Message to Love - The Isle of Wight Festival

My only disappointment is that there is too much focus on the events rather than the musical performances. Although, the back stage antics are great. A lot of the music performances are extremely edited-down (as one reviewer noted). Because of that, I am bothered by one question. "What other master-pieces remain hidden inside that vault?" I can only help but feel unfulfilled. For I'm sure that there is more footage out there. Strange enough, additional "private" releases have begun to "slowly" appear after this film became public. From artists such as Jimi Hendrix & The Who. ...But, where are the rest?

It's obvious that there is more corporate dealings going on yet. Squeezing out what ever pennies that can be scrounged through the resource of the tapes. Taking advantage of the hungry mouths & pockets of the public. They very thing that was revolted against by the majority of those who witnessed the event. I think they ought to change the title to "Message To Money" instead. However, I admit that I am one of those hungry ones. Aching to see a more complete performance of that venue. Other than what was offered & poorly represented in the video. Like Donovan's performance which lasted only three seconds. And what about Tony Joe White, Melanie, Cactus, & Procol Harum who weren't even included? I have yet to see the complete performance of ELP's debut of "Pictures At An Exhibition". ...I'm wondering if such footage even exists?

I guess my message here is to say that "there ought to have been a more complete video made of this event!" Perhaps a sequel?

I also like to say, "hurry up on those new releases!" ...That is if any exist?

Reyerbrandt


Better than Woodstock   January 21, 2004
A. Curran (USA)
14 out of 14 found this review helpful

In 1969 Woodstock was the first event of it's kind and a year later the even bigger Isle of Wight Festival was the last. This rockumentary released 25 years after the event is in the vein of 'Woodstock', only better. What sets this apart is the music. The movie gives pretty even coverage to both the music and capturing the hippy vibe of the event. There is a constant tension created by the barrier surrounding the event and the thousands who came without the price of admission. This is similar to what happened at Woodstock but it plays out slightly differently here. The coverage of this tension and the unique festive atmosphere is compelling watching but it is the music that takes center stage. Never was there such a collection of rock icons together at a single event as at the Isle of Wight and this includes the last concert performances by Jimi Hendrix and Jim Morrision. Hendrix died a mere 18 days afterwards. The complete lineup of performances in this movie are as follows:
Jimi Hendrix - Message to love
The Who - Young man
Free - All right now
Taste (Rory Gallagher) - Sinner Boy
Tiny Tim - There'll always be an England
John Sebastian - Red Eye Express
Donovan - Catch the wind
10 Years after - Can't keep from crying
The Doors - When the music's over
Moody Blues - Nights in white satin
Kris Kristofferson - Me & Bobby McGee
Joni Mitchell - Woodstock, Big yellow taxi
Miles Davis - Call it anything
Leonard Cohen - Suzanne
Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Pictures at an exhibition
Jimi Hendrix - Machine Gun (segment), Voodoo Chile
Joan Baez - Let it be
Jethro Tull - My Sunday Feeling
The Doors - The End Jimi
Hendrix - Foxy Lady
The Who - Naked Eye


The Last Great Festival   January 5, 1999
6 out of 6 found this review helpful

The last call for the Love Generation. As I viewed this film, I could just feel the page turning and a chapter ending on this generation. This is one of the most interesting documentaries of it's kind. Dreams and Reality collide. Social issues take center stage along side great performances by Hendrix, The Who, The Doors, ELP, Jethro Tull, Joni Mitchell, Moody Blues, Rory Gallagher, 10 Years After, John Sebastion, and many others. Most all of the performances are exceptional. The real focus however, is the great multitude and the struggle of the small army on the outside to make it a free festival. Many social issues surface as we see the ideals of a generation slam head on with reality. This generations dream of Peace and Love did not die at Isle of Wight, but it's heart was broken. This film is a very important document in witness to the end of an era. Very well done and well worth the wait.


The best movie about the end of the free love movement.   August 13, 1999
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

I saw this film at the Music Box Theater in Chicago, and not only does it have some of the most fabulous live performances of this era caught on film, but it also gives one an appreciation of the filmmakers job to create a story from nothing but raw footage. From the angry crowds of concertgoers to the greedy promoters to the musicians just trying to perform, you get a real idea of what went wrong with the whole idea of the 60's free love movement asd it moved into a pre-cursor for the Me generation of the 70's. A truly undersung peace of art that is the foil to what WOODSTOCK did for the flower power generation. The only other equivalent to this film fiction wise would be FEAR AND LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS.


Better than Woodstock ?   June 23, 2002
C. Latona (gilbert, arizona United States)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

This movie is incrediable ! I believe the line up was much better than Woodstock. The only thing I wish this documentry had was more proformances on film . The bottom line this DVD should be in your collection !