Rock America With a Movie

Rating: 9/10 (21 March 2008)

Oliver Stone is mostly known for films like "JFK," films whose influence can be widely seen and recognized or whose subject matters were considered common ground for all. It is ironic, then, that his two best films were actually the fearless, belittled "Alexander" and the psychedelic "The Doors." This biography of Jim Morrison's enigmatically short career chronicles Morrison's (the confidence-inspiring Val Kilmer) rise from UCLA Film School dropout to his sheer infamy in the 1960s, the trippiest of all decades. The cast is good, especially in regards to the many cameos by the actual people from the story (example: Patricia Kennealy as a priestess).
What amazes me about this movie is what would come to be its similarity to "Alexander." Morrison is Kilmer's Philip-- a swaggering, staggering, boozing idol. The visual style and trippy feel of the films mesh beautifully. The only thing that makes "The Doors" not as enjoyable is (in addition to some general weak dialogue and poor staging) its constant flashes of whiplash-inducingly random nudity. Though "Alexander" took the rap for being sexual, it had barely over one scene of actual sex in the movie-- but with its references, explicit content, and thunderous parade of breasts, "The Doors" outdoes that film.
One of a great many psychedelic films worth checking out, and well worth the mere $5 price tag at a certain retail giant....