Review of Pink Floyd: The Wall (1982) by Killer Kimchi — 11 Apr 2009

Stunning, fantastic, and imaginative...if at times a bit self indulgent. Honestly the best and worst thing I can say about this movie is its just a movie version of the album. I'd be willing to bet money anyone who likes The Wall as an album will like it as a movie, and the same goes for hating it.

I will say some scenes of the movie DID leave me a bit dissappointed having imagined the story of Pink on my own during one of my NUMEROUS treks through it. Pink's break down in the Hotel room especially came off as less of an emotional explosion as a bi-polar break down. However the final scenes of him becoming the very thing that killed his father and gathering the masses around him were even better than I ever imagined. I'll also say the over all idea of disconnection from society felt less evident in the movie. Maybe I'm throwing my own interpretation of the album onto the movie and expecting them to line up though.

Ironically I saw this movie years ago before I knew I even liked Floyd or the Wall and I hated it. At the time I felt it was over the top on random visuals, and the usual society-busting themes of large rock bands. Understanding more about the message of the music now the visuals suddenly make sense.