Jimi Plays Berkeley (2003)

Annoying to watch / Great to listen

What was going on back around this time with the cameramen / directors? Most of the concert footage can be characterized by the low angle shot of the front musician as the zoom crawls into the adenoids and nasal passages in the most graphic - and horrible - detail. I just saw this approach in an otherwise excellent FESTIVAL EXPRESS with Janis. Her song consisted of nothing but a close up of her from the shoulders up: a dermatologist's bonanza! Who was in her excellent Full Tilt Boogie Band? We'll never know. This film is no exception. Out of the entire 56 minutes, the cutaways to Billy and Mitch can be calibrated in mere seconds. Crowd shots are less than fleeting. If you enjoy see Jimi play his guitar, you'll still be frustrated because there's very little here of even that. Instead we're left with these marathon close ups of his impassioned face ... just one piece of the puzzle. November 23, 2008

Get ready for the worst camera man EVER.!

The music is great, but whoever filmed this was obviously high on crack or something. Shaky camera, zooming in way to close on Jimi's face.
I found myself getting very frustrated when Jimi was playing one of his cool riffs an the friggin camera man was zoomed in on amplifiers and other equipment, or was 3 inches from Jimi's face.
If the cameraman would of just zoomed out a little and just left it the heck alone, it would of been a great DVD. Instead it's just a frustrating DVD to watch. November 10, 2008

FANTASTIC !

This DVD really shows Jimi as a player & showman ! He pulls out all the stops - playing behind his back, with his teeth, on the floor, etc. The mix is great & Billy Cox really holds down the bottom & Mitch Mitchell shows what a great drummer he is ! Jams on tunes that later showed up on other discs as finished works (Hey, Baby, Freedom, etc.) Camera spends most of the time focused on Jimi.
Great concert ! I was lucky enough to see Jimi in concert 6 times & I wish I could have seen this show in its small venue. Lucky enough to hear this version of the band in Honolulu a few months later.
Having the tunes on the DVD without the movie is great too.
I still would suggest buying the separate CD - demonstrates the continuity of the show without the visuals.
Buy this DVD ! October 30, 2008

The Remains of Greatness

The questionable video quality merits the removal of a star. As I understand it, the camera crew were stoned on LSD while filming this (why Hendrix' management tolerated this is beyond my comprehension; but it is clear indication that they didn't know the magnitude of Hendrix' genius; and if the stories of the rouge and scoundrel Michael Jeffery are true, he probably wouldn't have cared, so long as he made his money). Another reviewer mentioned that much of the out takes remain unreleased due to litigation. When the lost footage is finally released, Hendrix Experience will doubtless re-edit all the footage and present something of better quality.

But considering that this is all we have, I am grateful. I saw this film when it was first released, and I sat through two showings. Hendrix' performance for both sets was astonishing. He was in great form for these concerts and that alone is worth buying the DVD. Seeing the great master at work - despite the ragged artifacts of 60's drug culture contaminating the production - is to bear witness to some of the greatest music of the 20th century.

I imagine if film footage existed of somebody like, say, Beethoven, we would overlook the technical flaws simply because it was Beethoven. The monumental magnitude of his artistry and historical significance would earn such respect.

Thus is it with the great master Jimi Hendrix. His passing at the young age of 27 imposed on the world of music a loss that is beyond calculation. Stories remain of where he wanted to go and what he wanted to accomplish with his music. What might have been,,,, October 6, 2008

Jimi at his best

OK, the production of this video is not on par with Lord of the Rings. But I'm giving it 5 stars because (IMHO) it is the best footage of Jimi Hendrix in existence. At Woodstock, Jimi looked tired and short tempered. At Berkeley, he really seemed to be having a great time - laughing, cavorting with kids in the audience, and playing at his absolute best. Berkeley was Jimi's home town, and he really gave this concert his all. So the video gets about 3 stars, but Jimi gets 5, only because I can't give him 10! September 17, 2008

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