The Doors: Live at the Hollywood Bowl

One of the greatest concert films - a mesmerizing performance.

A truly brilliant concert, expertly captured on film. The Doors' performances were notorious for Jim Morrison being drunk and/or stoned, and behaving in erratic, even provocative, fashion. Here he absolutely captivates the audience with a blend of theatrics, lyrics and cool calm menace. He is in control of everything and everyone throughout.

Backing the incredible stage presence of Morrison is some musicianship of the highest order. The camera and microphones capture well the sheer brilliance of Robby Krieger, Ray Manzarek and John Densmore. While Morrison supplies the darkness and thought, the other three provide the light, craft and rock.

There's a sense of something big, magnificent and important in progress all the way through. This is as much a visual experience as an audio one - you can't look away.

This is a concert that is sure to get any Doors fan going. It is a pleasure to watch... the film and sound quality of the DVD is stupendous. The entire band is in peak performance mode - Jim Morrison does let his fans down here. He does not appear overly messed up on anything instead he seems fairly sober so he gives a great performance.

If you want see any Doors concert then this is the film to see. It's been called their best live performance by many and when you watch it you'll see why.

List: When the Music's Over, Alabama Song (Whisky Bar), Back Door Man, Five to One, The WASP, Hello I Love You, Moonlight Drive, Horse Latitudes, A Little Game, The Hill Dwellers, Spanish Caravan, Light My Fire, The Unknown Soldier, The End.

My DVD includes the bonus features: Echoes From The Bowl, You Had To Be There, Reworking The Doors, Wild Child (Smothers Brothers Show), Light My Fire (Jonathan Winters Show), Gloria (Music Video).

10/10

One of the greatest concert films - a mesmerizing performance.

A truly brilliant concert, expertly captured on film. The Doors' performances were notorious for Jim Morrison being drunk and/or stoned, and behaving in erratic, even provocative, fashion. Here he absolutely captivates the audience with a blend of theatrics, lyrics and cool calm menace. He is in control of everything and everyone throughout.

Backing the incredible stage presence of Morrison is some musicianship of the highest order. The camera and microphones capture well the sheer brilliance of Robby Krieger, Ray Manzarek and John Densmore. While Morrison supplies the darkness and thought, the other three provide the light, craft and rock.

There's a sense of something big, magnificent and important in progress all the way through. This is as much a visual experience as an audio one - you can't look away.

Have loved The Doors since I was a teenager and still do, despite not enjoying this.

I don't think The Doors were ever known for truly magnificent live performances. This isn't one of them either. I'm surprised by many of the rave reviews about this. I can only imagine those reviewers had dropped even more acid than Jim Morrison. Perhaps that was half my problem. Having 10 years of sobriety perhaps isn't the best preparation heading into this.

But you shouldn't need to be whacked on drugs to enjoy good music. This just came across like a bunch of young, pretentious art students who had discovered acid over their summer break. Unconvincing in its delivery, The Doors more closely resemble a garage band jamming in their Mum's garage here. Occasionally they seem to remember they're performing in front of an audience, which is where the sudden, occasional wailing screams of Jim Morrison abruptly jolt our attention back.

I loved Hello I Love You, Alabama Song and Back Door Man. Light My Fire was alright too, despite Morrison's clear dislike of it. I was relieved when the rest of the show was over though, which is disappointing. I'll stick to playing their records in my bedroom instead.

Morrison is some force in himself and there are some nice moments, but mainly this just comes across as boring, massively self absorbed and pretentious. Like a bad university poetry slam with noodly muso accompaniment.

I've said all I have to say but apparently a short and concise review is against the rules so I have to write this meaningless extra verbiage oh god still over 200 more characters to go. What a total waste of time to force people to write so much when so little will actually encapsulate one's actual feelings. When I run out of characters I'm just going to stop, but until then I.