I was very much looking forward to checking out Jimi: All Is by My Side, but I wasn't convinced that I would like it. I figured they would butcher it somehow and I'd come away from the movie with negative reactions to it. I did. I will start off by saying that André Benjamin as Jimi Hendrix is mesmerizing to watch and the movie does have a few explosive scenes that make you sit up and take notice. Referring to Jimi basically making Eric Clapton run off the stage because he knew he was going to fail miserably trying to keep up with him. The other standout scene was Jimi doing his version of Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band. Any time Jimi has a guitar in his hands, the movie is good. The rest of the time it's boring as f*ck.

My biggest problem with the movie is that the film is constructed poorly and the editing is horrible, which makes it feel and look like an independent flick by a newcomer. The edits and cutaways are just so unnecessary. It's being done for the sole purpose of trying to look 'arty' for the sake of looking 'arty' if that makes sense. There's just too many talking head scenes that just ramble on and on and not enough of Jimi and his music. I don't know how historically factual the movie is, but I suspect there was a lot of leeway here. It just didn't ring true in a lot of spots and had me trying to "remember" this and that as ever happening.. As I said, some great on-stage moments, but overall I think this is a blown opportunity to tell a real great story about one of Rocks biggest Icons. This unfortunately is a Skip, even for diehard Hendrix fans. The other big misfire is that they don't use (possibly couldn't get the rights to...) any of Jimi's biggest hits. So, there's that.

Ah man, that is disappointing to hear. I likes me my music movies, even when I'm not a fan of the artist. Looks like I'll skip this Arty movie.