KevinBeckett

A film made in the 80's – for children of the 60's.

Pink Floyd's The Wall is arguably the best `rock opera' ever. – But the angst and societal issues that the album addresses only seem aged now.

The film, by blending the original music plus skilful re-mixes and new tracks tells a simple story, but the imagery used is dark and disturbing and relates to the social issues of the time. The film was made when the fears expressed in the novel 1984 were still a threat, (as an aside, while the film was being made in England there was a political campaign comparing the then conservative government of M. Thatcher to the Orwellian fascist world of 1984.)

But, as much as I and other members of my generation can relate to this film, does it have a message for today's youth. I think that it definitely does. The issues today may be different from those of the late 70's, but, the sentiment and the dangers are the same. We have huge segments of alienated people, we have bigotry and hate, and we have governments which operate in secret. We have movements that preach rigid conformity and hate, we have religions that have lost the message of caring and we have schools that only want to turn out mindless corporate robots.

In fact, I think that this film, and therefore the message behind the music, is MORE important today. The issues we as a society face now are far more dangerous to personal freedoms than when it was first released.

Summer 1978, and there is a great new movie running around. It's subversive, funny and has a great soundtrack. The trailer was funny and everyone I know wants to see it. Problem, the film is restricted, we are all underage, and there is no-way one of our parents would 'accompany' us to the movie.

So, me and a couple of pals sneak to the theater, and sneak in - and are treated to an amazing film.

Now although seamingly dated with the yearly barrage of teenager aimed 'coming of age' picks it is hard to remember that in 1978 this film was new. It was the original that set the tone for the barrage of immitators that followed. It is also note remembering that this film was not aimed at teenagers, rather at young adults. The comedy and situations were original, adult in tone and they deliver.

Belushi - in his second motion picture and at his prime, Ramis with his first screenplay, and Landis - only his third time at the helm, deliver.

The rest of the - relatively - unknown cast are fresh and deliver.

All in all a great film, and worth watching again - not the butchered for TV versions, but if possible in a repretory theater or on DVD.

Ok, I admit to a guilty pleasure at 1)enjoying and 2) recommending this movie.

The plot is weak, the situation implausible and the secondary characters are weak. So why do I give this movie a 7/10?

Dan Aykroyd and Kim Basinger, who have some of the funniest lines in any movie.

They are both excellent as 'fish out of water' he as a nerdy social misfit and she as the space travelling investigator who has to find out how Dan Aykroyd's character was able to contact her planet from a primitive Earth.

It is a movie that definitely grows on you with repeated viewings.