It's fun, it's light, [but] it has a hard time when its tries to get heavy.

The movie is wonderful and true, an act of love in all its contradictions and complexity

It’s sentimental, ridiculously long and only occasionally funny

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

I first saw this trippy concert documentary as a midnight movie some years ago (at least a year or two before 'The Wall'). As I always liked Floyd's music (especially the pre-Dark Side era Floyd), I sought out this film for some years, until the window of opportunity opened for me. As I watched Floyd perform a version of Echoes, which I liked even better than the one on the Meddle L.P., I just wished I had showed up stoned out of my bird. The film seems to have been filmed in several places,besides the ruins of that ancient Roman amphitheater (there are a few selections shot in a film studio). The interview sections are well documented, as well. There are sections of Floyd in the recording studio, working out the 'Dark Side' L.P. I wonder if any of that unused material has ever turned up on any Floyd bootleg? Now that I've heard that a longer version exists of this film, I'll have to scour the planet for a version of it. Does anybody know if there is either a DVD or VHS copy of it in existence? I would even settle for a bootlegged copy.

If you're a Floyd fan, then you know that the best way to experience their music is with both audio and visual. That's why this new dvd, `Live in Pompeii' is a must have. If you already own and love the video version like I do, you'll be blown away by the dvd. It has both the original version (in pan scan, minus the interviews) and a new director's cut (widescreen, with added interviews) as well. The visuals in this video are just amazing. The ancient amphitheater among the ruins of Old Pompeii is awesome and a great place for the band to play. There is a great mosaic shot of Nick Mason that is pretty trippy. The director's cut has footage from the band's recording of Dark Side, and some great interviews with the guys. This is definitely a must have for anyone's Floyd collection.

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.

Man oh man I LOVE this "rockumentry" of Pink Floyd in their early, pre DSOTM (Dark Side Of The Moon) days. This takes place in the ancient ruins of Pompeii and despite it being filmed back in 1971-2, the images and audio are really good. Crank this up on a modern home theatre system and you will see what I mean. The songs have been commented on by others on imdb so I'll focus on other things on this excellent movie. The band eating in the diner is hilarious, especially Nick Mason asking for apple pie *without* crust. Dave Gilmour asking people to trust Pink Floyd for not being a very drug oriented band was funny as well. Heh Heh. The atmosphere was perfect for the songs that were played there. I especially liked the fact the band was laid back, yet still energetic. They play all the songs on this film with aplomb. Some of the songs have some moodiness about them (Set the controls... Careful with that axe, Eugene)thanks to the lighting, fog, and time of day and that makes them even cooler. I enjoyed the behind the scenes stuff whilst they were recording their landmark album, DSOTM, and hearing the studio engineers complaining about "feedback" was a hoot. [Studio engineer]:"Feedback..." [Gilmour]:"What's rock and roll without feedback?!" Exactly! The dog singing the blues was also hilarious albeit goofy :-) If you're a die hard Floyd fan and have a taste for their older stuff, this is the video for you. If you're open minded and curious, I also urge you to buy this video. 10/10 here :)