25x5: The Continuing Adventures of the Rolling Stones

This excellent film, which has yet to see a DVD release, is so far the best documentary about the evolution of the Rolling Stones. This piece focuses more on the history of the band; not only its musical development, but the more sensational episodes in the personal lives of its members. The story of the Stones in their early days, before they settled down to become elder statesmen, is very much the story of the 60s. Like the Beatles, the Stones became popular before the hippies entered the scene, but in many ways anticipated them and absorbed those trends.

This 1989 release obviously contains no new information about the Stones' later years, but you're not really missing anything. The Stones have continued to produce good music, but they've become professionals who no longer make headlines for "bad-boy behavior." It's a very professional, brilliantly edited piece, and I highly recommend it to any Stones fan. Unfortunately you'll have to look for a tape or laserdisc on ebay, as the Stones seemingly have no interest in releasing video product of any kind. There are several concert discs which are allowed to go out of print almost immediately, and the last two have been Best Buy exclusives, alienating many retailers and fans.

If you can find it, this is the one to see.

1st watched 8/19/2001 - 7 out of 10 (Dir-Nigel Finch): Well put together documentary on the history of the Rolling Stones and the members so far. Despite whether you are a fan of theirs, after watching this movie you have learned a lot more about the band and respect them a little more. Near the end there is less about the people and more concert footage which is okay because there was plenty of information about the people early in the movie to get an idea of what the members are like. The team that made this movie also made other well done documentaries on rock stars like John Lennon, and they seem to have found a niche at what their good at. The movie gives you an insight into the real people that make up the band, not just the portrait that has been given us by the media. This is why this movie succeeds as well as it does, and the music's not bad either.

This is the movie for everyone who has taken shots at the Stones for their refusal to grow old. It isn't just a chronicle of their history as a band, as it details the early years of Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, delves into their personal lives, and offers fitting tributes to deceased members Brian Jones and Ian Stewart. The inclusion of full-length songs and music videos was welcomed by me; this movie wouldn't have been as good if it were shorter. The interview sequences are great; Mick's appearance on the Dick Cavett show way-back-when is a gem: Dick: "Can you see yourself doing this when you're 60?" Mick: "Oh yeah."

I first saw this film on Christmas Eve '90 on BBC TV and I didn't get a chance to watch it all as I was off out on the beer before it finished. I watched it the next morning and it was the ultimate hangover cure; the best bits of this doc are early on when the Stones are still youthfully exuberant ( eg the cross dressing promo for "Stupid Girl" and "Paint It Black" on the Ed Sullivan show). Later on (circa mid-70's onwards) it's a case of Keith Richards' drug addiction and a wilting critical appeal-still, the section with Muddy Waters singing "Manish Boy" with Mick Jagger in a Chicago Blues club around 1980,is well worth the watch, and the part where Keith Richards tries to take a fan's head off with his guitar when he inadvertently comes on stage uninvited is worth a look also. The Brian Jones part about his strange death is also very interesting.