| | |  | LIVE CONCERTS | Home » » The Doors (Special Edition) | | | | | | | Description: | | Thanks in large part to its meticulous re-creation of the late 1960s and early 1970s rock scene and the uncannily authentic performance by Val Kilmer as legendary Doors front man Jim Morrison, Oliver Stone's hypnotic film biography is standing the test of time. Capturing the carefree mood of the Age of Aquarius, the film charts the meteoric rise of the Doors on the California club circuit (including a memorable scene showing the creation of the hit "Light My Fire"), and chronicles the band's exploits with hallucinogenics and Morrison's battles against charges of public indecency on stage. Kilmer's performance is hauntingly perfect, and performances by Meg Ryan, Kathleen Quinlan, and Kyle MacLachlan are similarly impressive. The movie doesn't fully probe the depths of Morrison's character, but as a portrait of excess it is vividly true to the spirit of the self-destructive poet known to his fans as "The Lizard King." "--Jeff Shannon" | | | Product Details: | | | Actors:
| Gretchen Becker, Dennis Burkley, Kendal Deichen, John Densmore, Kevin Dillon | | Director:
| Oliver Stone | | Format:
| Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, Letterboxed, Special Edition, Widescreen, NTSC | | Language:
| English | | Subtitle:
| English | | Number of Discs:
| 2 | | Studio:
| Lions Gate | | Run Time:
| 140 minutes | | DVD Release Date:
| August 14, 2001 | | Average Customer Rating:
|  based on 254 reviews |
| | | | Used and New: | | | |
| All | |
| $0.90 | Used
- Good | | | $0.91 | Used
- Good | | | $0.92 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $0.95 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $0.99 | Used
- Good | | | $0.99 | Used
- Good | | | $1.05 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $1.45 | Used
- Good | | | $1.50 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $1.56 | Used
- Good | | | $1.60 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $1.60 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $1.60 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $1.60 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $1.60 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $1.60 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $1.60 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $1.60 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $1.60 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $1.60 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $1.60 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $1.60 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $1.60 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $1.60 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $1.60 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $1.60 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $1.60 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $1.60 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $1.66 | Used
- Good | | | $1.77 | Used
- Mint | | | $1.85 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $1.85 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $1.95 | Used
- Good | | | $1.95 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $1.99 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $1.99 | Used
- Good | | | $1.99 | Used
- Good | | | $1.99 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $1.99 | Used
- Mint | | | $1.99 | Used
- Mint | | | $1.99 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $1.99 | Used
- Mint | | | $1.99 | Used
- Mint | | | $1.99 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $1.99 | Used
- Mint | | | $1.99 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $1.99 | Used
- Mint | | | $2.00 | Used
- Mint | | | $2.00 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $2.00 | Used
- Mint | | | $2.00 | Used
- Acceptable | | | $2.00 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $2.00 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $2.00 | Used
- Good | | | $2.00 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $2.00 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $2.00 | Used
- Mint | | | $2.00 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $2.03 | Used
- Mint | | | $2.19 | Used
- Mint | | | $2.28 | Used
- Mint | | | $2.45 | Used
- Mint | | | $2.49 | Used
- Mint | | | $2.49 | Used
- Mint | | | $2.49 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $2.50 | Used
- Good | | | $2.50 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $2.50 | Used
- Mint | | | $2.50 | Used
- Mint | | | $2.50 | Used
- Mint | | | $2.50 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $2.50 | Used
- Mint | | | $2.59 | Used
- Good | | | $2.59 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $2.75 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $2.75 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $2.88 | Used
- Mint | | | $2.93 This item is eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. | Used
- VeryGood | | | $2.94 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $2.95 This item is eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. | Used
- Mint | | | $2.95 This item is eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. | Used
- Good | | | $2.95 This item is eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. | Used
- Acceptable | | | $2.95 | Used
- Mint | | | $2.95 | Used
- Mint | | | $2.95 | Used
- Mint | | | $2.95 | Used
- Mint | | | $2.98 | Used
- Mint | | | $2.98 | Used
- Mint | | | $2.98 | Used
- Mint | | | $2.99 | Used
- Mint | | | $2.99 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $2.99 | Used
- Mint | | | $2.99 | Used
- Mint | | | $2.99 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $2.99 | Used
- Mint | | | $2.99 | Used
- Mint | | | $2.99 | Used
- Mint | | | $2.99 | Used
- Good | | | $2.99 | Used
- Mint | | | $2.99 | Used
- Mint | |
| Used | |
| $0.90 | Used
- Good | | | $0.91 | Used
- Good | | | $0.92 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $0.95 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $0.99 | Used
- Good | | | $0.99 | Used
- Good | | | $1.05 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $1.45 | Used
- Good | | | $1.50 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $1.56 | Used
- Good | | | $1.60 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $1.60 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $1.60 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $1.60 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $1.60 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $1.60 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $1.60 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $1.60 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $1.60 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $1.60 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $1.60 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $1.60 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $1.60 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $1.60 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $1.60 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $1.60 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $1.60 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $1.60 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $1.66 | Used
- Good | | | $1.77 | Used
- Mint | | | $1.85 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $1.85 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $1.95 | Used
- Good | | | $1.95 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $1.99 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $1.99 | Used
- Good | | | $1.99 | Used
- Good | | | $1.99 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $1.99 | Used
- Mint | | | $1.99 | Used
- Mint | | | $1.99 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $1.99 | Used
- Mint | | | $1.99 | Used
- Mint | | | $1.99 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $1.99 | Used
- Mint | | | $1.99 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $1.99 | Used
- Mint | | | $2.00 | Used
- Mint | | | $2.00 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $2.00 | Used
- Mint | | | $2.00 | Used
- Acceptable | | | $2.00 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $2.00 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $2.00 | Used
- Good | | | $2.00 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $2.00 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $2.00 | Used
- Mint | | | $2.00 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $2.03 | Used
- Mint | | | $2.19 | Used
- Mint | | | $2.28 | Used
- Mint | | | $2.45 | Used
- Mint | | | $2.49 | Used
- Mint | | | $2.49 | Used
- Mint | | | $2.49 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $2.50 | Used
- Good | | | $2.50 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $2.50 | Used
- Mint | | | $2.50 | Used
- Mint | | | $2.50 | Used
- Mint | | | $2.50 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $2.50 | Used
- Mint | | | $2.59 | Used
- Good | | | $2.59 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $2.75 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $2.75 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $2.88 | Used
- Mint | | | $2.93 This item is eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. | Used
- VeryGood | | | $2.94 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $2.95 This item is eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. | Used
- Mint | | | $2.95 This item is eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. | Used
- Good | | | $2.95 This item is eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. | Used
- Acceptable | | | $2.95 | Used
- Mint | | | $2.95 | Used
- Mint | | | $2.95 | Used
- Mint | | | $2.95 | Used
- Mint | | | $2.98 | Used
- Mint | | | $2.98 | Used
- Mint | | | $2.98 | Used
- Mint | | | $2.99 | Used
- Mint | | | $2.99 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $2.99 | Used
- Mint | | | $2.99 | Used
- Mint | | | $2.99 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $2.99 | Used
- Mint | | | $2.99 | Used
- Mint | | | $2.99 | Used
- Mint | | | $2.99 | Used
- Good | | | $2.99 | Used
- Mint | | | $2.99 | Used
- Mint | |
| | | | Customer Reviews: | |
Average Customer Review:
 ( 254 customer reviews )
Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
29 of 36 found the following review helpful:
 "The Doors" Light Up the Screen.......Jan 10, 2003
By L. Shirley
"Laurie's Boomer Views"
This review refers to the Artisan Special Edition(2disc)DVD of "The Doors".....
Become immersed in the wild ride that Oliver Stone takes you on in this legendary film of a legendary rocker.The extrordinary life story of Jim Morrison, played eeriley by Val Kilmer, will keep you mesmerized and stay with you long after the movie has ended.
The film explores "The Doors", from their beginnings in Venice Beach, California, where they exploded onto the rock scene,breaking the mold of music in the 60's, to their rise as superstars. Morrison's life is the main focus as a senstive poet type dropping out of film school, to becoming the Peyote addicted,culture shocking, philosphical rock idol.The LSD trips, the visions of this genius, his personal life and of course the famous controversial concerts are all told through Stone's unique cinematic magic.
You'll get lost not only in the time setting of the story but of course in the music as well. "The Doors" electrifying music is heard throughout the film and follows them chronologically on their journey. It's a film for fans of the cinema and music alike.
As mentioned above Val Kilmer is uncanny in not only his performance as Morrison, but seems to take on the physical appearance as well. The band members played by Kevin Dillon, Kyle Maclachlan and Frank Whaley are extraordinary in their portrayals. Meg Ryan, in a very dramatic roll as Jim's girl Pam is brilliant.
This "Special Edition" DVD is the one to have(and it's not as expensive as the other) It's a 2 disc set, with a fabulous widescreen picture, and a 5.1 Dolby Dig(get to this through the special feature selections) audio track that will blow you away. Lots and lots of special features. On the disc with the movie you can listen to Stone's commentary where he fills you in on how the band met, the genesis of the songs, and where he has taken license with the story. The second disc is filled with featurettes and production notes. Looking at the Technical info for the other edition ("The Collectors") it seems to be longer by 30 minutes and may have some extras not included with this one, but it is not in the 5.1 which for me was the deciding factor in this film featuring this exciting soundtrack.
So get out those mood rings and leather fringe vests and get ready to rock with "The Doors".....
"This Is The End"...........Laurie
also recommended:The Very Best of the Doors
29 of 37 found the following review helpful:
 mostly reviewing the new featuresJan 13, 2007
By lawgiver4feh
"Pam joined him three years later . . ." is on my copy of the 15 Year Anniversary Edition; the movie is the same as the Special Edition.
The packaging and menus are updated and look great. Substantially better than the special edition.
On to the 2 new features.
The Doors in L.A. - 20 minute feature; Robbie Krieger, John Densmore, (yaaay!), Jimmy Greenspoon, and Pamela Des Barres are the prominent interviews on camera here. Nothing earth shattering, but it's nice to see/hear John Densmore's abridged opinions.
The Jim Morrison Phenomena in Paris - it's interesting. You've got a handful of people who met JDM in Paris and hung out; they describe his mood and what he was (arguably) saying at the time. There's a French librarian who breaks down a lot of the parallels in the subtleties of the lyrics w/Greek literature. There's a somewhat annoying 20 something saying Jim was done with music and The Doors and blah, blah, blah that isn't substantiated w/anything. There is an interview w/Michelle Rudler, who is listed as "Coroner" who says lots of things were done wrong in the documentation of Morrison's death. It's about 50 minutes.
All of the extras on the Special Edition are here as well.
So in conclusion, if you are looking to purchase The Doors movie on DVD, by Oliver Stone, this is the one to get. The movie is entertaining enough but, you know, it's fictional and not historically accurate enough to garner more than 3 stars from this reviewer.
15 of 19 found the following review helpful:
 A Comic Book Version of A Unique TalentOct 18, 2005
By Mark A. Gutmann
Hey, I know I'm in the minority in my opinion here on Amazon, yet I will state unequivocally my view that the portrayal of Jim Morrison, his common-law wife Pamela Courson, the group, and even the supporting cast of regulars in The Doors Universe come off like characters in search of a serious screenwriter.
Come on already, Oliver. Who could sympathize with Jim and Company when they spew out lines of dialogue clipped, of all places, from Morrison's song lyrics? Did you actually think an audience would accept Jim uttering such discordant lines in an everyday conversation? Could you not separate the man from the performer? Because of that awful bit of writing, Jim comes off like a buffoon, not an erudite talent who, despite a lifetime of loneliness, alienation, and addictive tendencies (which would ultimately snuff out his life), still managed to push aside material comfort for a pursuit of the truth as he saw it.
Also, how come Jim revels in such horrible psychobabble? Had you not gleamed the interviews (available through Bright Midnight and other retailers) you'd hear an incredibly bright, articulate young man who lamented the day he elected to be part of a rock and roll band. You'd also have the makings of excellent drama, as a man who cannot escape his fame and a man who longed to create films and poetry in his own right.
How could one ever sympathize with a drunken lout (YOUR Jim) who acts like an ass (seems more like Val Kilmer playing himself rather than Jim), shows no compassion whatsoever, and just appears to become famous in one quick turn of events. The only clue we have to the success stems from the Sullivan show, the airport raid, and assorted concerts, but we never get a sense of Jim being nationally lambasted. Some archival footage might have helped there. But of course then the more sedate, intelligent Morrison--whom you portrayed as bumping into cops whereas Jim preferred to sway at a mike stand (see the archival footage)--doesn't figure in a Hollywood biopic.
What a shame. What a rotten, dirty, salacious mess. Maybe your own demons got the better of your good sense, Oliver. God knows, if your Morrison had been the true Morrison, I'd never had been a fan of his in the first place. Thanks for turning Jim into David Lee Roth, the members of KISS, Robert Plant, and all those other Circus Magazine posterboys for rock and roll excess. Too bad. An integrity, a nonmaterial nature, and a sincere attraction to make art distinguishes Jim from all those other Sex, Drug, and Rock and Roller hellions.
14 of 18 found the following review helpful:
"Does Anyone Really Know?" ~ Shamanic Excess And The Lizard KingJan 31, 2007
By Brian E. Erland
"Rainbow Sphinx"
'The Doors' were one of the greatest rock and roll bands of the sixties and the quintessential California group of the decade. They so embodied the West Coast counterculture experience that viewing this biographical film about Jim Morrison and The Doors also provides a fascinating view of the cultural and spiritual forces that drove Jim and that entire generation to challenge the status quo of the American mainstream.
What exactly is the true story of the life and death of Jim Morrison? Is it the story of one of the many rebellious young adults of the time who in looking for an alternative way of living got lost along the way in the drugs, alcohol and sexual freedom that so dominated that culture? Or is Jims' story a deeply mystical tale announcing the rebirth of ancient shamanism into the collective consciousness of the twentieth century? The story of someone chosen by the spirits to bring the 'old ways' to a new generation looking for something to fill the spiritual void brought about by the loss of belief in the Christian God?
Director Oliver Stone has played the mythmaker to perfection in this amazing film providing us with the unique experience of entering into the American Dreamtime. Layering mundane worldly events intermitently with glimpses of the psychic, shamanic forces motivating those events we are given the opportunity to chose for ourselves what level of reality we are willing, or ready to accept. A truly remarkable accomplishment.
As for the performance of Val Kilmer as Jim Morrison, it couldn't have been better. His ability to capture both the physcial appearance and dark persona of the legendary rock star so completely is beyond extraordinary. Without question Val was born to play this role.
Did Jim really believe he was the "Electric Shaman" called by the spirits to open the "Doors of Perception" to a sleeping world? Was he Dionysus reborn, here to use his suggestive music and lyrics to arouse his followers and bring to fruition his new 'Rites of Spring' with "Golden copulations in the streets of L.A." More likely he was playing the part of the mischevious Indian 'Trickster' leading us once again in the wrong direction. Maybe it's just like his Mother said long ago while the old Indian lay dying along the roadside in the California desert. "It's just a dream Jimmy, that's all it is."
So relax, show no fear, "Kiss the Snake" and enjoy the ride!
9 of 11 found the following review helpful:
Similar contradictions and problems I have with most of Stone's movies...Mar 23, 2008
By T. P. Watt
The Doors suffers the same problems that Stone's other films about real people and events (JFK and Nixon) do; Stone uses the docu-drama format as a license to condense times and events, while simultaneously inventing composite characters and situations that never existed. All too often, these films, while containing exciting filmic and visual elements, ring a bit hollow.
The upside of The Doors is the performance of Val Kilmer, who threw himself into the role with ferocity and conviction; that he comes up short in the end isn't due to his acting abilities as much as the choice of episodes and Morrison's characteristics (both real and invented) that Stone chose to film. Simply put, Stone's Morrison comes across as little more than a sporatically gifted poet who sublimates his poetic callings to all the cliched rock star trappings. Perhaps this does describe some of Morrison's personality to a degree, but after seeing Morrison get stoned, drunk and act like a spoiled child throwing a tantrum for 2 hours plus, one wonders if Oliver thought of Morrison as basically an obnoxious drunk (possessed by the soul of a bald, silly-looking, half-naked dead indian that continually wanders around the movie) and, if so, what it was that turned Stone onto making the film in the first place...
The downside, in addition to the lack of scope regarding Morrison, comes in the numerous episodes that never happened (The Doors tripping on acid in the desert, Patricia Kennealy being present at the New Haven show Morrison got arrested at, Particia Kennealy and Pam Courson having a catfight, Buick actually making a commercial using the song Light My Fire and Jim finding out about it by watching tv, Jim setting fire to his and Pam's house while Pam was smacked up in the closet...and on and on). Also, the years of 1967 to early 1969 take up about an hour and a half of the movie, while the remainder of 1969 through to mid 1971 take about twenty minutes.
It's a shame that Stone went to such trouble to set up and film some great concert sequences, and Kilmer really made a terrific attempt at playing Morrison, but in the end both were content to rest the character on both the various myths about the singer and the confirmed instances of Morrison at his drunken worst. A well-shot film that, in the end, has little to do with reality.
See all 254 customer reviews on Amazon.com
| | |
|
![The Doors [Blu-ray]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51RzmKyO22L._SL75_.jpg "The Doors [Blu-ray]")
