Jim Morrison: The Ultimate Rock Star

Rating: Null/10 (18 July 2002)

The documentary film The Doors (1991, dir. Oliver Stone) recounts the life of the lead singer of The Doors, Jim Morrison. It begins with Morrison as a child traveling through the Western U.S. He encounters a fatal wreck in which Morrison sees a dying Indian. This experience later plays a major part in Morrison's quest for oblivion. Morrison wanted to die in an illustrious way. He knew he was going to die; he just wanted to experience it thoroughly. Morrison started his quest as a film student at UCLA; eventually he dropped out of school after his soon-to-be band mates. The rock group, The Doors, was formed and they began playing in small clubs and bars. Till one day an agent signs them and they began their wild journey as rock stars. The Doors tells of Jim Morrison's descent into "the other side" and his drug-fueled path. Morrison's constant alcohol and drug abuse promoted this idea along with his wild acts and behaviors. Morrison's lifestyle starts to create tension in the band and in his marriage. The band eventually broke up and Morrison and his wife, Pamela Courson, moved to France. There in 1971 Morrison died of an apparent heart failure. Oliver Stone effectively demonstrated Morrison's idea that one achieves deep and spiritual understanding by reaching obilivion. Morrison believed that one could attain the ultimate experience by reaching "the other side." "The other side" being absolute death.