Freebird: The Movie

I just watched "Freebird...The Movie" I recommend this movie to anyone who grew up in the late 70's. If you did and Lynyrd Skynyrd didn't touch your life in some way or another...check your pulse. I LOVED it, the live footage, the backstage footage, the personal footage all blended together to create a beautiful memorial to a band that hadn't even begun to scratch the surface of their musical power. I know I can speak for all L.S. fans "We Miss You"

The movie isn't much ... some nice home movie footage, and lots of fine performances by the band (esp. "Freebird," of course), but for whatever reason (original footage or eventual editing) the choice of camera shots is v.frustrating. Whichever guitarist is playing a solo, the camera inevitably shows someone else; even "Freebird" has as many shots of the crowd as it does of the band. I'd give it a six on a scale of ten; play a CD, you'll be just as happy.

I bought this DVD three years back and the extra footage had an issue (maybe that was a PAL UK issue) but if you love Lynard Skynard tunes it's worth owning.

Don't look at this DVD as a movie but a chance to slightly peak into the world of a band taken before they reached their peak.

There are only 3-4 videos you could class as music videos but this is an era before that genre really existed so don't expected nicely edited music videos.

What I think you will see is the insight in a band that were a phenomenon, the interviews are brief but interesting, The band's music still captivates years later, technically they remain unsurpassed in many respects.

I remember the days of 1976 (although I was only 13 at the time) and the BBC used to have a people's choice on New Year's Eve, the footage of Lynyrd Skynyrd performing "Freebird" at Knebworth won every year it was one of the choices. Unfortunately, this movie does not include this triumphant, jubilant performance and it is instead replaced by, in comparison, a pedestrian version from an altogether different source. Colour me disappointed.

While the music of Skynyrd is well represented, and for this alone I rate this at 7, the failure to include one of their greatest moments on stage ~ especially when the footage was available (clips of it are shown during the end credits while another song entirely provides the backing) ~ is an atrocious error in judgement.

Enjoy what is there, but remember it could have been so much better.

This movie will show the musicial strenghts of Lynyrd Skynyrd. During an era which bands depended on glitzy stage props and exotic gimmicks to attract an audience, Lynyrd Skynyrd's no frill approach to their craft was refreshing and pure. Freebird the Movie captures what true American Rock and Roll is all about