Beatles Anthology Review: A Much-Needed Restoration & Bittersweet Finale Rejuvenates This Essential Doc

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This week, The Beatles are continuing their collaboration with Disney+ by releasing a newly remastered and expanded version of their 1995 documentary, The Beatles Anthology. This series is the most complete account of the band’s story, featuring hours of archival footage and interviews with John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr, as well as those closest to them. It’s an incredibly thorough look at The Beatles, and this 30th-anniversary re-release makes it even better.

At 11 to 12 hours long, The Beatles Anthology is a significant time commitment, really aimed at dedicated fans – like myself – who want to experience everything about the band. However, with recent Beatles content becoming available on Disney+ – including Get Back, The Beatles ‘64, and a restored Let It Be – more and more people are becoming serious fans. For those new to the world of The Beatles, this updated version of The Anthology is a real gem.

If you were one of the many fans who wore out their copies of The Beatles Anthology from repeated viewings (like me!), you’ll be thrilled with this remastered version – the picture and sound quality are significantly improved, especially if you haven’t seen the 2003 DVD. Plus, there’s a new episode of footage that nicely wraps up the entire project. The Beatles Anthology was already a fantastic look back at the band’s history, but this restoration makes it truly special.

The Beatles Look Fantastic Thanks Again To Peter Jackson

Plus, Giles Martin Has Them Sounding Better Than Ever

The 2021 release of The Beatles: Get Back marked the first time Peter Jackson’s Wingnut Films used their groundbreaking restoration technology on Beatles footage, but it wouldn’t be the last. Since then, Jackson’s team has been involved in every Beatles release on Disney+, and the picture quality keeps getting better. The original footage for The Anthology came from many different sources and had varying clarity, but now it all looks remarkably sharp.

Giles Martin, following in his father George Martin’s footsteps, has remastered the audio using the same AI technology he used for the Get Back project. This significantly improves the clarity, making even older recordings sound crisp and new. A great example of this improvement is the restored Shea Stadium concert – the audio quality is remarkably good and suggests a full release of the concert should be considered, possibly as another project with Disney+.

The New Beatles Anthology Episode Is A Bittersweet Sendoff

The new episode of The Anthology made me both cry and smile widely – it perfectly captures the bittersweet story of The Beatles. Their journey was full of happiness, but also marked by tragedy, especially considering John Lennon’s murder just ten years after the band split, and fifteen years before this documentary was released. While we hear his voice through old interviews, his absence is deeply felt throughout the episode, and this one highlights that more than ever.

The film primarily features footage of Paul, George, and Ringo completing three songs John Lennon had started but never finished – “Free As A Bird,” “Real Love,” and “Now And Then.” It also tells the story of how the Anthology project came together and explores the band members’ feelings about their musical history, bringing their journey full circle. The most touching moments are seeing Paul, George, and Ringo together, sharing memories and excitedly discussing their songs and the stories behind them.

George shared how much it meant to him to work on the Anthology project, explaining that it helped them reconnect after the band had broken up with unresolved issues. He expressed a wish that John could have been there to experience it with them, which was incredibly moving to hear. It felt unfair that John didn’t get that opportunity, and it made me think about everything he missed. Later, Paul offered a hopeful perspective, saying that John was still present in spirit, and emphasized how much the project had helped them heal.

This recent episode of The Beatles Anthology feels particularly moving, especially when viewed 30 years later. Since it was made, we’ve sadly lost George Harrison and George Martin, which makes seeing their contributions even more poignant. The song John Lennon struggled with, “Now And Then,” was finally completed and released last year as what’s been called ‘the last Beatles song.’ While the Beatles’ story continues in other ways, this lovingly preserved look back is a real treasure.

The Beatles Anthology 2025 will premiere on Disney+ across three nights, beginning on November 26.

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2025-11-25 22:38