Pink Floyd fans come in two varieties: Those who like the more psychedelic sound, before Dark Side of the Moon, and the those who prefer the more accessible after. I am of the first group. Since The Wall is post Dark Side, I was not a great fan, and I have never seen Pink Floyd: The Wall (1982). Until now.
It's a surreal story about a rock star called Pink, played by rock star Bob Geldof. It starts in the trenches of WWII, where Pink's father is fighting while his wife and son wait for him at home. But he never comes back, leaving Pink confused and wishing for a male presence at home.
At school, the teachers ridicule and bully him, maybe more than the other kids. You know how the song goes, "Hey, teachers, leave those kids alone."
In the present day (I guess), we see Pink as a zoned out, blank young man, staring at Dam Busters on the TV. When he does get on stage (which by the end requires a lot of drugs and the song "Comfortably Numb"). he acts like a dictator at a fascist rally, with the audience throwing salutes and goose-stepping along.
However, all this isn't presented quite linearly - you get zonked Pink in between scenes of young Pink. There is some animation as well, a lot of it abstract, sexualized flowers. And of course, it's all set to the songs from the album.
In the end, I just wasn't sold on the movie. Alan Parker's direction and cutting was very cool, but I'm not sure the story held together. The war-ruined childhood, the evils of the schools, the entertainer as fascist: these themes didn't hold together as well as I felt they should. And the shellshocked empty-eyed rock star at the heart (?) of it: not very engaging, and also, boo-hoo, the rich and talented are so oppressed.
Plus, the songs just aren't my favorite Pink Floyd. I guess it's back to Pompei.
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