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Val Kilmer delivers a powerhouse performance as one of rock's most incendiary figures, but unfortunately, Oliver Stone is unable to shed much light on the circus surrounding the star.
All Critics (59) | Top Critics (17) | Fresh (33) | Rotten (26) | DVD (12)
For a while, the obviousness and flat-out vulgarity are sort of entertaining, and it might be possible to enjoy the movie as a camp classic if you could ignore the mean-spiritedness that keeps breaking through. Jun 17, 2014 | Full Review…
For a while, the obviousness and flat-out vulgarity are sort of entertaining, and it might be possible to enjoy the movie as a camp classic if you could ignore the mean-spiritedness that keeps breaking through.
Terrence Rafferty
Hysteria, however skillfully maintained, should never be mistaken for art -- a caution that applies equally to Stone and his subject. Jun 17, 2014 | Rating: 2/4 | Full Review…
Hysteria, however skillfully maintained, should never be mistaken for art -- a caution that applies equally to Stone and his subject.
Dave Kehr
While it has its moments, taken by itself, The Doors amounts to little more than an impressionistic look at a boy and his death wish. Jun 17, 2014 | Rating: 2.5/4 | Full Review…
While it has its moments, taken by itself, The Doors amounts to little more than an impressionistic look at a boy and his death wish.
Carrie Rickey
Insidiously funny and remarkably truthful about the psychedelic rock scene in the late 1960. Jun 17, 2014 | Rating: 3.5/4 | Full Review…
Insidiously funny and remarkably truthful about the psychedelic rock scene in the late 1960.
John Hartl
The whole movie is white hot, lapped in honeyed golds, evilly blue and black or drenched in those swoony, fiery reds. The Doors blasts your ears and scorches your eyes. Jun 17, 2014 | Full Review…
The whole movie is white hot, lapped in honeyed golds, evilly blue and black or drenched in those swoony, fiery reds. The Doors blasts your ears and scorches your eyes.
Michael Wilmington
Both a vibrant tribute to rock cult figure Jim Morrison and to the decade in which he flourished. Jun 17, 2014 | Rating: 3.5/4 | Full Review…
Both a vibrant tribute to rock cult figure Jim Morrison and to the decade in which he flourished.
Gene Siskel
Morrison is played with uncanny authenticity by Val Kilmer. The performance is utterly convincing without being terribly illuminating. Jun 17, 2014 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…
Morrison is played with uncanny authenticity by Val Kilmer. The performance is utterly convincing without being terribly illuminating.
Dennis King
The flaw in the film is its unrelenting tone of bombast. It never gives you a break. You ache for a moment of quietude, an escape from the lizard king's cranium. Jun 17, 2014 | Rating: 2/4 | Full Review…
The flaw in the film is its unrelenting tone of bombast. It never gives you a break. You ache for a moment of quietude, an escape from the lizard king's cranium.
Stephen Hunter
The much-anticipated film is a psychedelic circus that turns into the worst nightmare of a bad trip. It`s an experience. Jun 17, 2014 | Rating: 2.5/4 | Full Review…
The much-anticipated film is a psychedelic circus that turns into the worst nightmare of a bad trip. It`s an experience.
Candice Russell
The movie is weighed down by its enchantment with the mythology, as opposed to the reality, of Morrison's life -- a mythology that needs to be explored, not simply reproduced on the wide screen. Jun 17, 2014 | Full Review…
The movie is weighed down by its enchantment with the mythology, as opposed to the reality, of Morrison's life -- a mythology that needs to be explored, not simply reproduced on the wide screen.
David Sterritt
Val Kilmer does, however, pull off a remarkable impression of the troubled vocalist, although he's more convincing on stage than he is in his drunken, drug-fuelled reveries. Jun 17, 2014 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…
Val Kilmer does, however, pull off a remarkable impression of the troubled vocalist, although he's more convincing on stage than he is in his drunken, drug-fuelled reveries.
David Parkinson
Val Kilmer gives the performance of his career as Jim Morrison in Oliver Stone's biopic, so it's a shame the surrounding film lets him down. Jun 17, 2014 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…
Val Kilmer gives the performance of his career as Jim Morrison in Oliver Stone's biopic, so it's a shame the surrounding film lets him down.
Andrew Lowry
Jim Morrison: This is the strangest life I've ever known. "The Ultimate Story of Sex, Drugs & Rock 'N' Roll" The Doors is about the best movie I could imagine being made about Jim Morrison and The Doors. Although the film may be named The Doors; it would probably make more sense if it were titled Jim Morrison, because that's really what this film is about. The sad fact is that Jim Morrison was The Doors and although the other three had amazing talent, they always seemed to be left in the shadow of Morrison. This film captures that aspect of the band extremely well. Oliver Stone attacks the story of Jim Morrison as he would any other story, with the most controversial topics that came up in Morrison's life. Although with Morrison as his subject, it really wasn't too hard to find controversy. Whether it be Morrison experimenting with acid and peyote, getting black out drunk, screwing every girl that came to his concerts, rebelling against authority, or possibly showing his privates at a concert; Jim Morrison is controversy. Val Kilmer as Jim Morrison makes complete sense. Kilmer looks the part and when I say that, I mean it. He looks like Jim Morrison in a way I've only seen from one other biopic and that was Joaquin Phoenix as Johnny Cash in Walk the Line. Kilmer does do a good job in a very complicated and difficult role. The supporting cast fills in around him nicely as well. The Doors is a movie I really enjoyed as a Doors fan. I also love how Oliver Stone created the perfect drug infused, alcoholic, opinionated atmosphere that I would have to believe surrounded Morrison his whole life. If you're a fan of The Doors, this is an absolute must watch. For everyone else, it may still be worth a look, as it is a great music biopic.
Super Reviewer
A good, psychedelic movie about the band the Doors, Kilmer is good playing Morrison, one of his best roles. I liked this movie.
Oliver Stone's Biopic on The Doors is somewhat an imperfect attempt at telling the story of the legendary rock band of the same name. I say imperfect because most of the events that happen in the film are exaggerated. Some of the original members have claimed that Oliver Stone has ignored their input when they were making the film for his creative liberty. What we have here is a semi fictional biopic with the facts twisted around to make the story seem more dramatic. Some events in the film never did happen. This a film that is a perfect example of what happens when you sacrifice truth for fiction. But I guess it doesn't really matter as long as the film is entertaining. The film is definitely an awesome journey through the 60's. A nostalgic piece of psychedelic rock and peace and love abound in this film as Oliver Stone takes us on an unforgettable journey of the legendary rock band. The cast that he has assembled here is great especially Val Kilmer as Jim Morrison. Kilmer deliver delivers the best performance of his career in The Doors. Val Kilmer did his own vocals for Doors songs and thats one of the high points of the film. Despite the flaws, Kilmer's acting saves this film. This isn't the best biopic on a band, but it definitely isn't the worst. The thing that may be conflicting is the fact that the film focuses more on Jim Morrison than the band itself. As far as I'm concerned, This film should have been titled differently. Besides for Kilmer the rest of cast do a fine job at portraying the real people. Even if it's not 100% accurate, and it's most definitely not, The Doors is still a pretty interesting film to watch and enjoy. I thought the film was good, but flawed, but by no means terrible. Stone is still able to paint a vivid portrait of the 1960's, and succeeds fairly well in doing so. If you're a Doors fan, check this one out. But just remember that Oliver Stone fictionalized most of the story to make this film more dramatic. If it wasn't for Val Kilmer awesome portrayal of Jim Morrison, this film would be a total faillure but it isn't.
Kilmer and Ryan weren't the right cast, but the actual movie was well written and definitely right in its assessment.
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