Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #29807 in DVD
• Released on: 2003-04-01
• Rating: R (Restricted)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Subtitled, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: Spanish, French
• Dimensions: .24 pounds
• Running time: 103 minutes

From Amazon.com
Most television movies about real-life rock & roll heroes are a deadening mix of biographical bullet-points and sensational recreations of outré behavior. Rarely does the essence of a pop artist, great or otherwise, come into focus within the spuriously tragic atmosphere of the kind of TV bio-pic that has made fools of the likes of the Beach Boys and John Lennon. Happily, that's not the case with Leon Ichaso's Hendrix, a remarkably sensitive film, originally broadcast on cable, that refuses to exploit guitar legend Jimi Hendrix's mythic appetites nor reduce his prodigious genius to bite-size drama. It is, instead, a portrait of the artist as a field of incongruous energy, sprawling everywhere and nowhere at once, remote from his roots and pained by the disruptive, implacable force of his awesome talent. Wood Harris (Remember the Titans) is wonderful as Hendrix, masterfully capturing the rock god's legendary shyness, unabashed sexual adventurism, and constant redefinition of his purpose and sound. Keeping him on a short tether is Hendrix's management team, which insists he keep up a grueling schedule for the money and throws obstacles onto the path of his creative freedom. Cuban director Ichaso (Sugar Hill) makes clever use out of a fictional, black-and-white interview Hendrix supposedly gave a journalist on the day he died. In it he talks about everything that comes to mind: playing guitar for African American singers on the old rhythm & blues circuit, the thrill of his triumphs during the London blues scene in 1967, and his efforts to mollify advocates of black militarism without becoming involved in it. Terrific support work by Billy Zane as Hendrix's would-be puppeteer, Christian Potenza as former Animals bassist- turned-rock-manager Chas Chandler, and Dorian Harewood as Al Hendrix. --Tom Keogh

On the DVD
English: stereo Surround
French and Spanish subtitles

Synopsis
Jimi Hendrix was perhaps the single most groundbreaking guitarist in the history of rock & roll; utilizing feedback, distortion, and effects pedals as integral parts of his sound and not simply as punctuation, Hendrix created a radically new aesthetic for the electric guitar, which combined with his superlative songwriting abilities and remarkable gift to bring out the most in other musicians helped to make him one of the most important figures in '60s rock, until his death in the fall of 1970s as a result of a drug overdose. This made-for-TV biography (originally shown on the Showtime premium cable network) stars Wood Harris as the legendary guitarist, and examines his life and career, both on and off the stage. Hendrix also stars Vivica A. Fox and Dorian Harewood; the filmmakers were unfortunately unable to obtain permission to use Hendrix's own songs in the film, so his onscreen performances are of covers Jimi recorded during his career. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Customer Reviews

Unintentional Humor and Intentional Boredom.
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.

Catches the spirit of Hendrix
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.

Don't buy it
This movie is horrible. Picture a guy with 6 pack abs talking effeminately, pretending to be Jimi Hendrix. It's that bad. They throw in a softcore lesbian scene, hoping to save the movie I suppose, but it can't be saved.