Fires Of Kuwait (IMAX)

Rating:
Summary: Documentary Treasure
Review: This film is a masterpiece. "The fires of Kuwait" takes you on a visual trip which is as beautiful as it is emotional. IMAX have made a great decision by releasing this one on video. But I guess this year is the 10th anniversary of the gulf war, and the time is appropriate for the release. The film is decicated to the bravery of the fire fighters who helped put off the fires. I think the film is awesome, and to me it stands as witness to the calamities of unconventional warfare. Seldom, if not never, do war crimes make such beautiful documentaries. That is probably why most war crimes are forgotten. Because I lived it, I remember that the war in the gulf led to many shattered lives... including but not limited to brave allied soldiers & over 600 innocent Kuwaiti civilians who were randomly rounded up during occupation- still prisoners in Iraq today. This award nominated film is fun as well as educational... I would highly recommend it to Documentary/History buffs, film students, History students, Environmentalists & people whose lives were touched by the gulf war in one way or another: This is the one piece of memorabilia which you should treasure & it is probably the most telling, compelling and by far the best presented.

Rating:
Summary: Great cinematography
Review: This video is WONDERFUL in the cinematography that it has. Unfortunately, the writers and directors failed to properly tell the story. Thankfully, they didn't have a bias but were looking at just telling the story, but the need to tell us a little more. There was no map of where in Kuwait the fires were. The audio between the ambient sounds and the narrative voice-overs occasionally blended too well.
If you are looking for a DVD with a lot of oil well fires, great cinematography, and a little historical background - this one is for you.
If you are seeking a little more in the Gulf War and it's ramafications, you might want to consider a different source.
Pretty good - needed a little more work with the story.

Rating:
Summary: Great cinematography
Review: This video is WONDERFUL in the cinematography that it has. Unfortunately, the writers and directors failed to properly tell the story. Thankfully, they didn't have a bias but were looking at just telling the story, but the need to tell us a little more. There was no map of where in Kuwait the fires were. The audio between the ambient sounds and the narrative voice-overs occasionally blended too well.
If you are looking for a DVD with a lot of oil well fires, great cinematography, and a little historical background - this one is for you.
If you are seeking a little more in the Gulf War and it's ramafications, you might want to consider a different source.
Pretty good - needed a little more work with the story.

Rating:
Summary: WOW, This is better than any Hollywood pyro magic...
Review: Yet another example of a superb IMAX film. Shot entirely on location in the oil fields of Kuwait, this film is one of the most dramatic and spectacular documentaries that was ever made. In the words of Director and Cinematographer David Douglas, "It represents the the best and worst that humans have to offer." The photography is superior and while never truly reproducing the IMAX scale on a 36 inch Sony 'WEGA' screen, the contrast between blackness and vivid color is most impressive. The detail is simply remarkable. There is a small amount of 'film artifact' that remains in this version, but it is minimal and does not distract from the overall presentation. The fires and blasts continue to send chills down my spine with each viewing! I am a part-time pyrotechnician/licensed blaster and will attest that this is the closest that I have to seen to reproducing the real thing on screen. The 5.1 Dolby Digital remaster is excellent and did very well on my Onkyo home theater. The low end is most impressive and only adds to the drama. If one were to photograph the fires of hell, I think this is how I would see it.
The narration by Rip Torn is interesting. An informative and factual script documents the monumental tasks that face the men and women that fight oil well fires, though the images tell most of the story. Although not prominently featured, you get to meet living legends in the business like George Hill and others in Joe Bowden's team. You can almost feel the heat coming off the screen! There is a strong message presented with this film and it will hit you right over the head. The accompanying 'documentary' on this dvd is very short and presents some commentary, but if there is one weakness with this disk, it is here. Expecting something from the MacGillivray IMAX series, this does not compete with those 'Making of...' films. This is the only IMAX film that I have not watched with my toddler children, as I believe it may be a bit too intense for them. For everyone else, I would recommend this movie to own and watch over and over and keep its message close to your heart.