Customer Reviews

Mind's Eye [VHS]

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The Mind's Eye is my favorite and most prized CG animated videotape of all time---it was my first of it's kind.There were other computer artists and animators who jumped on the bandwagon with their releases at the time of this new emerging video trend.Quite often the results were rather crude and archaic looking with bad visual and audio editing techniques. Many used a cheap Casio keyboard production for soundtrack music. They released poor imitations that were absolutely nothing like this collection.The competition just couldn't hold a candle to the Mind's Eye...

I also purchased the rest of the Mind's Eye series years later on dvd format( still, the original is a marvel in it's own right despite being VHS with hi-fi 2-track stereo only channels).Why this amazing collection of computer animated visuals hasn't been re-mastered onto the dvd format with a full blown digital surround/THX/DTS audio presentation puzzles me!I purchased my VHS copy back in 1990--- one of the first copies and not a later re-issue.

The Mind's Eye sort of represents a second generation of computer artists (as the medium was still evolving). As an artist myself,The Mind's Eye served as an inspiration for some of my early drawings with color pencils ! True, computer animation has made many leaps and bounds and is more advanced and sophisticated with the new technology and software available.However, The Mind's Eye represents cutting edge computer graphics of the time. What also matters is the imagination, ingenuity, and artistry of each animator's talents used for this 1990 computer generated collection that takes you through a journey of the history of man's civilization and various life forms in their eco systems; it does this in a simplified and surrealistic manner.It's an awesome video journey worth taking despite it's VHS picture quality. There is no IMAX or widescreen presentation. So what?!The great visuals with their rich colors and shapes made me feel like a kid again the first time I saw this video.It will bring the child out in you! Each short story is mesmerizing and thought provoking in a relaxing sense. There is much awe and wonderment to behold !

The soundtrack provided by James Reynolds is also a superb tapestry of adult contemporary pop-like instrumentals and a modest and non-overwhelming dose of new age music that was created perfectly for each video segment. A hint of other various musical genres were used such as a touch of classical and a dash of funky jazz.A lot of it is strongly in the vein of an adult easy listening radio format.Yet, other songs possess a made-for-t.v.-ad jingle quality since portions of The Mind's Eye have appeared in television product commercials of the past here in the U.S., Japan, and abroad; They have a naturally playful and lighthearted whimsical feel that simply conveys fun (especially the jazzy-like video segment with the robots).There is nothing brooding or heavy here.It can be quite atmospheric at times, but not in a pseudo-ambient way. It may not be Vangelis or Enigma(a couple of videos on The Mind's Eye could have used actual Enigma music or been used as Enigma music videos) but it's an excellent soundtrack to purchase on cd. See what kind of visuals your mind will be stimulated to conjure without viewing the actual videos just with the soundtrack music alone!

This is the video that got me hooked on computer animation years ago. It was released in two versions, 1 in general video stores released by BMG video and another in Radio Shack stores, they are about 70% the same but the rest is very different. Some clips share the music and titles but the images were totally different. The R.S. version was custom made for them, and yes 8th track (the temple) was replaced with (Q factor) (Tingri) (The way I feel). Yes 3 for 1! The seperate music CD features the original 8 tracks by James Renolds. By the way - the next 2 videos in the series also had sepererate R. S. versions, although not as drastic a difference as this first one.

This title is psychedelic. (sp?) From the beginning, with stylized atoms exploding into space, to the incomprehensible middle, with imagery of scale-less toys, liquid chrome dinosaurs, a beautiful sequence with a love affair between a bird and fish in an enormous domed ship, compu-circuitry...view this with an open mind, and the memories will linger... One example: As interesting mechanical gear patterns unfold among blueprints, enormous Atlas-like figures lift the gigantic constructions, to triumphic fanfares. The movie is beyond words- I would pay nearly any price for this. Better imagery than The Phantom Movie/Menace, by far...and with such vistas, material, and a beautiful finale...joined to each other without pause. The credits list the enormous talent bank, their titles for some of the skits...and the music is as impressive as the graphics, blending seamlessly into a mind-blowing experience. And no LSD needed!

This video, while famous for its compilation of then ground-breaking CGI, is really most interesting for the story that it tells. The sequence of the segments ambitiously chronicles the the formation of Earth ("Creation"), the rise of human civilizations ("Civilization Rising"), the technological advances of humanity from the advent of agriculture to the future exploration of the cosmos. The video speculatively concluded with a segment of what might be the next sentient species to arise on Earth (birds?).

It is visually stunning and James Reynolds's soundtrack is perfectly crafted to evoke a sense of wonder, awe, and contemplation. I never tire of watching this jewel.

I have watched this video perhaps 25 or 30 times since purchasing it a few years ago, and smile again each time it plays. It is an energy treat for the eyes and the ears. The music by James Reynolds is, in my opinion, absolutely wonderful. It's rich and dynamic and evocative, and beautifully timed with the visuals. (I say this as someone who is deeply into many music genres.) Although the graphics come from a decade ago, this in no way detracts from their timeless complexity and sophistication. Jan Nickman did a fantastic job weaving all of these images from many animators into a theme centering on evolution of life on earth.

I've shown and loaned this video to many people, and it has never failed to put hearty smiles on faces. It is a life-affirming event to experience this video. :-)

It might not be Star Wars quality special effects, but it is stunning none the less. A great video for insperation, and my whole family loves it.

As popular as the Mind's Eye series was it never occurred to me that this first film would not make the jump to the next medium. A similar situation existed when lots of music was deemed not "profitable" enough to live on cd. Once again--if everything is going to be ones and zeros it won't matter if only one or two individuals on the planet want a copy of something. Quality product need not be deleted by its position on the profit sheet. So far "on demand" has not meant "on demand" unless it's the most popular of the most popular. Simply produce a reasonably priced quality version. Nothing has to go out of print. I am cognizant (sort of) how quickly things move on, but as a memory I thought I could see it once in a while. My family really enjoyed those particular images and that music--captivating all through. Maintaining all previous hardware platforms until the "future" actually gets here might be the only option for old content that someone somewhere decides is not worthy of new eyes and ears. Or profit.

This movie is truly excellent! I only wish I could find it on DVD. I cannot tell you how many times I have fallen into blissful sleep while watching this show. It is a dream. Also great are Beyond the Mind's Eye and Odyssey into the Mind's Eye (different co.)

First off, I will say that the product (VHS Tape) was in very good shape and the shipping time was good, within a week of ordering. My main complaint is the tape is not exactly what I had expected. I am familiar with the Mind's Eye as I have viewed it many times on a betamax copy I had for years. I wanted to obtain a master copy so I could transfer it to DVD. The tape I recieved was not the same as the original I had been viewing for years. Instead it was a Radio Shack promo version that was doctored. It had some of the original content the same but did not include 3 of the segments that the original had. Instead there were 3 segments that were not by James Reynolds. Very disappointing and not very good. This tape should have been represented as an alternate version. Therefore I give it 2 stars. If you plan on ordering a copy of the Mind's Eye, be wary that there is an alternate version out there.(THIS IS AN ADDENDUM TO THE PREVIOUS REVIEW TO WHICH I GAVE 2 STARS) I reordered "The Mind's Eye" and got the real deal. It is a great copy and I'm going to archive it by transferring it to a DVD. Hopefully, someday it will be released on DVD, but until then this will have to suffice.

The Mind's Eye is really one of a kind. Even though the only way it is available is on old VHS tape, it's still one of the best ways to spend 40 minutes.
After not watching my copy for years, I dug it out and watched it on our new 50" Pioneer Plasma TV while listening to the soundtrack over our home theatre soundsystem. While we sat there spellbound, our only question was - Why isn't this available in Blu Ray?