Customer Reviews

Koyaanisqatsi / Powaqqatsi (2 Pack)

5 star:		(84)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

....as another reviewer has said, KOYAANISQATSI is CROPPED. I own the limited edition DVD that was sold as a fundraiser around a year ago by the Institute for Regional Education (IRE) and it is in 4:3. The new MGM so-called "widescreen" release simply adds black bars to the top and bottom of the screen, with NO extra width shown- the other reviewer is 100% correct! I compared the IRE DVD with the new MGM commercial release on two DVD players at the same time, and the size of each picture is exactly the same, but the MGM release has black bars blocking Ron Fricke's cinematography. The bars take away 2 inches from the top and bottom of the screen of my 32" TV, or 4 inches of picture height total. I love widescreen movies, but purposely blocking out what was originally filmed is RIDICULOUS. KOY was originally filmed in 4:3, not widescreen.

These films are the two greatest combinations of music and film ever made- it's just a shame to see KOY treated so poorly. Nice interviews with Godfrey Reggio and Philip Glass and cheap price still makes it a must-buy. All we can hope for is maybe a "special edition" in the future that's done right as this release is apparently selling pretty well.

Right now, the best KOY sound is found on the laserdisc, and the best picture is found on the limited edition IRE DVD which is no longer available. I'm so happy I didn't sell it! It's a priceless collector's item now!

I haven't yet checked the new MGM DVD of POWAQQATSI compared to my VHS POW videotape as far as the black bars taking away picture from the original- but the new POW DVD indeed has an incredible picture quality and the soundtrack fared very well in the conversion to Dolby Digital- it sounds excellent. KOY sounds muffled and too rolled off in the highs.

Steve Glassfan

"Koyaanisqatsi" has held up well over the years since I first saw it at the cinema. Its images were almost all as powerful via this DVD as I remember them having been 20 years ago. Those that have worn a little thin--notably the transition from a satellite view of a city to an extreme close-up of a computer chip--have done so because they have been so often imitated and repeated since "Koyaanisqatsi" was first seen.

I found "Powaqqatsi" less riveting on this first viewing than "Koyaanisqatsi," but noticed that it resonated longer in my mind and provoked more thought and conversation later. Its images and ideas have remained with me for weeks now.

The "Qatsi" films are unique works, neither documentary nor entertainment in the strict sense of either term. Nor are they mere visual social commentaries. The music of Philip Glass, the amazing, often context-less cinematography, the editing, and the philosophical underpinnings that drive the enterprise, all combine in a work that defies categorization but can't fail to stir the viewer.

The DVDs each contain a commentary section featuring writer-directory Godfrey Reggio and composer Glass. The commentaries provide some concreteness in the vast abstraction of the work, but I made the mistake of watching the "Powaqqatsi" commentary before seeing the film, and it diminished the film's impact. I recommend savoring the films themselves at least once before going to the commentaries.

This review refers to "Koyaanisqatsi" and "Powaqqatsi" (2-Pack) DVDs(MGM)....

You'll want to make sure that when you watch these films, you will not have any interuptions. You will not even be able to tear yourself away from a minute of these moving and mind stimulating events. So turn of the cell phone, pagers and make sure the kids are tucked safely away!

"Koyannisqatsi" and "Powaqqatsi" are the first and second in the "Qatsi" trilogy. A combination of great talents working together as one bring to film the most visually and musically stunning experience.

"Qatsi" is the Hopi word for life. In "Koyaanisqatsi", Director Godfrey Reggio, Composer Phillip Glass and Cinematographer Ron Fricke combine their brillance for "Life Out of Balance". From the beauty of Nature to the world of modern technology, the images are set to music in a documentary that needs no words.

In "Powaqqatsi" we find "Life In Transformation". Once again Reggio and Glass collaborate this time with photographers Graham Berry and Leonida Zourdoumis for yet another mesmerizng experience. Images of cultures from underdeveloped countries, and their ancient ways, toiling to make a life, set to Glass' genius will have you hypnotized.

I suggest watching the first one, and taking time to absorb it and watching the second later on. These are films to be discussed, as each person may take something different away with them. And each time you view it, the experience may be differnt for you.

The DVD's do justice to these wonderful pieces of art. The pictures in widescreen are crystal clear, colors vibrant and gorgeous. The sound is in Dolby Dig 5.1, and with the music being the dialouge for these films, adds greatly to the whole experience. There are trailers for the trilogy (I am eagerly awaiting the release of "Naqoyqatsi - Life as War" to DVD), and some insightful commentary by the filmakers. This commentary is in the form of a featurette, not viewed during the film.

Putting them together in this two-pack was a great idea, and the price is right for these cinematic treats.

Go for it..and enjoy...Laurie

also recommended:
Three Colors Trilogy (Red / White / Blue) [Import](All-region)(Remastered)
Film-Fest DVD - Issue 3 - Toronto
Short 6 - Insanity

I saw Koyaanisquatsi as a teenager in the mid 80's, on a public television station, quite by chance. I was flipping through the channels when the time-lapse photography caught my eye. I didn't know what I was watching, but as I continued to watch it became apparent that this was much more than just a collection of neat-o film clips. It contained a message about the earth and man's effect on it...but more than that it really conveyed a feeling of tremendous interconnectedness... By the end of the film I was very moved and impressed and vowed that one day I would have a copy of the film for myself so I could show others. Since then DVD's have become popular, and I can't imagine a more fitting film for the format. With digital sound for the music, and a crystal-clear picture for the great satilite shots, it's a beautiful thing. Who makes these decisions whether or not to release an old film on DVD? And to that person/group: What are you thinking? RELEASE KOYAANISQUATSI ON DVD!

Finally, the first two movies of the Qatsi-Trilogy are available on DVD. Since the movies are an individually different experience (hypnotic and mind-boggling for one, dull and boring for others) I won't try to explain the content.
The DVD Version is 16:9 enhanced which is, in fact, a mutilation of the original 4:3 picture. The cover states "as seen in theaters", but I have seen it in theaters many times and never saw it vertically chopped like this. Essential parts of the picture are missing, all this just to please people, who like
their 16:9 TV-screens filled. What is the point in omitting vertical information just to enhance the resolution of the cropped picture? You can see in almost every frame that there is something wrong, not fitting quite well. This is simply because the camerapeople certainly filmed most of the footage in 4:3, not with modern widescreen-lunacy in mind. I don't really enjoy the DVD's, I rather put in the VHS copy of Koyaanisqatsi made from Laserdisc or the german DVD-version of Powaqqatsi, which is in the correct non-cropped aspect ratio. 16:9 enhancement is fine when done on widescreen movies, but not this time.
5 stars for the movies, 2 stars for the DVD's.

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.

Although some people are quick to point out that the MGM version of Koyaanisqatsi is improperly matted to 1.85:1, who really cares? If you are a fan of the 'qatsi films, then you are well aware that they have been out of print (unavailable to the public for purchase or even rental) for a LONG time. I have long been trying to obtain a bootleg, or even laserdisc copy of the films. On ebay they usually went for upwards of $100 a copy. When I heard that MGM was releasing the films on DVD, I was estatic, and after watching them at home on my TV, I am even more happy.

Koyaanisqatsi is a love-hate film; you either love it, or hate it. For me, the brillance of Koyaanisqatsi comes in the juxtaposition of it's imagery and film score. The imagery is stunning: beautiful yet disturbing at times. The filmmaker Godfrey Reggio gives the viewer imagery and lets them make their own decisions about "what it means." This renders Koyannisqatsi a film where the viewer is quite active. If you do not like to think, or do not like abstractions you will most definitely not enjoy these films. If you enjoy thinking, and want to watch an experimental film that will leave you thinking for weeks, if not months afterwards, I can't recommend this film more.

I bought the DVD version of this seminal film from IRE (Reggio's organization) for the US$180 (the cost of the donation for the "premium"). I find this film remarkable. Ron Fricke's camera work was truly ground-breaking, and Glass' score is unparalled. While Reggio's "innocent eye" and the films overly-moralizing tones are dubious, _Koyaanisqatsi_ is still a landmark piecein film history. Academicians such as Scott MacDonald and others have reviewed this film and its impact on the visual culture proceeding from its release (Fricke's signature work coopted by so many different ad houses and Hollywoods film shops).

Regarding Glass' new release of his soundtrack, the film (and DVD) still incorporate segements of music that remain unreleased on the audio albums (sections covering the introduction to L.A. and prior to the first machine/human shots at about ~30 mintues into the film). The DVD has everything in original. Essentially the DVD is a digital rip from the projected film. It contains film scratches, and the original score by Glass (not refurbished in any way). The picture quality is good, but reflects the film transfer (still better than any VHS version i've seen). However, the DVD palys the film in stadard TV aspect and not the letter-box aspect associated with films. Having never seen this film in the theater i cannot say if this is true of the original projection. However, after watching it about thirty times (for a semianr paper), and in comparison to the VHS edition, the DVD is a superior product.

For the true lover of Reggio and Fricke, the DVD version from IRE is a must have. Nor VHS copy can compare (nor will a VHS copy last under playback!). The price is daunting - but if it matters, the DVD arrives in a sheath that is signed by Godfrey Reggio ( a real signature, not reproduced). Moralizing aspects aside, not since Vertov has the "documentary" been pushed as far by an American Cinematographer (though others since its realese have gone further in other directions, for instance Trinh Minh Ha). The DVD is a "must-have" from those who consider this film important - either academically or aesthetically. The US$180 price tag is high; but if it helps, it's tax deductable!

The arrival of these films in DVD format after a long and painful journey thru legal limbo is a joy to behold. Koyaanisqatsi is truly one of the most visually stunning films of all time, but that isn't it, no far from it. In addition to Reggio and Fricke's breathtaking visuals, one is further blessed with the genius of Philip Glass' score. The sections of the film can be hypnotic, jarring, humorous, heartbreaking, puzzling, or strange, and what one takes from the film isn't set in stone, but its guaranteed to challenge the viewer in the best sense of the term.

Its Sequel, Powaqqatsi is no less ambitious and no less phenomenal, shifting to the "third world" and slowing down the visual pace of much of the film (literally). It also features what is perhaps Philip Glass' most powerful music ever (matched in ambition and scope only by his Opera Akhnaten).

Words must enevitably fall short to fully describe these films though, for if a picture is worth a thousand words, these films provide thousands of pictures for us to contemplate. A Definite "must own"!!

Those who have viewed koyaanisqatsi several times know what a beauty of a film it is. The cinematography coupled with the sometimes haunting and sometimes rapid music of Phillip Glass gives the viewer an almost hypnotic experience. Time lapse fast and time lapse slow are blended together as they tell the visual story of nature and man, life out of balance. The film climaxs with "The Grid", a high speed acceleration of people, autos, an unbelievably well written and performed music score, and a road scene that would rival Steve Mcqueen's chase scene in "Bulitt". The mood changes throughout the movie and the experience is spellbinding. I hope this movie will be released on DVD soon. John Mark