Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Very Raw, Very Ramones, April 12, 2005
Before I put Ramones Raw in the DVD player I thought it might seem bittersweet to watch, what with three of the band members now deceased. But instead of making me feel sad, the footage only made me happy that the world ever got to experience this thing called Ramones in the first place.
The DVD contains five hours' worth of footage, including concert footage from 1980 to 1996, clips of television appearances (Howard Stern and Uncle Floyd), their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and "I, Ramones," a concert shot in Italy.
With exception to concert footage, most of what we see was shot by Marky Ramone on his Super 8 camera. Apparently Marky was determined to capture life on the road for the band and it is his behind-the-scenes footage that makes this DVD worthwhile. The title is appropriate as some of what you see is indeed raw, and it gets a bit confusing at times because things aren't in chronological order.
Some of the more interesting footage includes the band's van being mobbed by screaming and fanatical fans much like the Beatles in "A Hard Day's Night," and Johnny sarcastically giving tour manager Monte Melnick a hard time anytime things get chaotic: "Really well organized, Monte. Nice job." Not.
We also get to see the usually stoic Johnny actually laugh and joke as well as sobering evidence of Dee Dee's physical and mental decline from drug use as we see clips of a youthful and vibrant Dee Dee and a hardened and somewhat narcissistic one. There are also lots of shots of the boys sitting on the toilet, which they themselves find hilarious.
Joey appears to be an easy-going, laid back guy who gets along well with everyone. But the footage suggests, as has been reported since Johnny's death, that he and Johnny did not get along very well after Johnny stole his girlfriend. We don't see the two fight or bicker. Instead, they simply and quietly avoid each other.
Diehard fans of Joey, Johnny, Marky and Dee Dee won't be disappointed with this one. It's a lively snapshot into the life of four ordinary guys whose impact on music was anything but ordinary.
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17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Fans Only - really really Raw., November 11, 2004
If you love the Ramones in all their ragged glory, then RAW will suit you fine. Just make sure you understand that the emphasis here in on the ragged. Culled mostly from Marky Ramone's (also serving as the executive producer) collection of home super eight's, RAW combines extensive footage of the band as they traveled the world. The material is also not presented chronolgically, and that can get jarring. At times, these low-fi bits get tedious, best serving as bridges between the really good stuff. Of which there is plenty. You get to see clips from (mostly European and South American) concerts, TV clips and the band as they accept a gold disc award.
Oddly enough, the true high points of RAW are in the bonus materials, the 30 minute "I Ramone" concert sequence in particular. The "Up All Night" and "Space Ghost" segments are cool too. But frankly, if you are only curious about the Ramones and want to pick up some home viewing, my advice is to hold out for the superior "End of the Century - The Story of the Ramones," the warts and all 2004 documentary.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Candid and Chaotic Glimpse Behind the Scenes, July 12, 2005
Ironically, since the premature passing of Joey, Johnny and Dee Dee, Tommy and Marky Ramone have been busy keeping the Ramones name more relevant than ever- Tommy producing a Ramones-themed musical à la the current trend of Mamma Mia, We Are the Champions, etc, and Marky with, among other projects, the release of this DVD. The band's image can be found on diverse merchandise, from t-shirts to comic books.
As opposed to the more somber, parochial and straight-forward End of the Century doc, Raw is non-linear and has a more behind-the-scenes, hang with the band feel, with quick, random edits and wipes of (mostly) Marky's video diary footage interspersed with various concert highlights. We get to see first hand what it was like to be a Ramone, especially during the final 10 years of the band.
Whether escaping hordes of manic fans by claustrophobic van in South America (where they were superstars), visiting a local zoo in Australia, signing autographs in Japan or early morning chain smoking at some hotel breakfast joint in Spain, the footage gives a very intimate feel of the band.
Raw shows lots of private joking, internal catch-phrasing, practical joke pulling, and various clowning around. What it does not show is a lot of interaction between other members of the band. Whether by design or default, you will be hard pressed to see Joey, Johnny, CJ and Dee Dee doing much verbal interacting. Nor does it show band members engaging in serious fighting, which surely must have happened on occasion.
The emphasis is on Marky and his camera interacting with the individual members. And each member brings his personality to the lens. Marky's position as a member of the band makes it easy to get the others to be themselves. Thus we get Marky himself as the talkative clown who keeps the vibe loose with good-natured ribbing; Johnny as the sarcastic curmudgeon with a glint of humor in his eye- who Mark refers to as the "Sloth"; Joey as the sensitive, soft-spoken, humorous lug; Dee Dee as the self-absorbed, slightly effeminate raconteur and observationalist, who even in his last days with the band, was appreciative of the fans and of the band's legacy; and CJ as the little brother from the Grunge era, who adds Gen X spark and cred to the band in their final phase. Tommy and Richie are all but invisible.
After watching Raw, some lingering questions remain. The main "tragedy" of the Ramones' story, besides members' premature deaths, is often "why didn't they become superstar rich and famous like they deserved" This theme is central to the End of the Century doc. But the thing is this: Many bands have made zillions without platinum records. The Grateful Dead, Phish, and others have become mega-rich through touring successes and especially merchandising. If the Ramones could fill a 50,000+ stadium in diverse corners of the world, why couldn't they take advantage of that fanbase and get filthy rich doing it?
The Ramones' legendary reputation is etched in stone and their iconic imagery is a natural for merchandise. As Tommy and Marky make money off of the Ramones' legacy today (and I am not here to judge their right to do that), I wonder if it was a question of underdeveloped use of the Ramones name. Richie Ramone left the band over t-shirt profits, which the band refused to share with him. This must have been a major source of income.
Was it simply a question of too little too late? Of undermerchandising? Would it have gone against the punk ethic to overexpose the Ramones trademark? Would a major advertising/promotions/PR firm been able to increase the band's income?
Either way, the Ramones rightfully deserve a place on the pedestal of rock legends. Their fun, energetic no-nonsense punk take on early-60s pop and their dedication to the DIY ethic have inspired millions and will continue to do so.
Raw is a must-have, for it takes you on a fun ride into the inner circle of a great band that will never return. And that is definitly worth the price of admission.
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