Imagine: John Lennon

source: Imagine: John Lennon

Imagine: John Lennon

You may not be a fan of Yoko Ono's but have to feel for her when she had become a widow after her husband's tragic murder. Lennon and Yoko really clicked and that he may have found a kindred spirit. Lennon wanted also to not make a mistake like he did with Julian Lennon his first son spending more time with his second and last son Sean. Yoko was a smart and talented businesswoman and John became a househusband while Paul, George, and Ringo were still on the road as solo artists. Sadly the world was denied of a comeback when December 8 1980 hit.

Andrew Solt's "Imagine: John Lennon" is a documentary about the singer. There's plenty of focus on his music and activism, but mostly it looks at him as a person. In addition to the ample footage of John making his inimitable music and expounding on philosophy, there are interviews with people who knew him (Yoko, Sean, Cynthia, Julian). And the scene of John and Yoko's bed-in for peace makes clear that Al Capp was a real creep. Another documentary about Lennon that's worth seeing is "The US vs. John Lennon", about Nixon's efforts to keep him out of the country. Both documentaries note that, while Lennon got taken from us, his dream of world peace lives on. Indeed, political movements the world over take inspiration from him. May his memory live forever. Great documentary.

..... and I'm still thinking of what we lost twenty -six years ago.When I think of all the great songs that never were... The film begins with the wistful tuneful "real love" which the three other Beatles reworked on the second volume of the anthologies . It's a pretty good documentary although it does not really do the great artist justice.The most interesting moment is the argument with cartoonist Al Capp -who had already made a satirical comic strip about Joan Baez (Joanie Phonie) and was not probably exactly what people called "liberal" - But there are also interesting scenes during the "imagine" album sessions. Released at the same time as the obnoxious Goldman's trashy book -which I also read and found disgusting-,"Imagine' is a must for any Lennon fan.But once again,THE film about the working class hero remains to be made.

This is a well done Andrew Solt documentary made up with some wonderful never-before-seen home movies. The late musician's own narration makes for an eerie portrait of the former Beatle. You will see John Lennon as being witty, sarcastic, determined and loyal; but also childish, bawdy, and irreverent. This multi-talented musician will be loved and remembered for generations to come. Over 30 songs make up the soundtrack. Very worthwhile and musically historic.

Imagine John Lennon (1988) **** (out of 4) One of the best documentaries out there takes a look at John Lennon from his early days to The Beatles and his assassination. I ended up watching this at the perfect time since a few days earlier I pretty much became a big fan of Lennon's and especially his album Imagine, which this doc features many in the studio moments from. The doc did a great job at showing what Lennon was all about and that includes the rather ugly side of things. Great music, great stories make this a highly entertaining little film.