Cheap Ramones - Raw (DVD) Price

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Customer Reviews of Ramones - Raw

Candid and Chaotic Glimpse Behind the Scenes
Ironically, since the premature passing of Joey, Johnny and Dee Dee, Tommy and Marky Ramone have been busy keeping the Ramones name more relevant than ever- Tommy producing a Ramones-themed musical à la the current trend of Mamma Mia, We Are the Champions, etc, and Marky with, among other projects, the release of this DVD. The band's image can be found on diverse merchandise, from t-shirts to comic books. <
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>As opposed to the more somber, parochial and straight-forward End of the Century doc, Raw is non-linear and has a more behind-the-scenes, hang with the band feel, with quick, random edits and wipes of (mostly) Marky's video diary footage interspersed with various concert highlights. We get to see first hand what it was like to be a Ramone, especially during the final 10 years of the band. <
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>Whether escaping hordes of manic fans by claustrophobic van in South America (where they were superstars), visiting a local zoo in Australia, signing autographs in Japan or early morning chain smoking at some hotel breakfast joint in Spain, the footage gives a very intimate feel of the band. <
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>Raw shows lots of private joking, internal catch-phrasing, practical joke pulling, and various clowning around. What it does not show is a lot of interaction between other members of the band. Whether by design or default, you will be hard pressed to see Joey, Johnny, CJ and Dee Dee doing much verbal interacting. Nor does it show band members engaging in serious fighting, which surely must have happened on occasion. <
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>The emphasis is on Marky and his camera interacting with the individual members. And each member brings his personality to the lens. Marky's position as a member of the band makes it easy to get the others to be themselves. Thus we get Marky himself as the talkative clown who keeps the vibe loose with good-natured ribbing; Johnny as the sarcastic curmudgeon with a glint of humor in his eye- who Mark refers to as the "Sloth"; Joey as the sensitive, soft-spoken, humorous lug; Dee Dee as the self-absorbed, slightly effeminate raconteur and observationalist, who even in his last days with the band, was appreciative of the fans and of the band's legacy; and CJ as the little brother from the Grunge era, who adds Gen X spark and cred to the band in their final phase. Tommy and Richie are all but invisible. <
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>After watching Raw, some lingering questions remain. The main "tragedy" of the Ramones' story, besides members' premature deaths, is often "why didn't they become superstar rich and famous like they deserved" This theme is central to the End of the Century doc. But the thing is this: Many bands have made zillions without platinum records. The Grateful Dead, Phish, and others have become mega-rich through touring successes and especially merchandising. If the Ramones could fill a 50,000+ stadium in diverse corners of the world, why couldn't they take advantage of that fanbase and get filthy rich doing it? <
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>The Ramones' legendary reputation is etched in stone and their iconic imagery is a natural for merchandise. As Tommy and Marky make money off of the Ramones' legacy today (and I am not here to judge their right to do that), I wonder if it was a question of underdeveloped use of the Ramones name. Richie Ramone left the band over t-shirt profits, which the band refused to share with him. This must have been a major source of income. <
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>Was it simply a question of too little too late? Of undermerchandising? Would it have gone against the punk ethic to overexpose the Ramones trademark? Would a major advertising/promotions/PR firm been able to increase the band's income? <
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>Either way, the Ramones rightfully deserve a place on the pedestal of rock legends. Their fun, energetic no-nonsense punk take on early-60s pop and their dedication to the DIY ethic have inspired millions and will continue to do so. <
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>Raw is a must-have, for it takes you on a fun ride into the inner circle of a great band that will never return. And that is definitly worth the price of admission. <
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Good Live Footage but Not Much Insight into the Band...
Ramones Raw is basically Marky Ramone with a handheld camera annoying Johnny, Joey, Dee Dee and C.J. while on tour. There is some great live footage of the band playing some classic songs. The DVD doesn't really tell a story but is more of a narrative of the Ramones life on the road. The inner relations of the band are not touched upon at all. In fact, by watching Ramones Raw you'd never know that Johnny and Joey hated each other with a passion. Most of the running time is lighthearted gags and inside jokes interspersed with concert footage. For a complete look at the inner workings of the band, as well as the making of most of their albums, pick up the End of the Century DVD it is a MUCH more comprehensive look at the band as a whole. Recommended for Ramones Diehards and completists only.

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listen to Dee Dee!
any chance to see a performance of the Ramones--especially with Dee Dee still on board is worth it! CJ is good as well-his enthusiasm shows. <
>i thought some of it was better than the heavily-edited stuff in "End of the Century". at least you get to see the whole song. <
>some of the backstage stuff was entertaining as well--and a hell of a lot less depressing than EOTC's "Frontline" style. <
>now if only someone will put out a decent Heartbreakers dvd....