Customer Reviews

The Doors: The Doors Are Open

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Previous reviewers haven't made the point that isn't exact a concert film but a British television special, which means an overly creative director often interrupts a song to show period footage of riots, fighting in Vietnam, etc. Sometimes this is effective, sometimes annoying, but it does provide a historical setting perhaps useful to younger Doors fans. And the picture/sound quality isn't as bad as some reviewers indicate; this is like watching TV back in the 1960s, no better, no worse. The Doors play well, the newsreel stuff provides a context for this political band, and I don't regret buying this at all.

The Doors are Open is a documentary of the Doors performance at the Roundhouse Theatre in September '68. Filmed in black and white, this video has the Doors performing their best songs at the top of their game. Morrison's grunts and spews his poetry throughout. Originally this documentary was filmed for English television, interspersed with the music are scenes from Vietnam and riots back in the states. Although the Doors were not a politically motivated band, this video really puts into context the tumultuous times they were living in. Anyone interested in Morrison or the Doors would serve themselves well to own this video. There are only a few filmed Doors concerts out there, and this is about as good as it gets.

Everyone has heard about the intensity the Doors brought to the live music stage. In this film, the blend of chaos, theatre, blues, and jazz successfully resulted in a great rock n roll concert. Finally, one can see what Morrison could do on stage. And, hear the band at it's raucous best. THankfully, the film is black and white and the sound goes snap, crackle, and pop. Everything to be desired in a 1968 road film. Best of all, There is no post-Morrison death tribute syndrome here from Manzarek and company. Only a look at what should be remembered about the Doors, and why they should be considered along with VU as one of the great American rock bands rather than Oliver Stone's Hollywood fluff or a "greatest hits collection" only hype band.

Yeah, I know, the sound quality is muddled, and the interspliced documentary footage can get in the way, but to me, these flaws pale in comparison to the incredible performance. For live concert footage, I haven't seen anything else that captures the intensity of The Doors when they were ON like this documentary does!! The band is just great in this concert...Morrison is mesmerizing, Manzarek's organ is haunting, Densmore's chops are blistering, and the true unsung hero of the day just might be Robbie Krieger on guitar.(the flamenco intro to Spanish Caravan is stunning)!!

If you are a fan of The Doors, this has to be in your collection. I've never seen anything that captures the true spirit of the group like this show. THIS is what The Doors were capable of when all the components were right...throbbing, intense, acid soaked theatrical rock at it's best!!

Well, i love the Doors and unfortunatly i havn't seen a whole lot of visual footage of them doing their thing, so i bought this dvd. I have to say that visually, the impression i had of the Doors was based on the Oliver Stone movie. After watching this dvd i realized that the Olvier Stone movie was the worst thing that could happen to the Doors. The Doors it seems, were nothing like the way they were depicted in that movie. So this dvd succeeds on the visual history/real personality front. The interview footage is short but revealing. However, musically, this dvd leaves much to be desired. The sound isn't terrible, but it's not great. The instruments are somewhat muddled together, it's a two-track recording. 4 instruments, but only two tracks...how good could that sound? Also, the "director" really screws the best song up. "When the Music's Over" is the main reason i bought this dvd being as how i've never heard it live, much less seen concert footage of it. Turns out the "director" tried to get "artsy" with someone elses art; he cuts the song in a few points, one of them being the most climatic, taking a great deal of energy AWAY from the song. "Spanish Caravan", on the other hand, is a real treat. Then again, "Hello, I Love You" is just a rehearsal/soundcheck without Jim.

this is the best doors concert on tape, no doubt about it. morrison screams violently, wails in agony, gyrates, dances shamanistically, and after watching this performance one can hardly deny that he was probably the most memorable and ingenious frontman that pop culture has ever seen. his haunting lyrics are given raw life in this unforgettable show that clearly displays why, despite all his grievous flaws and insane self destructiveness, jim morrison was a legend and a creative giant. "when the music's over" is the first song they play and you can tell right from the first piercing shout that morrison is baring his soul with all it's intense anguish and poetic sensitivity. the idea that morrison was possessed becomes much less fantastic and unbelievable after seeing this one. an absolute must.

As a huge Jim Morrison fan, I was so excited about purchasing this DVD. Unfortunately, the sound was awful (low grade) and the news footage took away from the music. I was hoping for more interviews, and clips of Jim and the boys, but they're weren't many. I wouldn't have wasted my money if I had known.

I bought this DVD today and popped it into my player as soon as I got home.After hearing the first few seconds of the song I thought damn this is going to be another compilation of songs from diff concerts. I was wrong and it's a full yet short show. At first I thought man sound quality is horrible, but I got use to it. I thought to myself the quiality is exceptionale. The document footage of Presidents and riots are intresting, but the only flaw is that the footage cuts in and you miss parts of a song. If your'e a true Doors fan you could over look these flaws. All I have left to say is get the orig 6 albums, In Concert and The Doors Collection DVD and you'll be set till Bright Midnight releases another Doors concert or live DVD.

Jim, Ray, Robby & Jon. Blitzed out of their collective mind, lost in their own music. If all you know is "Light my Fire" and "Break on Through" this may not be for you. If you "know" The Doors, this it a must.

This DVD, mostly because it's a Doors DVD, should be deemed the best exception of all time. If you want DVD quality sound and picture, you'll trash it. Care for exclusive DVD menus? Then trash it. But if you're a true fan of the Doors/ their art/ art in general, i think no DVD screams for your attention louder than this one. Some old composer who's name i can't recall once said this. "Music is like physics, and like physics, it's not able to be understood by everyone." I couldn't have said it better, but i think this film managed to come close in terms of the performance DVD. The Doors Morrison is at his best, bravely posing as an imperial divide between all dark and all standing for being truly alive. Sure you can't hear him sing it that well, and the instruments are being played underwater...but if one gazed before a TV-before time, would that one really care? No, it's called opening the doors. It's the great black and white time machine to "one of the best concerts i've ever attended, anywhere." - John Platt. That says enough about the performance. But what reviewers will still refuse realize is that this is the action that happens when there is only muscle sans bones. Only picture sans a fancy frame. But if i wanted to travel back through time,(as this picture offers) i'd be sorely dissapointed upon the discovery that it's been changed to the present. That is the point of this DVD, methinks.