Taking Woodstock Reviews Split Down the Middle

Taking Woodstock review totals aren't as high as expected, as Taking Woodstock reviews are relatively tame, considering the subject and director. Each Taking Woodstock review notes how director Ang Lee is once again taking a change of pace - but Taking Woodstock reviews aren't as kind to Lee as they were with his other changes of pace. The Taking Woodstock review collection suggests that it might be better to rewatch the real Woodstock, rather than see how one young man helped give Woodstock its home.

On this 40'th anniversary of the famed concert, Taking Woodstock focuses more on the man who made it possible for Woodstock to play at White Lake, New York. Elliot Tiber was the little known young man behind the scenes, who got the permits for the Woodstock producers to play at his neighbor's farm in order to raise some money. But Elliot gains much more than that, as does the counter-culture in general.

40 years later, Taking Woodstock displays this new look behind-the-scenes at the famed concert. Ang Lee, who switches genres and subject matter all the time, dips into the comedy well for the first time in ages. But Taking Woodstock reviews are disappointed that Lee may have done a bit too well in taking a break from drama.

Though the festival meant a lot to so many people, each negative Taking Woodstock review finds it pretty easy to write the movie off. Since the film is mostly about Elliot Tiber's experiences and awakening, and therefore doesn't spend much time on stage, Taking Woodstock reviews warn that the movie doesn't have much of the Woodstock soundtrack.

The other noteworthy aspect of Taking Woodstock is how it casts young comic and Daily Show "trends" correspondent Demetri Martin as Elliot. But Martin may not be the latest Daily Show comic turned movie star quite yet, as many a Taking Woodstock review isn't too impressed with him, and would have rather focused on the film's other stars like Eugene Levy, Emile Hirsch, and Liev Schreiber in drag.

But overall, the Taking Woodstock reviews are split down the line. For every negative Taking Woodstock review, there is one that is more forgiving and praises the movie, even if they don't consider it Lee's best, or the best Woodstock recreation in the last 40 years.

Rotten Tomatoes literally has Taking Woodstock reviews split at 50%, with 60 positive and 61 negative. The consensus is that "Featuring numerous 60's-era cliches, but little of the musical magic that highlighted the famous festival, Taking Woodstock is a breezy but underwhelming portrayal."

Sources

Rotten Tomatoes- "Taking Woodstock" www.rottentomatoes.com/m/taking_woodstock/