OK rock fans. As I write this Tommy is on the Ovation channel, PF The Wall is on Fuse channel. Two iconic fictional rock movies that aren't documentaries or concerts. Which one's better?
As a lifelong Who fan, and only a casual Floyd fan. I would have to go with The Wall against Tommy (and Quadraphenia) unfortunately. While I prefer the albums, the movies don't do it for me.
Let's here you.
I think "Tommy" is far better than "The Wall". In fact Alan Parker admits to using ideas from "Tommy" in "The Wall". Ken Russell's film has better use of symbolism and is a great commentary on abuse (both physical and substance), celebrity worship, religion...I could go on and on about how brilliant "Tommy" is as a film.
"The Wall"? Eh. Maybe I'll give it another shot sometime.
Tommy is more entertaining and fun to watch. The Wall is something you have to be in the mood for. If not it just drags.
shareIn fact Alan Parker admits to using ideas from "Tommy" in "The Wall".
I definitely think "The Wall" is the better movie, mainly because I feel that "Tommy" is too silly to take seriously. I mean, the concept album was very serious and dark but the movie is just so caught up in the 70s that it looks cheesey and light. "The Wall", on the other hand, doesn't look like it's from its time, and is somber but not too depressing.
I do like "Tommy", though. I just feel like "The Wall" is the better movie.
"That's just making him angry!"
"He was already angry!"
I prefer The Wall leaps and bounds above Tommy. I feel the quality is much higher and I adore the music. But Tommy certainly is a good movie.
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"Love means never having to say you're ugly." - the Abominable Dr. Phibes
The Wall. Better lyrics, better music, better performances, more substance.
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I'm surprised to see such a Wall majority here on the Tommy board.
I far prefer Tommy. Both are silly movies, but I've always thought that The Wall is waaaay too whiney. It always makes me want to say "Boo hoo, I'm a famous rock star, get over yourself".
Tommy is just more fun, althought The Wall benefits from having Pink Floyd actually doing all the music.
The Wall. No contest in my mind. Most of the singers in Tommy ruined the music for me. But then again, I have a love of darker movies and Tommy's depressing concept was made with too many vibrant colors
"This is a $4000 sofa upholstered in Italian silk. Its not just a couch"
"ITS JUST A COUCH!"
As a casual Who fan but a lifelong Floyd fan, I have to disagree. I do agree with the post that if you're not in the mood for The Wall it just drags. I don't feel that way about Tommy.
But, just as a sort of disclaimer, The Wall played out for me years ago. While in my teens and early 20s I considered it a landmark album, now I see it as the bitter ends to what could have been many more years of great creativity. My feelings for post-DSotM Floyd have definitely faded over the last 15-20 years.
Been a music fan since 1982. Dark Side and the Wall were seminal favorites among my crowd in school. They were part of a handful of albums everybody owned back in the '80s, before Metallica MoP hit. But my favorite Floyd album didn't come out until 1992 with Division Bell. I much prefer David Gilmour over Roger waters' work. I bought Pros and Cons listened to it a few times, and traded it in at the record store.
Wow, writing this made me remember how much the release of Master of Puppets changed everything. Kind of the way Nirvana changed it all again ten years later.