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Summary: Koyaanisqatsi and Baraka come from the same filmmaker...
Review: ...so how can Baraka be a "wannabe" Koyaanisquatsi? They are two different films taking different approaches on similar themes. One is clearly linear with a clear-cut, uncompromising message that basically dictates your experience of the movie (Koyaanisqatsi), while the other (Baraka) is non-linear, a patchwork exploration of critical contemporary issues that allows you to make your own subjective interpretations on what you are seeing. That is where Baraka's power lies - that no two people experience and see exactly the same thing, that the experience isn't dictated to you. Some see it as depressing, some see it as uplifting, some maybe even see it as a waste of film! and a lot won't GET it. I'm a major movie buff, and personally, subjectively, Baraka is the closest attempt I've seen spiritual enlightenment depicted on film. It will never cease to arouse a sense of wonder at the miracle of All That Is.
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Summary: Epic
Review: Be transported to many different countries, cultures, and landscapes that will blow you away. For it's critical perspective on progress, technology and civilization, Baraka is a must. But you will keep coming back to see it over and over again for the breathtaking images and moving musical composition. This documentary is absolutely gorgeous. Will definately move you.
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Summary: The best movie I've ever bought
Review: This is an incredible, serious, and beautiful film. The imagery is astounding and often thought-provoking. The music is also great and matches the film very well -- if you like Peter Gabriel's "Passion" (the instrumental soundtrack to The Last Temptation of Christ), you will like the score for Baraka. I disagree with the reviewer who said that Baraka is just an imitation of Koyaanisqatsi. If you'd bother to read the credits, Ron Fricke (the creator of Baraka) was also responsible for ALL of the filming for the -qatsi trilogy (which includes Koyaanisqatsi). Baraka is a different kind of movie, with a different, more subtly communicated message. Baraka was shot in the (very expensive) 70mm format, which yields a very high quality picture, especially when transferred to DVD. Ron Fricke is a master of the 70mm format, and he actually designed many of the camera rigs used in Baraka (including the very high quality time lapse footage). Give Fricke some credit for having learned something in the almost 10 years since Koyaanisqatsi was filmed. If you are expecting vapid, New Age eye candy, this is not the movie for you. If you want a beautiful film that will change you, a film that you can watch again every 6 months without getting tired of it, then buy this DVD. I have the original DVD (very hapy with it), so I can't say whether the film transfer quality in the Collector's Edition is on par. Maybe one of these days I'll buy the Collector's Edition and see which one I like best.
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Summary: One Depressing Adventure
Review: When I popped this DVD into my player, I was expecting a serene, uplifting experience that was, as the case says, 'beyond words to describe. At the very least, I expected a nice diversion of peaceful scenery and calming music. Well sir, that is not what I got. This video meanders from the mildly boring to downright depressing. If you've ever felt that this world is over-populated with people who struggle through a pitiful meaningless existence or that life is a hopeless torment then you have some idea what waiting in this 104 minutes of footage. Now this might be exactly what the filmmaker meant to do and if so, Bravo! But if you're looking for an enlightening experience of hope, wonder and serenity I suggest you keep looking.
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Summary: Koyaanisqatsi wannabe...
Review: Sorry, but I see this film not as a unique new view of the world, nor a unique way of filming the world, making a statement, etc. This is really just a Koyaanisqatsi/Powasqatsi wannabe. The film looks like it was made in the same locations, many of the camera angles are the same, even the dump scenes are virtually identical. True there are some very unique perspectives, but overall the degree of similarity makes this very nearly plagaristic. Do yourself a favor. Buy Koyaanisqatsi and Powaqqatsi. Rent Baraka if you want to see it, but save your $$ for the "real McCoy."
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Summary: Mesmerizing, beautiful, astounding . . .
Review: The words mesmerizing, beautiful and astounding cannot begin to describe this wonderful DVD. Ron Fricke is to be commended highly for this moving work of art. I have a wide-screen HDTV and found the DVD to be much more moving than the VHS version I had seen on old TV in the past. If you have a choice--definitely go to the widescreen DVD version. The Dolby sound also was much enhanced over the previous version. I firmly believe ALL PEOPLE should view this film at least once in their lifetime--free from all external encumbrances--this film requires your undivided attention. All of a sudden, the world becomes a much smaller planet--one in which we all live in our own way and one in which every living being is important. If you are prone to cry at beauty--have a box of tissues handy. If you are not prone to cry at films, have a box of tissues handy anyway. You will probably need them. This is a very moving film. I was particularly impressed with the burning oil field scene because of the intense feeling the film created. Viewing this film should be a requirement for living on the planet.
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Summary: Not an imitation
Review: A visually stunning, beautiful sounding and very moving film about humanity, nature, religion and culture, and how they all interact. Slow, methodical, and rewarding.
It is important to note that this film is not an imiation of "Koyaanisqatsi" nor is it plagiarism, as it is sometimes labeled. Director Ron Fricke was the cinematographer, picture editor and co-writer of "Koyaanisqatsi," and when that film was completed, Fricke was disappointed with how negative the message of it was, so he set out on his own to create a film the would show positive images as well as negative ones, trying to relate a more coprehensive and objective view of man's effect on this planet. Both films are well worth the effort of seeing. (Especially on a big screen if you ever get the chance.)
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Summary: Many Blessings
Review: I have never, in my life, cried at a movie, film or television program. That is until I saw Baraka. There are things in this film that really show you things about our world that we, as North Americans, are completely oblivious to. Things that happen in our midsts, in our pasts, and can happen and will happen in our futures. The film needs no words, because in the end, the film left me completely speechless anyway.
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Summary: A meditation
Review: This is a film to meditate while watching it. Try to be alone, no phone callings, relaxed... and enter into this vivid picture of our world, the best and the worst. There's a sacred vibration all along ("baraka"), your intelligence is accounted as spectator/witness with no need to send you judgements of what-is. You see for yourself and understand.
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Summary: Visually Involving but Unoriginal Film
Review: Baraka - meaning "blessing" in Arabic - is a film which presents images of our world and of various human societies. There is no "script" as such and as the film progresses various human actions and landscapes are juxtaposed to make points about man and his environment. Music is used to create more depth in this process and to govern the pace and feel of the cinematography. It's all very well done and the visual impact is great. All in all a very watchable and involving film. My one major gripe is that this has really been done before and rather better, too. "Koyaanisqatsi", a colloboration between composer Philip Glass and cinematographer Godfrey Reggio covered this same ground with more panache and a stunning soundtrack courtesy of Mr Glass. My immediate impression of this film then is that it is straight plagiarism ie an uncredited copy of someone elses artistic creation. Having seen both films it is very hard for me to escape from this impression. Worse, Baraka does not really improve on the original in any way. My suggestion would be to buy the original Koyaanisqatsi and to watch that. In reality it is an extremely influential film and the techniques and approaches which it pioneered have been copied and emulated in hundreds of other productions from films to adverts to MTV-type videos. The added bonus here is the soundtrack which in isolation is a good example of modern classical music which has acheived enormous public popularity. Together the cinematography and the music work well together and the result is an immensely watchable example of original and significant filmic creativity. This review in no way criticises the actual film "Baraka", which in itself is an involving film, but is suggesting that the original which sparked the ideas remains the better film and should be watched in preference.
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