Not only does Live at Pompeii accomplish the assignment of documenting early Pink Floyd (though not early enough to have Syd Barrett), but it's directed by Adrien Maben with such an electric, slow to quicker and back to slow pace that even non-Floyd fans should take a look at this.
The film starts off with a bang- "Echoes", part.1, as well as the concluding part.2, rivals the version on their Meddle album, and in my opinion is their best, most free-wheeling (yet not in overtly psychedelic) improvisational piece. Along with this are the spooky "Careful with that Axe Eugene", the menacing "One of these days (I'm going to cut you into little pieces)", the mind-blowing "Saucerful of Secrets", the serene "Set the controls for the Heart of the Sun", and even a wonderful piece with a dog on vocals and Gilmour on Harmonica called "Mademoiselle nobbs". These early noteworthy tracks from Floyd's pre-Dark Side catalog is also incorporated with studio footage of the group recording sections of that LP, as well as interview footage where Waters, Gilmour, and Mason explain some of their opinions on the current scene of music (at the time), if they really take drugs (personally, I don't trust them), and how synthesizers help their iconoclastic creations.
In truth Live at Pompeii was made more for the main fan base of Floyd fans, and for those looking for a "Floyd Fix" it's a must-own (I pray they release a DVD of this because of the noticeable pan and scan format on VHS), however for those who like music videos in general there are camera tricks and such different splicing and editing that it can boggle and possibly enlighten the mind. It's a unique piece for fans and a trippy curio for casual listeners. By the way, if you can, try to seek out the VHS tape of the film. It may not be what is called the 'director's cut' like on DVD, but it's superior by not including cheesy new visual effects that cut into the greater effect of the original 1972 cut.
The film starts off with a bang- "Echoes", part.1, as well as the concluding part.2, rivals the version on their Meddle album, and in my opinion is their best, most free-wheeling (yet not in overtly psychedelic) improvisational piece. Along with this are the spooky "Careful with that Axe Eugene", the menacing "One of these days (I'm going to cut you into little pieces)", the mind-blowing "Saucerful of Secrets", the serene "Set the controls for the Heart of the Sun", and even a wonderful piece with a dog on vocals and Gilmour on Harmonica called "Mademoiselle nobbs". These early noteworthy tracks from Floyd's pre-Dark Side catalog is also incorporated with studio footage of the group recording sections of that LP, as well as interview footage where Waters, Gilmour, and Mason explain some of their opinions on the current scene of music (at the time), if they really take drugs (personally, I don't trust them), and how synthesizers help their iconoclastic creations.
In truth Live at Pompeii was made more for the main fan base of Floyd fans, and for those looking for a "Floyd Fix" it's a must-own (I pray they release a DVD of this because of the noticeable pan and scan format on VHS), however for those who like music videos in general there are camera tricks and such different splicing and editing that it can boggle and possibly enlighten the mind. It's a unique piece for fans and a trippy curio for casual listeners. By the way, if you can, try to seek out the VHS tape of the film. It may not be what is called the 'director's cut' like on DVD, but it's superior by not including cheesy new visual effects that cut into the greater effect of the original 1972 cut.