John & Yoko

I'm not a film critic but I am a big documentary fan and lived through the Beatles and John Lennon's life. (I'm 63). I learned a lot I didn't know from this documentary, mostly about John and Yoko's relationship and how she was really his muse. To be honest I mostly thought of her as the strange woman who howled unintelligibly and broke up the Beatles. But there's so much more to the story. This is a film about music, love, social change, war, art and the media (and a lot more!). I would say there are a few too many talking head interviews but none of them are superfluous and they all add to the story and commentary. Just wish I could have seen more of John and Yoko (there's a lot but the film alludes to thousands of hours of film). Mostly I was left inspired by their creativity and willingness to take on the critics and the media and blaze their own path. Their idealism and vision was so beautiful and yet the world is an even darker place today. Yet we can always Imagine and that gives hope.

For eight years, the Beatles rewrote the rules of popular music. After they split up, they were never to reach the same heights as individuals. Except, perhaps, for John Lennon's 'Imagine' album, his first record after the break-up. The album was recorded at his home studio, a process that was mostly recorded on film. That film, coupled with the obligatory sequence of talking heads, has now been recycled into this documentary. Why is it good? Well, because Lennon was (at his peak) brilliant, which makes the insight into how he made his music innately more interesting than the average film of this type. But it also makes a strong case for the (positive) influence that his wife Yoko Ono had on him, and suggests persuasively that the album was very much a product of their shared life, although once it was completed, they abandoned their English country home forever. It's a very human picture of a genius; there's (almost invetably) a measure of sycophancy to it, but it's still well worth watching.

I was amazed at the unseen footage. It was well edited and thoughtfully done, with interviews of people telling nuggets of details about the album. He was an incredible human being - and his message is needed even more now with the problems we're facing across the globe.

A similar look at John Lennon and Yoko in life and work a year or so after the Jan 69 events of the latest film. The Beatles have broken up, John is cleaned up, happy and Yoko as the muse leads to the Imagine album. Once again the creative process is Lennon on a piano with an assortment of session musicians following along, including George. Some insight into the bitterness with Paul and the move to New York. Also a fair look at Yoko and her own history as an artist. A more traditional rockumentary with the people who were there adding context 47 years later.

I've heard Yoko mention throughout the years that she had 'never before' seen footage of John. This is it and I'm grateful she has finally shared it with the world. This is Yoko's heart on a platter, her private life with John I'm certain was very very painful to let go of. These clips were obviously cherished memories that she held close to her heart and were difficult to share because these were her memories, not for the public. Thank you for opening your heart and sharing with us those memories of John. Very tastefully done.