Moonage Daydream

As someone who grew up with Bowie and loved his music I had great expectations of this film . But after returning from the IMAX opening night a short while ago, I feel greatly disappointed. In summary its just a celluloid mess that fails to deliver. Whilst there are some enjoyable TV interview clips and moments of vintage live Bowie to savour, these do not warrant sitting through the 2 hours and 15 minutes running time that was extremely laborious. From start to finish its just a muddle. I've awarded it two stars rather than one because I enjoyed the early live footage, but otherwise this is a great disappointment.

This documentary uses much non David Bowie loud sounds, nonsensical imagery, and obliterates your senses in the process. It fails at showing that Bowie is one of the most talented, and interesting, artists of the last century. And one of it's most productive. This movie ignores a true view of Bowie's progress through his lifetime, his development as an artist and person. His development as a business person, which very much shaped him as a person. His relationships with various musical genres, such as R&B, which led to the album 'Young Americans'. His ability to create new from his openness to existing music. His intellectual and intelligence, how he fused his understanding of broad societal sweeps (1984, 'Diamond Dogs') with human nature (the song Cygnet Committee). It uses dozens of confusing brief clips from 1930-1960 films for a purpose that is not clear. The movie plays loud hard rock/punk music - not Bowie's - for what purpose I'm not sure. The effect is annoying, distracting, and says too little of relevance of one of the most talented artists in 5 generations.

Expected a lot better, NONE of his last 2 albums, NO FAME, Nothing about his Daughter, Nothing on his wife, All early stuff about him as a Young performer, Horrible effects, All they did was cut and splice his performances and acts the whole film, Director could not get out of his own way, !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Very Sad !!!!!!! I really expected more from his later life when he became the Best Bowie ever, Constant skipping around and wild shots of videos having nothing to do with Bowie himself, Nothing on his bands, Nothing on his life, Nothing on anything , Just one video clip for 4 vseconds to another, 2 hours of it !

David Bowie Moonage Daydream. 2hours 18 mins of Bowie, it's not your usual " talking heads" bigging up some old/ dead/ has been rock star who has a reissued album to flog. It's just Bowie, well it isn't? It's a beautifully compiled fast edited montage of Bowie, his music, visuals, interviews both on screen on audio and various clips of his many many influences. What I learnt about Bowie, he was constantly striving for his art, he was some times lost (mainly during his successful periods) and like all of us he wished could have more time towards the end. Most importantly he was really happy at the end of his life both emotionally, creatively and spiritually. There are loads of previously unseen clips and lots of unheard mixes of songs. Ps I love Bowie, 1980 I bought my first Bowie album on the day of its release (Scary Monsters) and I never looked back. If your not a fan I don't know how you'd take it, it's a fascinating work of art and totally enthralling so I'd give it 10/10 if your not a fan give it a watch and perhaps you'll see why people where heart broken when he passed away. Listen out for "Cygnet committee" there's a lovely choral version at the end, and watch until the end of the credits, David will speak just to you.

Brett Morgen has brought some interesting documentaries to life over the years. Sadly, this is his folly. As leaving the cinema I overheard a range of opinions from moviegoers from "That's 2 hours I'm never getting back" To "How many times did we see him walking up that escalator" Long, drawn out, and pieces together with random motivational quotes from Bowie, it was hard to do, but this documentary succeeded in making Bowie the one thing he wasn't. Dull. Without a narrative and a very loose chronological sequencing, this 'documentary' is only for hardened Bowie fans. Everyone else, be prepared to be confused, lectured to, and bored out of your minds. Brett, please relearn the craft that you once had.