DVD 106 mins
R (Restricted)
Imagine: John Lennon
Warner Bros. (10/7/1988)
In Collection
#315

Seen It:
Yes

Owner:
Ben
Biography, Documentary
USA  /  English

John Lennon Himself
Paul McCartney Himself
Ringo Starr Himself
Yoko Ono Herself

Director Andrew Solt

It can hardly be a coincidence that this "deluxe edition" of John Lennon ? Imagine should be issued in late 2005, a couple of months after what would have been the former Beatle's 65th birthday and mere days before the 25th anniversary of his death. Whether that's cynical, poignant, or just good marketing is moot; what matters is that Lennon's impact, not just as a musician but as a public figure, remains largely undiminished. The film, released theatrically in 1988, will already be familiar to many fans. "Narrated" by Lennon himself and culled from hundreds of hours of footage, much of it home movies shot by John and Yoko Ono, Imagine is a substantial, reasonably illuminating portrait of the man, warts and all, from childhood through the Beatle years, his solo career, and his life with Yoko straight up to his fatal encounter with Mark David Chapman. It's the new bonus features that are the principal draw here; but whether or not they qualify as "deluxe" is arguable. The Lennons' radio interview with a BBC reporter is notable mostly for John's patience in the face of idiotic questions like "Is love very important to young people today?" The ten or so minutes spent with Lennon's school headmaster, William Ernest Pobjoy (love the name), yield little insight, especially considering that the two were at the school at the same time for just one year, half a century ago; likewise, a new "making of" documentary with Ono, writer-director Andrew Solt, producer David Wolper, and others isn't exactly ground-breaking. However, a previously unreleased performance of "Imagine," with Lennon and some unknown accompanists on acoustic guitar, is nice, as is some heretofore unseen footage of the Lennons at home on their Tittenhurst Estate. Add to that a fine transfer and Dolby digital sound, and you have another addition to the filmed legacy of the Beatles--a subject that, for many of us, will never be old news. --Sam Graham

Edition Details
Edition Deluxe Edition
Barcode 012569726550
Region Region 1
Release Date 12/6/2005
Packaging Jewel Case
Screen Ratio 1.85 (16:9) Anamorphic
Subtitles English; French; Spanish
Audio Tracks Dolby Digital Surround - English
Layers Single Side, Dual Layer
No. of Disks/Tapes 1

Features
DVD ROM Features
Previously Unreleased Episode/Footage
Theatrical Trailers
A Tribute to John Lennon: The Man, The Music, The Memories
John Lennon Trivia Track
BBC Radio Interview
Personal Details
Purchase Date 12/6/2005
Purchase Price $12.10
Store Best Buy
Condition New (Still Sealed)
Current Value $13.99
Links Amazon US