LIVE AT POMPEII

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The original video ('71) was one of my favorite's although I was not particularly pleased with the video re-release ('73) that contained interviews and studio-scenes from the "Dark Side of the Moon" era. In my opinion this distracted from the compelling 'Pompeii-climate'. Well, this DVD gives me the opportunity to zap and to choose (track selection) my ultimate experience. In comparison with the video some beautiful and exciting 'visual effects' are integrated (the original city, the vulcanic eruption, waves of lava, atmospheric space shots). And on the main menu you wil find: a documentary with an interesting interview with director and mastermind ADRIAN MABEN (about the worse start of the project, no electricity in Pompeii and his wish to re-release the film with extra interviews and scenes from "Dark Side of the Moon" rehearsals in the Abbey Road Studios), the original concert, track selection, miscellanea (posters/press/illegal copies), Pompeii map and history, lyrics, photo gallery and album graphics.

The music from PINK FLOYD has been recorded in the empty amphi-theater of Pompeii, only the roadies, film-crew and the band were present. The combination of the impressive surroundings, the extraordinary light, the silence (according to ADRIAN MABEN "a kind of anti-Woodstock with no audience and applause") and the compelling music is perfect and turnes this DVD into a mindblowing experience! My favorite moments are the second part of "A saucerful of Secrets" (great build up with Gilmour's guitar, Mason's propulsive drumming and Wright's Farfisa organ and splendid climax with Gilmour's howling vocals), "One of these Days" (night-shots with furious drums and great slide guitar by the almost invisible Gilmour), "Set the controls for the heart of the sun" (a fierce climate with lots of spotlights, perfectly blended with expressive Pompeii mosaics and the aerie combination of the psychedelic keyboard solo and images from the dead Roman bodies, surprised by the waves of lava) and of course many parts of the epic "Echoes". This DVD belongs to my Top 3 of best DVD's of all time!

I begin with an important warning to anyone contemplating purchasing the DVD, especially if you think you're going to get rid of the VHS version, or you plan to get only the DVD for the very first time--the VHS is still the definitive version, and you will regret not having it around. The reason is that the DVD was done by producer ADRIAN MABEN with no input from the band, and therefore will be a grave disappointment. Aside from some additional interview material, including the keyboardist RICK WRIGHT (sorely neglected on the VHS), there is very little to recommend the DVD above the VHS--in fact, some will strongly argue that the DVD is worth nothing and this is really the only good version. The DVD ruins the ambience with terrible computer animation--MABEN seems not to have matured over the years in his technique. His style makes for an interesting period piece on the VHS, but when he thinks he can carry over the exact same techniques on new technology, it's really quite sad. Furthermore, no attempt was ever made to correct the tape speed, and thus the pitch remains nearly a semitone sharp...not even a full semitone, so don't expect to be able to jam with either version.

My advice is, if you are going to get the DVD for the extra interview material, get the VHS with it, or make sure to hang on to your original copy. And make sure to purchase the DVD with gift money, not out of pocket. The VHS is worth a lot more trouble than the DVD. Yes, the video cassette is an inferior format in the 21st century, and PINK FLOYD does deserve better...but as MABEN did not see fit to provide anything truly better, this is the best you can do for yourself. Make sure to order a VHS now, in case they go out of print!

Yes, there are some noticeable flaws in the original, but we need to remember, PINK FLOYD was not yet the financial powerhouse that it is now...nor were technology or filming technique up to today's standards, by a long shot. This means you will have to put up with some oddities, including a filming technique that makes it look very much like a period piece. But perhaps the most notable flaw is the fact that the film runs at a slightly high speed. Those observing closely may notice that the band's movements seem unnaturally fast. But more noticeable is the fact that everything is pitched significantly sharp, so you will not be able to jam along with this without retuning. And finally, as I mentioned before, RICK WRIGHT fans will be very disappointed to note that he is only included once in the interviews, and is not even seen as he speaks (one of the few deficits you might wish to also pick up a DVD to correct).

WRIGHT's keyboard playing, for instance, goes a long way towards making up for the lack of interview material from him, particularly at the end of "A Saucerful of Secrets" and during "Echoes, Part II" (the latter of which reduced me to tears!). And who can forget the delightfully funny performance of "Mademoiselle Nobs", a remake of "Seamus" where his instrument is...the dog? Truly a great piece of Floydian humor to watch (Although is it me, or does ROGER WATERS not get the joke? Watch and find out...). Another set of fans will be greatly appreciative of the VHS--here, NICK MASON's more exotic, pre-Dark Side drumming style is showcased fantastically. Notice that he continues without a pause even when a drumstick flies out of his hand. DAVID GILMOUR is also in fine form, although to me his most notable moments are in the creation of Dark Side, and ROGER WATERS delivers almost mad-seeming vocal and percussion performances, in addition to his bass work.

The peek into the production process for Dark Side is truly fascinating, and most notable is a wicked version of the "On the Run" synth loop that will make your hair stand on end. There are also some interesting practice takes by GILMOUR and WRIGHT, including parts from "Brain Damage" and "Us and Them". Finally, you'll at last discover the source of some of the great FLOYD-fan inside jokes (pie without the crust, and so on).

The concert here is amazing, it is very similar to the "Ummagumma" live album and i love it. Nick and Roger definetly get their spotlight, Nicks drumming is outstanding and you gotta love Rogers gong bashing. I like Dave when he is sitting there making effects on his guitar during Saucerful, which they recreated even better than the studio version. The features are very good, i actually prefer the original film without any of the documentary bits in because it shows more footage of the boys playing live. Some of the footage was lost or incomplete so they tried to recreate some of the pompeii footage in a studio in France, it is very obvious when the fake Pompeii footage is in play, this is annoying but musically its amazing. Some of the camera angles are very annoying like when they only film the amp stacks instead of the band.

The Directors Cut only footage is very good, interviews with the band, Roger acting like a prat, Nick trying to get a pie the way he likes it in the abbey road canteen. Its brilliant stuff. One problem though, although this captures Pink Floyds amazing live spirit, it misses out a key monument of Pink Floyd which is their light shows, this is all filmed outdoors in the daylight. It is a real shame that there are no light shows from this era Floyd on DVD. Most of the footage shows the creation of Dark Side of the Moon, which i think is a very important document and i'm glad it was put onto this DVD.

This is a very good watch, just there are some things that are annoying but it is probably the best Pink Floyd DVD. I highly recommend this, The recreation of "Echoes" is incredible and the new song, "Mademoiselle Nobs" is fun to watch, with a dog on vocals, it's basically "Seamus", the sequel. The best track is "Careful with that Axe, Eugene". Roger screams his head of as a volcano explodes. Other standout tracks are "Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun", "A Saucerful of Secrets" and "One of these Days". This is an excellent addition to your Pink Floyd collection.

While lauded by many as a cult-classic and the best example of FLOYD in their early creative days (before they became stadium rock monsters), I hesitate in awarding this DVD re-release of "Live at Pompeii" a masterpiece label. IF you are a FLOYD fan, well then yes, this is wonderful stuff. Personally I love it. But, if you are not a hardcore fan, you will find this interesting to watch once, but will probably not want to see it more than once.

The reason being is that much of the material on here is definitely of the 'older' variety. Yes there is some behind the scenes 'Dark Side' studio material shown which is intriguing, but I'd bet the majority of people watching this for the first time will not be happy with which songs are played. The pieces selected ('Set the Controls', 'One of These Days' and 'A Saucerful of Secrets') are superior to their studio versions, and are excellent soundtrack for the atmospheric locale of the film shoot, but all things considered they are still fairly obscure songs. If you enjoy the long instrumental portions of these pieces (especially the percussion of Nick Mason) then this is recommended, otherwise, you will probably lose interest quick.

Maben, the director, has recieved a lot of criticism for the computer-generated images he has added to the original film. After watching the film again recently I agree they are corny to be sure, but not entirely devoid of merit. Besides if you really can't stand them, just watch the full original unedited film instead, which is also included on this DVD amongst other bonus material.

I feel this film is great 'background' for Poker games, but find it hard to sit and watch straight through without getting distracted. Still a classic film, even if 'Echoes' is cut into two seperate pieces. For FLOYD afficianados this is mandatory, for others less so. 4/5 stars.

Interesting film captures of some live performances from Italian ruins on this one! I have seen the original 1971 release, and only some scenes from the new 2003 version. My own absolute favorite is "Careful With That Axe Eugene", where the chaotic potential of this track reaches it's maximum heights! I would recommend this more to the fans of earlier Floyd, as those who like only the material from "Dark Side of The Moon" days may find this a bit weird.

Well all has been said with this masterpiece. Floyd was at the apex of their career at the time, and were about to record Dark Side.

I would just like to say that , yes , the new arrangements on the movie is disruptive and ruins the original version (especially on Careful With That Axe Eugene where the burning of the film effects and the band walking in the Vesuvius crater are suppressed by other images. BUT THE ORIGINAL MOVIE VERSION IS IN THE SPECIAL ADDED FEATURES AND THE INTERVIEWS ARE ABSENT FROM THAT VERSION. Mason is brilliant in One Of These Days and so worked up that we can see him losing a stick, grab another and still manage to break the tip of it a few seconds later. Echoes is superbly book-ending the film.

So this is still an excellent buy since both the new version and the original version are available. You just have to know where to get the original version.

Get a haircut!

"Live at Pompeii" is an excellent visual record of the band before they assumed legendary status. The live tag is slightly misleading, as the performance was not in front of an audience (apart from the film crew, and a few kids who managed to sneak in), but took place in the ancient auditorium at Pompeii. The band's latest release at the time was "Meddle", the film thus being book ended by sections of "Echoes". The only other track from "Meddle" to be included is "One of these days", perhaps a reflection of the more disposable nature of the other tracks on that album.

It is wonderfully nostalgic to see the lank, chest length hair of the band members, which is caught by the wind, at times completely obscuring their faces. I love the way how at one point Roger Waters lays down his bass at precisely the right time(!) during a lengthy jam on "A saucerful of secrets", and walks in a slow, dignified manner to a gong, waits for the appropriate moment, and proceeds to beat the sh*t out of it!

For those less familiar with the pre-"Dark side of the moon" work of Pink Floyd, do not expect the tight structured songs of that album. Much of the music here is of an improvisational nature, with long instrumental passages. While there's little interaction between the band members, this was clearly a time when they were very much together with three fine vocalists all pulling their weight, and a wealth of creative energy.

The DVD version of this classic film from 1971 offers the "Director's cut" complete with extra footage of the band working on "Dark side of the moon". With the "Classic albums" series DVD now available which documents in superb detail the making of that album, the footage here is interesting but not essential.

The original version of "Live at Pompeii" is included on the DVD as a bonus feature. The main differences between the director's cut and the original are: - The extra DSOTM related footage, including the Abbey Road Studios canteen - The titles have been updated from the quaintly primitive originals - Some space related film has been added, together with computer images of Pompeii of old. There's also for no apparent reason, a bus and an underground train!

Whether or not these changes are enhancements or detractions is a matter of personal choice, but the fact that both versions are here renders any complaints churlish.

The DVD also includes an interesting interview with director Adrian Maben, who offers many intriguing snippets of information, both about the original recording, and the "Director's cut". One disappointment I have with the new version is that the sound remains in 2 channel stereo, no 5.1 surround sound. That said though, this is an excellent DVD, with a wealth of extras and some fine music.

Amazing video with an overall mystic effect and very focused on Nick Mason, Live at Pompeii shows amazing versions of the respective studio ones of some of the FLOYD's most remarkable songs. "Echoes" is amazing here, both parts making a cyclic effect with an awesome intro on the second part, much better than the studio version. "Careful with axe, Eugene" is not so great as in Ummagumma or some ROIOS, but it still doesn't disappoint. "Sauceful of Secrets" is pure brilliance here, it is the kind of song that HAS to be seen live to be fully enjoyed, and "Celestial Voices" is the climax of the entire set. Roger goes crazy on that gong, and the scene with the sun reflecting at him hitting the gong is the best one from the film. "Set the controls..." is amazing as always, Nick's drumming is great and the "ooohh" done by Dave harmonizing with Roger's vocals is very well done. "One of These Days" shows Nick going nuts on his drums, proving that his talents do exist and that he is one of the most underrated drummers ever. He has a style of his own, since the FLOYD's music is actually more melodic, so we can expect more slight drumming works. Unfortunately that's often misunderstood as "lack of talent", but it is only Nick's style and people have to understand that. "Mademoiselle Nobs" is actually "Seamus", and it is a very fun part as the original is on Meddle. The other video parts show great shots of the band working on their equipments and having fun together, making the video even more awesome as we know more of each member on each scene (there's that classic one where Roger starts having fun with his cigarrete's smoke, a very cool part indeed!).

So, this is my favorite PINK FLOYD video and i watch it a lot often, and never get bored of it! Truly addicting and trippy from the first space travel showing on the video's intro to the outro of the second part of "Echoes". GET THIS DVD NOW!

And it has to be without the crust!

A superb concert movie, if there ever was one. With excellent picture and sound quality (hey, this is in original from 1972!) Pink Floyd present us a real masterpiece in a unique form. In the stunning theatre of Pompeii the band shows, why they are such big legends under the sun in our sunset. Director Adrien Maben explains in the interview how it came to "Live At Pompeii" and the fact, why he wanted Pink Floyd for that experiment. Simply he got a vision, about this majestic scenery in the theatre of Pompeii and a band, that was able to give this special atmosphere the fitting music to deliver a great concert film, which also was about to reach the cinemas.

There are two different full versions of the film on the "Director's Cut" I own. You got the original live concert and a extended version with additional interviews with the band, which come to place between the songs. Also you'll see in the extended version some different sceneries and some bonus material, like the recording of some material for the "Dark Side Of The Moon" record. "Us And Them" and "Brain Damage" are played live in the studio. The musicians answer some interestening questions to the band history to this point, and give a statement how it was with Syd Barrett.

This is a highly recommended DVD for Pink Floyd fans. You really should like the earlier material of PF to enjoy this concert film in all of it's pride. If you do, you'll get a masterpiece, specially the both "Echoes" parts are unbelievable intense. I've enjoyed this DVD Director's Cut very much and will watch it again, that is sure. It's really that great - Essential and a masterpiece indeed!

I've been faced to a dilemma writing this review: should I apply the rating to the 2003 Universal Pictures Video DVD release or to the original PF Pompeii movie itself?

Well, let's begin with the PF movie. This PF concert is a summit within PF's discography: PF was technically at the top in 1972, and plays its full first era/psychedelic repertoire for the last time, before recording DSOTM, hence the recording sessions extracts and interviews.

The beauty and solemnity of the Pompeii amphitheatre adds an almost mystical feel to the performance, which is filmed with much talent, even by night, like for the "Careful." cover.

The way it's filmed also enables to enjoy in great detail the playing of each of our heroes, like close-ups and screen incrustations on Gilmour's solos, or the impressive Nick Mason at work, proving that he was a highly skilled drummer. Lava in fusion, smoke images within Pompeii site adds an acid/organic dimension to the movie.

So, this movie is not only an excellent PF filmed performance but also an essential element within the whole PF discography. In other words, a masterpiece.

Which is not the case of the 2003 Universal Pictures Video DVD release. Two big problems on this DVD:

First, on a visual level, the original movie has been ruined by some scandalous modifications: some images have been removed to be replaced by others, why?! Some of the new images are nice (lava in fusion, natural elements) while others are simply ridiculous. But the worst is that fantastic moments showing the band playing have been replaced by these new images. A terrible frustration when you know the original movie: you loose virtually half of the performance.

Last, but not least, sound is poor on this DVD: poor imaging, weak dynamic, compared to the VHS release. In a way, nothing surprising as its numeric versus analog. Fortunately some musical DVD manage to sound nice, but not this one.

So, my rating of this five stars movie will be lowered to four stars because of this shameful DVD release. Let's hope that a new satisfying DVD release will come soon. Rather get the VHS release if you still own a VHS deck.

Well, this is the classic Floyd video and should be a part of any collection of their admirers!

That said, and keeping the memory of the original 1 hour video film of Pompeii alone, I am not particularly thrilled by this "Director's Cut" extended version. Although it does contain many interesting moments, it basically distracts from viewing the original Pompeii scenes. Particularly annoying are computer-generated space images, which seem to me as a cheap tool to fill in holes of producers' unimaginativeness.

Nonetheless, since this performance of Pink Floyd is one of their best live acts I have ever seen, it goes into the category of timeless classics.

This is one of the few times I have had a completely fresh experience with some classic material. There were no expectations coming into it. All I had heard was that these versions of the songs were quite good. I recently found a copy of the DVD at my local video store, and spent an evening with Pink Floyd.

The debate about whether the DVD is as good as the original film is irrelevant. With the DVD you get both. In essence, that does make it superior. That is all I have to say about that issue.

The original is a surprising piece of work. It is not an actual concert setting. This is a film of the band performing some very engaging music, in an unusual setting. The ruins of Pompeii (more specifically the amphitheater) seem to make a good setting. The mood is set by natural light, and a sense of the ancients making up the audience. There are a couple of segments that were filmed in Paris ("Careful With that Axe Eugene," and "Mademoiselle Nobs"). The latter is a reworking of "Seamus" with a live dog giving a virtuosic performance. The music is drawn from "Meddle," "A Saucerful of Secrets," and "Ummagumma" With the band now in its prime, only "Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun" seems a bit dated. However, the strength of the song soon makes you forget that. There are also added shots of the band walking around steaming mud baths, ancient artwork, and exploding volcanoes. It is all very engaging, but there are drawbacks. The titles are very poorly done, and look as dated as they are. Most of the focus is on Nick Mason. This is not a large problem, since he is electrifying. However, it would have been nice to see more of the other guys (something the director says as well). In actuality, it is really not much more than an early form of the music video. The superiority lies in the fact that they actually played the music.

The new version is far more interesting. All of the performances are there, along with added visuals, new titles, and interviews. Unfortunately there are no added shots of the other band members, as all of the original extra footage was lost. The space shots are very cool, and add much to the feel of the thing. The only thing I didn't like was the computer-generated images of Pompeii. It looks as phony as it is. Earlier, there was some stock footage of a town being ravaged by a volcanic eruption. This was a much more effective device.

The main interest is the documentary footage, and is what turns this into a complete film. There are many insights into the band through this. You get a sneak peek at the beginnings of the new album (did it end up doing very well?). I was surprised by the self-awareness is present in a comment about the band being in a formative state for the previous four years. A recurring theme is the relationship of the band members. They all profess to be getting along nicely, but body language tends to belie a certain amount of tension. Gilmour comes off as still being a bit of an outsider at times, and the old specter of Syd seems to be present.

The interviews are also a great source of quotes.

"We're in danger of becoming a relic of the past." - Nick Mason (pre "Dark Side of the Moon")

"I think we're ever so progressive, and evolve between every record." - David Gilmour

"I like to think oysters transcend national barriers." - Roger Waters

"People think of us as a very drug orientated group. Of course, we're not." - David Gilmour (with a smirk)

All in all, I think this is a terrific video package. It is a great showcase of a band just entering its maturity. The exacting nature of their work is thoroughly expressed. They were on the brink of international superstardom, and they look ready. Any doubt about Pink Floyd's abilities, or proggitude can be put to rest with this.

H.T. Riekels

Essential......this is a remake of the original film released in the early 70's. This was just prior to the Dark Side Of The Moon release. What is so classic about this footage is there are various outtakes of the band experimenting in the studio between running up volcanoes. They do a stint in the studio which is definitely " On The Run' in the making. There are great interviews mainly with Waters and Gilmour, some haggling over breakfast ingredients to name but a few.

In terms of the music and the ambience of the Pompeii setting, I would have to say very few films ( the Band and the Last Waltz being another) where the moment is so well encapsulated. ' Echoes' is divided into two parts and the first section begins the Pompeii performance. Note: no fans to watch this just the roadies and production crew and of course the Director on the other side of the camera!' Careful with That Axe Eugene" is another classic and shows a nice early glimpse of the manic side of Roger Waters. ' Set Your Controls To The Heart Of The Sun' and ' Echoes Parts 2' are equally great especially the last 5 minutes of Echoes when Gilmour and Wright break into the mournful singing and the keyboards ebb and fade out in the amphitheatre's setting.The musicians were all at their finest, I still prefer the original but modern technology has brought us the Director's cut on DVD.

I don't need to tell you this DVD will be essential viewing for anyone who ever wondered what Pink Floyd looked like in their prime, giving splendid performances of "Echoes" and other stuff among Roman ruins! Too many reviewers have already told you.

I'd just like to add the Director's Cut is ideal for anyone who ever wondered what the keyboards setup in Abbey Road studios used to be like. For apart from all the Pompeii footage, there are tantalising glimpses of Rick Wright and David Gilmour recording piano and guitar overdubs for DARK SIDE OF THE MOON. Every time you've started enjoying their playing the camera slowly moves away, only to show you the same old Hammond organ, the same synthesizer and the same stack of headphones. (At least I think it's headphones; our TV screen is on the small side.) The first two times it happens you feel mildly annoyed, but from the third time onwards you just want to get up and give your own private performance of "Careful with that axe Eugene"!

If I have a gripe about the actual concert from Pompeii, it's that there's far too much of Nick Mason. I know he's got a cute moustache, and there's absolutely nothing wrong with what he is doing, but during "Echoes pt. 1" we hardly ever get to see Roger Waters, and it's also terribly frustrating that Gilmour is nowhere to be found during "One of these days", or at the most exciting moment of "Echoes pt. 2". At least not in the Director's Cut. All this is a great shame, especially when you consider that the digitally restored footage looks wonderfully clear.

I'll always be fond of LIVE AT POMPEII because a couple of friends and I organised a showing of this film in our hometown, Genk, thirty years ago. We'd set up a charity named VIBRANIA - does the name ring a bell with you? If anyone reading this happens to remember that momentous occasion, drop me a line!

Ah, the "better" one from these two versions. Even lacking as much of emotional memories, as first one, it's far better in terms of technical quality. And OK, lot of these memories are here too, it's just that it's not VHS, that's all. Silly reason, huh ? I know, so this is why I'm just saying it, not considering as important for this review.

There's something in "fuxi's" reviews that's strikingly truthful. When I start to enjoy them playing these songs (from DSotM), it suddenly stops, or is interrupted by talking, or other darn things to annoy the listener/viewer), fun stops early. Why for Pink Floyd's sake, why ? Anyway, interview isn't the reason why we love this, it's the legendary gig with audience of 10 people (as I like to say), all of them sound engineers (even it's probably not truth). This is beautiful. Not as extreme as my favourite The Wall, in fact it their music can be not considered as prog by some (!!! - it's hard to understand opinion), it's playful. You can see that they're having fun and it's affecting also us, listeners, viewers, whatever you're doing at the moment (are you really concentrated on both audio and video all the time ? aren't you blinking ? ha, I got you). After all, choice of this exact location is unique in prog world. Let's say, what about Mandalaband's (first album) gig on the top of Mount Everest ? Or French prog group Nemo on the bottom of Mariana Trench. Or Los Jaivas dvd with locations from Macchu Picchu, isn't it just beautiful ? Or The Beatles in France, hehe. Location matters, when doing these "special" projects and images, sculptures, under-weight Waters (drugs anybody, but he's fuc_in visionary after all), zealous Nick Mason (do you remember, or will you be able to find the moment when he loses his stick and till gets new one he plays drums with one stick and his bare hand (!) ?

5(+), you know why.