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The Doors (R, 1991)

common sense media says

Intense biopic full of drugs, sex and rock'n'roll.

parents & educators say
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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this movie features a lot of sex, drugs, and profanity. There are consequences to bad behavior, namely Jim Morrison's premature demise. Nevertheless, Morrison's life of excess and poetic death are romanticized if not glamorized. There are a few scuffles, some verbal domestic abuse, and sex scenes where the line between sex and abuse is blurry.

Positive messages: Hallucinogens praised as mind-expanding, integral to artistic expression
Violence: Minor scuffles, verbal abuse
Sex: Female nudity, several sex scenes
Language: Lots of profanity
Consumerism: Firestone tires, the music of the Doors
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Heavy drinking, smoking, marijuana, LSD, peyote, cocaine
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What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about the distinction one of the characters makes between using drugs to expand one's mind and using them to escape from responsibilities. Why do people use drugs? How has our knowledge of the long-term effects of these drugs changed since the 1960's?

What's the story?

What's the story?
THE DOORS chronicles the rise and fall of the popular 1960's rock act. Legendary lead singer Jim Morrison (Val Kilmer) blows into Los Angeles in the mid 60's, shy at first with a head full of poetry. While attending UCLA film school, he meets keyboardist Ray Manzarek (Kyle MacLachlan), and, together with Robbie Krieger (Frank Whaley) and John Densmore (Kevin Dillon), form a band. They are not short on ambition, fancying themselves the mythmakers for the Age of Aquarius. As the band achieves success, Morrison indulges in excess, spiraling out of control, alienating lovers and band-members before meeting his inevitable end.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
This story of a tragic artist who lives fast and dies young could have come off as clichéd in less able hands. Oliver Stone had a string of hits in the early 1990's, and here his distinct style meshes seamlessly with the content. Though they may not add up to anything special in terms of plot, the scenes function well on their own, with longtime Stone collaborator Robert Richardson bringing 60's SoCal culture to life and, of course, the Doors providing the soundtrack. There is a lyrical quality to the film, non-linear and highly subjective.

Val Kilmer's performance is utterly convincing. Stone and Morrison seem to be cut from the same cloth, and it's hard to imagine anyone else telling (or living) so vivid a story.

Movie themes & details

Movie Details
Studio: Artisan Entertainment
Director: Oliver Stone
Cast: Kathleen Quinlan, Meg Ryan, Val Kilmer
Genre: Drama
Run time: 138 minutes
Theatrical release: February 23, 1991
DVD release: August 19, 1997
MPAA Rating: R
MPAA explanation: heavy drug content, strong sexuality and language
This review was written by Elliot Panek
 
 

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Most useful reviews by all members

KeatonxRondelli
adult
16
 
great movie for anyone
this movie just made me love my idol James Morrison even more than i did before. Long Live The Lizard King
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helped me decide (4) | had useful details (3) | read my mind (6)
strangedays
teen, 17 years old
14
 
entertaining not very factual
i am against withholding information to people i however gave it the age that i did because someone should be roughly this age in maturity before seeing it (not necessarily this age) they should have knowledge of sex of drugs and of life they should be able to pick out the positive pieces of which there are few admittedly and this film is not good for anyone who has no knowledge of the true jim morrison as this depicts him as a drug addled lunatic also morrison27 jim existed in the doors from their creation it was him and manzarek who came up with the doors because of a chance encounter on a beach in fact i could even go so far as to say that jim was first even before manzarek as he already had the name and the lyrics and some of the melodies so nothing concerned me however this is not for someone with a naive worldview
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helped me decide (3) | had useful details (4) | read my mind (4)
good man
teen, 13 years old
17
 
worst movie iv'e ever seen i meen wow
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helped me decide (5) | had useful details (3) | read my mind (3)
morrison27
teen, 18 years old
 
Its my favorite!!
I LOVE THIS MOVIE!! Jim Morrison is like, my hero. This movie is excellent, and the casting of Val Kilmer as Jim Morrison is just amazing, he did a wonderful job. The only complaint i have is that, the movie is called The Doors, and it is all about Jim Morrison, if you people make a movie about Jim, call it Jim Morrison, they should have added more content with THE DOORS (although people will argue that The Doors=Jim Morrison, but seriously, get a life. The band at first didn't even have Jim Morrison IN IT. [i do love Jim with all my heart, don't get me wrong, i do])
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helped me decide (2) | had useful details (5) | read my mind (2)

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