Anyone else ever see the movie Koyaanisqatsi?

[Tommy_Carcetti]

I remember seeing it back in college and it had something of an effect on me. I saw it in a class called "The Unspeakable," which was apt because the movie had no words, just images.

[DS1]

1. Yes, excellent cinematography

I love the shadow of the B1 bomber over the desert, and the women staring at the camera in Vegas freaks me out because I know they're all probably dead by now.

[edbermac]

2. Saw when it first came out, have the DVD of it and Powaqqatsi.

I missed the last one Naqoyqatsi. The time lapse shots were unusual back then, but every other commercial on TV uses it now.

Also check out a similar movie made by some of the same camera people called Baraka.

[kentauros]

15. Baraka was an amazing film, too

:)

I saw Koyaanisqatsi four times in the theater when it came out, taking a different friend each time. They all loved it, too :D

I also have both on DVD and still am not so sure if I want Naqoyqatsi. I may get it anyway, if only for the Philip Glass soundtrack.

I watched Powaqqatsi over a year ago and found I was far more emotionally affected by it than when it came out. Funny how we change that way over the years...

[KurtNYC]

3. I wanted to hunt down Phillip Glass and break his fingers by the end of that

movie. Hey Glass -- Play more than 3 notes!

Great concept and a great use of stock footage but the music gets annoying after the first 5 minutes.

[camera obscura]

7. I must be a freak cuz I listen to that soundtrack at least once a day. heh.

[kentauros]

16. You must not like minimalism as a music style.

Try some Steve Reich, such as "Drumming" or "Music for Six Pianos" sometime for pure repetition that is mesmerizing :D

[MrCoffee]

20. +1

:thumbsup: for the excellent review.


I couldn't agree more.

[Tom Kitten]

4. Very powerful

I saw it in the theatre when it first came out and was just mesmerized...scenes of horrible beauty. I have it on vhs but watching it on tv does it no justice...maybe someday when I have it on dvd and a 90" HDTV I can truly appreciate it again...but that would counter the whole message wouldn't it? Best to keep it in memory and catch it if it ever plays in a theatre again, I'd say..

[MorningGlow]

5. It's my husband's favorite movie

He shared it with me when we first started dating a dozen years ago. I was impressed.

Bought him the trilogy on DVD a couple of years ago, but he's never watched them. :shrug:

[gmoney]

10. He was just using it to get chicks, obviously. ;)

"Hey doll, wanna come back to my place and watch Koyannisqatsi? It's my favorite movie..."

The oldest line there is.

[MorningGlow]

22. Worked like a charm, too, I guess!

:rofl:

[redqueen]

6. I've seen it a couple of times.

I hardly remember any of it.

[tigereye]

8. yeah, when it first came out

still looks pretty cool, too. We really like Glass as well.

[marzipanni]

9. Yes, it really made an impression on me when it came out in 1982.

Here is the beginning two minutes of it, but the whole movie is on Google videos. I agree with others here, though, much better to see it in a theater with big screen and sound.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFBijDU8PpE

[Chorophyll]

11. Yep. I saw it in college

and it gave me a full-blown anxiety attack. I watched it again a couple of years ago -- no anxiety attack, but I'll never be a Philip Glass fan. ;)

[unpossibles]

12. great movie. nt

[Rabrrrrrr]

13. Yes, many times! I've even seen it live 3 or 4 times. I love it!

[evlbstrd]

14. Yes.

A great soporific. I got thrown out of the theatre for snoring.

[LeftinOH]

17. A film with no story, no words, no stars....and its awesome.

[MilesColtrane]

18. Knock, knock

Who's there?

Knock, knock
Who's there?

Knock, knock
Who's there?

Knock, knock
Who's there?

Knock, knock
Who's there?

Knock, knock
Who's there?

Philip Glass

[kentauros]

19. And yet...

I absolutely love Philip Glass! :)

It's called "minimalism" for a reason. It does change, but you need a good sense of subtlety to appreciate it :)

Have you ever listened to the Gyuto monks doing their chanting? Closer to minimalism than most would think and just as mesmerizing.

[MilesColtrane]

21. meh

I prefer John Adams.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXsrVbb35b0

His music has more emotional impact for me. Glass' stuff all sounds very similar and very clever and cold, IMHO.

[FKA MNChimpH8R]

23. Incredibly beautiful film, IMO

Saw it when it came out, on PBS a couple of times and had it on VHS. Bought the soundtrack and the revised version, too, but then I am a big Philip Glass fan; "Akhenaten" is a masterpiece of the first order.

Godfrey Reggio is about as good as it gets in conjuring breathtaking beauty from the commonplace. I'd probably put it in my top 20-25 films.