grantss Interesting subject, but execution is often quite flat or hammy.The story of Ritchie Valens, the teenager who rose to fame in the late-1950s with hits like "Donna", "Come On, Let's Go" and "La Bamba". Interesting subject, as Valens was one of the pioneers of rock 'n roll. His story is also a tragic one, and well-known as such, due to the plane crash that took the lives of him, Buddy Holly (surely one of rock 'n roll's greatest losses) and The Big Bopper. The day the music died... (to quote Don McLean).The musical side largely lives up to expectations - good tracks, well-performed and with some great nostalgic moments.However, the personal side is quite uneven. Particularly bad is the brother angle. This seems overblown and over-dramatic, and is certainly not helped by an over-the-top, hammy performance from Esai Morales.Too many scenes which are dull or cringingly hammy.Overall: worth watching from a music history perspective, but you'll have to get through some dull/hammy scenes and acting to get to the end.

John Wayne Landry I had only been familiar with Ritchie Valens' "Donna" from an old 8-track compilation my parents had titled "Cruisin' 1959" and I actually knew that he died in that fateful plane crash also in 1959 prior to seeing La Bamba for the first time in 1987 when I was only 14.I wanted to see it ever since I had seen the ads for it as well as the video for "La Bamba" on Video Hits,which aired daily here in Canada.Casting was great and I like the fact that the entire movie script wasn't actually all centered around Ritchie and his all too brief music career as well as life.It focused as well on his troubled relationship with his alcoholic half-brother Bob and his insecurities about Ritchie being his Mom's favorite,his relationship with girlfriend Donna Ludwig and the usual trials of teenage love,& naturally,his mother and family.Even with some historical inaccuracies and all,this movie deserves a 10.

Leofwine_draca A heartfelt biopic of Ritchie Valens, the '50s rock and roll singer whose career was cut tragically short when he was killed in a plane crash just after reaching the heights of fame.The film itself follows a traditional format, showing Valens's humble working background and the gradual successes before he hits the big time. Along the way, many scenes are given over to Ritchie's relationship with his brother Bob, a tempestuous character who adds plenty of drama to the proceedings, and there's also time for romance.Although Lou Diamond Phillips didn't do the actual singing, I think he makes a good fist of portraying Valens. He certainly brings a youthful energy to the part. Inevitably, the music scenes are the highlight of the film and a good job is done of making them as accurate as possible. The inevitable outcome adds a tragic twist to the film as a whole, which is really a celebratory outing of one man's outstanding talent.

Desertman84 La Bamba is a biographical film that follows the life and career of Chicano rock 'n' roll star Ritchie Valens. The film stars Lou Diamond Phillips in the title role together with Esai Morales, Rosanna DeSoto, Elizabeth Peña, Danielle von Zerneck, and Joe Pantoliano. The film also covers the effect that Valens' career had on the lives of his half- brother Bob Morales, his girlfriend Donna Ludwig and the rest of his family.It was written and directed by Luis Valdez. Legendary 1950s rocker Ritchie Valens,who was born Ricardo Valenzuela, is known for his radio and concert success with hits like "La Bamba", "C'mon Let's Go", and "Donna".He was a 15-year-old migrant worker who worked with his mother Connie. His half-brother Bob Morales is a vitriolic ex-con who roars into the migrant camp on his Harley after his release from jail. Valens' musical talents are encouraged by his family and he soon earns an audition with legendary record producer and former Artie Shaw clarinet player Bob Keane. He soon appears in an Alan Freed rock n' roll teen exploitation film, lip-synching his blistering recorded version of "Ooh, My Head". When a romance with Donna Ludwig is forbidden by her conservative father, he pens the famous ballad that bears her name. Tours follow his chart success until the fatal plane crash that claimed the lives of Valens, The Big Bopper and Buddy Holly on February 3,1959. This is the film that definitely immortalized Ritchie Valens to present generations.Credit the performance of Lou Diamond Phillips for he leaves a haunting impression as the late 1950s pop idol that made the Latino influence in rock & roll conspicuous through his hit songs. The directors also created a nimble, exciting, and sympathetic portrait of the boy driven to rise above obstacles of race and family legacy.The movie is also characterized by a great musical extravaganza from the hit songs of Valens played by Los Lobos as well as Valens' contemporaries like Valdez Eddie Cochrane and Buddy Holly.Overall,this was a solid and entertaining biopic.