Customer Reviews

Earthscapes [VHS]

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

After reading the rave reviews of this DVD, I was excited to pop it in and relax with it. The things you need to be aware of are #1 the soundtrack is of the really ultra schmaltzy meandering new age variety. It is not ambient enough to take your mind off of it, but not good enough musically to make you want to listen intently, so therefore it is in a BAD middle ground. I prefer a popping a cd in along with it. #2 The first couple of scenes are shot in TIME LAPSE. For those of you who are familiar with time lapse filming, while it looks somewhat cool, the pace is accelerated and frenetic, if anything. Billing this disc as a "chill out" DVD sure seems off here as well, given that clouds are literally RUSHING by as though you are in a jet airplane. The camera also pans wildly back and forth, so you do not even have the opportunity to pause and reflect on the imagery for a moment. Far from relaxing. Later in the disk is a water "ballet" which is poorly orchestrated with video edits, and if anything, cheesy and trite. Finally, SOME of the footage is of superb quality, but a good deal of it is also edited footage that appears to have originated on 16mm, video, or WORSE. Simply spliced in with the more quality footage combined with the quality of the DVD image, it really stands out. Overall, I give the disc a 2, because I feel that it has some merits, but do be aware of what you are buying, because, I for one was disappointed.

This was done by David Fortney, a master of time-lapse photography and is a technical tour de force. The music fits-in very well, but I often will just let it play as a moving artwork. Someone else claimed the video quality was bad, but I suspect a faulty player - it looks great on mine ! If you like video as artwork, check out "Canyon Dreams" and "True North", both on the Miramar label.

If you love time-lapse photography, this is a surreal and mesmerizing experience-truly a piece of art & beauty. The music is wonderful making it a stimulating music video of nature, light, and weather. If you like Earthscapes, or just want a more relaxing and 'natural' experience, check out 'virtual' seascapes with award winning "Hawaiian Dreams." Unlike, Earthscapes, it captures only the natural sights and sounds of the sea without music or quick editing. Both of these DVDs are spectacular!

This award winning film is full of beautifully shot time lapse photography of incredible scenery. It has a pleasant instrumental soudtrack with no narration.

It is extremly relaxing to watch, and is an absolute bargain at the price. Definately recommended for all nature lovers.

This project feels like an attempt at a "Baraka" knockoff. Unfortunately it's a rather feeble attempt. Although a lot of the images are undeniably beautiful, they are frequently marred by poor editing: camera bumps, abrupt fade outs, digital noise in places and overuse of filter type effects which lend many scenes an odd artificiality ala "What Dreams May Come". Also as another reviewer points out, the snappy pace of the constantly scudding clouds is more like an MTV music video than a meditation on Nature's serene beauty. What really mars the whole experience is the incredibly insipid music by Suzanne Cianni and Patrick O'Hearn. I'm afraid it's New Age music at its worst (I don't hate all New Age stuf,f BTW) with banal melodies, shopworn chord progressions and unrelentingly cheesy synthesized textures guaranteed to kill off brain cells as you listen.
Not recommended except in cases of recent brain surgery.

This DVD was no my recommended list because I'd bought Baraka. But that's probably the best reason for not buying it - if you've seen Baraka or movies of its quality you'll be badly disappointed by this one. Its too bad because I really wanted to like it...

Earthscapes has no theme other than mostly timelapse filmed landscapes with endless clouds rushing by. As "A Viewer" pointed out, the landscapes may be beautiful but it is far from relaxing. Earthscapes has a less than quality soundtrack that does nothing to improve the otherwise disconnected film sequences.

If I had an LCD projector I'd probably throw this movie up on the wall once in a while with some of my own more appropriate music dubbed over it but otherwise I think its going to collect dust.

This isn't a bad DVD by any means. It's the sort of thing to put on in the background, for atmospherics when you're talking or reading or whatever. The photography is nice enough and the locations are pretty, but if you've seen films like Baraka or Koyaanisqatsi, then you're probably better off not bothering with this. It's not in the same league. Just my opinion.

This DVD is one of the most relaxing, stress reducing videos I have ever seen. The time lapsed cinematogrophy is nothing short of amazing. The visual effect is soothing and calming. I felt like I could just float away. The sounds will take you away from all the stress and deliver you to a higher plane. This DVD is a must see. I have seen most of Mr. Fortney's previous work and this project delivers the same high quality photography and amazing sounds.

I have never seen a video as breathtaking as this. The use of Tangerine Dream musically was a stroke of genius. Have seen David's other work and this is up there with some of his other projects. Hope to see more of him in the future.

The ultimate in relaxation / background images & music. Watch weather patterns shift over some of the USA''s most beautiful & timeless landscapes including Monument valley, The Canadian Rockies, winter landscapes of the high desert etc etc etc.