The Planets

Rating:
Summary: Ultimate Music Video
Review: A magnificent long form music video, choreographed to the Isao Tomita Version of the Planets. The audio is awesome, the video, otherworldly. The experience is quite unlike watching any video I've ever seen. It was wonderful.

Rating:
Summary: An Award Winning Masterpiece is somewhat unappreciated
Review: Based on the mixed reviews, you would think this DVD was some kind garage video. Not so. First, you have to accept the fact that the musical score is not orchestral, but a seminal electronic work of the 70's. The animation, while not up to Imax standards, is animation created by NASA to inform the public. Certainly NASA never figured it for art, but that's what it is. This is an informative, interesting musical video experience. If you want a dry stupid documentary, stay with the Learning Channel and their UFO shows.

Rating:
Summary: An Award Winning Masterpiece is somewhat unappreciated
Review: Based on the mixed reviews, you would think this DVD was some kind garage video. Not so. First, you have to accept the fact that the musical score is not orchestral, but a seminal electronic work of the 70's. The animation, while not up to Imax standards, is animation created by NASA to inform the public. Certainly NASA never figured it for art, but that's what it is. This is an informative, interesting musical video experience. If you want a dry stupid documentary, stay with the Learning Channel and their UFO shows.

Rating:
Summary: Incredible Nasa footage choreographed to Isao Tomita
Review: Far from just another computer cartoon, this video features the gorgeous and beautfully haunting interpretation of Gustav Holst combined with incredible images sent back from the Mariner, Viking, Voyager, Pioneer, Magellan and Galileo space missions. Very pleasent and relaxing, amazing and breath taking for anyone still connected to reality void of Hollywood special effects. Subtitled with much interesting information on each planet, this video will interest anyone with an interest in music or science.

Rating:
Summary: Planets Charts New Course In Music Video
Review: Reading the other reviews, it's obvious the purchaser didn't get it. This is a dramatically narrated, long form music video that is the largest selling space title in history. Patrick's reading of the prose/poetry narration is world class. The fact that some of the animation looked old was because it was.

Discovery Channel or Learning Channel would kill to put this on the air.

Rating:
Summary: It's not supposed to be orchestral.
Review: This is the video to accompany Isao Tomita's famous Moog interpretation of Holst's The Planets, which stands alone as an amazing and influential work in early electronic music. If you understand that you're not getting a generic orchestral performance of The Planets, you will appreciate this DVD much more. The CG animation is so-so (it shows its age), but is not really central to appreciation of the DVD. If you're just looking for an orchestral performance, you can pick up any number of Holst CDs on ebay for about a dollar. Otherwise, you can find Tomita's The Planets on vinyl or CD and skip the video and narration.

Rating:
Summary: No justice done.....
Review: This was a big disappointment. The soundtrack was fair at best and would have been better served by using Holst's work performed by a real orchestra. Some of the video footage was passable, but not enough was of good quality. I have seen much better on The Learning Channel and Discovery. Unless you are a relative of Isao Tomita and obligated to buy it......make another selection.

Rating:
Summary: Child's work
Review: This was one of the worst computer animated films that I have seen (not that any of them are that great to begin with). Don't waste your money on this one. Animation Greats is a much better bet.

Rating:
Summary: Wasn't what I thought it was...
Review: When I ordered this DVD I thought I was getting the original classical score. NOT TRUE. It is an electronic interpretation. Classical Holst fans beware.