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I had a chance to go to Woodstock - was living in New York City and my boyfriend and I had to work so we didn't go....wish I had...kinda. Not sure how I'd react to the conditions, even then. So of course I own the Woodstock documentary. This movie took me to that place in time when I was a hippie (still am of course, just in a different world) and living that life. You didn't need to see the performances (though you heard some of that in the background) and you did see some of the scenes from the docu being filmed (like the nuns with the peace sign). I liked the movie, bought the movie and am looking forward to watching it again. I'm proud of my generation and where we came from. We believed in love, peace and a better world. I'm not sure the generations that followed ours can say that, but that's just my opinion. I loved getting into this movie and living in that time again, if only for a couple of hours.Read full review
Ang Lee, the director of Brokeback Mountain, put together a very complex film that seems on the verge of making a huge dent, yet seems to somehow fall short because the film never emerged as anything other than thousands of people walking down a stretch of highway toward what soon will be remembered as Woodstock 1969, an experience that will probably never be repeated. The actual stage was never really shown with anyone performing, but was shown briefly as part of an LSD trip Demetri Martin (Elliot Teichberg), our main character, was on as he approached the crest of the hill looking downward toward the stage. Although no actual Woodstock footage was used, the movie included re-enacted scenes of the original Woodstock film being made as background to the action. Two examples are the film crew on the road to the festival getting the walking nuns to flash the peace sign and the toilet-cleaning "Port-O-San" man being interviewed. We soon discover that many forces in this film are pointing towards the event, but we become morosely overstimulated by the craziness of it all. To add to all the confusion was the screen-writers insistence to throw in all kinds of sexual connotations into the film for effect. The addition of Demetri kissing a man added nothing to the story-line except that the producer was trying to insert the free gay love thing into the late sixties as a major news item. What really made the film harder to stomach was Liev Schreiber in drag. I really don't have a clue as to why Liev has an obsession with being at Woodstock in drag, however being at Woodstock was also one of the themes of another film he acted in called A Walk on the Moon (1999) and being in drag also wasn't new to him, since he did so in the theatrical play of 1994 called Mixed Nuts. The juxtaposition of tension between the community and Demetri's interest in the event was soon brought to a head as his parents rushed to meet the overwhelming needs of the influx of participants in the planning of the event into their small motel in the Catskills. His father Jake Teichberg was played quite usually humble and nobly by Henry Goodman, whereas his mother Sonia Teichberg was played by Imelda Staunton. The character mother Sonia created much tension in the film at times and overtly depicted the seemingly endless stereotyping of the Jewish as far as scheming for the mighty dollar was concerned. In my opinion, the tension between the locals and the Jewish Teichberg family was completely overblown and was placed here unnecessarily as a major distraction to the story. The scrimping and saving by mother Sonia was totally understandable, however, to which the level of greed and unconcern of other's comforts in lieu of earning an extra buck was totally uncalled for in this film. As initially planned, the cost of a ticket to attend the Woodstock Music & Art Fair was $18.00 in advance, and $24 for all 3 days, however, the film insinuates that, because of something said by Demetri at a press conference, many of the people were able to just show up to attend. This may have been true, however, this is quite contradictory to the initial plans and my have been put in the film to make it more interesting. According to The Washington Post, screenwriter and producer James Schamus told reporters at the Cannes Film Festival that the biggest challenge in casting extras for the film was to find people "who were not working out all the time, and who still had pubic hair."Read full review
Second City TV's Eugene Levy OWNS this movie! I used to camp in up-state NY and they captured the area, the residents AND the situation PERFECTLY. FUNNY AS F**K! X-D
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
I bought this movie because I grew up during this crazy time I was 10 years old. My older brother was a hippy type and wanted to go to this event but my Mom and Dad would not let him go but he kept trying to get there to this Woodstock event. He never made it to Woodstock but his friends did. My brother died from being hit by a Drunken driver a few years back and just watching this movie makes me feel closer to him. I really liked watching this movie it had a lot of great moments. I guess the most dislike thing was the nude scenes because I would of liked to have my daughter who is fifteen watch it with me "But hey it was the 60s". It is a great movie of the 60s and recomend it 100%. There is a lot of funny parts....
Have not watch disc yet but see no blemishes or scratches
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
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