The ReelHouse Rock

This weekend, the ReelHouse will rock.

Armed with two of cinema's most popular rock epics, the ReelHouse Cinema & Draft presents a film series of musical proportions - Pink Floyd's The Wall on Friday and Led Zeppelin's The Song Remains the Same on Saturday.

"Personally, it sort of takes me back to a period in my life when I was interested in going out to see anything that had to do with music," ReelHouse co-owner Casey Pond said, "and that they'd play at night in the dark."

Sitting in the dark and listening to Floyd and Zeppelin is one thing, but witnessing their music visualized - and on the big screen, at that - is another.

"(Events coordinator) Walt (Reis) and I discussed it and thought we'd try two classics," Pond said.

The Wall is director Alan Parker's interpretation of Pink Floyd's eponymous concept album, based loosely on the life of Floyd bassist Roger Waters. It tells the story of Pink (played by Irish rocker Bob Geldof), a burnt-out rock star, who, from the seclusion of his hotel room, descends into madness.

On a surreal journey through memory and mind, we see moments in Pink's troubled past - a father lost to war, an overbearing mother, cruel schoolmasters and an unfaithful wife - culminate as bricks in an emotional wall that he builds around himself, ultimately severing his connection to reality.

Layered with Floyd's timeless music, stunning visuals and mind-blowing animation, The Wall is a testament to musical cinema - emotional, thought-provoking and purely captivating.

Directed by Peter Clifton and Joe Massot, The Song Remains the Same is not your typical concert film.

Though it prominently features prime concert and behind-the-scenes footage from Led Zeppelin's 1973 three-night run at New York City's Madison Square Garden, Song strays from the beaten path through a series of surreal fantasy sequences.

These particular scenes, directed by Massot prior to his firing (creative differences), offer viewers a more intimate glimpse of the legendary rockers, and even their colorful managers, through visual interpretations of their thoughts, dreams and hallucinations.

And let's not forget the performances, including standout renditions of "Black Dog," "Stairway to Heaven," "Whole Lotta Love" and more.

Though the film series is fixing to be an auditory feast, Pond sees it as somewhat of a taste test.

"There are a huge number of music-oriented movies we'd like to show, but it all depends on people coming out," he said. "This is a trial weekend for us, and we want to gauge Boone's willingness to come out and enjoy movies that are musically based."

Prospective future titles include The Beatles' Yellow Submarine, Pink Floyd: Live at Pompeii, This is Spinal Tap and even a couple Grateful Dead productions.

"And documentary type pieces that are put out by artists and about artists seem to be an interest, so there are a lot of possibilities," Pond said. "Come out and support us, and, rest assured, there will be more to come."

The ReelHouse will screen The Wall on Friday, May 21, at 10 p.m. and midnight, and The Song Remains the Same on Saturday, May 22, at 10 p.m.

Admission costs $5 and includes free popcorn. Drink specials will also be available both nights.
The ReelHouse Cinema & Draft is located at 215 Boone Heights Drive in Boone. For more information, call (828) 262-3244 or visit http://www.thereelhouseboone.com.