Rating: 
Summary: Thought provoking, life changing guide....
Review: I watched and watched those tapes over and over for the past two years and it brought different light and understanding each time I watched it. It has an everlasting quality and does not expire through time. Mr. Campbell had a unique ability in telling those stories and evoking the understanding in the deepest part of my conscience. I highly recommend it to any one whom is hungry for more understanding of our existence through the stories and wisdom of our ancestors.
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting and Powerful
Review: The book and the tapes on the power of myth are very interesting and interpret mythology and religion within the same paradigm and concepts - that myth flows from the contrary and contradictory stresses and strains of the body and society. The thesis is tightly explored by Campbell in numerous of his works and explains why he sometimes cannot explain (sorry) variations in conceptual problems among myths. Campbell had a tremendous impact on my study of comparative religion at university over 10 years ago, in a positive way, howver since then I've realized that his ideas are worn and flawed in many respects. Thinking outside of his parardigm of mythic evolution will raise many more questions than he attempts to answer. All in all I think Campbell is one of the greatest philosophers of comparative religion and mythology and someone who stood at a crossroads of academic insight over many decades.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent .... profound insights!
Review: Absolutley fascinating insights the meaning of myths and the common elements of world religions. Profound insights - changes one's perspective on the meaning of life and your personal relationship to the spiritual world. Campbell's ability to relate intellectual concept to commonplace stories is unparralled. Highly recommended!!!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent perspective on the natural origin of religion
Review: For those interested in a unique and academic study of the foundations of modern philosophy and religion without blind faith. Campbell compares many different cultures to expose the common elements (Jong's collective unconscious). His interview and story telling style is similar to the way human knowledge has been passed down for centuries. Great for most ages (10-100).
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Summary: If you thought myth was about fairies - hold on to your seat
Review: I had not known of Joseph Cambell before watching these video tapes. He completely inspired me and helped transformed my thinking about "the experience of life". Each episode is enthralling and beautifully produced. His knowledge is sublime! If you want to understand why myth has everything to do with life; and you want to be inspired by the most extraordinary ordinary man... watch these tapes, and hold on to your seat!
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Summary: An incredible documentary and interview!!
Review: I watch this program whenever it appears on PBS, it was an incredible program, as one viewer stated it is a movie - that is wrong, this was not a movie. It was documentary/educational exploration of the myths of many cultures. Mythology is humanity's universal method of seeking the transcendental, and "follow your bliss" is the timeless formula for spiritual satisfaction. Campbell himself is the embodiment of these themes, an erudite scholar and quintessential storyteller, recalling a wide spectrum of myths from throughout history (Japanese, Native American, Egyptian, Mayan, and many more) to illustrate humankind's eternal quest to grasp the mysteries of creation. Historical artifacts and illustrations bring these timeless stories to life. Bill Moyers is an excellent, skillful interviewer. I own the DVD and have purchase it for family members, so they may experience new thoughts, new ideas, and also the incredible art of interviewing. Enjoy it and watch if frequently, it does put life and mythology into perspective. It is an aincredible expeience. I highly recommend it.
Rating: 
Summary: For everyone of any religious or non-religious background
Review: Joseph Campbell brings an enthusiasm to the study of religion and mythology that few can match. Even if you disagree with his major conclusions - and I do disagree with some of them - he will inspire you to look at your own religion in a new light. Seriously speaking, these interviews may change your life.
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Summary: Amazing...
Review: After reading some of the recent reviews for this interview I seriously have a sick feeling in my stomach. Each review begins: "so...we were forced to watch this old guy talk about superheroes in our english class, and it sucked cuz i wanted to fall asleep."
Today's generation of 'young people' is so misguided it makes me ashamed that I'm 21 myself.
Anyway, just wanted to vocalize my frustrations. For the record, the DVD is mind blowing to say the least. I've read nearly everything J.C.(and the other great 20th century mind...Jung) has ever written. I even read the transcript of this interview before watching the DVDs.
Buy it. Feed your mind.
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Summary: POWER OF MYTH IS NO MYTH ...
Review: ... it can inspire you, even change your life. It changed mine. I was always confused about religions, myths, spiritualism, and even life, and the inspiration found by this series helped me to better find myself and my place in the world. Campbell had a truly rare understanding of myth, the unconscious self, and spiritual existence I think. Watching this series for the first time, his words were like hammers pounding upon my brain with simple, easy truths that I think I've always known deep inside, but hadn't realized through all the complex and demanding materialism of the adult world. This is it. This is life. The adventure. You can be the "hero" of the adventure, or the dragon which plagues your world. (So to speak, of course the "dragon" tends to represent the threat of the ego (in the western world.)Keep in mind, I am totally bias towards Campbell. He was the only person in my life who ever really moved me, and changed my life. Looking at this material objectively, I can say that it deals with our perceptions of life, of how the old stories speak to us of wisdom, if we can open our ears, so to speak. Myth is a beautiful but mystical thing. One can hear the words and receive the example, or even get the point, and miss the inspiration. Language is after all just a vessel to get across an idea (cargo.) We so often focus on the vessel and miss the cargo. Myth carries with it a fantastic yet simple vessel, but without getting the cargo one could never take in its purpose. By that I mean to say that if you do not have an open dock (open mind), then stay clear of this vessel. (It's too big for you.) WHAT IS IT? This is a series of talks, a casual interview between Bill Moyers and Professor Joseph Campbell. It was filmed (in part) by George Lucas' studio, and some interviews were conducted in Lucas' home. The talks are about the origins and intentions of myth, their value to us, and myths of our world today -- mainly "Star Wars". Ancient myths are the biggest topic however, and these range from Japanese to Native American to Egyptian to Greek to Mayan myths, and more. The topics here -- birth, life, danger, adulthood, loss, death -- could be overwhelming, but Campbell has a genius for simplifying it for those of us who haven't studied mythology all are lives can understand. Part of the reason for that is that Campbell truly gets what he says, and so he doesn't require arrogance or manipulation to move us. He speaks the revealed, skinless truth about who we are, how we live, and how we should live -- according to myth, and just basic wisdom. Ultimately "The Power of Myth" is about wisdom, and believe me, it can help you to find your natural path in life. There are no answers here however -- as Campbell says: "A teacher can only serve as a lighthouse, and say "Careful, rocks over here.'" This DVD set also features an interview with George Lucas, biographies of both Campbell and Moyers, weblinks, and a 'selected videography'. A collection that in my opinion everyone should have.
Rating:
Summary: An Intellectual Tapestry
Review: Follow Your Bliss! ~Joseph Campbell (1904-1987)
Joseph Campbell's mind is beyond fascinating. As you view Bill Moyers trying to understand the absolute intellectual bliss Joseph Campbell is engaged in, you can't help but wonder how anyone could maintain the wealth of knowledge swirling in ecstasy in their mind. Joseph Campbell fits each piece of information into a richly woven spiritual tapestry.
Suddenly life becomes much more simple when the universe is explained in a myth. We all see the similarities of the Hero's Adventure in books and movies, but why is this such a prevalent theme and are we all taking this journey? Joseph Campbell believes we are on our own spiritual journeys in which our consciousness is transformed through trials. If life seems like a struggle to you, then the first section about the Hero's Adventure will explain why we must slay our dragons by overcoming fear and other primal inclinations.
Myths can be clues to spirituality and in all cultures, stories of creation and death encourage an understanding of our beginning and end. But are we really ever in any state other than Eternity itself? Joseph Campbell explains why good and evil are temporal apparitions and explores living life as a poem.
During the taping of these interviews, Joseph Campbell had just purchased a computer and has some interesting observations about his interactions.
In this six-part, six-hour interview style journey, you will learn about the yin/yang symbol, why people sacrifice their ego in marriage, why love is the perfect kindness and how libido can be an impulse to life itself.
Other topics of interest: Star Wars, The Holy Grail, Romantic Love, Nirvana, Inner Mythology, the Virgin Birth, Agricultural Societies and the Goddess, Biblical Complexities, Spiritual Rebirth, Rituals as enactments of myths, the Soul as a Circle, Archetypes, Insight into the Human Psyche, Deep Mystery, Chakras, Mysteries of Creation, Compassion, James Joyce and Epiphanies, Monsters and Dragons, Poetry, Heaven and explanations of Brahma.
If you have any interest in World Religions, this will take you to new levels in your understanding of universal desires, our search for a relationship with God and this may even help you understand your relationship with your life partner. Essential viewing for anyone interested in Myths, Buddhism or Christianity.
When you think that this was recorded two years before Joseph Campbell's death, you cannot help but be amazed at the fluidity of his mind and the way in which he weaves concepts into eternal verbal bliss. He not only explains spiritual concepts, he takes you through amazing myths from Japanese, Native American, Egyptian and Mayan cultures. While he speaks, they present beautiful artwork illustrating the stories. He explains the difference between Amore, Eros and Agape and then explains how we can reach Nirvana by reaching a psychological place where we are unattached to desire and fear.
At times Moyers seems to play with words as well as Joseph Campbell, but then at other times he seems to be asking for more information so the viewer can enjoy the depth of knowledge only an extremely perceptive interviewer could extract. At times he reads myths from one culture and Joseph reads them from another culture. The similarities are astonishing.
The Hero's Adventure
The Message of the Myth
The First Storytellers
Sacrifice and Bliss
Love and the Goddess
Masks of Eternity
Bonus Features: An Art Gallery and Selections from the video Sukhavati. Joseph Campbell narrates beautiful nature scenes. I found my six hour experience to be intellectually exhilarating. Half the fun of life is finding all the puzzle pieces needed to explain your very existence. This DVD set takes you beyond a basic understanding of mythology, it literally presents a pathway you could follow to spiritual bliss. I watched both DVDs in one day and was completely captivated by this intellectual tapestry.
~TheRebeccaReview.com
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