Powaqqatsi - Life in Transformation
by Godfrey Reggio
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Actor: Cheryl Tiegs, Christie Brinkley, Dan Rather, David Brinkley, Pope John Paul IIDirector: Godfrey Reggio
Brand: Sony
Producer: Godfrey Reggio
Writer: Godfrey Reggio
Producer: Francis Ford Coppola
Producer: George Lucas
Producer: Kurt Munkacsi
Producer: Lawrence Taub
Producer: Mandeep Kakkar
Producer: Marcel Kahn
Producer: Mel Lawrence
Producer: Menahem Golan
Producer: Shyam Benegal
Producer: Tom Garrett
Producer: Tom Luddy
Writer: Ken Richards
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 5.1; English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 5.1
Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, DVD, NTSC, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.85:1
Running Time: 99 minutes
Published: 2002-09-01
DVD Release Date: 2002-09-17
Audience Rating: G (General Audience)
Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
DVD Reviews of Powaqqatsi - Life in Transformation
DVD Review: Good, but not great
Summary: 3 Stars
Having only seen Koyaanisqatsi prior to the DVD release of Powaqqatsi, I had hoped this would build on the power, beauty and unique vision of the earlier film, since both were directed by Godfrey Reggio. It didn't, unfortunately. Powaqqatsi lacks overall focus and direction, it seems to me, and during many shots, I was never sure as to exactly what the director was making a statement about. I don't think film direction has to be blatant, but yet ultimately it is about communication, and the viewer needs to have some sense of what is being said. Powaqqatsi falls flat, for instance, with way, way too many slo-mo shots of bland crowds milling about, coupled with way, way too many similar shots of women walking with huge, weighty packages on their heads. The first film in the trilogy, a ground breaking art film, used similar crowd scenes to devastating effect, and their was never any doubt as to the mood and message being projected. Powaqquatsi meanders, hitting many of essentially the same visuals over and over again, many of them lasting far beyond the point when the viewer has completely absorbed their visual impact, and you're never really sure why you're seeing a very similar scene further into the film. The photography, while technically excellent, lacks the visual poetry and punch of Koyaanisqatsi, even though most of Powaaqatsi seems to have been shot specifically for the film, while Koyaanisqatsi utilized a large number of stock footage shots. Perhaps the magic of Koyaanisqatsi was also due to the film editing of Ron Fricke, who was apparently not involved in Powaaqatsi and went on the create the marvelous "Baraka" which shows off his considerable talents in direction and editing. The music in Powaaqatsi, by Phillip Glass, is outstanding, and carries the film through its weaker visual moments. Glass' music is modern, and world-music influenced here, and holds up beautifully during the 15 year span since it was composed and performed for the film. A highlight of the 2002 DVD releases of both films are fairly brief (seemingly contemporary) interviews with both Glass and Reggio as the sole "extra" on the disk. They add much to the viewer's appreciation of the films, and I would have like to hear much more about how the films were made and the creative process both men used in their 25-year collaboration (!) of the trilogy. The DVDs provide absolutely no extra information as either a printed insert or added "behind the scenes" extras on the disks (with the exception of the short interviews and several trailers) -- a disappointment for film buffs, and a glaring omission in view of the amount of space left on the disk and the opportunity to provide information and insight for the fans of the trilogy. You might think that films like this issued under the considerable weight of Francis Ford Coppola's American Zoetrope production studio could put together a booklet insert, or a snappy half-hour "making off" extra without too much trouble. It also would have provided an opportunity for Reggio to explain further his "IRE" organization, which is cryptically mentioned in the interviews. To give them their due, however, the two films created and defined a new genre of "ambient filmmaking," and are a "must see" for any serious student of film. Hopefully, the third film in the "Qatsi" trilogy (due Oct.'02 in theaters) will set new standards and explore new territories, both visually and musically. Koyaanisqatsi -- great. Powaaqatsi -- good.
Description of Powaqqatsi - Life in Transformation
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