This was insanely awesome and I'm somewhat speechless about it. I knew for quite some time, it's been a favorite of mine and all, but seeing the video most recently
was a spectacle of the senses. "Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead" presents XTC performing the song which is a long story about such title character and his heroic acts seen
with bad eyes by the powers of be while the images show a recreation of JFK assassination, along with some elements that are part of the song; comparison between political
assassinations and the crucifiction of Christ; and lots and lots of related imagery.
Oliver Stone's film was still fresh in everyone's minds and popular culture so there are some clear influences about in recreating the killing in Dallas, even though the main figure of the event isn't Kennedy (the actor doesn't even look like him, but the elements are all there with the open limousine, the Jackie character trying to get out of the car, etc.) but a kid watching the motorcade and holding U. S. flag, he's very expressive and appears here and there watching everything unfolds.
But what knocked me out of my sense was the clear comparison of elements between JFK and Jesus, the conspiracy involved in their killings, and some similar elements displayed throughout the video. Like Mr. Stone, the juxtaposition of facts and elements make sense, sound coincidental enough to make you blown away - really coincidence or just facts of life that powerful leaders are always taken down when someone or some system feels threatned by them? Same as it ever was. But the holiness of one compared to a corrupted drunkness of power is way out of proportion - but the message comes across quite fine though it was one of the obvious reasons why this clip was censored at the time.
The story told through the lyrics doesn't appear acted by the cast but its themes and closeness make it up for a very metaphorical video, all the more interesting to watch if you pay attention to both elements: the sonorous and the visual. Outstanding! 10/10.
Oliver Stone's film was still fresh in everyone's minds and popular culture so there are some clear influences about in recreating the killing in Dallas, even though the main figure of the event isn't Kennedy (the actor doesn't even look like him, but the elements are all there with the open limousine, the Jackie character trying to get out of the car, etc.) but a kid watching the motorcade and holding U. S. flag, he's very expressive and appears here and there watching everything unfolds.
But what knocked me out of my sense was the clear comparison of elements between JFK and Jesus, the conspiracy involved in their killings, and some similar elements displayed throughout the video. Like Mr. Stone, the juxtaposition of facts and elements make sense, sound coincidental enough to make you blown away - really coincidence or just facts of life that powerful leaders are always taken down when someone or some system feels threatned by them? Same as it ever was. But the holiness of one compared to a corrupted drunkness of power is way out of proportion - but the message comes across quite fine though it was one of the obvious reasons why this clip was censored at the time.
The story told through the lyrics doesn't appear acted by the cast but its themes and closeness make it up for a very metaphorical video, all the more interesting to watch if you pay attention to both elements: the sonorous and the visual. Outstanding! 10/10.
