Absolutely the worst movie.

if their story seems completely bonkers, almost like a feverish work of fiction, you ain't heard nothing yet.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

The movie really just wants to entertain people.

...........................................................from Pasto,Colombia...Via: L.A. CA., CALI, COLOMBIA....and ORLANDO, FL TAKING (the Music Out of) Woodstock--OK, maybe my re-worked title is somewhat over the top. But then "Taking Woodstock" is a bit over the top, too! Hell, 1969 was over the top, wasn't it?! But who really cares! Come on, people! It's a Movie! Name ONE film set in 1969 that isn't a little overdone. I should know about Woodstock; I was THERE.......in spirit! Sadly, as much as I, and about 50% of Americans in my age demographic, longed to be present, we formed part of the 98%(of the half) who couldn't make it. The other 50%, incidentally, were probably praying for the earth to open up and swallow those 1/2 million music, marijuana and peace-loving souls. ("Nearly 500K attended Woodstock" -Wikipedia) Director Ang Lee has really amazed me. He has made...A) The film that best encapsulates, captures the true essence, of this great cultural benchmark concert and most extremely divisive moment in our nation's history since the Civil War! B) He has done this despite being someone from outside our American culture! C) He has managed to serve up what was, for me at least, the one of most entertaining and vibrant movies of 2009.Laughed so hard at times, I cried! I can't even REMEMBER the last movie that did that for me. Isn't that what movies are supposed to be all about? Demetri Martin is the late-twenty-something-good-Jewish-Still- live-at-home- son, who serves as the concert's catalyst. Martin renders his role with great finesse, aplomb and stand-alone chutzpah! (Check out his resume on IMDb: What a multi-faceted talent) But the real scene-stealer was a TOTALLY unrecognizable Imelda Staunton, as the Jewish mother from hell! She should have at the very least received an Oscar nomination! Fascinating "Woodstock" dichotomy: Martin's character is right there, in the center of the firestorm...and yet, NOT! What a great metaphoric irony for the millions of us, who were and weren't there, either! Despite a few flaws, Resounding 9*.....ENJOY/DISFRUTELA!Any comments, questions or observations, in English o en Español, are most welcome!

As I had just turned 10 the summer of Woodstock and lived on the West Coast, I was not able to go.... but have a fascination with the festival even now. I love the documentary "Woodstock", made in 1970, which is full of musical performances, interviews with attendees and with organizers. Some reviews of this movie complain that "Taking Woodstock" does not include enough music, however if the music is what you yearn to see/hear, do enjoy the documentary. Of the 30 or so bands who performed at Woodstock, fifteen or so are included in the documentary. If you want to learn the history of the event, this movie is ideal. I especially enjoyed seeing the clever ideas and ability to create a phenomenon. To think they were not sure if many wold attend... had some horrid weather... financial difficulties (these are alluded to in the documentary as well)... experienced nay- sayers and bad press... and yet, it truly ended as three days of Peace, Love, and Music.

Given that I was supposed to be at Woodstock, this movie really brings home what it was like to the big screen. I lived in NJ at the time, and the word had filtered down to us that a big concert was going to take place in upstate NY and volunteers were needed. I was 16 years old and emancipated, and had arranged for transport to The Farm. I had worked in my father's medical office since I was about 12, and knew how to take care of injuries, including suturing and casting, if those skills were needed. (Yes, I was mature for my age.) I was literally days away from heading upstate when I was leveled by a serious case of mononucleosis and ended up in hospital. I was SOOOO po'd I can't tell you! But with an enlarged spleen and running temps over 102 degrees, there was no way I was going to Woodstock. :-( Of course, recuperating at my cottage, I watched on the TV the traffic jams and dancing, lovely people...whom I wished most devoutly to be with.This movie is just a delight about the preparations and Elliot's Woody-Allenesque family background, and Eugene Levy is perfect as Max Yasgur (whom I finally met 5 years later).If you're of a certain age (or not!), you'll love this movie. It's a little slice of the innocence prior to the end of the "Summer of Love" at Altamont and the murder of an attendee by a Hell's Angel steroidal amphetamine monster.If you were a parent during the time of Woodstock, perhaps now you will understand just how much this event defined your children's lives, even if they weren't able to attend.It was a good thing: its like will not be seen again. :-(Peace, ya'll.

I'm giving Taking Woodstock an 8 as it's a cute little movie and I want to counter some of the hate I've been reading in some of the low rated reviews.What this movie is: A cute coming of age story. A family drama. A rural comedy. A wistful remembrance.What this movie isn't: A Woodstock concert documentary (There already is one of those, you can rent that if you want to see/hear more of the music). An expose of the behind the scenes machinations needed to create a mass event. A diatribe of why the 60's were great and today stinks.If more folks reviewed the movie on it's own merits, the ranking for this would be higher.In the section below I talk about a detail of the movie, which is why I clicked the spoiler box, but it's really not much of a spoiler.Yeah, the acting troupe didn't need as much screen time they got, but that was a minor annoyance. I'm just glad the leader of that troupe mostly stayed fully clothed!?!? Also, because of the nudity and drug use, you may not want your kids under 16 to see this. But if you've talked with your kids about the world that's out there, nothing in this film would upset them.