Average Rating: 
Rating:  - Inproper Matting? Who Cares!
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.
Rating: - Once is all it takes to be hooked for life.
I haven't looked in the thesaurus yet, but I'm sure it lists no synonym for 'joy' that comes CLOSE to how glad I am that this is now available. Koyanisqaatsi is easily in my top ten list. That being said, I've only seen it ONCE!!Having been a Philip Glass fan for some time, I came across the first release of the soundtrack a few years ago, while studying at Berklee College of Music. Mesmerized, I spent a few weeks anxiously looking for a video store with a copy. There must've been many anxious viewers before me, because the cassette was worn quite thin due to age and repeated viewing. Owing to the weak cassette, the picture and sound were a solid C. The mood, cinematography, music and effect, though, were an easy A inching towards an A+. Although I saw the film 4 years ago, I can't get the NYC climax followed by the challenger 'release' out of my memory. There've been a few films that have trid to measure up through immitation (the speed shots, no dialogue, hollywoods take on 'minimalism') but Koyanisqaatsi was the first. If you truly want to experience what art can be, buy it, watch it and repeat.
Rating: - Amazon.com finally got me
Even after reading the reviews I couldn't believe it that a current motion picture edition rerelease would again crop koyaanis so I signed up and sprung for a dvd copy. In '84 I skipped outta work early, shh..., to hit the art cinema at pearl st. boulder to see it. Ever since then I have called sony electronics "ony's" because of a logo scene later in the film. Now it appears the new nick name is "uny's". hmmm... Can't say I'll adopt that one. Oh well the dvd version is still stunning even though many scenes feel compacted because the cropping has removed some of the space around the scene as originally intended. My best guess, the original film with its theatre aspect ratio and stuning glory was only released for the formated to fit your screen. So the sides were cropped for cable. Then that format was only released which has been compressed vertically to regain to the original aspect ratio of the theatre presentation for display on the 16:9 tv's. Wish I could walk back into that art cinema and see the film again but today it is a clothing store. The other thing I have noticed is KOYAANISQATSI and POWAQQATSI won't play on my old pc's dvd but BARAKA does.
|
