John, Paul, George, and Ringo. Aka The Beatles — whether you’re a fan or not, you know their name. We’ve seen multiple documentaries on the band and its members. The most recent documentary we have seen, came to us just this month from director Ron Howard. This one covers the years during which The Beatles toured, from 1962-1966. As the movie shows, the group had to stop touring in ’66 because of the hysteria of fans. Conditions were becoming unsafe for fans as they screamed and trampled each other to get closer to the boys. It was not an eye-opening documentary full of secret information. In all honesty, any die-hard fan would know most of the subject matter covered. So why was this one so great?

1. New Material

The film features unseen pictures, video, and audio. In addition to the completely new videos, some of the footage of early concerts is nearly impossible to find online, so most fans haven’t been able to see it. There are multiple photos throughout the movie that were never before released, as well as rare audio of demos and scenes where the guys are goofing around in between takes in the studio.

2. Some Uncommon Information

As a huge fan myself, I did know a lot of the information in the movie, but I did learn something new. As we all know, the ‘60s were a time of great tension in America. Civil Rights Movements were underway and segregation was still a big problem. The Beatles had a concert scheduled in Florida in a town that was extremely segregated. The band refused to perform at the concert if there was any sign of segregation there. Paul said in his interview that as a group, none of them believed in the idea of segregation and did not want to play to a crowd unless everyone felt comfortable and welcome.

3. Remastered Footage

Videos of early concerts and interviews, originally in black and white, were re-colored for the documentary. Yes, that’s not an entirely huge deal, but it's amazing to be able to see more footage in color. Also, it’s nice to appreciate the hard work someone put into coloring every second of those videos.

4. Cheeky Interview Clips

The documentary does a great job of portraying the camaraderie and humor of the group. A video of one of their first interviews in America is shown where they answered all of the questions sarcastically. Another rare clip is seen where an interviewer, who clearly wasn’t a fan of the band, asks John which one he is and John says, “Eric”. The group isn’t always recognized for their humor, but this documentary makes a point in showcasing it.

5. New Interviews

One of my personal favorite things about the movie: The remaining Beatles gave new interviews for the viewers. A new interview with either Paul or Ringo is always something for a Beatles fan to cheer about.

Overall, I’d give this film a B+. If you’re a fan and haven’t seen the film yet, do so, if not for new information, then just for smiles. If you’re somehow not already a fan, check out this film and I’m sure you'll be one very soon—you'd be crazy not to be convinced.