Customer Reviews

Pulse: a Stomp Odyssey

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Pulse: A Stomp Odyssey works along the premise that music--and more accurately, rhythm--is the global language. To that end, the Stomp team has done a fantastic job of collecting and filming cultural rhythms from around the globe. For those expecting something along the lines of Stomp's live performances such as the ones showcased in Stomp Out Loud, prepare to be disappointed. But for those looking for a creative and fantastic journey of discovery, Pulse delivers in spades.

If a Picture is Worth A Thousand Words...This IMAX movie proves that you can say alot without saying anything. If you like world music, you'll love this musical sound journey around the world. The creators of the theatrical production STOMP bring you this wonderful documentary which explores the sounds and music of everyday life from different cultures around the world. Ever since I saw this film at the IMAX theatre, I've been waiting for it to come out on video so I could show all my friends and family who missed it at the theatre. This moving display of humanity is worth watching again and again. Inspiring. Moving. Joyful.

I went to see this movie for the first time a little hesitant--after all, it has no dialogue, no real storyline. However, this actually was what made it work so well--the music was allowed to speak for itself.

This doesn't mean that you have to be a musician or an anthropologist to enjoy it. On the contrary, the point of the movie, really, is that music exists everywhere--not just on the radio or in concert halls. Music exists in daily life and is eminently accesible.

The film presents music as performed by a number of different cultures: numerous groups throughout Africa, drummers at Carnivale in Brazil, an Indian religious festival, flamenco dancing in Spain, members of STOMP in the US and Britain, etc. There is a great diversity in pieces chosen, and each group is unique and interesting. You will find yourself tapping the beat for the whole show.

Another strong point of the film was its showcasing of the meaning of music in many cultures, to bring harmony, as entertainment, honor the gods, bring respite from work, etc. I found it very interesting to get a peek into these cultures as well.

I must have seen this movie ten times, and I brought a different person with me each time. It's just that good. Each time I went, I saw a new angle, a new detail in this richly-filmed movie. It's a great movie, plain and simple, and I highly recommend it.

If you like the Stomp performances, then you'll love this film, which explores the beats of rhythms that inspired Stomp more than 10 years ago. From Africa to England to India to America, you see the rhythms of different cultures through dance and music. Beware, this isn't a showcase of Stomp performances, though it does begin and end with a Stomp-like performance seen in the windows of a brick tenant building. This film will make you want to clap, tap your toes, and dance. Definitely worth seeing.

You can't find a show of imaginative percussion that is much better than this one. Fun to watch, interesting use of everyday items. As imaginative as it comes. A great way to stimulate a young mind.

Adding the word "Stomp" to the title was a double-edged sword. Yes, they have a presence in the movie, and the movie is mostly about percusion, but it will be a disappointment to Stomp fans who will expect the movie to be mostly about Stomp performances.

Having said that, this is a fantastic movie that is great fun and showcases music from around the world in spectacular sound. This is one of those movies you can justify having a great surround sound set-up. Unless you chose to play the optional narration, the movie is devoid of commentary and frankly does not need it. It shows sequences from around the world with a quick label identifying the places. The musical sequences are spectacular and those of us who are Stomp fans should enjoy most of them as the Stomp group takes most of its inspiration from these traditions. A better title might have been "Stomp Roots" as so much of the Stomp music is rooted in Africa and in other cultures with percussion traditions.

This is a movie that brings the whole world together and shows how world music can bring us all together. If you liked the project "Songs Around the World" by Playing for Change, you will like this movie as well. It was great to see that teachers use it in schools. Great for the entire family.

As an experienced teacher, I found this presentation, in spite of its length, capable of engaging and holding the attention of children and adolescents of a considerable range of ages. It truly opens a window to the world!

The musicians act alone, or in bands. A variety of musical instruments are shown. There are drums almost as big as a man. A woman has an instrument that is whirled above her head on a rope. One scene shows her doing this on the roof of a building in a city, while another shows the natives' use of it at the top of a hill or mountain.

For some musicians, their bodies alone are the musical instruments. There is a man who makes an amazing variety of sounds with just his mouth and voice. There is also a woman who stomps out a beat in tap dancing.

The sharp-eyed Chicagoan will notice brief glimpses of railway cars of the type used in Chicago subways. If these kinds are largely limited to Chicago, then the photography must likely have been partly done in this city.

I've waited a long time for this IMAX film to be put on DVD so I could share it with my music students. I'm so excited that it's finally available!

Everything is there, plus some cool extras.

However, my excitement is tempered by the following:

The only reason I give it four stars instead of five is that the film was simply compressed from IMAX down to a letterbox.

Everyone looks a bit squished - noticeably wider and shorter than they did in the film. This is unfortunate because in the extras, everyone is proportioned correctly, obviously filmed with regular film instead of IMAX film.

I've been a stomp fan for lots of years, I've seen them onstage, have their previous dvds and have to admit that was really excited when I heard about this new dvd coming out. But after watching it I felt somehow disappointed... The dvd is ok, but isn't half as great as the others. Anyhow, it is a nice point of view to other culture's music. I would recommend it if that's what you want, not if you expect the new "brooms".

I didn't want to leave the theater when I originally saw this film. Any musician, especially music teachers, will appreciate the multiculturalism that "Pulse" displays. (My students beg to watch this movie when I have a substitute.) "Pulse" is a great way to expose yourself and others to the vast variety of music that exists in our world. It is moving and absolutely breathtaking -- Enjoy!