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Summary: Koyaanisqatsi
Review: "Koyaanisqatsi" is not a common type of film. There really is no narrative to progress the story, no script, no characters. A film that atleast wants to succeed at any level would have one of those. The whole point of "Koyaanisqatsi" is to show what the world has become, either through the eyes of an environmentalist, or, what I really believe, a Native American. It shows how the world has become mechanically programmed, where everything everyone does has some relation to technology, and sooner or later, everyone's a soulless robot. It shows its point very well, but just through that one vision, which I really have no problem with. "Koyaanisqatsi" is a film that does not need a narrative, characters, or even a coherent story of any sort. The film is filled with vivid, breathtaking images, from the beginning of time, to today. After countless viewings, some of the beautiful, illusional images still remain a mystery to me. The style in which Godfrey Reggio films this documentary is very professional and fascinating for its topic. At one sequence, his camera slowly moves through the mountains as their color changes at dusk, and in the next, it races through the city of corporate business. Another major key that helps shape this film is Philip Glass's exceptional score. His music captures the mood of the light and dreamy images to the solid realism. I enjoy Philip Glass's works off-screen also, but when he composes for film, it immediately becomes a great and unforgettable soundtrack. He did it in this, Paul Schrader's "Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters", and Martin Scorsese's "Kundun", and they are all among my favorite soundtracks. People tend to generalize his music too quickly, saying that it is awfully too monotonous and redundant, and I can understand that, but for the films and the type of music he composes, that works perfectly. His melody is so well-established, it needs to be heard many times to be fully absorbed. He uses the strings, synthesizer, and choir all very wisely in this film. The soundtrack is definately one of the important factors of the film. Like said before, there are very few films similar to "Koyaanisqatsi" that succeed at a level of brilliance through simplicity. Music, photography, and a moral, which is pretty much justified at the beginning, is all this film has. I have seen this film countless times for many years, and yet it makes a powerful impact every time I see it. It grows onto me in different ways. Some might, however, disagree with the entire moral and say that the film is self-indulgent and pretentious. That is understandable, but I believe that "Koyaanisqatsi" is a stunning work of art.
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Summary: Koyaanisqatsi - It Moves
Review: This is one of the best movies of all time. A presumptuous statement, of course, but if you watch it you will be moved in more ways than one. A person would have to be dead in spirit not to feel something profound from this movie. Or... you'd have to watch it on VHS. The only real way to experience this movie is on the big screen, but now that DVD has made wide-screen format sharp enough and beautiful enough to preserve the original visual intent of great cinematography, Koyaanisqatsi should be released on DVD. Where is it? It's time to see this film in its original glory - even at home. This is one of the films I've been waiting for. It belongs on the collector's shelf, and is one of the few movies actually worth owning, as opposed to renting. Please... whoever makes these decisions... release this movie on DVD. You owe it to the world. Shooshie
Rating: 
Summary: Impressive imagery
Review: When I saw this movie, I had no idea of its environmentalist (Malthusian) message. I disagree with the message, but I still like the movie because it is a fascinating study in new ways of looking at things. Using time-lapse photography and slow motion, the filmmaker makes different aspects of the subject spring into awareness. I don't consider the clever juxtaposition of nature images with images of traffic, explosions, and other human artifacts to be a compelling argument for stemming human activity, but it does make for fascinating motion study. Environmentalists will love it, but you can ignore the intended message and still enjoy the movie. I _like_ looking at traffic.
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Summary: Release this wonderful movie
Review: I have seen Koyaanisqatsi on laserdisc (Japanese pressing), and I can only imagine how beautiful it might be on DVD. I have been telling my parents they should see it and it's impossible to locate in local rental stores. Please release it.
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Summary: PPPPPLLLEEEAAASSEE! Release it on dvd!
Review: That should do it. Were there enough exclamation points in that? Realy, five stars is not enough for this film. Many people have reviewed it giving it as many stars as I have. The only reason I am doing so is to make a bigger positive impression so they might release it soon. If you have not seen this on any kind of a screen, big or small then you have not seen one of the finest works of art that exist. Please do your brain a favore and see it, if you can.
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Summary: Life Out of Balance
Review: Koyaanisqatsi is a very moving film consisting of powerful visual images set against the music of Philip Glass. It is not a movie with a story or a plot, but an art film with a message about the dangers of unheeded progress that ignores the laws of nature. The word Koyaanisqatsi is from the Hopi Indian language, and means "crazy life", of "life out of balance", and Life Out of Balance is the sub title of this film. The film opens with scenes of nature filmed in time lapse, then gradually moves into man's world. The scenes convey both beauty and ugliness at the same time, and take us to airports, freeways, skyscrapers, the comings and goings of people, microscopic views of integrated circuits contrasted with satellite views of cities, and the eerie ghost town images of the failed Pruit Igoe housing project. The film concludes with Hopi prophesies warning us of the dangers of taking too much from the world, and even of nuclear holocaust. Even if you disagree with the message of the film, the visual images and the artistic vision of the film make it well worth seeing. If you are a fan of Philip Glass' music, then that is an even more compelling reason to see it. If you don't like Philip Glass, then watch it with the sound off. I once saw this movie with the Philip Glass ensemble performing live at UCLA's Royce Hall. It was a very deeply moving experience, and one of the most profound live performances I have been to. Sadly this beautiful film is out of print, but it used to be available on VHS, and may still be lurking in some independent video stores. If you find it, then rent it, and if you see this playing in a revival house, then go way out of your way to see it. This film is not for everyone, but if you have read this far, you will like the movie, and kick yourself if you miss a chance to see it. Hopefully it will be released on DVD, as that would be a far better medium for this film than VHS. I don't know if it was ever released on LVD, but I would love to have it if was.
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Summary: A highly qualified movie!
Review: I first saw this movie in Political Science class in college. The title of the class was "Human Ecology and Global Transformation." We discussed higher level societal issues and read some books by Starhawk, Saul D. Alinsky, and others. The class where the professor showed the movie was the only one we were required to attend to pass the class. He started the movie promptly at the start of class, and let it run straight through without discussion or interruption. I was a few minutes late (as always), but was RIVETED. What an incredible movie. I've sinced showed it to most of my friends, in turn, and while they were restless at the start of the movie, they eventually quieted down, and let the message sink in. It has been described as a "visual montage". A perfect blend of imagery in music and video together vocalizing a powerful impression.
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Summary: A film for the next millenium
Review: This film is a warning that mankind must heed. We have created a world truely "out of balance". It is more than a movie; it is an experience that will change forever the way you see our planet and what we are doing to it. The film is poetry - a religion.
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Summary: Totally unique experience
Review: I saw this in a theater. The contrast between the naturalistic scenes and the jumbled mess of urban life, coupled to a fantastic score by Philip Glass, gives the viewer a new way of looking at the world around him. It's captivating and not easily forgotten. For a really powerful experience, watch the movie and then play the sound track while driving through traffic.
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Summary: This Movie Moved Me
Review: I first saw Koyaanisquatsi almost 20 years ago on a 13 inch television set with poor sound and was very moved by the experience. About 10 years later I heard that the Philip Glass Orchestra was going to be performing live to the sequel movie Powaqqatsi at the University of Pennsylvania. I went and was blown away once again. Glass' unique music got inside me and carried me to every scene in the movie. The friend I took with me (who had no idea what to expect) thanked me for changing her life. She wanted to get together with everyone in the theater afterwards and discuss how the film made them all feel. I would love to see both of these unique and Moving films again but have been unable to locate them. Does anyone at all know where the video/DVD can be purchased? If you ever have the opportunity to see/experience either film, you will never ever forget it! I promise.
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