Mein Leben als Rolling Stone

Superb and Intimate Story of the Rolling Stones, I thoroughly enjoyed it especially because the normal annoying "talking heads" are used in narration voice over and don't interrupt the images. You are told who is providing the insight with a side graphic displaying the name of the voice over.

The only thing I would have liked was more discussion regarding their songs and their writing. This is a sad omission and surprising given that the narrator and the beginning makes a point that if it wasn't for their songs they would have sunk without a trace. There is a poignent moment where the appearing on a show and the host walks up to Brian Jones and makes the statement, "So you are the writer of all the songs" and he just says "not really" and the host ignores him and starts talking to Jagger and Richards.

Although an interesting documentary, I felt it was a rather sanitized and self-congratulatory focus on the four subjects. The role and influence of Brian Jones, Bill Wyman and Mick Taylor would have added both interest and perspective, but they were barely mentioned. This might have been for financial or legal reasons, but left the documentary feeling like an advert for the Stones next 'last' tour.

The history and band dynamic of The Rolling Stones. Focusing individually on the four remaining (at time of production) members, we get to learn about their past, how they managed to stay together for 60 years and what makes them one of the greatest rock bands of all time.

A very interesting and educational documentary, and surprisingly so. I have watched scores of documentaries on the Stones and figured that this one could not possibly add to that knowledge. In addition, Mick Taylor, Brian Jones and Bill Wyman don't get any individual attention while Ronnie Wood, who joined after the Stones had peaked, gets an entire episode. It seemed pretty basic in its set up - just interview and cover the four current members - making me think this would be a dull, conventional, linear documentary.

How wrong I was. While each episode does concentrate on a single Stone it is not to the exclusion of other members or of other aspects of the Stones' history. The individual is a spine to build an aspect of the Stones' story around while giving details of their life and talents. The scene sequence is more thematic than linear, making for an interesting, entertaining journey.

Despite my misgivings, the Ronnie Wood episode is very interesting and shows the dynamic he brought to the band. It almost made me think that the Stones were better off for replacing Mick Taylor with him. Almost.

The producers should still have included more details of Brian Jones, Mick Taylor and Bill Wyman somehow, maybe in an episode covering former members. They're as key to the history of the Stones as the four current members. I don't think Bill Wyman even gets a single mention.

Some (but not all) of the criticisms of this 4-part documentary are valid. But at the same time, there is only so much that can be covered in four one-hour segments of each of the members of the band that were with it the longest.

Overall, this is well worth watching for any Stones fan. I think some people were expecting the members to fit their marketing stereotypes, and were disappointed that they did not.

Surprisingly, I found the segment on Charlie Watts to be the most interesting.

So, for Stones fans, ignore the bad ratings here and watch this. You'll likely learn stuff you never knew about one of the, if not the, best rock and roll bands of all time.

So much great older footage and concerts. A lot of insight into their thinking. Remember, in the last 500 years of man's existence, no one has lived a greater life than Mick Jagger. Think about it. Not many people are considered gods in there lifetime. Mick is...