivan appearances, but his recollections are mildly candid and thoughtful, which for prim Mick is like the Ricky Lake show. Keith, from meeting Muddy Waters to stealing Brian Jones' girlfriend, offers wonderful barroom frankness, Charlie is still the modern Buster Keaton of drummers (look for his 'hanging out' comment near the end), while Bill Wyman is luckily caught before his retirement two years later. Coverage of the eighties runs too long and is superfluous anyway since the band was running on fumes by then, but you'll want to watch and rewatch the section from 1968-'72,as exciting as the albums they were then making, when not even a soulless beast like Led Zeppelin could prevent them from being 'the world's greatest rock n'roll band.'

This is a wonderful overview of the history of the Rolling Stones. The only reason it does not get five stars is that it is dated, having been released in the late 80's, and that it is currently available only in a VHS format, which many viewers no longer use. It is a documentary, with a lot of live-action concert shots mixed with interviews from all the band members. There's plenty of music, much of it longer than a snippet and many times showing the majority of a song in performance. Interesting inclusions of scenes from 'One on One' about the composition of 'Sympathy for the Devil', 'Rock and Roll Circus', and some of Jagger's films. I would have liked a little more insight from Mick Taylor and Brian Jones. Of course, Jones had passed away and so all the interviews had to be taken from television sources, and the few that appear are quite good and give a feel for the man. My VHS copy has excellent sound and picture quality. If you are a Stones fan, this would probably be an essential part of your library. It is like a short version of the Beatles Anthology, running just a hair over two hours.

Hopefully, it will be re-released in DVD format at some point.

Why they wont make this into DVD or Bluray I have no idea.
Great documentary

Yep, it's dated. But documentaries tend to be, don't they? Lots of early & little seen footage from the good old days with Brian, including snippets from that rare early doc Charlie Is My Darling (sorry, the link to the DVD version wouldn't work), and that other, later one, title (careful, we're censored here) of which started with a "C", ended with an "r", and included the word "Blues". Having read about 5 Stones biographies in past decades, I have found this to be a thoroughly engrossing 2+ hours each time I've watched it (maybe 4 times since release). Not perfect, but what is? I can't imagine how it could have been improved upon, save including full versions of all the songs. But then, it would run so long it would have to be a series. I'm all for that, of course.

This is "hi-fi stereo", by the way; I don't think that's been mentioned. Which enhances the musical experience.

Coverage of the early Rolling Stones, with Brian Jones, occupies the first half of the 130 min video, with footage from the free concert/tribute at Hyde Park neatly placed at about dead center between beginning and end. So, even if you're not too keen on the Stones' later efforts, you're still getting a full hour's worth of early appearances, commentaries, still shots, interviews, music, etc. Myself, I have no problem with the post Hyde Park stuff (Altamont, "Honky Tonk Women", "Brown Sugar", and so forth), all part of the history and quite enjoyable. I guess I do favor the early Stones; they were younger then, weren't they? Weren't we all...

This one definitely should be re-released on DVD. I mean, this is the Rolling Stones---how can they lose? They're bound to make money off of it...

© 2008 RAPWreckerds

A great buy- At last it's here for everyone dying for a DVD version of this great documentary!

(Note: this is an import DVD with small Japanese subtitles on the right side of the screen, not blocking any visuals. It is not a factory release, but runs perfectly on American DVD players and looks and plays great. Recently a purchaser named Jon Vesey tried to slander the authenticity of this product as a way to get out of making his payment, but it is a fine product given the above stipulations and one you will enjoy owning. Thanks!)

WHY HASN'T ANYONE DUBBED THE VCR/LAZER TO DISC?, I'D KILL FOR A RAGGITY COPY, BETTER YET, RELEASE IT WITH STYLE & I'LL BE THE FIRST AT THE DOOR

My husband has always been a huge Stones fan and wanted this video for a long time. It's only available on a VCR tape and I was apprehensive about purchasing a used product. But the tape was in perfect condition and my husband has watched and enjoyed it numerous times since Christmas!!

This is a little rare to come by now days. If you do I highly recommend it. It is informative an dcovers teh 1st 25yrs of teh Rolling Stones by the people themselves. One of the better music vid's to own for sure.