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That was an excellent one.

best movie i've ever seen.

The acting in this movie is really good.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

That this mid-1970 Canadian 'rolling festival' (basically a one-off, financially catastrophic Triassic 'Lollopolooza') was a blatant attempt to woo the same success as the previous year's Woodstock is betrayed by headline acts the Band, Grateful Dead and Janis Joplin . There's even a remarkably gone-to-seed Sha-Na-Na at one point. Buddy Guy stands in as a poor man's Hendrix. With such a boring pack of has-beens as the main attractions it's no wonder the thing was such a disaster. There are no boundary-pushers; no Who, Hendrix, Sly Stone etcetera, and consequently no real 'showstopper' acts to spice up the movie. On the relationships side, it's all very respectful and musicianly and as deadly dull as ditch-water. The movie is reasonably well made, but there's just nothing much going on, either back-stage or on-stage. There are those who will enjoy this movie for one reason or another, but to many of us hell is being trapped in Canada, July 1970 on a train full of inebriated hippy hold-overs jamming 24 hours a day.

Documentary of a tour in 1970 across Canada by a bunch of performers-The Band, Joplin, The Dead, Buddy Guy to name a few. This wonderful document of the trip of a life time is amazing to watch. I can only imagine what we didn't see as we get to see not only the performers on stage (Joplin is godlike) and on the train jamming. The jamming was- wow.I wish we could have seen more of that. At times the performances are ragged and raw but they are so much more alive then the carefully balanced and perfectly structured shows of today. If you like any of the people who perform this is a must see. (Seeing it again recently on on one of the VOOM stations in HD and it was like seeing it for the first time.)

Who knew things like HD plasma televisions, with home theaters and DVD players could turn into time machines. "Festival Express" is proof positive of this. I was a small child, living just outside Toronto in July of 1970 when the "Festival Express" happened. I wasn't there but I grew up hearing music like this, and I thank my lucky stars for being around in that time.Not sure how many of the train's riders are still actively playing, but I have seen Buddy Guy twice. 35 years later, the fires of greatness burn bright. This film is a testament to when the music really mattered, no glitz, or bad dance moves or lip-syncing, just honest, real music; the junk on the radio today, can only dream of being this good. The sweat from Janis's socks has more talent then the popular stuff today. But I digress…..Oh, about Janis. She is still so powerful and captivating. She set a mark that will not be surpassed. She will always be loved.I would gladly pay more then $14 to have been part of this.

In 1970, The Festival Express was the given name to a train that carried bands and a film crew across the Canadian landscape for three festivals, starting at Toronto, to Winnipeg and ending in Calgary; heading west in the traditional sense. The bands that called this train home included Janis Joplin, The Band, The Grateful Dead, Sha Na Na, The Flying Burrito Bros and many more. The train was a living hybrid, that never slept the entire trip. Constantly awake on alcohol and drugs accompanied by many jam sessions. It was a never ending party; with an emergency stop in Saskatoon for more alcohol. The festivals while attracting many fans, sparked protests. People protested in the streets demanding the festival be free admission, which the musicians couldn't afford. The protest followed them from each town, people storming the gates and attacking the countless police; the power of music or scroungy bums? The footage of The Festival Express was lost when the production company holding this footage went under. On its discovery, the film you see is what you get. The footage is so beautiful, holding the warmth the bands shared with one another. The sound design is so crisp it penetrates your mind, resonating and haunting, craftily creating the illusion of being in the presence of the musicians. The shows are captivating to watch. Absolutely mesmerising is Janis Joplin, singing her heart out on Cry Baby. There is this rawness captured in the performances. All the bands were there to perform and give the best show possible they could conjure from within themselves every time. With modern day interviews of band members and organisers, with their reminiscent of their times spent with all the bands, the conflicts from the protesters and the hard fact that this will never happen again. There is onus that you either know the bands or you don't. If your unfamiliar with any of the bands, you are left in the dark on who they are. While information about who these people are would help the uninformed, the music and the shows are the real point, not the lives of the bands.Must see viewing for all lovers of this music, The Festival Express is a runaway train of great music and mind blowing performances.