Rating: Summary: A Definate MUST HAVE! Review: I rate this video 100 STARS! You've got to have this one! This is the best of CLASSIC PINK FLOYD! Echoes was the best! You have to see it!
Rating: Summary: A very different concert Review: Interesting concept, playing in an empty ancient arena. I like it. The volcanoe eruption footage is cool, as is the comentary by the band members between songs. I believe that anyone who likes early Pink Floyd music will enjoy this video. My favorite segment was "Echoes"
Rating: Summary: THE REAL DEAL Review: this was the first video related item i came across by the floyd. that was about 12 years ago and this bad boys hasn't lost a single bit of lustre in all of that time. if your serious about the floyd this is a mind blowing must have video. the live shots are spectacular and the interviews are charming. being an advid collector of live floyd shows i would have to say that there a few studio touch ups to the music but this still represents a well captured era of the ever evolving floyd. enjoy.
Rating: Summary: A Fine Floyd Film Review: This is an excellent, but somewhat overlooked, document of a classic Pink Floyd performance. Most people associate Floyd concerts with light shows and football stadiums, but this performance is set in the ruins of Pompeii (actually, in a old stadium, but I digress), without the special effects or even an audience. This IS Pink Floyd music, as raw and real as you've never imaginedThe songs are truly the focus of this film, but the performances are intertwined with images of volcanic eruptions, ancient mosaics murals, and the plaster casts of the victims who were buried alive beneath tons of lava. The Pompeii setting gives a totally differnet feeling to these classic Floyd songs. For example, "Echoes" is filled with underwater imagery, but in the film, the performance is paired with footage of bubbling volcanic mud springs, and of the band members traipsing through the desert in a sand storm, giving a whole new dimension to the song. The performances themselves are outstanding. Highlights include the aformentioned "Echoes," divided up into to Parts I and II, and a frenetic take of "A Saucerful of Secrets." I read somewhere that this was the last time the Floyd ever performed this particular song. A shot of Roger Waters risking a possible burst blood vessel during "Careful with that Axe, Eugene" is another highlight. As an added bonus, this film includes interviews of the band, and footage of the recording of "Dark Side of the Moon." These revealing sequences of the band fiddling in the studio, arguing over recording teqniques, and having supper, show the human side of Pink Floyd, contradicting the notion that their machines and electronics do all the work, something that David Gilmour dicussses in his interview. The behind-the-scenes footage does not show Roger Waters in a particularly flattering light, as he is shown as very irritable and pompous, but his intimidating intelligence shines through in his interviews. The Nick Mason "pie with no crust" scene is a hilarious bit of rock and roll pretentiousness. Kudos must also be given to the director and the film crew. Their slow crossover shots, almost reminicent of Kubrick, fit the dreamy atmosphere that the music provides. The ultra-slow zoom-in shot at the beginning of "Echoes", followed by the same shot done as a zoom-out at the end of the film, is clever and effective. I take away one star for some minor faults. One, the cameras focus too much on the drumming on "One of these Days." I would have much rather preferred scenes of Roger playing his delayed echo bass part, or footage of Gilmour's scorching slide guitar solo (This is also a problem during "Set the Controls..." but Nick Mason's tribal beats in this song are much more interesting to watch.) Two, the parts where they cut away to the band in front of a green-screen, mimicing their previously recorded performances, are just plain cheesy, and take away from the atmosphere. Lastly, there are no interview segements of Richard Wright. A minor complaint, but he is an important member of the band, and his exclusion, for whatever reason, just doesn't seem right. Those flaws do not take away from the outsanding portrait of the Pre-DSOTM-era Pink Floyd that is "Live at Pompeii." Any Floyd fan should click on the "Add to Shopping Cart" button right way, and let the Floyd take you to places you've never been before.
Rating: Summary: Pink Floyd is Pink FLoyd Review: This video shows the best of Pink Floyd. We can see the band dealing with the instruments, modulating sounds, testing gears and throwing them into music. Between the songs, there are interviews, studio sessions and that sort of things. The setlist is: 1. Echoes - Part I 2. On The Run 3. Careful With That Axe, Eugene 4. A Saucerful Of Secrets (crazy song, isn't it?) 5. Us And Them 6. One Of These Days I'm Going To Cut You Into Little Pieces (great drums) 7. Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun (great organ modulation) 8. Brain Damage 9. Mademoiselle Nobs (what a dog, eh?) 10. Echoes - Part II
Rating: Summary: I Never Knew what I was missing! Review: I've been a floyd fan for well over 10 years now. I've heard of this video for many years and have never got around to seeing it...until last night. Man, it was great! If you like the pre-DSOTM raw/jamming Floyd than you'll just love it. It's an outdoor "live" performance but there's no audience. The released footage seems to be taken from multiple performances since they are shown playing in both daylight and nighttime. The nighttime footage is most interesting since they assembled dozens of white lamps around the band members. And at times the director superimposed images of volcano bubbling and greek statues in the background of the band members performing. It creates a very unique, psychedelic atmosphere. However, my only complaint is that they show a bit too many shots of Nick Mason's drum playing. This release also has in-studio footage of their recording of DSOTM with interviews with all four members. It's a treat to watch them creating their future masterpiece. And some of the "live" versions are as good as or better than the studio versions including "Set the Controls.." and "Echoes". Overall, it's an absolute MUST HAVE for Floyd fans. When is the DVD coming out?
Rating: Summary: Excellent music Review: This is Pink Floyd at it's best. This is some of their best music available. The only problem is the tacky shots of the band replaying some of the music in the studio in front of a blue screen. These shots are totally out of place with the pompeii footage. The music however, redeems this minor flaw. Particularly impressive is when David Gilmour sits down in the dirt and messes with a metal bar and a delay peddle and when Roger Waters is beating the hell out of the gong.
Rating: Summary: A must for the Floyd fan Review: I've seen this over and over these past 15 years, and never tire watching it. At this time, Pink floyd were still very much experimental, and nowhere is that more evident than here. Imagine Dave Gilmour, in the middle of "Saucerful of Secrets" sitting down in the dust, with a few pedal effects around him, a steel bar, laying the guitar flat on his lap and finding out what weird sounds he can coax out of it. The end of that piece is excellent, as a strong wind picks up and adds to the ambience. The nightime shots are less interesting unless you like psychedelic light shows (I don't). The daytime shots are interesting both for mood and feel. I learned the entire "Echoes" guitar solo from watching the tape when I was a kid. (the director kindly holds the camera on the guitar the whole time). My only beef is the audio quality. I have this on video, CD, and the LP (remember those?), and each one has the same, hissing and popping oversaturated sound. I really hope that the original master is 1) better, 2) is dug up one day for remastering and cleaning up, and 3) released on DVD. The sound quality is the only reason I can't give it 5 stars.
Rating: Summary: Pink Floyd - Real artists at work Review: Pink Floyd - 1973 - Darkside of the Moon is released - immortality is assured. BUT... In 1972, while working on Darkside they put together the "Live" movie. The ampitheatre in Pompeii is the scene for some of their best pre-darkside music. No crowds, just the technicians. This is real Pink Floyd head music, Good Stuff! with casual interview comments by the band and even a scene at breakfast spliced in. Pink Floyd made a lot of records and did a lot of living before Darkside, and who knows who these guys really are? Well this movie just gives a glimpse. But it's better than nothing.
Rating: Summary: Awesom Review: Gives a good overview of how the band Pink Floyd works without an audience. Shows them in studio conditions recording Dark side of the moon and how they aquired the special effects for the album. Also giving you a brief look into their off time between sessions. This video is definitly for the tripper if you know what I mean.
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