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Rock superstar Joan Jett (and boy she looks good for her age – an unbelievable 51) will be back at the movies again soon, this time to see herself played by Twilight actress Kristen Stewart in a production called The Runaways. This tells the story of Joan’s early career while in the all girl band from 1975 to 1979. Dakota Fanning gets to play Cherrie Curry, the original lead singer of the Runaways.

The movie premieres at next month’s Sundance film Festival.

The first trailer is available now at the movies website http://www.runawaysmovie.com/

Essentially the movie tells the story of an all girl rock group who set the standards in that genre (all girl band) who after storming America went on to claim both Britain and Japan with unique fan bases. Joan Jett has had a consultant’s chair to ensure the movie is both accurate and truthful to its time. Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning get to sing the classic Runaway’s hits of the period. Joan Jett, apparently, loves the finished product, both the singing and the acting.

This isn’t the first film about the Runaways. Victory Ticshler-Blue released her movie (documentary) a film about the Runaways, back in 2004. Called ‘Edgeplay’ it was an outstanding, spellbinding, touching and severely honest film based on the Runaways’ early days. Their manager didn’t come out of the movie very well and unfortunately Joan Jett had no part in the film whatsoever. Whether she didn’t agree to appear or why she didn’t take part is not known; perhaps she had the idea of this new movie in mind. Vicky Blue was the second bass player with the group and later turned to filmmaking and laterly, photography.

Edgeplay is certainly a highly emotional film also featuring lead guitarist Lita Ford and drummer (the late) Sandy West. Sandy perhaps captures the image of the time when she tells the she was disappointed that the band finished, all she wanted to do was play drums.

If a gut wrenching movie appeals to you then certainly ‘Edgeplay’ is a DVD to join your collection. It’s a full top scoring 5 star movie.

Lita Ford went on to great success, especially with Ozzy Osbourne. However, the greatest success story from the Runaways has been the incredible 30+ years since Joan Jett has rocked over the airways, CDs and concert halls. Who doesn’t move a hip to ‘I Love Rock ‘n ‘ Roll?’ She’s believed to have played gigs in war zones at least 25 times to entertain US army personnel.

It’ll be interesting to see what differences the two movies illustrate and to see how close the stories agree.

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