Amazon.com: Customer reviews: La Bamba

Top positive review

Lou Diamond Phillips does a great job portraying him

Reviewed in the United States on January 28, 2018

I'm a child of the 50's I remember him well and when he died. All of us were shocked at his untimely death. He would have been a popular rock star for many years of he had lived. Lou Diamond Phillips does a great job portraying him.Its an all around great movie with good 50's music but it is a tear jerker.If you want to know what it was like growing up in the 50's this movie will give you an inside look at it. Great movie i have seen more then once.Loved it.

19 people found this helpful

Top critical review

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KEITH MORRIS

Poor quality transfer

Reviewed in the United States on December 21, 2019

The review is not for the actual film which I have seen an unknown number of times but rather for the bluray transfer. If you own the DVD so not waste your money as the bluray looks no better, as was the case with the " Buddy Holly Story" bluray. Quite disappointed as I had hoped for a more crisp image but alas that isn't the case

7 people found this helpful

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From the United States

Movie Night Streaming

A movie that will move you and yet leave you singing La Bomba.

Reviewed in the United States on August 15, 2016

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Every once in awhile if you're lucky, you will meet someone so filled with light and love that their goodness blesses everyone in their world. When that special person is surrounded by a life filled with hardship and people who are tortured souls it makes their light seem even brighter. So it is with Richard Steven Valenzuela aka Ritchie Valens. Born into poverty, raised in a migrant shanty, the love of his mother instilled in him the honor and courage to rise above his conditions. He never lost sight of both his humble life and love of music, holding fast to loyalty of family. It was a very talented young man with one foot out of a hopeless future when fate reached down and took this talented star.

Music by Los Lobos is the ultimate enhancement.

14 people found this helpful

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Great biopic of Ritchie Valens growing up Mexican-American

Reviewed in the United States on July 3, 2021

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La Bamba takes a familiar path for musical biopics by taking the biggest hits by the artist and mixing it in with the main events from their lives. I think La Bamba however is heavier on Ritchie Valens/Loud Diamond Phillips upbringing as a Mexican American in 1950s California then other films. That also plays into the music as La Bamba was a Mexican folk tune and the first Rock hit to have Spanish lyrics.

Esai Morales as his brother and Rosanna DeSoto as his mother stand out. Morales plays the bad boy as usual while DeSoto is a driving force in Phillips career. Their roles are almost as big as Phillips.

It’s a great story and with great music.

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Lady Anne

A Rock and Roll Pioneer

Reviewed in the United States on January 30, 2010

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Lou Diamond Phillips plays the legendary 1950s rock and roll pioneer Ritchie Valens in this musical biopic. Lou Diamond Phillips gives a wonderful performance of a the singer who turned a new generation onto the influential Chicano rock music that inspired other Tex-Mex rock artists such as Los Lobos who preformed the title song, Santana, Los Lonely Boys and countless others. He was successful at a time when there were very few Latinos in the American Rock/Pop scene... He is considered the first Latino ever to successfully crossover into Rock mainstream.

Ritchies' musical talents were encouraged by his mother and brother, although his brother would become envious and jealous as he rose to fame. Rosana De Soto plays his loving mother who is supportive of her sons' musical aspirations. His older brother, Bob was a malicious ex-con, who loved his brother but he was jealous of the attention his mother gave to him. Esai Morales gives a very good performance as his unhappy, alcoholic brother who grows extremely bitter as Ritchie rises to stardom.

The soundtrack also includes songs sung by Buddy Holly, Eddie Cochran, and Jackie Wilson. If you enjoy late 50's movies, you will like this movie that is suitable for the entire family. I'd like to see a remake where they include a music CD of all the songs he made popular during his short eight-month career.

4 ½ STARS

One person found this helpful

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Ch.

Good film. But ALOT of over-acting

Reviewed in the United States on August 8, 2021

Verified Purchase

Good film. I remember seeing it in the theater. I think this was the first time I ever saw Esai Morales and Elizabeth Pena. Great cast. But so much over-acting.

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AmazonCustomers

Worth Owning

Reviewed in the United States on February 25, 2012

Verified Purchase

Yeah, buy this film. Somewhat historical drama about Ritchie Valens, it gives a good flavor to that rock & roll era. But the ending -- who was the unnamed guy that the coin was tossed with and Valens won -- and boarded the plane? 4 guys have said it was them -- Waylon Jennings, Dion, and two others.

Also, go to youtube.com to see what "Donna" (Ritchie's girlfriend) looks like today. Holy mackerel!

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Kevin Villaloboz

Must have if you're a fan

Reviewed in the United States on February 13, 2020

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It's an OK transfer. And AQ could've also been better. LFE is barely there but its front stage is pretty solid. If you're a fan it's a must have.

One person found this helpful

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Edward

La Bamba is good, Born in East LA good Buddy Holly not a good DVD

Reviewed in the United States on December 18, 2019

Verified Purchase

It came in good time, only thing is the buddy holly story is not clear, it has been recorded to many times, Breaks up and you have to guess what has happened.

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