The U.S. vs. John Lennon
Maple Pictures
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The compelling and provocative story of John Lennon's evolution from beloved Beatle to outspoken artist and activist to iconic inspiration for peace, and how, in the midst of one of the most tumultuous times in American history, Lennon stood his ground, refused to be silenced and courageously won his battle with the U.S. Government.

John Lennon was a man who gave a damn. He rose to fame as a loveable Muppet-like character as a member of The Beatles. Over the years, Lennon became more and more independent of the band taking on the cause of peace. The U.S. vs. John Lennon charts his work of an activist, using his fame to try to bring U.S. soldiers home from Vietnam and peace to the world as a whole.

This documentary is an interesting overview of the charged feelings that were rampant in the United States during the 1960s and early 1970s as the death toll in Vietnam rose on both sides of the fighting. Lennon's peacenik actions and stunts are used as a backdrop to show the real story -- how the U.S. government kept careful watch on activist public figures. There's also plenty of parallels and jabs thrown at the current American administration and their handling of the Middle East.

Video: How's it look?
The film is shown in widescreen (1.78:1 aspect ratio). Although some of the archival footage shows signs of age, the overall look and feel of the picture is excellent.

Audio: How's it sound?
The Dolby Digital 5.1 audio is a definite plus listening to Lennon's music. There's also a Dolby 2.0 stereo track.

Extras: What additional goodies are included?

• Ten scenes of additional footage totaling 54 minutes.
• Theatrical trailer.
• Trailers for Leonard Cohen: I'm Your Man, Deliver Us From Evil, Cnoejo en la Luna, Man About Town and Trade.
• English and Spanish subtitles.

Closing Thoughts
Although there are times when the film seems to lose its focus a little bit, this is still an excellent documentary in charting how celebrities can use their public status for good, especially if they have the guts to turn their backs on what made them famous for a greater good. The film itself makes this DVD worth getting. The additional footage only makes it better.


Review brought to you by our friend Ryan @ Movie-Views.com