Rating: 
Summary: This movie rocked and rolled
Review: This movie has everything from tear-jerking emotion to all-out action. The actors portraying the characters of John Lennon and Stuart Sutcliffe (Ian Hart and Stephen Dorff) are fantastic in their roles as do-or-die best friends. This movie really captured the rough and tumble action of the early days of the Beatles, and the heartbreakingly deep friendship between John and Stu. The acting is amazing and really grabs you by the heartstrings. I never cry during movies, but the ending to this one had me bawling, something that's very rare. But despite this, Backbeat is a wonderful mix of charismatic fun, tough attitudes, unbreakable friendships, betrayl, and of course great music. This is by far the best movie made about the Beatles, and even if you aren't a fan of theirs you won't be able to help yourself from liking this non-stop thrill ride of a movie. I also loved the way it gives long over-due credit to to my personal favorite member of the early group, Stuart Sutcliffe, who died before the band made it big, and left the future biggest band in the world, for love and to do what he wanted to do despite the fact that it was one of the hardest things he ever did because of his friendship with John. In short, this movie was a really well-crafted piece of entertainment that also serves to give respect to one of the least well-known but greatest painters of our time who was also a big influence on the greatest band of all time.
Rating:
Summary: a great story
Review: This movie is not just for those who love the beatles. This is a movie for anyone who loves a great story. the dialogue and acting are absorbing and not full of cliches. the dynamics between John Lennon , Stuart Sutcliffe and Astrid draw you in whether you ever heard of the Beatles or not.
The love story of Stu and Astrid will captivate all romantics and the music and raunchiness of Hamburg nightlife will enthrall rock lovers.
Just a great movie to watch more than once. you will fall in love with the characters. Steven Dorf is amazing and underrated in this movie....
Rating: 
Summary: Mediocre
Review: This movie is okay--at least there's a minimal resemblance to the real people. Based on what I've read about the Beatles over the years-there seems to be a bit of revisionism in this movie--examples are Stu Sutcliffe mentioning "8 days a week" and John, "A Hard Days Night" even though Paul says a taxi driver gave him the words, "8 days a week" and Ringo is credited with "A Hard Days Night" as one of his more famous malapropisms. Despite these type incidents-the movie is still fairly enjoyable, although it's really the Stu and Astrid story with a lot of John Lennon. Paul to a slight degree and George and Pete are treated as insignificant characters. Still, it's worth watching if your a Beatle buff/
Rating:
Summary: A great movie that shows a different side of the Beatles.
Review: This movie shows us how the Beatles rose to fame in Europe. Between their high energy rock, and their black leather outfits, they could have just as easily fit in during the punk movement of the 1980's. A great treat for the eyes and the ears.
Rating: 
Summary: Fab, mostly
Review: Universal released the title in summer 2003 and returns with a "collector's edition" at the same price. The main upgrades are Dolby 5.1 audio and an audio interview with Astrid Kirchherr, the German photographer who took the Beatles' first publicity shots. The anamorphic widescreen images (1.85:1) seem about the same as on the 2003 disc, good but sometimes grainy. Other extras, duped from the old DVD, include a director's commentary, a pair of deleted scenes and various interviews that tend to repeat material. Packaging is a lot classier than on the old DVD.
"Backbeat" takes the time to let its bogus Beatles perform entire numbers, mostly soul covers. The real music came from a "grunge" supergroup put together for the film by producer Don Was. The new 5.1 audio sounds sensational, with a vibrant and musical surround stage.
Director Iain Softley ("K-PAX") tells how he spent six years researching and writing the project, inspired by stylish photos he saw of Kirchherr and her lover Stu Sutcliffe, the Beatles' first bass player. The "Backbeat" script was based on her recollections; it focuses on the couple and jealous guy John Lennon.
This might not be a Beatles film, but there's an undeniable thrill when, late in the story, the Paul McCartney character switches to his trademark German bass and the fabled front three wails on "Please Mr. Postman." The film's downer ending gets drowned out by the joys of "Twist and Shout" and the promise of Beatlemania.
Rating:
Summary: What happened to this edition?
Review: What happened to the Backbeat Special Edition? Did it ever come out? I had preordered it from Amazon but it never shipped -- it went from preorder to "out of stock" on the supposed release date. Was the release delayed? Amazon should update their information on this item.
Rating:
Summary: I Had Mixed Feelings About This Movie At First.
Review: When I first saw this movie, I wasn't sure what to make about it. I am a Beatles fan, and I always expected them to be perfectly faithful and never mean. I was wrong. This movie showed an evil side to Lennon and nice side to Stu. Now I realize that I enjoyed this movie. It was more realistic than any documentary film I have seen on them. Most movies about them talk about how perfect they were. And how smily and cheerful they were. This movie was not only sweet and funny, it was also tragic and real. So if you want to see a movie that is good, but also shows the truth behind the Beatles, this is a good pick.
Rating:
Summary: Backbeat DVD is done right!
Review: When perplexed Roger Ebert reviewed this movie, he joked that saying this movie is about the early Beatles is like saying Hamlet is about a gravedigger who meets a prince. A synopsis of this movie is: John Lennon convinces Stuart Sutcliffe (Stephen Dorff), an art school friend, to join the band as a bass player. He agrees and off they go to Hamburg. The other band members are bewildered as to why John insists that such an untalented muscian as Stuart Suttcliffe is in the band in the first place. Paul and John have an argument over kicking Suttcliffe off the band, which results in John's threat to quit the band if Suttcliffe is asked to leave. In the meantime, Sutcliffe has met Astrid (Sheryl Lee), a bohemian photographer, who encourages him to pursue his interest in painting. John and Astrid spar over Suttcliffe's affection. After a violent confrontation with Stuart over Asrid, John finally accepts that Stuart is leaving him, and gets on with his life. One might venture to ask WHY a movie that is supposed to be about the early Beatles has a plot revolving around the relationship between John Lennon and Stuart Suttcliffe? Stuart Suttcliffe, 'the 5th Beatle' is actually a bit of trivia in the story of the Beatles. On the other hand, it's a key to understanding who John Lennon was. This is a love story between two men, BEFORE the relatively NEW and rigid concept of orientation was established in the Sexual Revolution of the 70's and 80's. The fact that the intimacy between Lennon and Suttcliffe was never 'consumated' in an actual sex act doesn't detract from the powerful affection between them. It was just the way things were before homosexual Liberation. This is a beautiful compelling movie. Buy it, rent it, watch it!
Rating:
Summary: A love story between 2 men....
Review: When perplexed Roger Ebert reviewed this movie, he joked that saying this movie is about the early Beatles is like saying Hamlet is about a gravedigger who meets a prince. A synopsis of this movie is: John Lennon convinces Stuart Sutcliffe (Stephen Dorff), an art school friend, to join the band as a bass player. He agrees and off they go to Hamburg. The other band members are bewildered as to why John insists that such an untalented muscian as Stuart Suttcliffe is in the band in the first place. Paul and John have an argument over kicking Suttcliffe off the band, which results in John's threat to quit the band if Suttcliffe is asked to leave. In the meantime, Sutcliffe has met Astrid (Sheryl Lee), a bohemian photographer, who encourages him to pursue his interest in painting. John and Astrid spar over Suttcliffe's affection. After a violent confrontation with Stuart over Asrid, John finally accepts that Stuart is leaving him, and gets on with his life. One might venture to ask WHY a movie that is supposed to be about the early Beatles has a plot revolving around the relationship between John Lennon and Stuart Suttcliffe? Stuart Suttcliffe, 'the 5th Beatle' is actually a bit of trivia in the story of the Beatles. On the other hand, it's a key to understanding who John Lennon was. This is a love story between two men, BEFORE the relatively NEW and rigid concept of orientation was established in the Sexual Revolution of the 70's and 80's. The fact that the intimacy between Lennon and Suttcliffe was never 'consumated' in an actual sex act doesn't detract from the powerful affection between them. It was just the way things were before homosexual Liberation. This is a beautiful compelling movie. Buy it, rent it, watch it!
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