Rating: 
Summary: Looking For America...And Not Finding It
Review: There really isn't any big mystery as to why EASY RIDER was such a massive hit when it was released in 1969. On a budget of no more than half a million dollars, the director/producer team of Dennis Hopper and Peter Fonda somehow captured the alienation that a lot of young people felt about America during that turbulent time.Hopper and Fonda are, respectively, Billy and Wyatt, two Harley Davidson-riding hippie bikers who, after making a big drug score with a big-time dope dealer (played by record mogul Phil Spector), embark on a journey across America, ostensibly to enjoy a good time in New Orleans during Mardi Gras. Along the way, they encounter, initially, the more idealistic side of America in a New Mexico hippie commune and a farm in Arizona. But when they get into Texas, their joining a parade illegally gets them tossed into a redneck jail. Not long after, though, they are bailed out by a very inebriated lawyer by the name of George Hanson (Jack Nicholson, in the role that made him a household word in Hollywood). Nicholson cheerfully agrees to go along with them on their Harley sojourn. Along the way, Hopper complains to him about how he and Fonda are constantly harrassed by the law and unable to get even a "second rate motel" to sleep in. Nicholson gingerly explains to the pair that it's not just the length of the hair that bothers people; it's what they represent--individual freedom: "They'll talk to you and talk to you about freedom, but when they see someone with real freedom, it's gonna scare them." One night, Louisiana rednecks savagely beat and kill Nicholson. It is at this point that EASY RIDER starts getting bleaker in tone. Fonda and Hopper arrive in New Orleans at the height of Mardi Gras, and cavort around an Orleans cemetary with two hookers (Toni Basil, Karen Black) during an acid trip. But dismayed by what they've seen, they beat a hasty retreat and continue east. Fonda realizes the futility of their journey now. He tells Hopper, "We blew it." Their journey comes to an end on a Florida highway when Hopper flicks off two rednecks in a truck, who then proceed to blow both him and Fonda off the road. Unquestionably dated to a large extent, particularly in the strange editing of certain sequences and the acid trip, which looks less avant garde and more amateurish, EASY RIDER nevertheless has its merits. The soundtrack is one of those merits, with 1960s classics like Steppenwolf's "Born To Be Wild" and the Band's "The Weight", and countryish tracks like "Wasn't Born To Follow" (the Byrds) and "Don't Bogart Me" (Fraternity of Man). The other is, of course, Nicholson's star-making performance as George Hanson. Before this, Nicholson was just a B-grade actor. But his often-uproarious and, later, thoughtful performance here cemented his reputation as a top-notch movie star forever. Featuring very fine cinematography by Laszlo Kovacs, who later went on to do portions of CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND, EASY RIDER is a flawed film by today's standards, but in its day was a groundbreaking film that helped change Hollywood forever. If one can get by its being highly dated, it still works as a period piece.
Rating:
Summary: In the end you will surely know, I wasnt born to follow
Review: Easy Rider is the classic American Western. Two outlaws cast off society and live free out west but their days are numbered. America turns out to be more repressive than they may have imagined and their freewheeling lifestyle becomes a futile effort in the wake of modern civilization. Even the names of the two characters hearken back to westerns; Wyatt (like Earp?) and Billy (the Kid?). I noticed some reviewers mention that the film is dated; that very well may be the point. If this was filmed now, all those great scenes of western landscapes would be replaced by urban sprawl, billboards, fast food chains and strip malls with a cop on every corner. Landscape and society were changing dramatically in the 60s and even back then it was becoming increasingly clear that our government and society was giving up freedom for security. Being dated just makes this film even more important, no doubt that it a cult classic, a must see for every American, especially those that question the status quo and the belief that we are put on this earth to follow orders and kill at will.
Rating: 
Summary: Wholly overrated
Review: "Easy Rider" (1969) "A classic...a great film for its day...everyone is sure to love it", those were the comments I had been hearing about Easy Rider before I rented it. I expected this movie to be great because it was called a counterculture classic and topped many people's lists of the best film of the 1960's. In my opinion, Easy Rider is a case of don't believe everything you read. Sure, the movie has its good points. The music is fantastic. The songs are all very memorable and suit the road theme, styles of the film and the time in which it is set very well. Many of the songs of the movie have become classics since the films release. Easy Rider is also shot gorgeously, with heaps of great sunset shots and motorcycle journeys. The performances in the movie are also very good. Jack Nicholson is the stand out as the innocent comic relief Dennis Hopper and Peter Fonda meet when they go to jail. Nicholson deserved another Oscar for this role! Hopper clearly put a lot of effort into the film being a writer, director and lead actor, but his continuous "man's" and hippie references annoyed the heck out of me, as did his monologues about what he "sees" after he takes drugs. Peter Fonda was hailed as the leading actor of the movie but he really doesn't say that much and he has very little facial expression. His acting definitely got better. There was also way too many drugs in this movie. In the film, this is basically the story: these 2 guys take drugs, encounter people, take drugs, make the people they encounter take drugs, take some drugs, sleep, take a couple more drugs, have sex, and then take drugs. And apparently this story is all about "freedom" according to Dennis Hopper. Yeah right. Also, Easy Rider doesn't present any ideas why or why not the characters should be doing this. Why are they doing it in the first place? Is taking drugs a way to make people free and express freedom? No. I found the use of drugs both pointless and excruciatingly unrealistic in this film. So, the movie does have its good points - the cinematography, bikes and Jack Nicholson - but not enough to overcome the whole pointlessness of the entire production. This is one big disappointment for me, and I can't believe such a film that was hailed as a "classic" could be so banal and stupid. MY GRADE: C-
Rating: 
Summary: A must-see
Review: Although I am not a motorcycle rider and I have never used psychedelic drugs, I still found this to be a great movie. If you have allowed these two elements of the film to keep you from watching it, I highly recommend putting those thoughts aside and viewing this. The main idea of the film is freedom. Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper take a motorcyle trip across the USA while heading for Mardi Gras. Although this is the destination, Peter Fonda (is looking for something. This something could be America, but you feel it is more profound than that. You receive hints from the things he says to others. For instance, he and Hopper have stopped at a farm to fix one of the bikes and to eat. After talking with the farmer, Captain USA comments about how great it is to be here on the land doing your own thing. Jack Nicholson has the best lines of the movie when he explains that we love to talk about freedom, but we are scared to death of people who actually live it. A very important idea considering the war that was going on at the time of this movie. Again, I highly recommend watching this movie.
Rating:
Summary: Dated or not, this movie KICK BOOTAY!!!!
Review: My dad rented this movie because we somehow stumbled upon talking about this movie when discussing war, well that's only logical I guess. Anyways, I love this movie. It has truely sad moments, but it has ALOT of power, whether it looks dated or not, you can't deny the fact that this movie just kicks butt!!! Well unless you hate the 60's or something. But I don't, this was the first movie EVER to have rock music in it, like as the soundtrack. A landmark, it has major killer tunes from The Byrds, Steppen Wolf, Jimmy Hendrix, and more!!! All I know is that if you are looking to learn a little more about the way the 60's were for hippies look no further then here, it couldn't be further from the truth...My dad talks so much, I know!!! Even if I didn't live the 60's. Its definetely worth one watch at least. Not for kids for sure, had nudity, quite a bit(we are talking about a hippy movie here),drug use, and violence. A great independent film. Just check it out, forget if if it looks old WHO CARES? God Bless ~Amy
Rating:
Summary: 1969
Review: The episodic plot concerns two motorcyclists who take their profits from a drugs deal to head for the New Orleans Mardi Gras. In the course of their odyssey across America, they encounter frequent backwoods intolerance........The film's lasting effect made a star out of Nicholson, who won an Oscar nomination for his portrayal of an aimless lawyer making his first experience with drugs. An offbeat, low-budget ROAD MOVIE that has become a cult film by capturing the restless hedonism of the hippie era. The film's surprise success insipired a wave of youth-culture movies, few of which are now remembered; although the big studios attempted to imitate EASY RIDER'S casual technique and rebellious attitudes, its impact has never been equaled. The film cost only $375,000 to make and it grossed a whopping TWENTY MILLION at the box-office.
Rating:
Summary: I love Captain America!
Review: This movie is a story of two out rows. They cross America getting drug with rock music. This movie depicts the culture of America in that time clearly. Their trip is bad but many people will be moved. The Harley-Davidson's motorcycle ridden by Captain America (played by Peter Fonda ) is the most famous Harley. Many riders make purpose on his style. If you watch this movie, you will want to ride the way where Captain America ridden.
Rating:
Summary: A TRUE AMERICAN CLASSIC!
Review: A lot of people say that EASY RIDER is merley a biker movie with two stoned biker hippies going across America with a kick butt soundtrack. However it is more than that I admit when I first saw EASY RIDER I was not too thrilled but after seeing again and looking at it more closely I realized how great a movie it is. It is a true experience of the uncensored sixties. How the life of a hippie really was. His experiences with drugs and love and rejection from society. When you look at this movie it seems really simple so why was it so successful? Well I can only say in my opinion that this movie had to be made in 1969 to be successful. If it was made today it just would not be the same. That is what makes EASY RIDER so special. The fact that it is the ultimate sixties experience. Also with Jack Nicholson, Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper and a awesome soundtrack with Jimi Hendrix, Steppen Wolf ,The Byrds and The Band how could this movie be bad? In conclusion EASY RIDER is one of the groovy, trippy, American classics that is just down right cool! Highly Recommended!
Rating: 
Summary: A movie and a Genre
Review: A somewhat interesting movie due to the time period this movie was filmed. Basically, this movie was nothing special and pretty much like a million other movies out there. The movie is totally overrated mostly due to the cast, Fonda, Hopper, and Jack Nicolas.
Rating:
Summary: A classic western?
Review: Dennis Hopper has always struck me as a living relic of the sixties. A counter-culture rebel who never could quite come to terms with the Vietnam era government he so distrusted. Not surprisingly, his portrayal of "Billy", the frantic companion to Peter Fonda's "Wyatt" is the constantly racing heart of Easy Rider, one of the most important films of the late sixties.
Filmed the year after the summer of love had ended, Rider is one of the few true portraits of the cultural landscape of that turbulent era. The mellow Fonda always represents a generations quest for a simple kind of peace while Hopper, who also directed, is the fatal drive towards a futile end, always pulling away from the obvious path. They ride their custom choppers like two cowboys headed through the wild west. It's an obvious analogy but a meaningful one, their dangers were no less great as we find out. Although a notoriously frazzled production, great performances (notably Jack Nicholson), and a supurb use of some of the great rock road anthems of the day help create something fascinating, if quite dated. Of course, whether you lived the era or not, today the movie stands as a great historical representation of the mood of a country during one of America's strangest periods. Hopper's direction seems subdued by contrast to his performance (outside of a depressing and sureal trip and acid trip through Mardi Gras and a rather blunt ending) although perhaps less so considering his admitted, much longer initial cut, before leveler heads prevailed. There is an obvious fly by night amateurish quality overall but It's still a good film, maybe even great in certain ways. Cultural sign posts like this are rare. Rarer still to be made by the ones who lived it.
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