Rating: 
Summary: This is the Koyaanisqatsi of the 90s.
Review: Only after viewing this DVD was I told the meaning of the word "Baraka". Uggh. After sitting through this beautifully filmed sequence, I am all the more aware of the mass of human filth that pollutes this planet. It made me wish for a plague to remove 80% of the scum that inhabits our world. 'Blessing'? No way. What was shown was the scourge of the earth, the over population that is destroying it with its vast over breeding of human leeches. This DVD was an eye-opening view of the absolutely destitute masses of creeping crawling flesh that are devouring our resources.
Rating:
Summary: Perfection!
Review: What is this a 2 and 3 star review!!! Obviously the world has a lot to learn before they can give this masterpiece the credit it deserves. Ladies and Gentlemen I cannot stress enough the urgency with which you must purchase this dvd if you haven't already done so. This is simply one of the most awe-inspring things I have ever come across in my 19 years on this planet. It is on repeat in my household. In a just world Baraka would be more widely known and praised. But as is it remains a concealed jewel to be uncovered at your leisure.
Rating: 
Summary: Flute phobia
Review: Stunning photography, a coherent and beautiful cinemagraphic work. But the "haunting" Asian, East Indian(?) music wore on me after a while, and the time lapse was overused. My wife, however would rate this 5 star.
Rating: 
Summary: 5 Stars on it's own, but less by Frickes Standards
Review: Being a BIG fan of Ron Fricke, I can't honestly give this 5 stars. Why? Well, 2 reasons. For one, by his own standards, Fricke has done a lot more in nearly every one of his other projects (with the only exception perhaps being the shorts series). What do I mean by more? Experimentation. Stepping a little further into the unknown, doing the undone. The other reason I can't give it 5 stars is because, despite the fact that by other standards it is far from mainstream, by Fricke's own standards it feels like it. Look at it like this: If you want a deep look into original Cinematography, get any of his other projects. However, if you're coming from a normal background, this movie can really move you in that sense. It's more of a "Greatest Hits", really. It shows off a little bit of everything, but at the sacrifice of depth. There ARE a few moments that deserve thier own viewing, and if you have seen ANY of Fricke's other projects then don't miss this one, but otherwise, if you want to see the same thing more or less, but in much greater depth, check out the rest of his work.
Rating:
Summary: Incredible Visuals!
Review: This movie is a breathtaking film that shows many different far off lands which make the viewer desire to know more about the places being shown. There are parts of this film which are extremely thought provoking. "Baraka" captures on film some of the most pristine lands on this planet to the extremely hectic day to day life in Japan. It shows beautiful parts of Humanity like the temples in Tibet, disturbing images of Humanity like the cigarette makers to very mysterious parts of Humanity like the group meditation/hallucination. This film has no dialogue and there is only music and nature sounds which accompany. It is a masterful work of art and is a film I will watch many times in my life.
Rating:
Summary: visually stunning
Review: A beautiful journey though different cultures and locations throughout the world. Captivating and moving, this movie is a must own. Afer seeing it a half dozen times now, it still gives me goosebumps.
Rating:
Summary: wow!
Review: I'm sure you read the editorial review for this product, so I will keep my comments short. I personally enjoy the IMAX dvd's but, I'm glad I picked this one up. It's one of the most stunning things I've seen in quite awhile. This is probably the closest you will ever get to visual art on a dvd. And to top it all off, the soundtrack helps to completely immerse you within it. I believe this was released over 8 years ago, but it is a timeless work- it could have been done yesterday, and I'd be none the wiser. One thing about the editorial review I'd like to point out- it is a little frustrating not knowing where you are sometimes during the DVD- it even comes with a little insert that shows the world, and all the areas where filming took place- if it really doesn't matter where they are, then I wish that they did not include that- because it does become irksome trying to match up the places that they list, with what you were watching. So don't bother with that =) crank up the surround sound, turn off the lights, and enjoy>o'
Rating:
Summary: Stunning and Mind Boggling...
Review: This is one of the greatest films of all time. When I say films, I mean "films" as it isn't really a movie. Shot on 70mm in 24 countries around the world, the visuals in this are absolutely out of this world. Complimented by the stirring soundtrack of Michael Stearns, every time I watch this film, it raises the deepest emotions from inside. It's message is simple - that every man and woman on this Earth are striving for something more, through religion, war, ceremony, class, etc..., we are searching long and hard. As well, this film is unforgiving in the assesment of our failures along the way. The most beautiful image in my mind is that of a family riding on a scooter with the sun glittering behind them as they calmly go about their business. All of this is amplified by a stirring track by Lisa Gerard (Dead Can Dance) that finally disolves into a haunting Japanese dance. The director, Ron Fricke, I believe ironically enough worked in some degree on the set of Apocalypse Now with Francis Ford Coppola. This would explain his expert use of 70mm in capturing this great piece of work...
Rating:
Summary: A World Beyond Words: One of the Greatest Films Ever Made
Review: For some, music is not "truly" music unless there`s singing, melody, and a linear accessible pop structure. Or that only good movies have Hollywood actors with mainstream sensibilities. Formula, mediocrity, and lack of imagination: this is capitalist McCulture as we see it in USA Today. BARAKA has no actors, no words, no glossy Hollywood faces. It`s non-linear, has no "plot", but clearly a message to whomever views it with the right eye. It is High Art. It is deep. Subtle. Complex. Profound. Timeless. Mystical. Horrifying. Achingly beautiful. I also wish to describe it as universal but I won`t, because from my experience most people in the mainstream just won`t GET it. This is not a judgement. It is an observation. Though I came away from the movie feeling that I`ve just witnessed a timeless universal masterpiece, when I showed the movie to a relative, his reaction was quite upsetting to me initially. ALL he saw was the surface and technical aspects of the film/making i.e. "woah dude, an eclipse" or (ignorantly)"that tribsman`s getting groovy". I later came to realize that not everyone will come away from this movie with the same response. It`s not that he was wrong in his opinion; it`s the fact that he didn`t have the faculty for understanding and/or appreciating such a movie. BARAKA communicates to you what cannot be communicated through words. It is a movie that can only be grasped in its totality, profundity and significance on an intuitive level. Fricke is clearly aware of the limitation of words. Like all the greatest works of art, BARAKA points away toward a direction that is more profound than the object of your observation. I`m not a Christian, but to use the necessary language, this is GOD communicating to You. The closeup image of a Japanese snow monkey, incredibly human-like, resting, meditative, still, aware, awake, ever present, is probably the most beautiful and eloquent capturing of Buddhahood I`ve ever witnessed on film. I could not talk for two days after watching BARAKA for the first time. I felt as if I`ve left my body. It hit me that hard. It shows what crazy times and the crazy world we live in, that it is both full of horror and beauty, and will always be because to know what beauty is we must be aware of that which is not. As for the content of the DVD, I have to give it a C or 2½ stars. This is unfortunate and unusual since Baraka has become quite the cult favourite in repertory cinemas around the country and for audiences worldwide. The DVD does not do justice for the type of curiousity fans like myself want to fulfill. The movie was well over five years in the making from what I`ve read and only eight minutes have been devoted to the featurette. I`d say a least a half hour should go towards this considering how long the movie took to complete. Also, a director`s commentary would have been most satisfying - I can`t imagine Ron Fricke having nothing to say during the making of the film as we`re watching the movie, I mean, he`s put his heart and soul into this project and has had immense complications for it`s actualization. Nonetheless, for me, it is up there with the greatest works of art/cinema in this century. And if you can, try to watch it in the theatre with, hopefully, a good sound system. And you don`t need to be an "artsy fartsy" to appreciate it!
Rating:
Summary: One of a kind!
Review: This is not a movie... it is as well said a "Screen Saver"! It is so relaxing, entertaining and amazing! It shows you the paths of the world, sounds and scenes... how it all floats in a rythm. It is worth watching and buying... I hope there are many DVD's of this type.
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