I've seen this movie about 50 times (possibly more). My "favorites" tend to fall into two categories: films I most want to see again, and films I've had my fill of but enjoyed greatly at the time. The Wall would belong in the latter category. There's no surprises left and it doesn't captivate me the way it used to. It's so familiar to me that I can't possibly provide any kind of objective viewpoint.
This is a pretty weird film. There's virtually no dialogue and more psychedelic imagery and Terry Gilliam-esque animation (only more horrifying) than conventional "film stuff", but the film still manages to have a pretty coherent plot. It's good stuff, and better than the album in my opinion. Some of the rerecorded songs are inferior to the album versions though, which is stupid as hell.
Filled with rich symbolism, Pink Floyd The Wall succeeds as a long-form music video and as a compelling and hypnotic psychodrama, but is marred by uneven pacing. The music, of course, is awesome.
This is something else. The music becomes haunting when combined with visuals especially in the animated sections that usually show nothing but despair. I think you appreciate how everything has came together with such synergy more than anything.
although I mostly loathe the character limit of the mini-reviews in criticker, what i want to say about the wall is rather short and simple: if I had seen this movie before I had listened to the wall, the lyrics, the visuals and the music would have blown me away. but with things as it is, the movie the wall is nothing but a companion to a fantastic album for me, despite being an absolutely stunning picture.
It can get a little draggy, and some of the scenes are rough going, but as a long-form music video, it's absolutely effective, and it really brings this incredible record to life.
The combination of too much Waters and what I consider the over-commercial style of The Wall made this one a pretty flat and unengaging Floyd film project. Give me an extended Echoes jam from Live at Pompeii anyday.