Hendrix

Rating:
Summary: It's worth seeing once despite it's many flaws.
Review: "Hendrix" isn't exactly a top-notch movie, in fact, in many ways it's a real dud. However, it is a movie that is indeed worth seeing at least once if you're a Jimi Hendrix fan. Admittedly there are many problems with it, and while it has some positive aspects it's not easy to overlook the downsides.

First and foremost the movie very hastily covers Hendrix's early years, most notably his childhood, which should have been focused on more. His cold relationship with his mother is hardly established, aside from a brief scene between the two. Another important part of Jimi's life, his tenure in the U.S. Army as a Paratrooper is very hastily done and is quite dissapointing. While it's entertaining to see Jimi outplay Little Richard and then get booted off the tour for doing so, it's incorrect, I wont bore you with facts, but it's something to keep in mind. Jimi's time as a studio musician is only mentioned by Jimi himself during one or two scenes, and that's about it.

Now I can overlook those facts, but the thing that dissapoints me the most is how they handled The Experience. Bassist Noel Redding, while with some short and so-so scenes, is hardly paid any mind to, and even less for drummer Mitch Mitchell. They fail to truely give Hendrix's band mates credit, nor do they do justice to the charisma between the three. Hendrix's time after The Experience with The Band of Gyspys is served even less time, another important fact to Jimi's career brushed aside.

Another flaw are the "musicians" themselves...they aren't even playing the instruments or making any attempt to make it look like they are for that matter. During several drum rolls Mitch Mitchell sits there and hits one cymbal, it looks quite ridiculous to say the least. Even Hendrix himself looks like he's just an amature who walked into a guitar shop, plucking the strings. Last, but not least, is the movie uses no actualy Hendrix recordings, calling upon studio musicians to try and mock Hendrix, as many reviewers have mentioned before, the National Anthem at Woodstock is almost painful to listen to.

So why see this movie just once? To be honest, while I took issue with all of these negative facts, I still enjoyed it to a degree. Wood Harris, who plays Hendrix, does a fairly good job of capturing Jimi, though this is almost impossible to do. The dialogue between Hendrix and others is entertaining with some unrealistic yet memorable lines. I was glad that Hendrix's conflict between appealing to a mainstream white audience and appealing to his black roots was shown during a conversation with two Black Panther representatives.

If you're a Hendrix fan, be prepared for this movie to have it's flaws, but don't dwell on them, see it at least once for the positive aspects, not the negatives. As for the three men who wrote this, if you plan to write a more in depth sequel of sorts, do it right this time. A movie about Jimi Hendrix needs time to establish his life, his career and his downfall, even if it meant a three hour film, I don't know of one Hendrix fan who wouldn't enjoy every minute of it.

Rating:
Summary: Catches the spirit of Hendrix
Review: At times I wonder if I saw the same video as those
who gave the negative reviews. I thought it was a
good easy-viewing synopsis of the career of Jimi.
Although I never met him, I think I've tuned into his
personality through his between-song comments and
movie and television interview appearances. He was,
as presented in the movie, a kind and easy-going soul
who was somewhat unsure about his leadership role in
the music industry. He was prone to let others take
advantage of himself.
At that time, the drug culture was in vogue in 60's
London -- and Hendrix fell right into that trap. It's
too bad, but a mighty creative force is also balanced
by a highly destructive one. Hendrix rode his creative
force into superstardom, but his self-destructive
demons caused his early demise.
I believe that the people who were consulted during
the making of this film know more about Jimi than
some of the negative reviewers on these pages. By the
way, Eric Clapton did look that way during the late
sixties in his Cream incarnation. Also, the soundtrack
was extremely well done! I have been trying to find
out who did the guitar parts. He (or she) captured the
subtle inflections of Hendrix's playing marvelously.
I think that Jimi would have been honoured.

Rating:
Summary: Yuck
Review: Caught this flick on cable tonight and all I can say to any Hendrix fan considering a purchase should SKIP IT! If you have to see it out of curiousity then rent it. Other negative reviews have detailed some of the problems, but what must be stressed here is the lack of quality music.

Hendrix was a great musician, but here you have a film about a musician whose music is not highlighted. I particularly hated the way Wood Harris played Jimi. Why the producers felt it most important to find someone that sort of looked like Hendrix regardless of talent I'll never know. Harris' lack of talent was the reason for the MTV fast cut, mocumentry style camera work which is particularly annoying.

Bottom line: Poor soundtrack, poor acting, poor screenplay. This film should never have been made.

Rating:
Summary: Unforgivable
Review: Don't pay money to see this.
Wood Harris is not a bad actor; quite the antithesis. He made a heroic effort to portray a man whose persona, mannerisms, and "vibe" simply cannot be immitated. Kudos to Mr. Harris for his bravery.
The director did a mediocre job bringing life to a badly written script. Granted, Hendrix' story had a great deal of tragedy; but I have it on good authority that Hendrix was also a lot of fun to be around.
The scene that described his death was not historicaly accurate: and I know people who were personally aquainted with Hendrix and were around when he died: and they told me what REALLY happened that day.
The music was marred by the fact that nobody can play the guitar like Hendrix without sounding like someone trying to immitate him, and Hendrix' estate refused to allow them to use any of his original compositions.
The glossing over of the music; which was Hendrix' greatest accomplishment, was truly irritating. All it was was sensationalism and Hollywood glamor: all flash and no substance - which does a great disservice to Hendrix' legacy, musical genius, and life.
The whole thing made me sick.

Rating:
Summary: You gotta be kidding
Review: Here are the flaws with this movie, they failed to detail his stints with the dixie circuit, his time in the army, his wild times during the european tours, fights within the band, his excessive drug taking, and the making of his 3 great albums (Are you experienced, Bold as Love, and Electric lady land). This movie only focused on his financial and creative disputes with Jeffrey Leonard. This movie could have given the mainstream exposure to a lot of his great songs that did not get radio play but, instead of forced fed us his generic radio hits such as purple haze, watchtower, like a rolling stone, or Hey Joe. I guess it didnt occur to this film staff to enlighten the public instead of rehashing old history that the average joe would know of.
This movie was clearly done by a a bad director who did little research on Hendrix's life but, only chose to focus on the news clippings instead of the more obscure aspects of his life which would have made this movie more interesting.

Oliver Stone should have made this movie and only he can bring a true perspective on who Hendrix really was.

Rating:
Summary: Unintentional Humor and Intentional Boredom.
Review: Hmmm... Where to start?
Wood Harris isn't really that terrible of an actor. (Although I've only see him in one movie.) This has to be one of the most challenging roles for any actor. Wood, however, plays Hendrix as if he was a mumbling airhead. The filmmakers also needed to get an actor who could actually play guitar. He didn't have to necessarily be good, just know enough to fake it. (Hendrix is one of the best guitarists in history, so it's okay if you can't play like him.) Also, this film, being a TV-movie, had a limited budget. The Woodstock scene was painful to watch, especially when it appeared as if Hendrix was only playing in front of a crowd of 10 extras. The costumes were great, but the hairpieces really needed some work.
The biggest disappointment was the music. Since, the filmmakers were unable to license Hendrix's music, we get some really bad cover tunes with a singer that doesn't even sound like him. It should have been a sign that his movie should have never been made.

Rating:
Summary: Not bad, fairly close to known facts
Review: I actually enjoyed this. Wood Harris did a good job in my opinion in playing the hell out of James Marshall Hendrix. Anyone who has seen the documentary "Jimi Hendrix" or the (in)famous Dick Cavett interview could see that Harris has done his homework in captuning Hendrix's speech patterns and mannerisms. This is particularly true in the scene where Harris-as-Hendrix tries to explain what he is trying to do with his music to the Mike Jeffery and Chas Chandler (Jimi's managers) characters.

Much of what happens on screen here has appeared in the numerous bios of JMH.

Harris plays Hendrix as a confused but sympathetic person that all surviving accounts indicate that he was in real life.

Rating:
Summary: THIS MOVIE SUCKS!
Review: I am a huge classic rock fan I listen to all the classic rock bands an example of that is Jimi Hendrix. I have every CD and DVD of Hendrix I study this guy I love this guy. I went to Giant Eagle to rent some movies one day and I saw this one titled HENDRIX. I was excited to see what it had in store for me latter I found out it had nothing in store for me. This movie is the worst movie you could possibly watch this movie just brings HENDRIX down 100% its an insult the way they casted the actor who was supposed to be Jimi Hendrix. This whole movie brings the wrong example of how Jimi Hendrix got started alot of it is made up. Ya I understand they could not have the orginal rights to the Hendrix songs for the movie so they had a band play Hendrix but boy the band sucked>>it just maded this DVD go further down hill wow. If you never heard of Jimi Hendrix and want to buy this then dont because you will get lead on the wrong way. In the future I am sure they will come out with a better movie of Jimi Hendrix the cast will be better so will the music. The actors in this movie sucked this movie is as worst as it can get. You can believe me or not on this but im telling my 100% truth dont buy this. I do have something you may want to look into of buying Jimi Hendrix to get started on DVD buy Experience Hendrix you will love it. p.s. check out my other reviews!

Rating:
Summary: This was a very good film
Review: I couldn't believe how well they portrayed Jimi Hendrix in the film. Its a story of his life. The guy who played Hendrix in this movie did a great job acting like Hendrix. Well Done.

Very touching ending.

Rating:
Summary: THE BEST THEY COULD DO...
Review: I guess under the circumstances, in terms of Jimi's estate/liscensing, etc. the producer, director and actors did the best the could with what they had access too. I thought that Wood Harris' interpretation was wonderful. He brought out Jimi's sweet nature as well as his sexually free spirit. I would recommend this movie to those who don't know about Jimi. The supporting cast did a great job, especially Billy Zane and Viveca A. Fox.