Horst in Translation (filmreviews@web.de)
"Fish Heads" is a music video from 1980, so it is already over 35 years old. The band you hear are "Barnes and Barnes". This is a mix of black-and-white and color scenes and occasionally there is even some animation in here. The writer (one of them), director and lead actor is Bill Paxton quite a while before his Golden Globe nominated acting. So well.. what can you say about this one here. It certainly lives through its oddity. The first 120 seconds are completely boring and forgettable, but then it just becomes extremely absurd and what we see fits together nicely with what we hear. Still, in terms of story-telling and maybe also the music (catchy, but no depth) this is not really a creative achievement. But I am not surprised this song is better known today than music from the 1980s that may have an actual great singing performance attached to it. This one just stays in the mind, regardless if you like it or not. I was tempted to give it a better rating, but because of the sleep-inducing beginning I just cant. Thumbs down from me and I do not recommend the watch. Also this is nothing that may get you interested in the singers' other works at all which is always bad for a music video.
spectre316-1
Fish Heads / Fish Heads / Roly Poly Fish Heads / Fish Heads / Fish Heads / Eat Them Up, YumThis now rare music video from the early eighties was indeed a big hit when music television (read: MTV) came into our lives with a vengence. It also was on Nickelodeon as well. It's just basically an incredibly out there, scary (in such an off-beat way), and incredibly funny short film about how you can take fish heads to the movies.I just saw it on VH1 Classic, the best music video channel out there (showing classic videos from the 80's and before), and was immedietly filled with nostalgia and happiness. It's such a creepy funny little film!
craigjclark
I remember seeing this video many, many times on Nickelodeon when I was a kid. I thought it was a laugh riot then and it's still funny to me now. Incidentally, that's Dr. Demento himself as the homeless guy admiring Bill Paxton's fish head. Barnes & Barnes are geniuses."Fish heads are never seen drinking cappuccinos in Italian restaurants with Oriental women / Yeah."
Paul Curtis
It's a mild surprise to see "Fish Heads" listed as a short film, but I suppose it is.The song is odd, as is the film. Most people watch it for the first time with their mouth open. I think this is the highest recommendation possible for a music video (surpassed possibly only by The Residents' "Hello Skinny.")This short film is available on the Barnes & Barnes music video compilation, "Voobaha" (or something like that.) Their other videos aren't as startling as "Fish Heads" but they are a lot of fun.
AD
