Mr. Dynamite: The Rise of James Brown

If you have a sound system, turn it up and take em to the bridge.

Loads of awesome footage and great music that chronicles everything up to his moustache period with some emphasis on his faults, but also heaps of praise on his activism, message, and of course badass dancing and singing. Makes you want to get up and dance yourself! Leaves you wanting to see the (assuming it's being made) eventual part 2 to complete the story of the man's life

This is a documentary of Soul Brother No 1 by prolific filmmaker Alex Gibney. It follows the soul legend from his difficult childhood in the south to his mustache/jumpsuit decline and its influence in the rise of 80's hip hop. I feared this would be a scrubbed down version of his life. The first half does touch upon his wild side but mostly it attributes it to the world in which he survives. It seems like an easy treatment until the second half painting a fuller picture. While it does not shy away from the violence against women, it doesn't dwell on it either. It also paints him as a man alone unable to trust anyone. He is ruthless with his dealings with money. Essentially, he had no friends, just employees. He grew up in a world of violence and is heavily influenced by it. Although it tells the story, it doesn't really show it. It doesn't enough of his own words and it doesn't hit him as hard as I want. Of course, this has his amazing music. It tackles his politics with which I'm less familiar. I know about Black and Proud but I didn't know about backing Nixon. That's an intriguing part of his bio. This is a well-rounded TV doc of this American music legend.

Too much side politics to show this is a "halal" product for the equality or something. Misleading data, like the March Against Fear the team leaves the impression that the organizer was dead. And a lot of the weaseling from Al Sharpton. Many aspects, like family or his long tradition of extreme domestic violence are just hinted.

Brilliant documentary on an entertainment genius.

The story of James Brown, singer, songwriter and showman extraordinaire. From his life growing up in abject poverty, to his rise to fame and his influence on music.

Wonderfully made. Contains some rare footage of James Brown concerts and you can feel the dynamism of his performance and sheer exuberance of the show. Could there ever have been someone with a greater stage presence?

Some quite illuminating interviews from people who he worked with - former band members mostly - and people he influenced. Not your usual empty, fawning interviews but genuine, candid, well thought- out, insightful interviews with people who know what they are talking about.

Not just about the music. Shows his work for the civil rights movement and in the black community. Demonstrates well the high regard to which he was held in those groups.

Fantastic.