{2jtab: Movie Review}

Jimi Hendrix: Hear My Train A Comin' - blu-ray Review

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5 Stars

The release of Jimi Hendrix: Hear My Train A Comin’, which premiered on PBS’ acclaimed American Masters series earlier this month, is a magnificent journey through Hendrix’s multi-colored life.  It is a must-own for any fan or any lover of music as it contains some of the most striking performances in rock and roll history.  And, if it must be said, eradicates the need for any other documentary concerning Hendrix.  Directed by Bob Smeaton (The Beatles Anthology, Festival Express), this is the only encyclopedia-like entrance that you need.

From Seattle to London and New York’s The Village, it’s all lain bare, certainly there can be no other documentary needed about this guitar gypsy hero.  The Hendrix family archives have exhausted themselves and – as this coincides with the CD release of his Miami Pop Festival performance – they should feel proud; it’s truly a wonderful celebration of an entirely too short career that still burns brightly.

Jimi Hendrix: Hear My Train A Comin’ tells a familiar story of an artist – coming from rags to riches – who consistently pushes himself to create and create again until tragedy strikes.  While the documentary doesn’t obsess over the whole too much red wine and ultra-strong sleeping pills untimely death of Hendrix, it certainly doesn’t skimp on the music, the meaning, or the magic of Hendrix.

Thankfully, much of Hendrix’s life has been documented on camera.  There are no recreations; this is all real stuff.  When we don’t have Jimi’s words (via letters to family and friends) guiding us, we hear from the main players in newly conducted sit-down interview sessions.  Mitch Mitchell, Noel Redding, Chas Chandler, Eddie Kramer, Steve Winwood, Fayne Pridgeon, Linda Keith, Billy Cox, Paul McCartney and others are interviewed and fill in their experiences with Hendrix.

Complete with new songs and audio/video entries audiences have never experienced before, the documentary is an absolute must watch.  The film's previously unseen treasures include recently uncovered footage of Hendrix at the 1968 Miami Pop Festival.  It also unveils performance footage and home movies shot by Hendrix and drummer Mitch Mitchell, plus photographs, drawings, family letters and more.To say Hendrix was probably the most exciting, gifted and sensual rock guitarist ever is an understatement.

Hendrix truly – to this day - has no peers, which makes this release and his long absence from our lives all the more bittersweet.  If you disagree, look no further than the footage in Hear My Train A Comin’.

{2jtab: Film Details}

Jimi Hendrix: Hear My Train A Comin' - blu-ray ReviewMPAA Rating: This title has not been rated by the MPAA.
Runtime:
190 mins
Director
: Bob Smeaton
Writer
:
Cast:
Paul McCartney, Chas Chandler, Mitch Mitchell, Noel Redding, Billy Cox, Ernie Isley, Steve Winwood, Eddie Kramer, Billy Gibbons
Genre: Documentary | Music
Tagline:

Memorable Movie Quote:
Distributor:
PBS
Release Date:
November 5, 2013
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date:
November 5, 2013

Synopsis:

{2jtab: Blu-ray Review}

Jimi Hendrix: Hear My Train A Comin' - blu-ray Review

Component Grades
Movie

Blu-ray Disc
5 Stars

5 Stars



Blu-ray Experience
5 Stars

Blu-ray

Blu-ray Details:

Available on Blu-ray - November 5, 2013
Screen Formats: 1.78:1
Language
: English
Format:
Blu-ray, NTSC, Widescreen
Discs: 50GB Blu-ray Disc; Single disc (1 BD)

Experience Hendrix LLC and Legacy Recordings, the catalog division of Sony Music Entertainment presents the documentary in a stunning 1080p transfer.  Images are sharp and edges are crisp.  Colors vary due to the original formant of some of the archival footage but, all in all, there really are no complaints.  Black levels are strong.  The high definition presentation does not disappoint and adds a bit of class with some handwritten segments that lead us into the next topic of his life.  Everything looks and sounds fantastic, especially in the 5.1 DTS mix on the Blu-ray version. The high-definition blu-ray includes new stereo mixing by Hendrix's engineer, Eddie Kramer.  Prepare to have your ears sonically fried.

Supplements:

Commentary:

  • None

Special Features:

Even better than the American Masters version of Hear My Train A Comin’ is the expanded Blu-ray version.  And the bonus features - near-complete versions of 1968's Miami Pop Festival, 1970's New York Pop Festival and newly discovered archival footage from Hendrix’s appearance at 1970's Love & Peace Festival in Germany synched to a cleaned-up amateur recording of the performance, along with his legendary 1967 Top of the Pops appearance - are worth the price of the home video version alone.

  • Miami Pop Festival (40 min)
  • New York Pop Festival (25 min)
  • Love & Peace Festival (30 min)
  • Top of the Pops (7 min)

{2jtab: Trailer}

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