Blucher One of the worst movies I've ever seen

ScoobyWell Great visuals, story delivers no surprises

Blake Rivera If you like to be scared, if you like to laugh, and if you like to learn a thing or two at the movies, this absolutely cannot be missed.

Lachlan Coulson This is a gorgeous movie made by a gorgeous spirit.

Eric Zg Runnin' Down a Dream is a great rock and roll documentary for anyone who likes rock and roll. If you like Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, even better. As you watch it, you can see it was done with that purpose, and by people who share the love for great songs, electric guitars, kick ass solos, stunning drums: What rock and roll is all about.Even being big as it is (almost 4 hours long), the story isn't dragged around and when you realize it will be already over and you'll be wanting to see even more of the incredible story of this great band and especially Tom Petty, a singular creature in a world full of schmucks. You can see the great mojo that was cooked between the band along the years, the good and bad things that happened on the way to success, but you will mostly hear about the music, which is what many of documentaries of bands seem to put in the background. The director let Mike Campbell's guitar solos play until the end, unlike other documentaries that the solo is faded out. The worst thing in the world is to start hearing a great solo and have it cut in the best part. Anyway, it's a wonderful film, really impressed me. Go watch it!

moonspinner55 It isn't enough to say this documentary charts the ups and down, the triumphs and tragedies, the hits and unintentional misses of a great American rock and roll band. This very special (and entertaining) document is a definitive statement, not just of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers but of the music business of the 1970s through the 1990s. Peter Bogdanovich (a very interesting source as director) has compiled fabulous footage and minutiae together with recently-filmed interviews with band members, producers, celebrity friends, and musical cohorts to form a testament to a sensational music act. Bogdanovich doesn't even have to try hard to keep this lengthy (238 minutes) movie from lagging; it never does. Lead singer/guitarist/songwriter Tom Petty says at one point, "Nobody cares how a record is made. They only care if they like it." He is, in fact, incorrect here. Well-done documentaries such as this MAKE people care how a record is made, regardless if it hits the charts or not. The running commentary on album gestation, touring, behind-the-scenes turmoil, musical differences, and personality clashes is the stuff of legend. All of it combines to make one hell of a journey, the cinematic equivalent of a CD box-set. ***1/2 from ****

robert-642 I bought this on both the name of Petty and Bogdanovich. Alas I didn't think Bogdanovich did as best as he could. Why for example include extracts from the "Gainesville Concert" in the two narrative DVD's when they are already on the Gainesville concert DVD? Padding out or what? I struggle to believe that he and his team went through thousands or hundreds of hours of clips. As I write this I am beginning to wonder if they only used Bogdanovich as a 'selling name'. In reality no director was needed. Rather it would have been better with a ruthless editor.It was an interesting bio-rock venture that could have been done much better by the BBC's "Arena" team. I feel Scorcese's "The Band's Last Waltz" set the high bar in rock music bio-pics. Sadly Petty and Bogdanovich didn't reach the bar.

Mad Slovak ...but a late innings entry to the film made it impossible. I realize Jim Ladd was the inspiration behind the title of Petty's pretty decent but still flawed The Last DJ concept album, but Ladd's hippie-drippy whining about Ronald Reagan's deregulation of the airwaves in the 80s not only offered erroneous information (gee, want the (un-)Fairness Doctrine reinstated Jimmy-boy?), but took up film-time that would have been better served discussing Petty's power-to-the-people embracing of the internet for music distribution and yet another battle with his record label over it. Allowing this victim-minded commentary into the movie totally plays opposite to the outstanding portrayal of Petty as a fighter, rebel and survivor throughout the rest of Running..., definitely not to any benefit, either.Otherwise, pheeee-flippin'-nomenal portrait of one of America's greatest rock bands. Extra props for including so much about Damn the Torpedoes and all the hell Petty went through in order to get it released. Second only to Hail! Hail! Rock and Roll for rock documentaries.