A Hard Day’s Night (Criterion Collection) (Blu-ray)
By the time A Hard Day’s Night was released in September of 1964, The Beatles had already been seen by over 70 million people on The Ed Sullivan Show. The four lads from Liverpool had become a phenomenon. To many critics surprise, The Beatles added to their growing legend with A Hard Day’s Night. Joyous, […]
Blu-ray Review: Help!
Made on the heels of the box office achievement of A Hard Day’s Night and the stunning success of the Beatles first American tour, Help! is essentially a clever chase movie that more than holds your attention. Richard Lester was once again in the director’s chair, armed with a bigger budget that allowed for stunts, […]
DVD Review: Magical Mystery Tour
When Magical Mystery Tour premiered on BBC1 on Boxing Day 1967, the public’s reaction to the film was contemptuous. Though shot in color, the film was broadcast in black and white. The Beatles themselves thought it looked terrible when they saw it sans color and felt it accounted for many of the bad reviews. While […]
DVD Review: How I Won the War
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer | 1967 | 111 mins. | NR John Lennon’s only non-Beatles dramatic performance, How I Won the War will likely be of interest to only his most ardent fans. Directed by Richard Lester, who guided The Fab Four through A Hard Day’s Night and Help!, this anti-war comedy is not funny and uneven.
DVD Review: Lennon – Naked
BBC Warner | 2010 | 90 mins. | NR As we close in on the 30th anniversary of John Le4nnon’s assassination, it’s only natural that we see some documentaries and movies dealing with his life. On tap today, is the recently released, Lennon: Naked. Directed by Edward Coulthard, and starring Christopher Eccleston (Doctor Who) as […]
DVD Review: John Lennon & The Plastic Ono Band – Live in Toronto ’69
Shout Factory | 1969 | 56 mins. | Not Rated In 1969, concert promoter John Brower convinced John Lennon to play a short set the Toronto Rock and Roll Revival Festival. Though Lennon’s performance lasts a mere thirty-five minutes (the last twelve of which are Yoko’s caterwauling), the impact was lasting. Thankfully, D.A. Pennebaker (Monterey […]