I just watched it on Disney. I don't understand why many call it a negative film. The general feeling is basically the same than in Get Back, there are happy moments and one or two negative moments. But that's how it is with any band in a creative process. Paul and George arguing is quite a minor incident... Maybe people were shocked in 1970 to realize that their favorites are human beings who can argue just like any of us. I'm sure there was similar arguments occationally from the beginning of their recording career. We know for instance that Paul walked out from the She Said She Said -session after an argument in 1966. I think Michael Lindsay-Hogg did a good job under those difficult circumstances where the band's plans were constantly changing etc.
I agree Joe, I will probably wait for the Blu-Ray/4K rather than get Disney Plus again. Why they removed the Get Back Reprise over the closing minute is baffling..why????
MR.MAYO All great points from Newly remixed audio and picture quality just perfect!!! I love the whole movie to me it was very happy and enjoyable !!! Glad Disney and Beatles are teaming up good for all the young fans and get to know The Beatles with there parents while watching Lion king and Snow White and bringing in all the young fans in the Beatles world and beatlemania 2024 and beyond so to me the most important thing for me bringing Let it be to the kids and new adult fans Hopefully Apple - Capital will bring us some new music from Let it be movie like The entire rooftop concert on vinyl and dvd blu-ray and on cd and all those outakes of so many songs over 100 songs they did that month January 1969 just pick the best 20 of the bunch not on the original album! Thanks Mr Mayo great review and Ringo sounds great in let it be his drumming loud and clear Ringo Starr was the Star of let it be!!!❤❤❤❤
Now let's have the best Hendrix videos visually and sonically remastered and turned into a long performance-driven documentary. He deserves it as much as The Beatles.
i watched this morning and thought the quality was stunning much better detailed and crisp picture quality and sound was also superb , so many great moments in the LIB movie, yes Get Back is far superior in the presentation and work that went into the production, But LIB is the caterpillar which blossoms into a Butterfly.
oh Joe, I love The Beatles 🎸❤ I was lucky enough to run across a few 45s in stacks of records for only fifty cents a piece at a flea market in good condition, but no sleeve. 🙂Thank you for the video Joe bless you 🙏🏻
RIP Steve Albini--- I always wished his re-record of Cheap Trick's "In Color" would be finished and released officially. (The boots are not final mixes)
Let It Be should be re-issued on DVD /Bluray with the complete roof-top performance PLUS, at least, 2 hours of unreleased footage not seen in the Let It Be movie or the Get Back documentary. That would be a worthwhile purchase. Especially if Peter Jackson does not get to put together an extended version of his Get Back documentary, as he originally suggested. The people at Criterion would do a wonderful job in presentation and packaging, don't you think? Hardcore fans would eat it all up!!
I've just started it this morning, and I realized I chose the wrong subscription plan - it includes ads. There's nothing like hearing a Beatle song, only to be interrupted by "let's talk about irregularity". So far, I like it. It looks really sharp - for a dimly lit film studio - and sounds incredible. The bit about "fuckin' hell" - that's never bothered me. I grew up with that in my family, along with other phrases of the like, and since it's a documentary, and it's honest - let them speak as they did. We loved it when they SANG & PLAYED as they did..... One last note is I hate newly made-up credits, I much prefer the original intros and credits. So I guess I'll be keeping my bootleg. 🤣🤣🤣
Watched this morning and I loved it, far more than I thought I would. The depressing vibe has gone. Not sure if that’s the much better audio and visuals, or it’s that we already have the full background and context from Get back. Maybe it’s all those things, but overall it’s great. The pacing is much better if you don’t want to sit through 8 hours of Get Back. A triumph!
If I could wave a magic wand I'd ask for a physical release presented in original Full Screen & modified Wide Screen. Then as bonus the entire rooftop performances. Plus running commentary by Michael Lindsay-Hogg, Peter Jackson, Paul McCartney, Ringo & Yoko in any combination. Of course we all know we won't get any of this if we get a physical release at all, lol.
Hi Joe, I wonder whether things like the transition effects you mentioned, that fans like you know so well through having it ingrained in to your memory from so many watches, could be added back in if it's deemed enough of a complaint. I know they did a little tweak to the intro of Get Back within a few days of its release to fix something, would be nice if they could do this also.
beatles won an Oscar from this movie in 1971 for best picture music in any film that year, the Oscar video is on CZcams. crazy to think, even beatles won oscars
Trivia ?: What instrument was set up on the roof but nobody played it? Also, in Get Back anyone curious why there’s no shots of Billy Preston from 3 separate camera angles? Let It Be shows him frequently.
It's a Hohner Pianet i believe. Possibly there incase Paul wanted to play one of his piano numbers... but we know that they decided against that before the concert.
you are spot on! I was confused as to why the transitions, George's guitar splice lead on Let It Be, ending freeze frame reprise are gone! Why did they do this as it is not the original film. Your analysis is perfect. The positives were noticed by me as well. Cheers
I hope George’s two songs get an airing in the ‘NEW’ Let it Be….. with them saying that their was 55 hours of original footage to cull from surely their is video of these songs.
I have the original laser disc copy to this day. I bought it when released in 1985. I was in the Air Force, stationed in Tokyo, Japan, and purchased it at the base exchange.
Watched it this morning, and am going to watch it again this evening. I agreed with everything you said Joe, I did miss the scene transitions as well as the end credits. I don’t understand why they couldn’t have had the frozen frame with the Get Back reprise, and then have the updated credits with the new audio, but ah well! I suppose the United Artists logo was removed for the updated copyright and licensing laws etc. I wonder when we are going to be able to hear the MLH and PJ audio commentary that we’ve heard about!
Another small thing I noticed was that there was no subtitle at the beginning indicating that it was Twickenham studios, which I was sure was on the original. Can you check Joe, and let me know, or is my memory wrong? Thanks
10:10 Me being mexican missed "Bésame Mucho", a song written by our female composer Consuelito Velázquez and sung in Caruso's style by Paul, since Peter Jackson's "Get Back" didn't include it and Michael Lindsay-Hogg brillantly captured the magic of The Beatles together in this amazing film of 1970❤
It would be interesting to know exactly what source material PJ was working with this remastering? Was he working with an original print of the theatrical release of “Let It Be” or did he recompile this film from the raw footage. If the latter is true it would explain why the “sweeps” and the film’s coda are not present as those would’ve been added by Lindsay-Hogg in post production back in 1969. Now that doesn’t mean that PJ couldn’t have mimicked those effects but my feeling is based on what I’ve viewed is there is some type of hybrid effect present here where PJ’s “Let It Be” is close to but not quite exactly Lindsay-Hogg’s “Let It Be” certainly with the soundtrack (Harrison’s audio in particular is noticeably boosted/GH had a bad habit of not singing into the mic during these sessions) but there are some subtle changes to the video presentation as well.
There were also various remasters of the film over the decades. That's why the footage in Anthology looked great, they had already remastered it prior. I wouldn't be surprised if the wipes were forgotten at that time.
I was always wondering why George didn’t do a song on the roof. Was it because he didn’t want to do do a live concert or go on the roof? He had some great songs prepared to play.
Fab overview and thoughts Joe! Get Back is a tour de force, but I’m very happy we finally have an official release of Let it Be. You’re more of a movie-phile than I am so I appreciated you bringing up those minor changes I did not notice. Great job! Cheers 🍻 ❤😊
Hi Joe I don't know how many times I watched this money. The same for me .... I know almost every in and out of it. I am glad Peter Jackson restored the movie and that I can lay aside the Japanese bluray from a few years back you have as well. To me ....... I didn't need the interview at the beginning. And yes, you're right about transitions Twickenham, Apple Studio Savile Row, and The Rooftop. I am very positive about the movie, and I hope a bluray will be released later this year. Enjoy watching it again. Take care.
When it comes to logos, I agree, especially on the Kiss vinyl remasters and reissues where Doc McGhee is referenced on the back covers as management instead of Bill Aucoin's Rock Steady as on the original releases. That's revisionism.
Great review Joe. Tbh I didnt even notice that the transitions were missing - I guess I forgot they existed - its been decades since I "ve seen the film . Loved it though
A lot of the changes in the Let It Be movie were because they transferred the film from the original negative which did not have composites done like the prints. It's also why they had to digitally recreate the opening credits and why the ending of the film keeps going instead of freezing on the "The End" title. Personally I think both the original edit and new negative edit are good in their own ways.
The only physical copy of Let It Be that I own is an RCA CED and the quality is awful, happy this is finally out, now Apple needs to put this out on bluray before Christmas.
That old release is also significantly zoomed in, they cropped it to widescreen for theaters back in 1970 and for the home video release in the early 80s cropped that already cropped version back to 4x3 again. It's ridiculous lmao.
@@thepirategamerboy12 interesting I saw Let it Be in the movie theater back in 1970 - was the theatrical version wide-screen ? I was pretty sure it was full screen.
I agree with most of what you say. I think there were some interesting changes they made…ex the stray guitar note over George saying “I don’t give an F” while introducing I Me Mine is gone. I guess the use of the F word 3 times constitutes a TVMA as opposed to the G rating it got back in 1970. I also noticed during the beginning credits Peter Hollywood is stuck in there under editor. Maybe a Peter Jackson nickname. Either way just happy a cleaned up copy is available for viewing. Hopefully to own by the end of the year! 😎
I hope they put this out on DVD. I don't own Blu-ray I agree with you on those small things they bother me too for example I taped Cool Hand Luke off of television years ago and it opened with the 1960s orange and white Warner Brothers logo. When I bought the DVD it has the modern Warner Bros logo. So I get where you're coming from on that. Also the way they could have closed let it be after hearing your description is they could have closed it in the original fraction and then let the screen go dark for a second and then have a title the restoration with all the people's names who worked on the current restoration of the movie
I wonder if the transition wipes were removed during earlier remastering, because the film had been prepped off and on over the decades for Home Video release that never happened, and they were forgotten? PJ had lots of time to think about how he wanted to present the footage (literally decades, if he was a Beatle-phile), so he had the time and technology to assemble it the way he wanted. MLH was working with ideas that kept changing, he had to probably get direct approval from the guys, who at times didn't even want anything released prior to the final decision in 1970 to put it out. Maybe his version could have benefited from narration explaining what was happening, but I think it was partly meant to show the end of the group as of 1970, rather than showing them pre-Abbey Road, so the time frame was left up in the air. And all the footage in the first part of the film, culminates into the climax of the clean/proper performances of the songs. Whatever they couldn't play on the roof, was staged the next day in the studio, but he recognized the concert was the proper ending. I'm just glad Let It Be is finally released on home video/digital, after so many false hopes since the 90s.
Thank you for this very nice review. Will surely try and obtain this movie somehow. Noticed, bottom left, you have the Beatles dolls blown up. I have the same. Can I ask, how did you get them blown up and how do you keep them blown. Really like and enjoy your channel. 80 year-old Beatles fan with a few of the original U.K. lp's. Regards and thank you for your channel.
@@MeanMrMayo How did you plug the hole fast enough for them to remain that way. Is there a trick. I have tried and find it very difficult. Some air always seem to come out before I can plug the ole. Thanks.
This was my first time watching the Let It Be documentary and I was also very impressed by it. I did like the introduction at the beginning, but there should’ve been an option to skip it. I also think the transitions should’ve stayed as well. In terms of the positives, I thought the audio and the quality of the movie were top notch and it’s just great to finally have this available on Disney+. I was overall very happy with this movie, it wasn’t as much of a downer as I was expecting either. I’d give this documentary 9/10!
Great to have Let it Be the film again after decades locked away in the vault . However, Peter Jackson’s Get Back is a vastly superior film. Get Back tells a great story that builds for almost 8 hours where Let it Be lacks all that. I’m glad to have Let it Be again but Get Back wins all the awards for me !
Unfortunately this is what the hardcore fans have to deal with- the nuances you mentioned-the United Artists intro(which I forgot about) the optical wipes(I think that’s what they are called)for the transition scenes, all should have been left in. At least the original film size ratio is correct. I have Let it Be on VHS tape for years & a pirate copy dvd, so I have to go back to those formats to see the theatrical release I saw in 1970. The new LIB has fantastic film & audio quality amazing, Peter Jackson crew did a lot w/a 16mm film. The rooftop concert on Let it Be I always preferred - I wasn’t to happy w/the multiple view panels used in Get Back. The ending rooftop concert freeze frame w/I believe an alternate version of Get Back being played over credits should not have been removed! But I also agree w/ got some new Beatles audio during ending credits it’s just Oh Darling is out of place there. Well I guess six & half dozen of the other w/some modernizing Let it Be 2024!
I watched it this morning. I like the new 2024 version of Let it Be Peter Jackson did a wonderful job on the film and cleaned it up. This the first time I watched since 86 . Good review Joe!
Saw it last night, it looked and sounded great. Used to own a very bad VHS copy that a high school teacher of mine made for me, and watched it multiple times. I even spotted Yoko and Maureen on the rooftop, which I didn’t know where there until I had seen Get Back.
Thanks for your review Joe! I just finished watching Let it Be on Disney + and it looks great. I agree with you about the UA logo as I wished they had kept it for posterity. 2001 A Space Odyssey is now owned by Warner Brothers but they still keep the MGM logo at the beginning (not that I am comparing the 2 movies but I think my point is made). I was surprised that Disney + plus rated this movie MA TV for mature audiences but I heard George and Paul drop a few F bombs which I am sure were in the original version but we just couldn’t hear it because the dialogue was so muffled. Definitely a worthy upgrade. Take care!
I really enjoyed seeing it again. I hadn't seen it since the early 1980's when I rented the VHS tape and saw it for the very first time. The only thing "depressing" about it for me is that it took so long to come out again. Imagine if, back in the early 1980's, someone said: "It'll be out again in the year 2024....just be patient." "Patient! I might dead by then, you moron!" Think of all the Beatles fans who have passed away since the early 1980's. Yikes. RIP.
Just watched it on Disney. I had an old beat up VHS version and a Japanese DVD bootleg version. I agree with everything you say. I also wish they’d kept everything original including the change of scenes and locations with the closing and opening of the new scenes and the outro as you mentioned. Otherwise it really looks and sounds incredible. It’s 99% incredible and close enough to the original that I can let the small things slide by. Well done. Cheers 👍
Hey Joe, I just got done watching Let It Be, I really enjoyed it!! I have had a copy on dvd for a few years but this cleaned up version is really great at first I was thinking it’s a great trailer for Get Back LOL. but also at the same time was enjoying watching it for what it was (an original doc. Movie. ) Lots of music without conversation. I Loved the 3 songs performed completely: Two of us, Let it be without orchestration, and The long and winding Road without orchestration. This was my one complaint with Get Back I would have enjoyed seeing these as another Day not as the credits ran . I think the way Get Back ended with these last days of recording being shown as the end credits ran left me wanting more. I still feel this should have been included with the Let it Be box set as Sergeant Pepper had videos and documentaries included with its box set. Over all I’m very happy with watching it cleaned up I think there is a slight underwhelming feeling because get back has been out for some time now, but I am thrilled to finally be able to watch Let It Be if I may say how it was originally intended for the most part. Take care Joe Fantastic Review!!!
I love that this official movie was finally re released. I also love that Michael Lindsay-Hogg didn’t want the Get Back surreal life picture quality and only wanted the movie picture remastered. The reason being is it preserves the 1970s identity of the film. But, I do love the surrealistic picture in Get Back which gives it its own unique identity. Both films are a vital part of the Beatles story.
Am I crazy or the original Let I be movie had a scene when Paul was discussing a camera angle for the live show? It was about a camera zooming from very far away to get a close up view of Ringo’s face?
I'm with Joe as well on the quibbles. I think those are the things movie fans look forward to. I can't believe Jackson left the complete songs for the end credits. I want to hear the complete songs not 18 versions of Get Back. Glad to see it restored here as you mentioned.
Hey Joe... I think I'm going to have to agree with you about your "quibbles". I'd prefer it to be exact, as the original film, even these small details.
Absolutely loved watching this. Really want a blu ray, now. Regarding the United Artists logo, that's the same with the Bond films - the opening logo is missing from the early movies on Blu Ray - likely because the company no longer exists and so us no longer linked to the movies.
Yeah! It takes me back in time when I watched it as a kid in the drive in. Some of it is a little grainny? Some people don't like that it isn't wide screen? For me it doesn't matter? The quality of the picture is a lot better. Looking at it now? It doesn't seem all like a downer?. When their doing one of the old songs? You really got a hold on me? You can see that they are enjoying themselves. Like I told Matt Street? Makes you wonder what could have been? If that whole fiasco with Klien wouldn't have happened.
Nice summary--I'll want to watch this movie eventually. And I'm totally with you that changing the original movie logos is annoying. Warner Brothers is particularly bad with this. The original "red W" slowly zooming out against a black background that was used in The Exorcist wonderfully set the mood (along with the eerie music). When the movie was released on DVD, the logo was switched to the bright and sunny WB logo used in new releases at the time. Totally ruined it.
Yes! When I first saw that bit, I thought Paul was trying to turn it into a Wings song - which it most definitely is not! And then George said something like, "I wish we could play this back so you could hear it's not gonna work."
Hi Joe I owned a vhs copy of this I wore it out lol. Know I own a cd copy of it in not to bad of quality. But I will buy a blu ray copy if it becomes available.
I last saw this film at Beatlefest in the 80s. The film photography was a bit dark compared to Get Back. I prefer the colorful Get Back because the dark cloudy day cinematography is still depressing. I didnt like the face closeups which was overdone. Extra scenes, i.e. a.directors cut should have been added in. Not much of a story , unlike Get Back. It just ends, clunk. It's more of a concert film.
I sort of get what you mean about the United Artists logo at the beginning, they did the same with other films that get re-released on new formats. In the same vein, the James Bond ones were all changed to modern United Artists logos on old films I watched or got off air. Always weird seeing a modern logo on a 1970's or 1960's film.
All and all I’m glad that we finally can say that we have an enhanced version of this original film. I will say though that after watching this film, I’m even more thankful of the 8 hour “Get Back”. “Get Back” was able to provide us with a cohesive narrative story structure that ultimately made the rooftop concern all the more triumphant. I don’t get that same feeling with this original Let It Be. This original just felt like a series of scene jumps, whereas “Get Back” allowed scenes and story to develop and breathe a little bit. It got me thinking even more that a long cut of these sessions is the only way to go about telling this story. Hour and a half doesn’t work. Glad I watched it though and glad I watched your review
At the same time, I think we've been spoiled by the Peter Jackson GET BACK. Nobody ever said the 1970 film had to tell a story .. we've just become accustomed to that from Get Back.
True, but wasn’t “Let It Be” always marketed as a documentary film? Again, I was born in the 90s so my brain has probably been wired to associate music “documentaries” as something that is supposed to tell a little bit of a story. But as you said, there’s no standard definition requirement for it to be the case. I’ve just been programmed to think that way I guess from all the music documentaries we’ve seen since 1969/1970
Let It Be was ultimately a contractual obligation to United Artists. Also, the band had washed their hands of the project, but I guess felt better just get it out rather than leave it in the can. I'm also thinking the time line was deliberately left vague, to not make it seem like it was sitting around for a year, but it was a recent depiction (and recent recordings) of the band falling apart.
He remastered it from the original film, The transition was a visual effect created in editing so was the freezing at the end. He basically had to recreate a version from a shitty negative, He didnt take away anything or use alternate scenes, You got the movie as filmed, from beginning to end
I think the way Get Back looks was partly to repair the degraded original footage. Let It Be on the other hand, had been remastered more than once over the years (look at Anthology to see how good it looked back in the 90s). Like you said, the wipes may have been left off in the remastering, but I'm guessing that was back in the 90s or 2000s, rather than a recent 'mistake'.
Joe you mentioned that the movie was shown in it's "proper 4:3" format. But wasnt the motion picture in the theaters 1.85:1 ? I seem to remember that an airing on the BBC in the early 80s was shown in the original format, and has been widely bootlegged. Just curious.
If I recall correctly it was intended as a TV special at first and then switched to a theatrical film, in theaters the 4x3 footage was cropped to 1.85:1.
@@MeanMrMayo Ok that makes sense. I saw at the theaters the weekend after John died but I was 9 so my memories are vague. I'm bummed about them cutting off the "laughing Get Back" segment, Why delete anything?
I actually prefer the Get Back version over Let it Be. The only complaint I have about Get Back is the complete butchering of the rooftop concert. Get Back gives a desperately insight into the mood and relationships in and around the band.
I've only ever seen a bad quality rip of this and I thought it looked and sounded great. It is a bit of a letdown after Get Back though, content wise. Nothing is explained, what they're actually doing isn't really that clear (even though of course we know!). More narrative would've improved it. My only wish is that Get Back looked as good and authentic as the new Let It Be and a potential physical release includes extra footage. Glad its out though, at last!
I'm guessing part of it being 'mysterious' in terms of the chronology, was that there was a desire to have to come across as NEW footage and a NEW album, not stuff that was sitting in the can for a year. And also Paul had his beard in 1970 just like in the film, so that probably made it feel even more like a recent project.
Nice review I got Disney to watch the Get Back documentary but I’m not subscribing again to watch this I’ve seen Let It Be multiple times and don’t need to watch it again even with better quality video The Get Back documentary presented the situation in a better light
I'm always against any alterations to an original film. ADDING credits at the beginning and end (because of legal changes and new involvement) is fine, but everything else should be exactly as it was then. Let It Be was rated G. No swearing. Let It Be is an historical film, and it needs to be viewed now as it was in 1970. Just restore the audio and video. Yes, the many changes to Star Wars annoy me as well. Maybe one day, there will be a complete version of It's a Mad (MMM) World.
It’s likely a legal issue. Defunct companies typically present issues when it comes to contemporary media. As much as we’d like it to be otherwise, “raising them from the dead” can be a legal quagmire. Red tape and ink all over the place. A real hassle.
Sound is markedly improved, so the music and dialogue has more clarity. However, seeing this after so many years and also in comparison to Get Back, it lacks.. Get Back has a narrative and context... Let it Be is just a bunch of disparate scenes cut together with no real rhyme or reason.. The positives are the complete performances of 2 of Us, Let it Be, and Long and Winding Road.. Also, John looks awful in Let it Be.. pallid and drugged out.. Hogg really picked the worst scenes to put him in.. Get Back there are more scenes in which he looks better...
Great review Joe. I agree with your “quibbles” 100%. I really miss the original music over the end credits and the transitional clips.
I just watched it on Disney. I don't understand why many call it a negative film. The general feeling is basically the same than in Get Back, there are happy moments and one or two negative moments. But that's how it is with any band in a creative process. Paul and George arguing is quite a minor incident... Maybe people were shocked in 1970 to realize that their favorites are human beings who can argue just like any of us. I'm sure there was similar arguments occationally from the beginning of their recording career. We know for instance that Paul walked out from the She Said She Said -session after an argument in 1966.
I think Michael Lindsay-Hogg did a good job under those difficult circumstances where the band's plans were constantly changing etc.
I agree Joe, I will probably wait for the Blu-Ray/4K rather than get Disney Plus again. Why they removed the Get Back Reprise over the closing minute is baffling..why????
MR.MAYO All great points from Newly remixed audio and picture quality just perfect!!! I love the whole movie to me it was very happy and enjoyable !!! Glad Disney and Beatles are teaming up good for all the young fans and get to know The Beatles with there parents while watching Lion king and Snow White and bringing in all the young fans in the Beatles world and beatlemania 2024 and beyond so to me the most important thing for me bringing Let it be to the kids and new adult fans Hopefully Apple - Capital will bring us some new music from Let it be movie like The entire rooftop concert on vinyl and dvd blu-ray and on cd and all those outakes of so many songs over 100 songs they did that month January 1969 just pick the best 20 of the bunch not on the original album! Thanks Mr Mayo great review and Ringo sounds great in let it be his drumming loud and clear Ringo Starr was the Star of let it be!!!❤❤❤❤
I will wait until the bluray comes out at Xmas.Maybe we will get an lp of the rooftop concert now
Mayo was the first one making a review🎉❤ on youtube
😲
Now let's have the best Hendrix videos visually and sonically remastered and turned into a long performance-driven documentary. He deserves it as much as The Beatles.
Absolutely agree with this. 👍
i watched this morning and thought the quality was stunning much better detailed and crisp picture quality and sound was also superb , so many great moments in the LIB movie, yes Get Back is far superior in the presentation and work that went into the production, But LIB is the caterpillar which blossoms into a Butterfly.
oh Joe, I love The Beatles 🎸❤ I was lucky enough to run across a few 45s in stacks of records for only fifty cents a piece at a flea market in good condition, but no sleeve. 🙂Thank you for the video Joe bless you 🙏🏻
Nirvana's Producer Steve Albino 61 yes. Old just passed away. He was an Iconic Producer.
RIP Steve Albini--- I always wished his re-record of Cheap Trick's "In Color" would be finished and released officially. (The boots are not final mixes)
Let It Be should be re-issued on DVD /Bluray with the complete roof-top performance PLUS, at least, 2 hours of unreleased footage not seen in the Let It Be movie or the Get Back documentary. That would be a worthwhile purchase. Especially if Peter Jackson does not get to put together an extended version of his Get Back documentary, as he originally suggested. The people at Criterion would do a wonderful job in presentation and packaging, don't you think? Hardcore fans would eat it all up!!
I've just started it this morning, and I realized I chose the wrong subscription plan - it includes ads. There's nothing like hearing a Beatle song, only to be interrupted by "let's talk about irregularity".
So far, I like it. It looks really sharp - for a dimly lit film studio - and sounds incredible.
The bit about "fuckin' hell" - that's never bothered me. I grew up with that in my family, along with other phrases of the like, and since it's a documentary, and it's honest - let them speak as they did. We loved it when they SANG & PLAYED as they did.....
One last note is I hate newly made-up credits, I much prefer the original intros and credits. So I guess I'll be keeping my bootleg. 🤣🤣🤣
Watched this morning and I loved it, far more than I thought I would. The depressing vibe has gone. Not sure if that’s the much better audio and visuals, or it’s that we already have the full background and context from Get back. Maybe it’s all those things, but overall it’s great. The pacing is much better if you don’t want to sit through 8 hours of Get Back. A triumph!
Or you not watching it in the wake of The Beatles breaking up.
If I could wave a magic wand I'd ask for a physical release presented in original Full Screen & modified Wide Screen. Then as bonus the entire rooftop performances. Plus running commentary by Michael Lindsay-Hogg, Peter Jackson, Paul McCartney, Ringo & Yoko in any combination. Of course we all know we won't get any of this if we get a physical release at all, lol.
Hi Joe, I wonder whether things like the transition effects you mentioned, that fans like you know so well through having it ingrained in to your memory from so many watches, could be added back in if it's deemed enough of a complaint. I know they did a little tweak to the intro of Get Back within a few days of its release to fix something, would be nice if they could do this also.
Hi Andrew. Honestly, I don't think it's a big enough issue to most people, if they'd even notice. The end credits are the most serious, I feel.
beatles won an Oscar from this movie in 1971 for best picture music in any film that year, the Oscar video is on CZcams. crazy to think, even beatles won oscars
I'm completely gobsmacked that you've got the Let It Be on videotape. Hopefully wait till it comes out on DVD 📀.
Trivia ?:
What instrument was set up on the roof but nobody played it?
Also, in Get Back anyone curious why there’s no shots of Billy Preston from 3 separate camera angles? Let It Be shows him frequently.
It's a Hohner Pianet i believe. Possibly there incase Paul wanted to play one of his piano numbers... but we know that they decided against that before the concert.
@@MsSteve70 Bingo!
@@MsSteve70 But it’s behind George.
@@MsSteve70Cool, my first thought was Johns slide guitar.
you are spot on! I was confused as to why the transitions, George's guitar splice lead on Let It Be, ending freeze frame reprise are gone! Why did they do this as it is not the original film. Your analysis is perfect. The positives were noticed by me as well. Cheers
I hope George’s two songs get an airing in the ‘NEW’ Let it Be….. with them saying that their was 55 hours of original footage to cull from surely their is video of these songs.
I have the original laser disc copy to this day. I bought it when released in 1985. I was in the Air Force, stationed in Tokyo, Japan, and purchased it at the base exchange.
Watched it this morning, and am going to watch it again this evening. I agreed with everything you said Joe, I did miss the scene transitions as well as the end credits. I don’t understand why they couldn’t have had the frozen frame with the Get Back reprise, and then have the updated credits with the new audio, but ah well!
I suppose the United Artists logo was removed for the updated copyright and licensing laws etc.
I wonder when we are going to be able to hear the MLH and PJ audio commentary that we’ve heard about!
THEY SHOULD RELEASE ALL BEATLES MTV REMASTERED
If you are talking about The Beatles music videos, it has already been done. It's called 1+
Another small thing I noticed was that there was no subtitle at the beginning indicating that it was Twickenham studios, which I was sure was on the original. Can you check Joe, and let me know, or is my memory wrong? Thanks
No, there were never subtitles.
First Mean Mr. Mayo video! Cool documentation of all this. Thank you for sharing!
I have the same VHS and use to have the same shirt in yellow back in the day. Looking forward to seeing this.
10:10 Me being mexican missed "Bésame Mucho", a song written by our female composer Consuelito Velázquez and sung in Caruso's style by Paul, since Peter Jackson's "Get Back" didn't include it and Michael Lindsay-Hogg brillantly captured the magic of The Beatles together in this amazing film of 1970❤
A fantastic review Mr. Mayo and appreciate the update on the latest release of Let It Be.
It would be interesting to know exactly what source material PJ was working with this remastering? Was he working with an original print of the theatrical release of “Let It Be” or did he recompile this film from the raw footage. If the latter is true it would explain why the “sweeps” and the film’s coda are not present as those would’ve been added by Lindsay-Hogg in post production back in 1969. Now that doesn’t mean that PJ couldn’t have mimicked those effects but my feeling is based on what I’ve viewed is there is some type of hybrid effect present here where PJ’s “Let It Be” is close to but not quite exactly Lindsay-Hogg’s “Let It Be” certainly with the soundtrack (Harrison’s audio in particular is noticeably boosted/GH had a bad habit of not singing into the mic during these sessions) but there are some subtle changes to the video presentation as well.
There were also various remasters of the film over the decades. That's why the footage in Anthology looked great, they had already remastered it prior. I wouldn't be surprised if the wipes were forgotten at that time.
I’m glad they boosted George’s voice, when he was singing off mic. Those are some of my favourite parts.
I was always wondering why George didn’t do a song on the roof. Was it because he didn’t want to do do a live concert or go on the roof? He had some great songs prepared to play.
Probably unconfident
@@MeanMrMayo he did a great For You Blue. One of the highlights of the film
Fab overview and thoughts Joe! Get Back is a tour de force, but I’m very happy we finally have an official release of Let it Be. You’re more of a movie-phile than I am so I appreciated you bringing up those minor changes I did not notice. Great job! Cheers 🍻 ❤😊
Hi Joe
I don't know how many times I watched this money. The same for me .... I know almost every in and out of it.
I am glad Peter Jackson restored the movie and that I can lay aside the Japanese bluray from a few years back you have as well.
To me ....... I didn't need the interview at the beginning.
And yes, you're right about transitions Twickenham, Apple Studio Savile Row, and The Rooftop.
I am very positive about the movie, and I hope a bluray will be released later this year.
Enjoy watching it again.
Take care.
When it comes to logos, I agree, especially on the Kiss vinyl remasters and reissues where Doc McGhee is referenced on the back covers as management instead of Bill Aucoin's Rock Steady as on the original releases. That's revisionism.
Great review Joe. Tbh I didnt even notice that the transitions were missing - I guess I forgot they existed - its been decades since I "ve seen the film . Loved it though
Cheers
A lot of the changes in the Let It Be movie were because they transferred the film from the original negative which did not have composites done like the prints. It's also why they had to digitally recreate the opening credits and why the ending of the film keeps going instead of freezing on the "The End" title. Personally I think both the original edit and new negative edit are good in their own ways.
The only physical copy of Let It Be that I own is an RCA CED and the quality is awful, happy this is finally out, now Apple needs to put this out on bluray before Christmas.
That old release is also significantly zoomed in, they cropped it to widescreen for theaters back in 1970 and for the home video release in the early 80s cropped that already cropped version back to 4x3 again. It's ridiculous lmao.
@@thepirategamerboy12 interesting I saw Let it Be in the movie theater back in 1970 - was the theatrical version wide-screen ? I was pretty sure it was full screen.
For as fantastic as this restored version is, im still keeping my poor quality dvd transfer of the VHS. I agree with you about the small quibbles 😂
I agree with most of what you say. I think there were some interesting changes they made…ex the stray guitar note over George saying “I don’t give an F” while introducing I Me Mine is gone. I guess the use of the F word 3 times constitutes a TVMA as opposed to the G rating it got back in 1970. I also noticed during the beginning credits Peter Hollywood is stuck in there under editor. Maybe a Peter Jackson nickname. Either way just happy a cleaned up copy is available for viewing. Hopefully to own by the end of the year! 😎
Solid, sensible and honest review. Thanks Joe. 👍
I hope they put this out on DVD. I don't own Blu-ray I agree with you on those small things they bother me too for example I taped Cool Hand Luke off of television years ago and it opened with the 1960s orange and white Warner Brothers logo. When I bought the DVD it has the modern Warner Bros logo. So I get where you're coming from on that. Also the way they could have closed let it be after hearing your description is they could have closed it in the original fraction and then let the screen go dark for a second and then have a title the restoration with all the people's names who worked on the current restoration of the movie
I wonder if the transition wipes were removed during earlier remastering, because the film had been prepped off and on over the decades for Home Video release that never happened, and they were forgotten? PJ had lots of time to think about how he wanted to present the footage (literally decades, if he was a Beatle-phile), so he had the time and technology to assemble it the way he wanted. MLH was working with ideas that kept changing, he had to probably get direct approval from the guys, who at times didn't even want anything released prior to the final decision in 1970 to put it out. Maybe his version could have benefited from narration explaining what was happening, but I think it was partly meant to show the end of the group as of 1970, rather than showing them pre-Abbey Road, so the time frame was left up in the air. And all the footage in the first part of the film, culminates into the climax of the clean/proper performances of the songs. Whatever they couldn't play on the roof, was staged the next day in the studio, but he recognized the concert was the proper ending. I'm just glad Let It Be is finally released on home video/digital, after so many false hopes since the 90s.
Great review Joe - looking forward to watching it when I “get back”
Thank you for sharing!
🙏❤🌹 John & George 🌹❤🙏
Thank you for this very nice review. Will surely try and obtain this movie somehow. Noticed, bottom left, you have the Beatles dolls blown up. I have the same. Can I ask, how did you get them blown up and how do you keep them blown. Really like and enjoy your channel. 80 year-old Beatles fan with a few of the original U.K. lp's. Regards and thank you for your channel.
Thanks. I blew up the dolls myself and they have remained that way.
@@MeanMrMayo How did you plug the hole fast enough for them to remain that way. Is there a trick. I have tried and find it very difficult. Some air always seem to come out before I can plug the ole. Thanks.
This was my first time watching the Let It Be documentary and I was also very impressed by it. I did like the introduction at the beginning, but there should’ve been an option to skip it. I also think the transitions should’ve stayed as well.
In terms of the positives, I thought the audio and the quality of the movie were top notch and it’s just great to finally have this available on Disney+. I was overall very happy with this movie, it wasn’t as much of a downer as I was expecting either. I’d give this documentary 9/10!
Great to have Let it Be the film again after decades locked away in the vault .
However, Peter Jackson’s Get Back is a vastly superior film.
Get Back tells a great story that builds for almost 8 hours where Let it Be lacks all that.
I’m glad to have Let it Be again but Get Back wins all the awards for me !
Unfortunately this is what the hardcore fans have to deal with- the nuances you mentioned-the United Artists intro(which I forgot about) the optical wipes(I think that’s what they are called)for the transition scenes, all should have been left in. At least the original film size ratio is correct. I have Let it Be on VHS tape for years & a pirate copy dvd, so I have to go back to those formats to see the theatrical release I saw in 1970. The new LIB has fantastic film & audio quality amazing, Peter Jackson crew did a lot w/a 16mm film. The rooftop concert on Let it Be I always preferred - I wasn’t to happy w/the multiple view panels used in Get Back. The ending rooftop concert freeze frame w/I believe an alternate version of Get Back being played over credits should not have been removed! But I also agree w/ got some new Beatles audio during ending credits it’s just Oh Darling is out of place there. Well I guess six & half dozen of the other w/some modernizing Let it Be 2024!
I watched it this morning. I like the new 2024 version of Let it Be Peter Jackson did a wonderful job on the film and cleaned it up. This the first time I watched since 86 . Good review Joe!
Saw it last night, it looked and sounded great. Used to own a very bad VHS copy that a high school teacher of mine made for me, and watched it multiple times. I even spotted Yoko and Maureen on the rooftop, which I didn’t know where there until I had seen Get Back.
Thanks for your review Joe! I just finished watching Let it Be on Disney + and it looks great. I agree with you about the UA logo as I wished they had kept it for posterity. 2001 A Space Odyssey is now owned by Warner Brothers but they still keep the MGM logo at the beginning (not that I am comparing the 2 movies but I think my point is made). I was surprised that Disney + plus rated this movie MA TV for mature audiences but I heard George and Paul drop a few F bombs which I am sure were in the original version but we just couldn’t hear it because the dialogue was so muffled. Definitely a worthy upgrade. Take care!
I really enjoyed seeing it again. I hadn't seen it since the early 1980's when I rented the VHS tape and saw it for the very first time. The only thing "depressing" about it for me is that it took so long to come out again. Imagine if, back in the early 1980's, someone said: "It'll be out again in the year 2024....just be patient." "Patient! I might dead by then, you moron!" Think of all the Beatles fans who have passed away since the early 1980's. Yikes. RIP.
Just watched it on Disney. I had an old beat up VHS version and a Japanese DVD bootleg version. I agree with everything you say. I also wish they’d kept everything original including the change of scenes and locations with the closing and opening of the new scenes and the outro as you mentioned. Otherwise it really looks and sounds incredible. It’s 99% incredible and close enough to the original that I can let the small things slide by. Well done. Cheers 👍
Seeing it tonight! :)
Muy bien Joe, aún no he visto la pelicula en Disney, solo en VHS
Hey Joe, I just got done watching Let It Be, I really enjoyed it!! I have had a copy on dvd for a few years but this cleaned up version is really great at first I was thinking it’s a great trailer for Get Back LOL. but also at the same time was enjoying watching it for what it was (an original doc. Movie. ) Lots of music without conversation. I Loved the 3 songs performed completely: Two of us, Let it be without orchestration, and The long and winding Road without orchestration. This was my one complaint with Get Back I would have enjoyed seeing these as another Day not as the credits ran . I think the way Get Back ended with these last days of recording being shown as the end credits ran left me wanting more.
I still feel this should have been included with the Let it Be box set as Sergeant Pepper had videos and documentaries included with its box set. Over all I’m very happy with watching it cleaned up I think there is a slight underwhelming feeling because get back has been out for some time now, but I am thrilled to finally be able to watch Let It Be if I may say how it was originally intended for the most part. Take care Joe Fantastic Review!!!
Let it be ❤
Glad you enjoyed it Joe and that the Sound and Video are improved. Take care
I love that this official movie was finally re released. I also love that Michael Lindsay-Hogg didn’t want the Get Back surreal life picture quality and only wanted the movie picture remastered. The reason being is it preserves the 1970s identity of the film. But, I do love the surrealistic picture in Get Back which gives it its own unique identity. Both films are a vital part of the Beatles story.
Joe, Fully agree with you on your final summation. Not as depressing as I recall when I saw it when it first came out in the movie theater.
Very well done just viewed it today
Yup, all valid points MMM. I'd notice and miss those little bits as well.
Am I crazy or the original Let I be movie had a scene when Paul was discussing a camera angle for the live show? It was about a camera zooming from very far away to get a close up view of Ringo’s face?
That's in Anthology. It was never in LIB.
@@MeanMrMayo Oh God! Thanks! I thought I dreamt it or something.
Excellent review and I agree they should have kept it 100% like the original but overall it is finally great to see a cleaned up version of the film.
I 'm looking forward to seeing this on blueray.I don't have the Disney streaming.
I'm with Joe as well on the quibbles. I think those are the things movie fans look forward to. I can't believe Jackson left the complete songs for the end credits. I want to hear the complete songs not 18 versions of Get Back. Glad to see it restored here as you mentioned.
I have a UK import DVD of let it be I had for awhile I don't know when it came out
Hey Joe... I think I'm going to have to agree with you about your "quibbles". I'd prefer it to be exact, as the original film, even these small details.
Absolutely loved watching this. Really want a blu ray, now. Regarding the United Artists logo, that's the same with the Bond films - the opening logo is missing from the early movies on Blu Ray - likely because the company no longer exists and so us no longer linked to the movies.
Agree with you about the credits, Joe but still loved it.
I am a purist like you. BTW i have never seen it before.
Thanks for your review.
This was the first time I'd watched this movie, so it was interesting to see it broken down into just an hour 20 minutes, unlike Get Back. Thanks Joe.
I have a DVD of Let It Be, got it from eBay in 2002-03. 2 discs, 1 the film, 2 extra scenes Yeah, probably a bootleg, but it's decent.
Yeah! It takes me back in time when I watched it as a kid in the drive in. Some of it is a little grainny? Some people don't like that it isn't wide screen? For me it doesn't matter? The quality of the picture is a lot better. Looking at it now? It doesn't seem all like a downer?. When their doing one of the old songs? You really got a hold on me? You can see that they are enjoying themselves. Like I told Matt Street? Makes you wonder what could have been? If that whole fiasco with Klien wouldn't have happened.
I have heard only glowing reviews on this "new version", and aside from a few quibbles, it sounds as though this is as must have as Get Back was.
Nice summary--I'll want to watch this movie eventually. And I'm totally with you that changing the original movie logos is annoying. Warner Brothers is particularly bad with this. The original "red W" slowly zooming out against a black background that was used in The Exorcist wonderfully set the mood (along with the eerie music). When the movie was released on DVD, the logo was switched to the bright and sunny WB logo used in new releases at the time. Totally ruined it.
Yes! I have always felt the same regarding THE EXORCIST.
Joe I have seen Let it Be so many times that I basically know or knew almost every line.
I don’t understand why I was in the square format. They weren’t making square movies in 1970.
It was 16mm. It was like a TV documentary.
Best part is not having to listen to Paul's awful suggestions on Don't Let Me Down 😂
Yeah, those sucked
Yes! When I first saw that bit, I thought Paul was trying to turn it into a Wings song - which it most definitely is not! And then George said something like, "I wish we could play this back so you could hear it's not gonna work."
What a fantastic video have a wonderful day also I have a stomach ache also a stomach flu ❤❤❤❤❤❤🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢
Hi Joe I owned a vhs copy of this I wore it out lol. Know I own a cd copy of it in not to bad of quality. But I will buy a blu ray copy if it becomes available.
I last saw this film at Beatlefest in the 80s. The film photography was a bit dark compared to Get Back. I prefer the colorful Get Back because the dark cloudy day cinematography is still depressing. I didnt like the face closeups which was overdone. Extra scenes, i.e. a.directors cut should have been added in. Not much of a story , unlike Get Back. It just ends, clunk. It's more of a concert film.
I sort of get what you mean about the United Artists logo at the beginning, they did the same with other films that get re-released on new formats. In the same vein, the James Bond ones were all changed to modern United Artists logos on old films I watched or got off air. Always weird seeing a modern logo on a 1970's or 1960's film.
Having watched Let It Be has left me wondering what the fuss was about…moments of tension yes but nothing that makes the film depressing.
Definitely agree Joe, I found the hard cuts to Apple and the roof jarring. Also said fucking hell when I didn't hear fucking hell.
All and all I’m glad that we finally can say that we have an enhanced version of this original film. I will say though that after watching this film, I’m even more thankful of the 8 hour “Get Back”. “Get Back” was able to provide us with a cohesive narrative story structure that ultimately made the rooftop concern all the more triumphant. I don’t get that same feeling with this original Let It Be. This original just felt like a series of scene jumps, whereas “Get Back” allowed scenes and story to develop and breathe a little bit. It got me thinking even more that a long cut of these sessions is the only way to go about telling this story. Hour and a half doesn’t work. Glad I watched it though and glad I watched your review
At the same time, I think we've been spoiled by the Peter Jackson GET BACK. Nobody ever said the 1970 film had to tell a story .. we've just become accustomed to that from Get Back.
True, but wasn’t “Let It Be” always marketed as a documentary film? Again, I was born in the 90s so my brain has probably been wired to associate music “documentaries” as something that is supposed to tell a little bit of a story. But as you said, there’s no standard definition requirement for it to be the case. I’ve just been programmed to think that way I guess from all the music documentaries we’ve seen since 1969/1970
Let It Be was ultimately a contractual obligation to United Artists. Also, the band had washed their hands of the project, but I guess felt better just get it out rather than leave it in the can. I'm also thinking the time line was deliberately left vague, to not make it seem like it was sitting around for a year, but it was a recent depiction (and recent recordings) of the band falling apart.
My go to version is get back
I thought that they will change the ending and those transitions because they look very dated. I personally love those quirky parts as I like the era.
He remastered it from the original film, The transition was a visual effect created in editing so was the freezing at the end. He basically had to recreate a version from a shitty negative, He didnt take away anything or use alternate scenes, You got the movie as filmed, from beginning to end
Still should have retained it somehow
I think the way Get Back looks was partly to repair the degraded original footage. Let It Be on the other hand, had been remastered more than once over the years (look at Anthology to see how good it looked back in the 90s). Like you said, the wipes may have been left off in the remastering, but I'm guessing that was back in the 90s or 2000s, rather than a recent 'mistake'.
I can't wait to see Let It Be when I get home tonight, even if it doesn't stick to the original version. Thanks for the great review, Joe!
Go to the Brooklyn Museum and see “1963 - 64 Eyes Of The Storm
Joe you mentioned that the movie was shown in it's "proper 4:3" format. But wasnt the motion picture in the theaters 1.85:1 ? I seem to remember that an airing on the BBC in the early 80s was shown in the original format, and has been widely bootlegged. Just curious.
It was incorrectly stretched out for theaters.
If I recall correctly it was intended as a TV special at first and then switched to a theatrical film, in theaters the 4x3 footage was cropped to 1.85:1.
@@MeanMrMayo Ok that makes sense. I saw at the theaters the weekend after John died but I was 9 so my memories are vague. I'm bummed about them cutting off the "laughing Get Back" segment, Why delete anything?
I actually prefer the Get Back version over Let it Be. The only complaint I have about Get Back is the complete butchering of the rooftop concert. Get Back gives a desperately insight into the mood and relationships in and around the band.
Probably got rid of the sweeps because they were cheesy and dated. And I liked the new end credits better, the more outtakes are included, the better.
Let it be for the casual fan, get back for the super fan.
I've only ever seen a bad quality rip of this and I thought it looked and sounded great. It is a bit of a letdown after Get Back though, content wise. Nothing is explained, what they're actually doing isn't really that clear (even though of course we know!). More narrative would've improved it. My only wish is that Get Back looked as good and authentic as the new Let It Be and a potential physical release includes extra footage. Glad its out though, at last!
I'm guessing part of it being 'mysterious' in terms of the chronology, was that there was a desire to have to come across as NEW footage and a NEW album, not stuff that was sitting in the can for a year. And also Paul had his beard in 1970 just like in the film, so that probably made it feel even more like a recent project.
@@phillydisco Yes very good points
Nice review I got Disney to watch the Get Back documentary but I’m not subscribing again to watch this I’ve seen Let It Be multiple times and don’t need to watch it again even with better quality video The Get Back documentary presented the situation in a better light
Good in-depth review Joe
I'm always against any alterations to an original film. ADDING credits at the beginning and end (because of legal changes and new involvement) is fine, but everything else should be exactly as it was then. Let It Be was rated G. No swearing. Let It Be is an historical film, and it needs to be viewed now as it was in 1970. Just restore the audio and video. Yes, the many changes to Star Wars annoy me as well. Maybe one day, there will be a complete version of It's a Mad (MMM) World.
United Artist doesn't own it anymore and they don't exist anymore but I get it
Doesn't matter. Put the Apple logo first, then retain the original logo.
It’s likely a legal issue. Defunct companies typically present issues when it comes to contemporary media. As much as we’d like it to be otherwise, “raising them from the dead” can be a legal quagmire. Red tape and ink all over the place. A real hassle.
Sound is markedly improved, so the music and dialogue has more clarity. However, seeing this after so many years and also in comparison to Get Back, it lacks.. Get Back has a narrative and context... Let it Be is just a bunch of disparate scenes cut together with no real rhyme or reason.. The positives are the complete performances of 2 of Us, Let it Be, and Long and Winding Road.. Also, John looks awful in Let it Be.. pallid and drugged out.. Hogg really picked the worst scenes to put him in.. Get Back there are more scenes in which he looks better...
They all watched an early cut of the film, so John could have said something then lol