Average Rating: 
Rating:  - The Watchers
I bought the VHS version of this film first, but I have an old VCR and seeing the quality of the film, I had to buy the DVD, it was amazing.The film is totally based on live shots, taken at appropriate times. The camera work is excellent, which is just rightly complimented by the amazing music in this film. It is a more of a journey, than just a two hour watch. The deep philosophy enrooted is really enlightening. As time goes by happiness turns to suffering, then the circle restores, the cruelty and the suffering now, the damage we cause, all would change. We only just watch and watch as time flows by. Seeing this film one would be touched by the amount of damage we have caused to our planet, and to ourselves. The beginning symbolically shows the origin of man, watching. The film shows ethnic tribes in the exotic places around the world, our cities, our ruins, our future. A wordless film that has more meaning than the better part of the movies I have seen, and the images with stay with you for sometime, realy an experience.
Rating: - This is what film does best
We picked up the original DVD of Baraka a few months ago, and were knocked out by the film. Upon hearing of the new release, I ordered it to see how much better the transfer is from the original (and this version cost less, too--go figure). We ran each DVD through two different players on two different TVs. Honestly, there isn't an appreciable difference in picture quality. In fact, we had to boost the color when playing the new release---otherwise, colors were a little washed out. The image clarity on each print looked to be the same, although I'd love to see a 70mm print in a big theater. As far as the score goes, it did sound as if the remaster had a bit more presence, although that should not discredit the fidelity of the original.In any case, Baraka is a captivating work of art that takes the medium to creative levels that dramatic film, or even documentary film, cannot. Every time I watch it, I stare at the screen with childlike fascination at the images. It takes me out of my petty little world and shows me the bigger picture, and that is why I love this film. It's too bad that Koyannisqatsi is wrapped up on so much red tape, I'd like to see that on DVD at a reasonable price, too.
Rating: - VASTLY IMPROVED VIDEO AND SOUND QUALITY!
I will not attempt to extol the virtues film itself (what more can I say than has already been said?), but of the new collector's edition: I too have the original DVD release, and the VHS release. This new transfer is AMAZING, and is exactly what the first DVD release should have been... PRISTINE video (very few artifacts, little or no pixelation), and IMMACULATE audio (crisp, clean, and great presence without sounding "over-processed"). If you have both versions and can't tell the difference, then it's time to watch it on a large screen TV, and clean yer ears out! The improvements are painfully obvious. This is a truly incredible film, and finally justice has been done with the fantastic quality of the consumer version. Like someone else said, give your old copy away, and BUY THIS VERSION now! I'm glad I picked it up, and you will be too.
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