"End of the Century: the Story of the Ramones"

Yeah, I've read "Poison Heart", which was later re-edited and re-titled "Lobotomy," revealilng our Dee Dee to not be the brightest bulb in the closet. I also read -- somewhat inexplicably -- his other book, "Chelsea Horror Hotel," which is basically just a long, self-pitying, paranoid rant.

I did like the early focus on the creative process that drove the band. It had always been a mystery to me how they had sprung out fully formed, with all their brilliance in place. It sounds like it was just as much of a mystery to them. Tommy recounts how it hit him, in the middle of their rehearsal of "I Don't Want To Go Down To the Basement," that all of a sudden they had become a great band.

I wish the movie had run backwards. Forwards, it's a sad story.

I dunno if I agree with Alex that it's for fans only. I think one of the great points of the movie was how they seemed to transcend everything (limited musical ability, being disfuntional, and from Queens, etc) which, you know, is more universal than whatever that Metallica movie was about.

Some really funny parts too. The bit early on at CBGB's where they have a fight over what song to play ("It's two against one") is hilarious.

the dee dee 1980's rap video (in increibly poor quality) is fantastic.

(On the DVD, I mean. I have the "On the Road" book with the photos of...)

I think that that 10-15 second clip gives you more insight into him as a person than most of the narrative.

How so? It's blocked for two hours here, and it's a 110 minute film. But wait...a pledge drive??? NOOOO!

Best clips:

* Johnny going all-out rockist and blasting Blondie for doing disco on some talk show.
* The fight they have on stage over whether or not to do "Loudmouth" or "Basement"
* The Stooges clip with Iggy smearing peanut butter on himself and the chick in the audience laughing at him (ah, the days when we didn't take rock so seriously!)

Man, Johnny came across as such a fucknut in this film, but this scene was mental. "Yeh man, I don't know why but I was upset for like, a week after Joey died."

Anniversary screening coming up in Queens per Joey Ramone's social media account, though the info is different in both posts from yesterday:

On August 16th 1974 The Ramones played their first gig at CBGB and with it changed the course of music history. In August of 2004 the critically acclaimed, Grammy nominated and only authorized documentary on the band was released in theaters around the world. The screening of the film will be followed by a Q&A with an esteemed panel of guests from the ‘70s NYC underground scene. “It’s a dark movie. It’s accurate, it left me disturbed.” - Johnny Ramone

and

Join the FIRST EVER Q&A with members of John & Tommy's 1st band= Tangerine Puppets * PLUS other Forest Hills musicians who played with Ramones before they became Ramones. There will also be film footage of Joey Ramone with Sniper!! Followed by a special V.I.P screening of End of the Century, The Story of the Ramones: marking the 50th anniversary of the Ramones first show at CBGB—the first time they performed as a four-member band, as well as the 20th anniversary of the film). You can buy tickets here: https://queenstheatre.org/event/end-of-the-century/