Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #23857 in DVD
• Released on: 2001-06-26
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Color, DVD, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 90 minutes

Amazon.com
The legend of Bob Marley (1945-1981) is well served by this comprehensive and clear-eyed look at the turbulent life and times of the reggae great. Jeremy Marre's documentary presents the man as a vitally important artist, but a flawed--if immensely appealing--human being. The trajectory of his rise is traced from his humble beginnings as the son of a poor, teenage mother in rural Jamaica to the heights of international superstardom in the 1970s. Along the way, Marre provides a context for the development of his artistry by exploring the political situation in Jamaica at the time, the roots of Rastafarianism (to which he was intensely devoted), and his unconventional relationships with women. Although he remained close to wife, Rita, until his death, Marley enjoyed a number of public relationships with other women (Rita admits she found this difficult; Marley claims he didn't see anything unusual about it). The sheer number of interviews is impressive. Aside from the clips of Marley himself, Bunny Livingstone and Peter Tosh (the Wailers), Island Records founder Chris Blackwell, two Jamaican prime ministers (Socialist Michael Manley and Conservative Edward Seaga), and even a CIA official (Philip Agee) all make an appearance. The breadth of Marley's music is represented by over 40 tracks, from the early ska hit "Judge Not" to later political numbers like "Africa Unite." Although Marley never actually considered himself a "political" person, he was surely a rebel--brave, passionate, committed--in the best sense of the word. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Customer Reviews

Almost but not quite
It starts out really good then peters out midway on. Why is it that whenever Bob is about to go in depth about a particular subject, the filmmakers cut to him performing? How could they not address the Wailers break up? I mean they literally ignore it. Isn't the break up as significant as them getting together in the first place? Did Marley's music regress, progress or stagnate after Bunny and Peter left? How did Bob feel about Bunny and Tosh leaving? And what happened to Bunny anyway? You see him early on and then you don't see him again. Since he's the only one alive of the three, doesn't his opinion have more weight than most. All I'm saying is the audience would have gotten an even better understanding of Marley with more Bunny and more Tosh.

The best documentary
This documentary has the best information out of the three videos I own, BUT, this video has only very short clips of Bob playing live. IF YOU WANT A VIDEO OF ONLY LIVE PERFORMANCE get LEGEND (the video) to complement this dvd. This dvd is an excellent documentary, perhaps the best, although I have not seen them all.

BOB MARLEY @ HIS BEST
THIS IS BY FAR THE BEST BOB DVD,VIDEO I HAVE SEEN,AND IF YOU ARE A FAN OR JUST WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE GREAT REGGAE KING THIS IS THE PURCHASE TO MAKE. NOT A LOT OF MUSIC VIDEO CLIPS,BUT YOU GET TO HEAR BOB TALK ABOUT LIFE,BUT MOST OF ALL WHAT PEOPLE MEANT TO HIM. REBEL MUSIC IS THE TRUE STORY OF THE MAN I CALL MY HERO,ROBERT NESTA MARLEY.
"ONE LOVE"