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Summary: Awe Inspiring Film
Review: Magnificent, magical, mesmerising and moving.
********************************************I saw this for the first time as a student and it changed my whole way of seeing environmental issues and was a launch pad for learning about everything from minimalist music to Hopi indian culture. A truly wonderful and unique cinematic experience. The Philip Glass sound-track gives an epic symphonic quality to the film. It's a rare and magnificent beast that every American should see.
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Summary: Roy - u are incorrect...
Review: Roy, you are incorrect in claiming the DVD release has been 'cut' - U need to understand how 35mm film works - To simplify things I will explain that there are 4 main film ratio formats - yes 4:3 and 1:1.85 are two common ratios you will see - 4:3 for commonly documentary film and things headed for TV shot in video - & 1:1.85, the most common 'hollywoodish' widescreen fomat - what you do not realise is that the 1:1.85 ratio is still shot using the exact same film as the 4:3 ratio and indeed ALL 35mm film ratios - It is a fact that the frames centres are the same distance apart whatever ratio - with widescreen ratios sometimes, rather than 'blind' or 'screen' off the extra film, it is still exposed - so in effect you have your 'in-shot' section (in the centre of the frame) and the tops and bottoms where often if you examine the actual film boom-mics and the like can be spotted - the director and camera-person fully aware that this is ok as it will be concealed when projected - Now... I say to you that the DVD is in the *correct* format but the projectionist at the cinema you attended did not install the appropriate blinds in the projector >> hence, you saw the full frame *incorrectly* and is probably why it 'immediately struck you' like u say...
I would go further to say that since it was filmed full frame and that there are no boom-mics etc.. indeed it could be watched any ratio - 1:1.66 if u like (oh yeh, but not anamorphic) - and no, I dont own a plasma screen
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Summary: The Essence of "Pure Cinema"
Review: My father introduced me to Koyaanisqatsi. He gave me a copy on VHS and told me it was a "coffee table" film - the cinematic equivalent of a beautiful picture book that you pick up every so often and enjoy flipping through. He was both right and wrong. Yes, it presents striking images and music void of narrative, character, dialog, or traditional 3-act structure - but by no means is it for casual browsing. Koyaanisqatsi is, in fact, the essence of "pure cinema" - a work of art that simply could not exist in any other medium. It is as arresting, lyrical, awe-inspiring, emotionally satisfying, and intellectually challenging as any film could be. To try describing it further would be folly, about like saying that the Mona Lisa is a piece of stretched canvas with dried, oil-suspended pigments stuck to it. As director Godfrey Reggio says in a wonderful interview included on the DVD, an audience gets from it what they bring to it. More than the sum of its parts, Koyaanisqatsi is an evocative and haunting meditation on nature, technology, social politics, mass media, consumerism, pop culture - and perhaps whatever else you care to read into it. Long unavailable, it is gratifying to see both Koyaanisqatsi and its sequel, Powaqqatsi finally offered together on two magnificently produced DVDs. What can be said of one film can be said of the other: they are the same, yet different, like two movements in the same piece of music. One film complements and expands upon the other. Where Koyaanisqatsi seems preoccupied with the technological revolution in the so-called "first world" and its devastating effect on the Western psyche, Powaqqatsi is its inversion - a celebration of rich cultures and vivid lives led by people paradoxically struggling under the burden of crushing poverty in the Third World. Taken together, the films seem to suggest a philosophical conundrum: comfort, wealth, and ubiquitous technology spell the death of the human soul - while societies in transition from agrarian to technological, despite horrendous conditions and back-breaking labor, are fertile ground for authentic compassion, artistic expression, and spirituality. But again, words are inadequate. Minimalist composer Philip Glass' score, fused with cinematographer Ron Fricke's brilliant images, waxes far more eloquent on these matters than I could ever hope to in this review. For the price, these two DVDs are a rare bargain for those who appreciate fine art. For students of cinema or would-be film makers, they are essential.
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Summary: It's called matting... you haven't been had.
Review: ... Certain movies (especially during the 80s) were shot full frame on the film negative with the intention of "matting" the frame to create a widescreen picture with a 1.85:1 aspect radio. There were a few reasons for doing this, including making it easier to display on television (back when nobody except laserdisc fans could appreciate letterboxing) as well as other technical reasons. You can see examples of this with unmatted television releases of movies like "Pee Wee's Big Adventure." Remember when he's pulling the chain from his bike and you can see it coming in from the bottom of the screen? This wasn't intended as a joke, but rather the bottom chain was supposed to be blacked out by a matte. Rest assured, even when some of the picture is covered, it wasn't the director's intention for you to see that part of the screen. If you've seen the unmatted version (either on television or in a theater) you're not seeing the director's true vision. Yes, the unmatted version may have more picture content, but it's not content you're necessarily supposed to see. Sometimes the director would shoot with the understanding that both versions (aspect ratios) would be seen, even when they preferred the widescreen version. Other times, the unmatted versions would display undesired visuals, including dolly tracks, boom microphones, and filming equipment. Not to mention the framing of the shots will often be compromised. So, more isn't always better. When it comes down to it, the vision of the movie you're supposed to see is that of the director's. When a DVD release presents a matted version, they're not doing this to appease people with widescreen televisions... they're doing it to give you the correct, director's version of the film.
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Summary: FINALLY available commercially on DVD, BUT....
Review: ....as another reviewer has said, KOYAANISQATSI is CROPPED. I own the limited edition DVD that was sold as a fundraiser around a year ago by the Institute for Regional Education (IRE) and it is in 4:3. The new MGM so-called "widescreen" release simply adds black bars to the top and bottom of the screen, with NO extra width shown- the other reviewer is 100% correct! I compared the IRE DVD with the new MGM commercial release on two DVD players at the same time, and the size of each picture is exactly the same, but the MGM release has black bars blocking Ron Fricke's cinematography. The bars take away 2 inches from the top and bottom of the screen of my 32" TV, or 4 inches of picture height total. I love widescreen movies, but purposely blocking out what was originally filmed is RIDICULOUS. KOY was originally filmed in 4:3, not widescreen. These films are the two greatest combinations of music and film ever made- it's just a shame to see KOY treated so poorly. Nice interviews with Godfrey Reggio and Philip Glass and cheap price still makes it a must-buy. All we can hope for is maybe a "special edition" in the future that's done right as this release is apparently selling pretty well. Right now, the best KOY sound is found on the laserdisc, and the best picture is found on the limited edition IRE DVD which is no longer available. I'm so happy I didn't sell it! It's a priceless collector's item now! I haven't yet checked the new MGM DVD of POWAQQATSI compared to my VHS POW videotape as far as the black bars taking away picture from the original- but the new POW DVD indeed has an incredible picture quality and the soundtrack fared very well in the conversion to Dolby Digital- it sounds excellent. KOY sounds muffled and too rolled off in the highs. Steve Glassfan
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Summary: Life out of balance - for sure
Review: Koyaanisqatsi - I saw this film years ago and remembering it has always been a source of amusement for me. If you enjoy listening to a 2 year old incessantly banging on a toy piano, you might really like this film. The photography is quite good and to be honest the film does achieve its purpose. I might go ahead and get the dvd just because I was so irritated the first time I saw this film. I have not seen Powaqqatsi.
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Summary: Sound and fury
Review: ... and we all know what "sound and fury" signify, don't we? The first two-thirds of Godfrey Reggio's "Life" trilogy are stunning sound-and-light shows, but anyone looking for real content should probably go elsewhere. With respect to _Koyannisqatsi_, Philip Glass's score is the film's high point; it's a landmark of contemporary classical music. You could watch this film with the picture off and not lose very much. Reggio's photography is breathtaking, although the uniform beauty of his images tends to overpower any statement he intends to make with them. Reggio's second project, _Powaqqatsi_, is in the same vein as _Koyaanisqatsi_, though it's a much slicker product overall. The Glass score, though uneven, has moments of greatness; again, it's a milestone of American classical music, and the highlight of the film. But the images have dated very badly. I think the film is borderline racist/Orientalist as well; Reggio and Glass reduce residents of the Third World to ciphers in a grand argument against globalization -- which, unsurprisingly, also contains an anti-American component.
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Summary: The mystical power of the holy letter K
Review: Koyaanisqatsi came onto my tv screen here in the uk 2 years ago at an un-godly hour, and I knew it was meant to be. I wondered where such a mind blowing film came from, wondered if I were imagining it, wondered how I hadn't heard of this unbelievable work before. So many people appear to be deeply touched by this film as you can read here. It is visually and musically simply stunning but the greatest, and most significant impact will be in your heart. I would like to mention that if this film poses questions for anyone then the answers are to be found in the books of Krishnamurti. He is the most important philosopher/teacher to have ever lived. In his works you will find the ultimate truth, the world transforming solution. The feelings we (all seem to) have watching Koyaanisqatsi are only a glipse of the ultimate reality which can exist within us all only when we have understood ourselves. Know thyself. If you are beautified in the presence of Koyaanisqatsi know that reading Krishnamurti will take you all the way to the promised land...
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Summary: Two important and visually stiumlating movies
Review: I've been a fan of both movies for a long time, and have seen Koyaanisqatsi performed live a number of times. I heartily recommend that if you have a chance to see a live performance, you go - far more intoxicating than having the soundtrack come through the theater's speakers. You can read more about the content of the movies elsewhere in here, so I won't get into that. FOr my money, the music of both movies - which is quite different - fits perfectly with the on-screen action. The frenetic pace of Koyaanisqatsi's car ride saddled with the frenetic music is a real trip, and when it finishes, and goes back to slow, there's always a sense of relief and a sigh of "Wow - I've not been breathing!" from the audience. I have played both of these movies as part of my church's movies series, hitting mainly the topic of stewardship (of our resources and our bodies and our neighbors), which is, for me, the message that I take from these movies. Of course, there are many other messages, and being purely visual without dialogue or story, one can see and find many, many areas of discussion. These are two powerful movies, that at least for me, after seeing them, my thinking about life and the world and people and consumption was forced into a more sensitive-to-others and sensitive-to-me approach. Watch these movies, and you will be moved. Even my mother, who absolutely abhored Philip Glass, sat through Koyaanisqatsi with me and thought it kinda cool and wasn't put off by the music as she otherwise would have been. In the realm of top movies, these two are in my list of favorite, and most affecting, films I've seen.
Rating:
Summary: Buy Baraka instead...
Review: Life out of balance... the phrase could hardly be more true and when you have finished viewing this piece of finely crafted cinematography, you will feel out of balance and probably have a migraine! While the film contains truth and visual artistic impact - if you are a student of life, you already know what chaos mankind has brought to life. The film Baraka at least will inspire and uplift you. (I only chose the rating of one star because there was nothing lower - I would pay money NOT to have to watch Koyaanisqatsi ever again.
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