Reviews (209)

Baraka will evoke joy, pity, fear, anger...and love
Set to the music of ethnic chants and indigenous instruments from around the world, this film will compel you to see the world in a new light. You'll see beautiful vistas of terraced paddy fields, deserts, and city scapes. You'll see the dances of the aboriginees, african tribes, and amazon Indians. You'll see the faithful praying in places of worship that range from the Vatican to the shores of Ganges. In short you'll see how similar we all are beneath our different wardrobes and languages and faiths.

The score to the movie complements the scenes and intensifies the emotions one feels watching the movie. Particularly haunting are the scenes of burning oil fields in Kuwait set to the music of Scottish bagpipes, Tibetan water music, and Japanese drumming.

The movie explores love, faith, joy, war, death, rebirth and circle of life by showing scenes from around the world for each of these topics. Each time I have watched this movie I find myself discovering more of its hidden meanings. I think each viewer will come out with his own feelings and interpretations. But even if one isn't inclined to be philosophical, the music and cinematography alone is worth getting the DVD.

A Cultural Enlightening
I can gaurantee this is unlike any film you've ever seen before. Baraka is not a movie with a plot or words, but it is one massive work of art, a composition with the scenery as the main "characters". This movie will open your eyes to the fact that there is a whole world of different cultures, religions, and rituals out there. It will give you chills, make you smile, make you gasp, and make you appriciate diversity. Baraka is not a film for everyone. If you are ethnocentric, you might not see the point. If you have a passion to learn and become enlightened, you will love it.

Beauty beyond words
Baraka is a visual feast like no other, a film that begs to be seen on the largest screen possible so the viewer can absorb the grandiose feel of the images. This is the type of film that IMAX was made for. Filmed on a 70mm camera in a total of 24 countries, it is a dialogue-free film that takes the viewer around the globe into uncharted lands. The first half of the film shows us the natural beauty of earth as we are shown striking images of mountain ranges, deserts, tropical rain forests, volcanoes, solar temples, exotic animals. The whole thing is done to the tune of a spellbinding soundtrack of ambient music, Gregorian chants, flutes and other exotic sounds by world music artists such as Harmonic Choir and Dead Can Dance.

But Baraka is much more than just National Geographic for the visually inclined. Its purpose is to give us a view of the world good and bad. And as the second half of the film unwinds, the tone of Baraka becomes increasingly dark and pessimistic as we are exposed to some of the harsh realities of the world like homelessness, poverty, slave labour, hunger. Horrifying images of tree-chopping, sweatshops, subway-cramming in Tokyo and scenes in a chicken factory will make many cringe and think twice about eating chicken for a while. But sometimes even within these backdrops of despair can be found things that are beautiful such as the joy and happiness on children's faces despite growing up in poverty-stricken 2nd world countries. These kids grow up with practically no material possessions yet they seem so HAPPY, much happier than kids of first-world countries who grow up with any material object their heart desires.

Baraka is certainly not the kind of film we are used to seeing. I struggled with it for the first 10 minutes or so but then immediately fell under its spell and forgot that I was watching a film with no dialogue. Sometimes it's nice to be able to flick off the brain, not worry about following a story and just let oneself be absorbed by what's on screen, and that's what this film does. The only minor squabbles I had were the absence of writing on the screen to let us know where in the world we are and that the film did peter out a little towards the end. Baraka is a film worth purchasing that will stand well to multiple viewings and might even make some think twice about where their real priorities ought to be.

Save time & shoot yourself in the head
If your interested in seeing what the film claims to be, " a transcendently poetic, world-wide tour of the globe blah blah blah ..speaks directly to the soul" - dont bother, it dosent happen. Instead you will find about 10 minutes of lovely scenery followed by lengthy film of poverty, cruelty and torture, including images of baby chicks having their beaks burnt off, graphic pictures of death camps and over-worked donkeys collapsing and dying (?!). Anyone who finds this "visually stimulating" needs psychiatric help.
Fair enough if the film would actually indicate that your in for a visual experience depicting the apparent desperate state of the world, but there is no indication whatsoever of this pathetic morbidness in filmmaking, in fact it is offensive that the cover would suggest what lies within is even remotely "beautiful". Anyone who insists on watching it plse think twice before scaring your children with it - and if the film does have one worth-while message it is nothing to do with cinematography, its simply this : Think twice where your next KFC wing came from! And is it worth it ?

You'll watch it again and again
Lets not kid ourselves. This is awe inspiring and captivating film. This review tackles all those who haven't rated it 5 stars. Most of these have seen earlier work by Godfrey Reggio and Ron Fricke. The only thing that separates these earlier works is that some people prefer them over this. In truth, the films are very similiar in technique, time-lapse and camera angles with the only differences being editing, music and locations.
In earlier work Philip Glass composed the music which was appropriate and brilliant (although now slightly dated) and in Baraka, Michael Stearn tried to meld the music to the location. Michael Stearn -in my opinion- creating the better atmosphere.
If you've not seen any of these following Chronos, Koyaanisqatsi, & Powaqqatsi. Then see Baraka, as it is the superior film and tends build on methods, techniques and angles visited in the previous films. I'd also like to mention Alton Walpole who doesn't seem to get much say in reviews, but he's also had an active part in all of these films and part of the 3 main people behind these films.
When you see it make sure that it's on the biggest screen possible, with the best sound system possible in a dark room. And let the music and film take you on the journey that is Baraka. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The word Baraka means "blessing" in several languages; watchingthis film, the viewer is blessed with a dazzling barrage of images thattranscend language. Filmed in 24 countries and set to an ever-changing global soundtrack, the movie draws somesurprising connections between various peoples and the spaces they inhabit,whether that space is a lonely mountaintop or a crowded cigarette factory. Someof these attempts at connection are more successful than others: for instance,an early sequence segues between the daily devotions of Tibetan monks, OrthodoxJews, and whirling dervishes, finding more similarity among these rituals thanone might expect. And there are other amazing moments, as when sped-up footageof a busy Hong Kong intersection reveals a beautiful symmetry to urban life thatcould only be appreciated from the perspective of film. The lack of context isoccasionally frustrating--not knowing where a section was filmed, or the meaningof the ritual taking place--and some of the transitions are puzzling. However,the DVD includes a short behind-the-scenes featurette in which cinematographerRon Fricke (Koyaanisqatsi) explains that the effect was intentional:"It's not where you are that's important, it's what's there." And what's here,in Baraka, is a whole world summed up in 104 minutes. --Larisa LomackyMoore ... Read more

Reviews (209)

Perfection!
What is this a 2 and 3 star review!!! Obviously the world has a lot to learn before they can give this masterpiece the credit it deserves. Ladies and Gentlemen I cannot stress enough the urgency with which you must purchase this dvd if you haven't already done so. This is simply one of the most awe-inspring things I have ever come across in my 19 years on this planet. It is on repeat in my household. In a just world Baraka would be more widely known and praised. But as is it remains a concealed jewel to be uncovered at your leisure.

Flute phobia
Stunning photography, a coherent and beautiful cinemagraphic work. But the "haunting" Asian, East Indian(?) music wore on me after a while, and the time lapse was overused. My wife, however would rate this 5 star.

5 Stars on it's own, but less by Frickes Standards
Being a BIG fan of Ron Fricke, I can't honestly give this 5 stars. Why? Well, 2 reasons. For one, by his own standards, Fricke has done a lot more in nearly every one of his other projects (with the only exception perhaps being the shorts series). What do I mean by more? Experimentation. Stepping a little further into the unknown, doing the undone. The other reason I can't give it 5 stars is because, despite the fact that by other standards it is far from mainstream, by Fricke's own standards it feels like it. Look at it like this: If you want a deep look into original Cinematography, get any of his other projects. However, if you're coming from a normal background, this movie can really move you in that sense. It's more of a "Greatest Hits", really. It shows off a little bit of everything, but at the sacrifice of depth. There ARE a few moments that deserve thier own viewing, and if you have seen ANY of Fricke's other projects then don't miss this one, but otherwise, if you want to see the same thing more or less, but in much greater depth, check out the rest of his work.

Incredible Visuals!
This movie is a breathtaking film that shows many different far off lands which make the viewer desire to know more about the places being shown. There are parts of this film which are extremely thought provoking. "Baraka" captures on film some of the most pristine lands on this planet to the extremely hectic day to day life in Japan. It shows beautiful parts of Humanity like the temples in Tibet, disturbing images of Humanity like the cigarette makers to very mysterious parts of Humanity like the group meditation/hallucination. This film has no dialogue and there is only music and nature sounds which accompany. It is a masterful work of art and is a film I will watch many times in my life.

visually stunning
A beautiful journey though different cultures and locations throughout the world. Captivating and moving, this movie is a must own. Afer seeing it a half dozen times now, it still gives me goosebumps. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Short 1: Invention represents the first comprehensive attempt to compile multimedia content on DVD in a magazine-like format, and it's a welcome addition to the digital realm. Originally released on the defunct Polygram label as Short Cinema Journal, Vol. 1, the first installment in the Short series is an above-average mix of documentary, animation, and live-action shorts, even ifseveral of the entries are nearly a decade old. The DVD is divided into six topics--"Marquee"; "Hello, Dali"; "Reality"; "Sound Bit"; "Minutes"; and "Junkdrawer"--the best highlights are to be found in "Hello, Dali," "Reality," and "Minutes,"which contain interesting, even brilliant, bits. The excerpt from Shape Without Form is asurreal, four-minute exercise in angst and it shares a slot with the mostnoteworthy discovery on the DVD, the creative and ingenious WillVinton-produced Mr. Resistor, which is a cleverly animated, Road Warrior-likeride through the electrical world. In the "Minutes" chapter, British directorMichael Apted discusses the premise that "film is the poetry of ordinarylife," and although eight minutes can't begin to cover a director's career, this segment does its expurgated best.There are segments from the Ron Fricke film Baraka (also available as a full-length DVD), which still dazzles afternearly two decades with its austere lesson in nature and humanity. Black Rider is an Oscar-winning German short that chronicles a black man's plight on a tram, with a delightful twist ending. A slight disappointment, George Hickenlooper's Some Folks Call It a Sling Blade is the original short that inspired Billy Bob Thornton's acclaimed feature film version, and it pales in comparison. Likewise, Henry Rollins's Easter Sunday in NYC is little more than an angry, pointless, and dated rant for misfits everywhere. Some of the films--like the clay-animated movie spoof The Big Story, featuring Frank Gorshin's hilarious impression of Kirk Douglas--are sure to please those who never saw them on the film festival circuit. On the whole, the good outweighs the mediocre in this deft compilation, boding well for subsequent volumes in the series.--Paula Nechak ... Read more

Amazon.com

Taking the familiar conventions of time-lapse cinematography to a transcendent level of artistic achievement, filmmaker Ron Fricke circled the globe to make Chronos, a stunning 70-millimeter time-lapse tour of natural and man-made wonders. The entire film has the enhanced, hyper-realistic quality of a laser-etched photograph, and by using special cameras and motion-control photographic techniques, Fricke and his technically expert crew were able to create mesmerizing images guaranteed to spark any viewer's sense of awe and wonder. Accompanied by the hypnotic music of Michael Stearns, this visual journey takes the viewer on a tour of over 50 locations on nearly every continent of the world, including explorations of Paris, the Vatican, the Egyptian pyramids, the African veldt, and many more stunning vistas. The cumulative effect is the feeling that the world--from the busiest metropolis to the most serenely remote wilderness landscape--is dictated by "chronos," the rhythm of time to which all living things must submit. Like Koyaanisquatsi and Baraka, this is one of those eye-candy films that was conceived according to its specific theme, so it's not only a soothing visual experience but a thought-provoking study of our fascinating planet. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (18)

Intense, abstract filmmaking
I watch "Chronos" on a fairly regular basis. Purely a concept film (no dialogue, characters, plot, etc.), the deft editing, combined with one of Michael Stearns' most powerful musical efforts, results in an almost psychedelic experience. The film is an engaging experiment in the documentation of and toying with the passage of time, both in the historical sense (progression from "barbarism" to civilisation) and in the chronological sense, alternately slowing down and speeding up the sequences to varying degrees. The final "scene" (as it were) is magnificent, bringing the acceleration of time to its logical conclusion. Purely an audio-visual experience, it is best seen on as large a screen as one can afford and with an equally powerful sound system.

Worth a look....
I must preface this by saying that I purchased Baraka before finding Chronos. Obviously they are not intended to be identical efforts, and it would appear that Fricke/Stearns put a lot more work into Baraka. That said, Chronos is a fascinating piece, which I'm sure was stunning in an IMAX theater. I was a bit disappointed with the film quality, there was a noticeable amount of dust, hair, etc. on the film and the image was definitely not what one would expect from a film shot in 70mm. I'd pay twice the price for a remastered version with the original camera's aspect ratio (I suspect it was not 1.33:1, as this DVD represents it).

I hate to compare this film to Baraka, but once you've seen both films, it's hard not to. Although I think Baraka is a bigger and better film, Chronos definitely has its strengths. I think Ron Fricke was certainly more expressive with different types of editing, time-lapse and camera exposure in Chronos. But then again, this all plays into the theme of the film: time.

From Some of The Fathers of Wordless Narrative Film
Released in 1985, "Chronos" is a forty-minute long "visual-music journey". It is a Presentation of the Reuben H. Fleet Space Theater of San Diego, California and S.E.M. Lagode, Paris, France.

"Chronos" was filmed on location at over sixty sites around the globe. Images of significant natural beauty, architectural complexity, iconic historical sculpture and various panoramic cityscapes were captured on 70mm film using mostly slow motion and time lapse cinematography.

The wordless narrative structure of the work primarily attempts to convey feelings of reverence and appreciation for the breath-taking subject matter. In addition, it also suggests states of significant anxiety experienced as a consequence of the pace and complexity of modern urban life.

Electronic music, composed and performed by Michael Stearns, is thoroughly integrated with the considered, slowly paced editing of Alton Walpole and Ron Fricke. Image and sound interpenetrate one another to suggest and convey the eloquent wordless scenario, which was conceived by both Constantine and Genevieve Nicholas.

Having begun as cinematographer for director Godfrey Reggio's film "Koyaanisqatsi", we see with "Chronos" that Ron Fricke helped to sow the visual and conceptual seeds of wordless narrative film. This medium finally bore satisfying fruit with 1992's feature length work "Baraka". "Chronos", however, remains as essential viewing.

By this passionate evidence of Mr. Fricke's ongoing struggle, we see that their is, at last, some sign of harmonious life beyond the scenario of Godfrey Reggio's dire trilogy.

A rare masterpiece!
It's not for them who listen to the typical pop-r'n'b' music soundtrack, but for the New Age music fans!
Michael Stearns have created a dynamic and mysterious New Age soundtrack for this movie I have'nt seen, its a hard to find CD soundtrack , so I had to write about the soundtrack:Stearns' music have changed a little on this CD, and if you sit and relaxing deep to this album, you will get on a inner time and space travel.

Land & Time Forgotten
Ron Fricke's sensitivity and awareness of the beauty of the Earth's landscapes and structures, both natural and man made, along with Michael Sterns' moving soundtrack make this a truly mesmerizing film. The DVD is readily worth the price as it will be enjoyed again and again. ... Read more