at7000 This is at best, an over-long, tedious, exploration of the Beatles which barely scratched the surface. It's much more appropriate for newcomers to the Beatles- People totally new to the band's history. Fans who know about Beatles history will be disappointed in it, as it offers nothing new, and just glosses over many things.I was hoping for an edgy documentary that would show "warts and all." But I guess with Yoko as a major backer, this would never happen. (Note- She did not have anything to do with the breakup, that is total B.S.) However, she is the type of person who would never reveal anything negative or too inflammatory. So in a nutshell, that is what we are left with- Somewhat of a light, politically correct, squeaky clean, watered-down, version of the band, that completely ignores many of the more interesting bits about the band.

runamokprods For a Beatle fan (like me) this 10 hour documentary was both thrilling and just a little disappointing. Thrilling because all the music has been re-mixed, re-mastered and sounds great, because there are lots of details that, even as I fan, I didn't know, because there's more insight than offered elsewhere into their breakup, and more important, into what held them together. A good job is done of combining new interviews with the then 3 living Beatles, and recorded interviews with John from many sources, so his views and insights aren't missing. The last couple of hours go deeper than I suspected, and were quite moving. On the disappointment side there are a few issues. First, at least for me, much of the first half got repetitive. Not much new insight into the birth or meaning of Beatlemania, just lots (and lots and lots) of concert and TV footage, often of them playing the same songs, sometimes obviously just lip-syncing to records. Also, their personal lives are left out entirely. I understand not focusing on relationships, etc, but there's virtually no mention of wives, divorces, affairs, children, or how any of that intersected with their music and work. Last, I was sorry it didn't go deeper into the creation of the music itself. While there are lot of great tidbits from the group and George Martin about specific songs, considering there was 10 hours of program, I didn't get enough of how they worked, how they wrote, how they influenced each other. Nor do we get much of their personal views of the world, politics, etc. And somehow the sense of how much their brief 7 years meant to music and to world culture seems missing, or at least not really explored.Yet, whatever was missing, I tore through the 10 hours in 2 nights, and would have happily seen more.

Tashtago I was watching parts 8 and 9 period covering Magical Mystery Tour to Hey Jude with my nine year old son and his friend. They both knew all the songs and said how much they liked them. During the I am the Walrus performance from Magical Mystery Tour they were really curious as to which Beatle was the walrus. Well we all know the Walrus was Paul so I told them. My point is these two kids love the Beatles just as I did when I was 9 and just as I do now. The magic lives on. The Beatles Anthology is probably the most comprehensive film or video bio ever released. It covers so much information and because so many songs are discussed we are reminded again of how great they really were. These DVD have some flaws , there is some camera trickery here or there that is intrusive, song and filmed performances are sometimes interrupted by commentary . For example Hey Jude is cut away from,and also some interviews. It is amazing how much footage there is of the Beatles. For a Beatles fan (and who isn't) this is essential viewing.

preppy-3 Very long, exhaustive documentary following the Beatles from their births up until their breakup in 1968. All three of the remaining Beatles are interviewed (as of 1995) to share their views of the band. We even hear John Lennon's thoughts--he recorded quite a large number of tapes about the band before he was tragically murdered.I saw it on TV back in 1995. It was great but the DVD is 100 times better. The picture and sound are crystal clear and the songs are nice, loud and in stereo (with THREE separate audio options to choose from). There is rare concert and studio footage all during the movie. Just mesmerizing.However some things are conveniently ignored--their manager Brian Epstein's homosexuality and attraction toward John (purportedly it was consummated); the horrible way they treated him; their drug use is REALLY played down; the hatred that Paul had toward Yoko Ono is ignored and Paul and George's battles are sort of glossed over. Also there is next to no information of their personal lives at all.Still, this is a definite must-see for all Beatle fans. If only they hadn't ended it with that dreadful "new" song "Free As A Bird".