Ramones: Raw (2004)

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.

Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

This is the ideal documentary for Ramones fans.Well,I say documentary but it's really Marky Ramone goofing around with his own camera occasionally catching snapshots of interviews with some excellent performances in between.It's lighthearted and complete fun and games. It gives Ramones fans insights into the jokes that the guys shared,the names they called each other,and the pranks they played on each other.A chance to see them in a natural environment and not at each other's throats.After a painful past three years of losing three members of the band,this DVD reminds fans of the positive times that Johnny,Joey,CJ,Dee Dee and Marky shared with each other.

Hadn't listened to the Ramones in 10 years, but caught this on Trio -- definitely made for Ramones fetishists. To call Ramones Raw "well-edited" is awfully generous ... aside from the endearing sequence dealing with Joey's death, it's a formless cut-and-splice collage. Home video footage was given a sham MTV-treatment; scenes seem to average about five seconds each. I wished they'd let more clips ride for a while, get some context for the scenes (exception -- the many mob scenes where they're trying to ditch manic fans last forever). Raw seems stingy with the performances too -- twenty-five years of touring and we see songs from only about five concerts? But if this is what Marky wanted to make, so be it -- more power to him. You definitely get to cozy up to the band.

Even though I consider myself a pretty big Ramones fan, this movie fell short of what I was hoping it would be. It is in no way a documentary on the band. Instead it is merely a collection of Marky's home movies intercut with rare television appearances. There's no narative at all. About half way through, we decided to watch it with the optional commentary from Marky and Johnny. At least that gave it a little bit of clarity.All in all, I don't think I would recommend this one to anyone other than a real die-hard completist Ramones fanatic.Mike

Being the huge Ramones fan that I am, I of course love this video. Great concert footage and the video from the tours is great. This video does a great job of taking you through the whole Ramones career, except the beginning with Tommy as drummer. I especially loved listening to the audio commentary by Marky, Johnny(RIP), and the director... they have some interesting stuff to say. The part where they drive the van through the fans and edit in "Night of the Living Dead" clips and use the NOTLD music is great. The extras are great too. My favorite might be when they are on the Howard Stern show, playing "golf" with "the president", good stuff. Basically, if you are anything of a Ramones fan you should own this, A+! Go buy it you SLOTH!