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From Amazon.co.uk
The Doors is Oliver Stone's epic, typically portentous homage to the band that soundtracked his youth. As is generally the case with Stone's films, its scope is impressively wide. He places The Doors at the eye of a 1960s cultural and political maelstrom through which passes Andy Warhol, Martin Luther King Jr and Robert Kennedy among others. But the details and dialogue often jar badly: the scenes in which various gilded youths imbibe the young Jim Morrison's early efforts at lyrics as if they were anything beyond dreadful sophomoric doggerel are a particular strain on the credulity. The film's central conceit--that Morrison's body was somehow inhabited at an early age by the spirit of a Navajo medicine man--makes the deranged conspiracies of JFK seem plausible by comparison.
The Doors is redeemed by Stone's ability with ambitious set-pieces (the concert scenes are terrific) and a tremendous performance from Val Kilmer, who plays Jim Morrison as a pompous, self-regarding oaf who treats bandmates, friends and women appallingly. While this may well have been the case it is debatable whether Stone intended to show his hero in such an unflattering light: the closing scenes in Pere Lachaise cemetery, which linger over the graves of Wilde, Molière and Flaubert before arriving at Morrison's witlessly vandalised plot, certainly suggest a belief on Stone's part that the author of the ridiculous "American Prayer" has earned a place in the literary pantheon. This film fails to make a convincing case for that but, like Morrison's own work, is a compelling, cautionary illustration of what a supremely ordinary singer and songwriter is allowed to get away with if he looks good in leather trousers.
On the DVD: The Doors Special Edition has the benefit of a bewildering array of special features, though many are less impressive than their billing: the "Behind the Scenes" documentary is eight minutes of apparently random footage of the film being made, and the making-of documentary isn't much more illuminating. The interviews with the cast are also on the desultory side. There is a conventional scene selector and another that allows the viewer to choose from the songs that appear in the soundtrack. There are also several sound options and subtitles. Most useful of all is the illuminating and engaging running commentary by Oliver Stone. --Andrew Mueller
Product Description
Oliver Stone directs this film biography of Jim Morrison, lead singer of the celebrated 1960s rock group The Doors. It traces the group's road to success, from their first rehearsal sessions through to their sell-out live concerts, and follows Morrison on the self-destructive path which would eventually take him to an early death. Starring Val Kilmer as Morrison, Meg Ryan as his girlfriend Pamela Courson, and Kyle MacLachlan as Ray Manzarek, the band's organist.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
21 of 22 people found the following review helpful
By B. Howe
Format:DVD
There's a lot of disparity of opinion here about whether the film is great or terrible, and the truth is that it really is pretty good; not mind bendingly brilliant, but a really honest artistic attempt at recreating the life of the Doors and Jim Morrision at the time. I was afraid it would be a shameless rummage through Doors hits, and an excuse to plaster them on screen, exploiting the Morrison myth, but it's really not. It follows Morrison from the beginning of the 60's up until his death, and along the way gives a perspective on the wayward ride there. It is not a definitive account, but how could it be? It will not satisfy everyone's 'expectations', but then again the myth surrounding Morrison is so prolific and varying that no film ever will do this. Also, people looking to mindlessly venerate Jim Morrison might want to reconsider buying it, or change their perspective. It is not a hallowed hall of shining glory all the way through, and if it was, it wouldn't be a very accurate depiction of Jim's life, or the Doors' music.
What it is, is a really good attempt at rendering a subjective look at the Doors and Morrison; part myth, part fact, and at times as listless as Morrison's own mind must have been. It's helped on by Val Kilmer who, as the official review up there says, does a frighteningly good Morrison singing impression. He looks the part and acts it well, and is follwed by great supporting actors. There are some reviews here deriding Kilmer, but I think from looking at them, they mostly have to do with people projecting their desire to have the 'real' Jim Morrison, and that's not going to happen.... Read more ›
What it is, is a really good attempt at rendering a subjective look at the Doors and Morrison; part myth, part fact, and at times as listless as Morrison's own mind must have been. It's helped on by Val Kilmer who, as the official review up there says, does a frighteningly good Morrison singing impression. He looks the part and acts it well, and is follwed by great supporting actors. There are some reviews here deriding Kilmer, but I think from looking at them, they mostly have to do with people projecting their desire to have the 'real' Jim Morrison, and that's not going to happen.... Read more ›
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By Joe Mendonca
Format:DVD
Oliver Stone has captured and era and tells the story of The Doors. Val Kilmer has the most convincing voice with actually singing, sounding like the voice of Jim Morrison - this is no lip snyc act, which makes this performance just believalble.
Love or hate the Doors, or Jim Morrison, those were the days and this film caputures the zeitgeist of the time.
Love or hate the Doors, or Jim Morrison, those were the days and this film caputures the zeitgeist of the time.
13 of 15 people found the following review helpful
By DVDfever
Format:Blu-ray
Is everybody IN? Is EVERYBODY in? Because my review of The Doors is about to begin!
Nearly 20 years after he died, Oliver Stone sought to make a film about the rapid rise and heavy fall of Jim Morrison, the formation of The Doors, his relationship with Pamela Courson (Meg Ryan) and everything leading up to the man's death. Stone created a piece of work that is a triumph of both style and substance and brought out the performance of his life from its lead, Val Kilmer.
We see the moment when they were asked not to sing 'higher' on The Ed Sullivan Show and replace the word with 'better' - since 'higher' was perceived as a reference to drugs - and they chose to defy this. It wasn't all factually accurate, though. After having his student film criticised by most of the class at UCLA, the reason Jim Morrison didn't quit, and they also didn't smoke peyote in the desert.
One of the biggest tragedies, other than Morrison's death, can be summed up in just one question - Just what happened to Val Kilmer's career after his wonderful performance in this film? I know it's an overused phrase, but he "owns" the stage here, so to speak. He could've made the big-time and was on his way up after appearing in Top Gun, but duff choices included The Real McCoy, Batman Forever and The Saint and despite a good turn in Michael Mann's Heat in 1995, things just stalled from there for him.
The rest of the cast is wide and varied, but provide adequate support including Meg Ryan, plus Frank Whaley as guitarist Robby Krieger, Kevin Dillon as drummer John Densmore and, especially, Kyle MacLachlan as keyboardist Kyle MacLachlan.... Read more ›
Nearly 20 years after he died, Oliver Stone sought to make a film about the rapid rise and heavy fall of Jim Morrison, the formation of The Doors, his relationship with Pamela Courson (Meg Ryan) and everything leading up to the man's death. Stone created a piece of work that is a triumph of both style and substance and brought out the performance of his life from its lead, Val Kilmer.
We see the moment when they were asked not to sing 'higher' on The Ed Sullivan Show and replace the word with 'better' - since 'higher' was perceived as a reference to drugs - and they chose to defy this. It wasn't all factually accurate, though. After having his student film criticised by most of the class at UCLA, the reason Jim Morrison didn't quit, and they also didn't smoke peyote in the desert.
One of the biggest tragedies, other than Morrison's death, can be summed up in just one question - Just what happened to Val Kilmer's career after his wonderful performance in this film? I know it's an overused phrase, but he "owns" the stage here, so to speak. He could've made the big-time and was on his way up after appearing in Top Gun, but duff choices included The Real McCoy, Batman Forever and The Saint and despite a good turn in Michael Mann's Heat in 1995, things just stalled from there for him.
The rest of the cast is wide and varied, but provide adequate support including Meg Ryan, plus Frank Whaley as guitarist Robby Krieger, Kevin Dillon as drummer John Densmore and, especially, Kyle MacLachlan as keyboardist Kyle MacLachlan.... Read more ›
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By NELLY
Format:DVD
An ok film, but if you are looking for truth and facts about the lizard king then probably best to read a book or do your own investigating rather than watching this as it is a film after all and not a documentary. I have read a couple of books on Jim Morrison and you need to make your own minds up after reading, not watching this. But saying that this is mildly entertaining.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Sam Atherton
Format:DVD
This is the fourth time I'm buying this movie. 2x VHS and now 2x DVD. My copies keep going missing - and I keep having my moments when I want to watch The Doors The Movie again. That's in a nutshell. Is it a great movie? If you have that whole Doors vibe going and you "get it" it absolutely is. Val Kilmer is mesmerizing on occasions, and does a fantastic job throughout. The director knew exactly what he was doing, demonstrating the coming together, sparking and disintegration process in sound and vision so much so, it hurts sometimes.
I've seen reviews where people are complaining about the wigs, about certain camera techniques, about the artistic licence that was taken to translate what are *lives* in essence into a movie that only lasts for a couple of hours; I can only say, shame you didn't get it, but that's ok. Those of us who do, we know what this is and it's an extraordinary thing which, like the Doors itself, will last the ages.
I've seen reviews where people are complaining about the wigs, about certain camera techniques, about the artistic licence that was taken to translate what are *lives* in essence into a movie that only lasts for a couple of hours; I can only say, shame you didn't get it, but that's ok. Those of us who do, we know what this is and it's an extraordinary thing which, like the Doors itself, will last the ages.
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3.8 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Love it
What's here to say. It's a very good film about the doors, the music is great, most of the facts are accurate, there's some fine acting and it's idea for the girls night in for the... Read more
Published 6 days ago by Angelika parker
5.0 out of 5 stars
Love this film
This is my all time favourite movie, I only had it on VHS so wanted it on DVD - It did not disappoint x
Published 14 days ago by Miss B. A. Freeman
4.0 out of 5 stars
.....if you like the Doors music, you will like this film.
A colourful film, focused mainly on Jim Morrisons life, and role in the Doors, great music, after watching it again after a few years, it seems like a 2 hour music video,... Read more
Published 20 days ago by MR C GEE
1.0 out of 5 stars
item not as described
I am extremely unhappy with the picture quality of this film its in very poor condition with an annoying blue line the whole way through the film I will not be buying from this... Read more
Published 27 days ago by David Walker
5.0 out of 5 stars
It's Jim
This is my favourite film in the world. Val Kilmer plays Jim magically and is the best Sex, Drugs and Rock & Roll film ever made. Jim's my hero!
Published 1 month ago by Miss G. L. Goode
5.0 out of 5 stars
An all time favourite
One of my favourite all time movies, Val Kilmer dazzles with his portrayal of rock legend Jim Morrison. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Mary
5.0 out of 5 stars
THE DOORS
"There are things known and things unknown and in between are The Doors." - Jim Morrison
Oliver Stone allegedly took some liberties with the screenplay. Read more
Oliver Stone allegedly took some liberties with the screenplay. Read more
Published 2 months ago by John Griffin
5.0 out of 5 stars
The nearest thing to being there...
As a country lad only born in 1970 I didn't get to see some of the greatest bands ever live. Although not strictly a true blow by blow account of Jim and the band, a great film... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Iain Wilson
5.0 out of 5 stars
love it make me cry end of film
great film the doors true story jimmorrison legends sad make me cry end film grave jimmorrrison amazing bless him remember
Published 4 months ago by bobby allen
4.0 out of 5 stars
Touching what was
I first owned this film on video (remember those?) and it reintroduced me to The Doors. It has dated a little yet that feels alright as it makes it seem authentic. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Paul Comerford
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