La Bamba

Great true story that keeps your interest to the very end. I just thought it was really crummy how his mother made Ritchie Valen's brother Bob feel second rate next to Ritchie. If she was really like that, she pretty much ignored her son Bob and his talent as an artist. She doted on Richie in the movie and it was really sad how it made her other son feel neglected and unimportant. I guess it's just how they were raised, but it was a really good movie.

as real as it gets great movie the 3 stars love this flick brandjp

Good old movie, love the music, good story

Oldie but goodie! Plays just fine!

Ok

"La Bamba", tells the story of Ritchie Valens, the gifted young singer who died, age 17, in a February 3, 1959 plane crash near Clear Lake, Iowa, together with Buddy Holly and the Big Bopper. I was young at the time but I knew Valens' songs "Donna" and "La Bamba" and have remembered them since. I hadn't seen this 1987 film until now. I was moved to remember my youth, to think of Ritchie Valens again, and to hear his music.Ritchie was born Richard Steven Valenzuela to Mexican immigrants who worked as farm laborers in southern California. The movie shows Ritchie's relationship to his mother and his sibling rivalry with his older brother. It shows his high school sweetheart Donna -- the girl that Ritchie immortalized in song. There is an outstanding soundtrack with the music of the day and excellent brief portrayals of Buddy Holly, the Big Bopper, Eddie Cochran, Jackie Wilson, and Allan Freed. But the highlight of the film is Ritchie Valens and his music. Ritchie loved music and rock and roll. He says more than once in the film that music was what he was born to do -- a dedication as important to rock as to classical music or any other form of the art. The movie features "Donna" and "La Bamba", which I knew in 1959 as well as "We belong together" and "Come on Let's Go" which I didn't know until later.The film is included in the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress and deemed worthy of preservation for its cultural, historic, or aesthetic significance. It is, indeed, all three.This is a sad film about the life of a young man of talent and about the love of music. After watching the film and hearing Ritchie's songs performed by Los Lobos, I listened again to Ritchie's own performances. I was glad to see this movie at last for itself and to remember old times and songs forever young. "La Bamba" is a fitting tribute to Ritchie Valens.Robin Friedman

The dvd case arrived a little damaged in one corner, but luckily the movie is playing well.

Loved the movie kinda sad but amazing

This is about the short & tragicly ended life of 50's rocker Ritchie Valens.Valens was only 17 when he was killed in the same plane crash that also demanded the lives of Buddy Holly & "The Big Bopper" Richardson.The films has lots of great music in it and also tells the story of Valens (played very well by Lou Diamond Phillips) in a captivating fashion.The music of Valens is re-recorded and performed by Los Lobos, who does a great job with re-vitalizing the old 50's rock'n'roll.I can recommend the film to all fans of both music and biographys!

Arrived early. Nervous at first as foreign language on the covers. But on playing everything was in English. Absolutely brilliant film. Just as I remember it to be. The family were consulted on the making of this biopic which made it more believable. The ending still upsetting. Great songs and performances. This was Lou Diamond Phillips first role and he does Ritchie Valens credit. Really pleased with my purchase

The picture is a slight improvement on the DVD but not worth rushing out to replace. The sound has not been remastered and just transferred to DTS Master Audio without remastering and I can't see any advantage. Unless you really want to own this title on Blu Ray it's not really worth replacing, overall picture and sound similar to DVD.

An excellant film covering the life of Richie Valens. A good music score and is well acted by Lou Diamond Phillips. It covers his carrier until his death when he got on a small plane with Buddy Holly and J P Richardson(The Big Bopper).The plane crashed due to very bad weather and no one survived.This was a bad day for music. A film well worth watching for Rock'n'Roll fans old or young.

An amazing film about this late, great, budding rock 'n' roll star who sadly died much too young. The actor portraying Ritchie does a great job, as do the other characters. Fantastic music but also sadly nostalgic as we all know that Ritche was killed in the plane crash with Buddy Holly and The Big Bopper at the age of only 17. I would recomend this DVD to anyone, even those who don't know his music or the story.