DVD REVIEW:THE DOORS COLLECTION [Box set]

Shane | 23 February 2016 | Reply

DVD REVIEW:THE DOORS COLLECTION [Box set]
Shock Entertainment
December 2015
Reviewed by Shane Pinnegar
9 ½ /10

A treasure trove for Doors fans, Shock Entertainment’s latest 4-DVD bundle explores just about every nuance of the band, with loads of familiar and hitherto-private footage covered.

THE DOORS LIVE AT THE BOWL ’68 is one of the most famous and most-watched films of the band performing live, and for this release has had the visuals and audio fully restored – it looks great and in Ray Manzarek’s words, “you hear it as if you were at the Hollywood Bowl, on stage with us.” Extras include three new documentaries, and several bonus songs from various TV appearances.

THE DOORS R-EVOLUTION combines TV performances and short films made by the band themselves. In the restrictive ‘60s US TV world this was almost unheard of, and these films act as ground breaking precursors to the more traditional video clips that are now ubiquitous. This collection – as the title implies – also charts the evolution of the band visually and as an entity on film between 1967 and 1971. It’s a must have for Doors aficionados.

MR MOJO RISIN’: THE STORY OF L.A. WOMAN gathers interviews with Doors Manzarek, Robby Krieger, John Densmore, Elektra boss Jac Holzman, manager Bill Siddons and more to analyse the making and impact of their classic album L.A. Woman. Made at a time when singer Jim Morrison was succumbing to alcoholism, drug abuse and self destruction, and with an obscenity trial hanging over his future, the band created a masterpiece of rock n roll, only to see Morrison relocate to Paris and die shortly afterwards. MR MOJO RISIN’ tells the story in intense detail, and features loads of rare footage.

FEAST OF FRIENDS is the jewel in the crown here: filmed in 1968 by UCLA friends of Manzarek & Morrison, and produced by the band, it was intended as a road movie about that year’s summer tour – another bold move far ahead of their time. The project was shelved before completion and has only recently been unearthed and fleshed out. What it lacks in narrative it makes up for with fly on the wall backstage footage giving us a glimpse into the personalities and interactions between the band members, even though some of the live footage is chopped up with performances from completely different eras which we have seen before.