Rating: 
Summary: Inspiring, thrilling...wanting more!
Review: First saw it in theatre with friends, owned the laserdisc and now DVD.....it gives constant joy watching film making ....rather than most of what we see today. Love to show it to novice film buffs...it is great start for someone... While the sound is digital mono..it is great. And the various ascept ratios...are excellant as is the clarity. One can go to the original full length film for all proper mixes...which you want to after seeing clips from "some" of the classics and near classics....and leaving you wanting....more. I believe this is must for every collection.
Rating:
Summary: This is how beautiful movies can be
Review: I bought this DVD within seconds of watching it in a film class. DVD is a great medium for this documentary about Cinematography, but doesn't even begin to compare to the glory of this on 35mm print. The information in the documentary is interesting, but the true reason to buy this is the images. From the sublime face of Garbo to the quiet beauty of Days of Heaven and the Conformist, this is a wonderful tour of great moving images.
Rating:
Summary: Great for film students and lovers of film.
Review: I bouhgt the laser disc version in 1994, and I have seen it since then, almost 30 times. I have just ordered the DVD version as soon as I knew that existed. I don't know which features does have the DVD version, but in laser disc was extraordinary, I learned a lot from the best cinematographers, e.g. Almendros say that a cinematographer should never use a fog filter. I really recomend strongly this DVD not only for film students, but also for every person who own a DVD, you'll never see this on TV.Elías Rima Thursday, 08jun2000
Rating: 
Summary: Very inspiring but not instructional
Review: I loved this DVD, it shows you history and theory but it's not instructional, it doesn't talk about light set-ups or specific techniques. If your looking for an instructional video as i was look elsewhere, I still enjoyed it though and I'd still buy it.
Rating:
Summary: DVD review was in error
Review: I originally thought I had two Visions of Light DVDs with an audio/video synch problem, but it turns out to be a defect in my DVD player. The DVD plays without error, and the content so far has been outstanding (even better with video and audio congruence).
Rating:
Summary: good video for high school film students
Review: I reviewed this documentary based on a recommendation from the "Family Movie Guide" published by the U.S. Catholic Conference. I was looking for a documentary for a film appreciation seminar for high students. I was pleasantly impressed with the historical footage from the 1920s and 1930s. The viewer is introduced to the major cinematographers this century. Overall, the commentators are inspiring and make the viewer want to go into "movie-making." The best commentary is from the footage about black & white movies before the advent of sound. I hope this "early" footage will give my high school students a better appreciation of non-color movies. However, I have a few qualms: 1) There is little reference to the impact of technology and computer animation on the cinematographer's role. Indeed, there are only two references to science fiction films (Star Wars and Blade Runner). 2) Also, high action thrillers from the 1980's and early 1990's DO NOT receive any attention. The advent of the steady-cam could have been covered more in depth. 3) The ethical issues involving the growing soft-pornography in movies since the 1980's DO NOT receive any attention. Indeed, many cinematographers may be "forced" into including nude and semi-nude footage in a film to apppease producers/writers. 4) (minor qualm) The documentary needs to be updated, even though it ends with 5 minutes of footage and commentary about the wonderfully colorful movie -- "The Last Emperor."
Rating:
Summary: This DVD is truly inspiring
Review: If you're interested in cinematography, there's no reason whatsoever you shouldn't already own this DVD -- in fact, it's shameful that you don't. For the rest of you, even if you're not interested in all the technical aspects of putting a moving picture onscreen, this DVD will inspire you to see more movies, and to appreciate film for the incredible art that it is. Buy this DVD and see every film mentioned in it...you won't be sorry.
Rating:
Summary: Amazing!
Review: My instructor showed my class this movie about an hour ago, it was terrific, I love how movies work even more than I did before I watched it........... if that's possible. I hope to someday be luckey enough to join this field of work.
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Summary: THIS DOCUMENTARY SHOWS HOW MOVIES ARE REALLY MADE!
Review: Nevermind the stars, directors, or make-up people. Without the cinematographer, none of those people matter. I realized that when watching this wonderful documentary. Entertaining antecdotes (William Fraker's "Rosemary's Baby" incident still makes me laugh) and important historical moments are the highlight. And I finally got to see and hear Vittorio Storaro, one of my all-time favorite cinematographers! Recommended for the die-hard film buff (like me) or the casual viewer.
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing
Review: Not certain what the raves are about, essentially a collection of short clips (the color ones are terrible) and retired cinematographers presenting shallow irrelevant synopses of their lives and the film. Learned nothing about lighting theory, technique, cinematography, or any of the other expectations I had.
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