LIVE AT POMPEII (THE DIRECTOR'S CUT)

I don't think it can avaliated as a true live recording(as the songs were recorded individually in diferent ocasions),but the power of this movie is incredible.And by that,I mean the Director's Cut version,which contains multiple interviews(though most of the are pretty dismissable)with the band and travelling shots through the city of Pompeii.But what gives this DVD it's true strenght is the brilliant performance by the band.

Just before they reach the comercial peak(until 1972,when this film was originally produced),Pink Floyd's catalogue was basically formed by space travelling jams and 60's based pshycadelia.And that's exactly what they put in here,quiet travelling instrumentals such as Carefull With That Axe Eugene.It could have been boring to death,if such songs weren't in contrast with the mighty of the opener Echoes and the shots frrom Pompeii.Something quite remarkable is the excellent use of light and shade,giving the film a cool phsycadelic photography.The 'off the wall' mood created by the band is unfortunately broke by the 'interviews' placed between the songs.Their basically just the band talking about all sort of useless information.There are vey nice cuts,however,in which we're very luck to see the reecording sessions of Dark Side of the Moon.All these cuts(and most scenes from the city itself) were not present in the original film,so this Director's Cut is the definitve version of the movie,despite all the boring talk by the band.

The aforementioned Echoes is probably the best part of this DVD.I can say without any hestitation that it is much better than thte studio version,mainly because of the guitar solo,light years ahead of the Meddle one(as I believe many will agree with me on that).Also,the bass groove in the jamming session sounds more fitting.I don't like the fact that the song is split in two parts(opening and closing the film),but it's still great.To see the band playing it in the afitheatre of Pompeii has a powerfull efect.Another song improved over the studio original is Set the Control For the Heart of the Sun,where the film reach a climax.A cleaner recording and great synth effects here.A Saucerfull of Secrets is the third and last highlight,again with a remakable immprovement over the studio original.The remaining songs(including the overlooked One of These Days)fill the 'show' with a fittable contrast,but the truth is they would bore me to death if placed elsewhere.The typycal Pink Floyd slumbering numbers.

Included in this DVD is a very nice inetrview with thr original film director and the complete original movie.

I happen to find Live At Pompeii a great statement by the band,but this is only for Pink Floyd serious fans,fond of thee pre-Dark Side era.