Easy Rider

The problem I had with "Easy Rider" was the same problem I had while reading Jack Kerouac's "On the Road" (of which it bears some similarity to): its status as a 'classic' only applies within the context of the generation it represented. Now, some critics merely stop there and laud it as a classic, even in these modern times. But in my mind, this is irrelevant because the generation (beatniks, bikers, hippies) is dead, has gone South, is splitsville. Y'dig? What we're left with is a few ideas that were innovative at the time (an acid trip shown through a fisheye lens), a lot of pretentious philosophy, stereotypical intolerant rednecks, and a storyline that meanders incessantly (that is, when it takes the time to show up). Perhaps I'm at a disadvantage, having not experienced the 1960s, but from the literature I've read of the era and the films I've seen, "Easy Rider" is a weak entry to laud as the representative of a generation. 3/10

What the bloody hell did I just watch? What is the purpose of this movie? This is a film about guys riding motorcycles and smoking dope. Nothing else. Twenty minutes into the movie there's hardly any dialogue. Or nothing that matters anyway. I could have watched the first forty minutes on mute in fast forward and I would not have missed anything. There literally is nothing happening in this dreary film. Harley Davidson enthusiasts and weed smokers will enjoy this. As for me, it did absolutely nothing for my senses - except maybe the beautiful scenery. Oh, and the soundtrack was nice. So much time is made up just showing guys riding bikes. Yawn. This was beyond boring. There is no character development. No antagonist, since they do nothing!! No protagonist. No premise. No nothing!!

EASY RIDER is supposed to be one of those classic counter culture movies, but having just watched it I've only got one word for it: boring. The stars ad-libbed their lines and made it up as they went along, by all accounts, and boy does it show: the entire lack of a storyline makes this dated and difficult to sit through. Of course, if your idea of a good time is watching a couple of guys boozing and smoking weed for the entire running time, then be my guest. Honestly, I found both Fonda and Hopper to be irritating in the extreme, and I laughed at loud at the ridiculous climax of their story. I can't really see what the fuss is about Nicholson's appearance, either. Sure, there are things to enjoy, not least the soundtrack and the scenery, but those don't excuse the fact that EASY RIDER is a dated product of its time. Mumbling on about the American dream does not a good movie make; instead of profound, I found this pretentious.

It seems that Easy Rider would appeal to a certain type of viewer. I am not that viewer. I couldn't relate to the drifting protagonists, the choppy editing was distracting, and it felt like they were just making up the simplistic story as they went. Also, while the soundtrack is great, it's obvious they were simply padding the runtime with extended music montages. Don't do drugs, kids, especially while making a movie.

In this counterculture film, we have a spaced-out trio of Peter Fonda, Dennis Hopper, and a funny Jack Nicholson tooling down the "high"way, on motorcycles and "stuff", en route from L.A. to Mardi Gras. As artistic expression during an angry era of war and social change, the film communicates a powerful philosophy, in lieu of a complex plot. Most scenes take place outdoors, in the American South and Southwest. Laszlo Kovacs' adroit cinematography, combined with an expansive soundtrack, hippie lingo, and "cool" clothes, convey the film's underlying message of individual freedom and nonconformity. The film is significant in that it was one of several successful 60's films made by individuals outside the traditional Hollywood studio structure. As such, "Easy Rider" broke new ground in film-making.