Rating: 
Summary: Unfocused
Review: Sometimes you want to like a film so much it takes you a while to realize that you're not having nearly the fun you'd anticipated. Such was the case with VISIONS OF LIGHT, a rather loose and rambling celebration of the art of cinematography.
The film's strengths - conversations with a number of modern, world class cinematographers. Beautiful clips from movies from the advent of motion pictures to the 1980s.
Its weaknesses - no coherent thread or linear narrative tracking the development of the art. The movie bounces around a bit too much for that, and all that jumping about makes things a little disorienting.
It's as if VISIONS OF LIGHT wanted to make the case that motion picture photography is important and something to be appreciated in and of itself. I'm already convinced of that, and was hoping to see a more structured piece investigating the hows and whys of the art.
For instance, one scene deals with a scene from IN COLD BLOOD, a film on which Conrad Hall was the director of photography. VISIONS runs a clip from that movie that features Robert Blake in a prison cell, talking to a priest. It's raining outside the window, and the shadows of the rain plays on the expressionless mask the Blake character wears while talking about his father. As Hall puts it, the shadow of the rain cries for the Blake character. The rain was a lucky accident which really adds depth to the character and the movie.
VISIONS OF LIGHT is filled with such scenes, and the film has an anecdotal allure that makes it enjoyable; if it had gone a little farther behind the camera it may have been remarkable.
Rating: 
Summary: The best documentury I've seen for aspiring filmakers!!
Review: The Morricone theme, from Days of Heaven, still haunts my memory from watching the montage for the first time. "Visions of Light" may have been the pivotal reason I decided to go into cinema. This magnificent documentary covers all spectrums of filmmaking from inspiration to the technical advice and stories from the masters themselves. The "Rosemary's Baby" and "In Cold Blood" stories are my personal favorites. Young cinematographers and directors from a new generation, my generation, may be inspired and humbled by what beauty and power really is. It is a must see! It is in one word...perfection!
Rating:
Summary: Enlighting my thoughts
Review: This DVD is a must have for all Directors of Photography and cinematographers.
It presents the evolution of lighting techniques from early movies to the present days.
This DVD shows you that light is one of the main tool(if not the main) of a cinematographer.
It presents interviews with the most important DP in the industry and they share theirs techniques and visions of light.
Rating: 
Summary: Well done, recommended viewing for any fan of the movies
Review: This film is not just homework for film students. I think anyone who enjoys movies will find this an entertaining & informative collection of movie scenes. The format of this collection is to have a brief (minute or so), well done interview with the cinematographer for a particular movie scene describe what's important, followed by the scene itself. The pacing, clips, and interviews are such that the overall film keeps your interest and is entertaining and at times fascinating. I came away with a greater appreciation for some past movies as well as an improved eye to better enjoy future films. I found myself reaching for pen & paper several times to write down the name of a movie I had not seen that looked interesting. Quality of the scenes is good to excellent, with some allowance for some of the earliest B&W films scenes. I've watched some other "collection" films and found them to be either short on meaningful interviews/narration, or, frankly, a little on the boring side. Not so with this film. I found "Visions of Light, the Art of Cinematography" entertaining, informative, and a good source of new (as in "new to me") movies to go out and rent.
Rating:
Summary: Well done, recommended viewing for any fan of the movies
Review: This film is not just homework for film students. I think anyone who enjoys movies will find this an entertaining & informative collection of movie scenes. The format of this collection is to have a brief (minute or so), well done interview with the cinematographer for a particular movie scene describe what's important, followed by the scene itself. The pacing, clips, and interviews are such that the overall film keeps your interest and is entertaining and at times fascinating. I came away with a greater appreciation for some past movies as well as an improved eye to better enjoy future films. I found myself reaching for pen & paper several times to write down the name of a movie I had not seen that looked interesting. Quality of the scenes is good to excellent, with some allowance for some of the earliest B&W films scenes. I've watched some other "collection" films and found them to be either short on meaningful interviews/narration, or, frankly, a little on the boring side. Not so with this film. I found "Visions of Light, the Art of Cinematography" entertaining, informative, and a good source of new (as in "new to me") movies to go out and rent.
Rating:
Summary: The most brilliant chronicle of movie-making ever
Review: This film is regarded by all as THE movie about movie making. Legendary filmmakers from around the world are interviewed, lending opinions, advise, and behind-the-scenes stories that are heard nowhere else. A must-see for any aspiring filmmaker or film fan.
Rating:
Summary: Eyes Wide Open
Review: This is a great documentary.
Across the course of the film, you may have your eyes opened as if for the first time: it comprises clips and interviews about the history of cinematography, or indeed the whole look and language of film.
While many of the clips show well-known moments in film, their compilation in this way offers one fresh and striking visual after another. The revelation is the strength of early and rarely-seen films, and the assertion that had sound films been invented a decade later, the visual language of film would have developed and intensified still further. As it is, the images are just ravishing, and it's really rather moving to watch.
This is a warm and thought-provoking look at cinematography, and is highly recommended. The only reservation is the mono sound on the DVD, but it's a small sacrifice when the visuals hold pride of place.
Be prepared -- you'll want to revisit many classics after this!
Rating:
Summary: Great program, not so great DVD
Review: This is a very interesting program, and one reason to get the DVD is because not only is it cheaper than the VHS version, but because of the durability and quality of a DVD. But I have to also mention that this program didn't get any kind of treatment as a DVD, except for dividing the program into chapters. For such feature and since it's about the visual art of cinema, subtitles for the hearing impaired and for other languages should have been considered.
Rating:
Summary: Will ramp your appreciation of cinematography to new plane.
Review: Will ramp your appreciation of cinematography to new plane. I felt priveledged to see through the eyes of the cinematographers whose interpretive visions become our filmic memories. You will understand at a new level the mix of man, machine and method that give us the larger than life illusions that carry the cinematic message to an eternal place we always carry with us. This is a must for any aspiring cinematographer and/or filmmaker. Cinematographer/Filmmaker
Rating:
Summary: Visions of Light-a must have DVD!
Review: Working in the film business here in Los Angeles, it's easy to understand my appreciation for all aspects of film production. However, there are many people who don't unerstand the knowledge needed to get an image on film. Visions of Light is an incredible look into the world of cinematography, and the artists who have lit some of the most beautiful faces and film sets of the past 100 years. When I received this DVD, I wasn't expecting any "added footage", any "supplemental material." I was simply expecting a DVD that was enjoyable, entertaining, and somewhat educational to watch. In a nutshell, it delivered beyond my expectations. This DVD contains wonderful clips from some of the most popular and most beautifully photographed films of the past century. It includes interviews with an array of cinematographers giving behind the scenes stories of their careers and films that they have shot. Technically, don't expect this DVD to test your home system with incredible explosions and flawless picture quality. The clips are dated and the quality of sound and picture ranges from very good to incredibly dated. No one can expect a clip from 1930 to look THAT good, yet this DVD manages to present even the oldest clips in their greatest beauty. If you are a big fan of films, or you love the art of cinematography, or you simply have a curiousity on how films are made, then this DVD is a MUST HAVE. It is put together very well. It is incredibly entertaining, with wonderful film clips and interviews that will introduce you to the artists responsible for some of the greatest and most memorable films in history. Buy Visons of Light and it will surely be one of you favorite DVD's to watch. Enjoy!
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