Baraka [Blu-ray]
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Movie Reviews of Baraka [Blu-ray]
Movie Review: be sure to pick your jaw off the floor after viewing
Summary: 5 Stars
I just finished watching Baraka tonight and put in Discovery Atlas China randomly, for a change of moods. Wow! What a difference! Baraka puts Discovery China to shame, which made me wonder if I was even watching an HD presentation. Baraka's colors were vibrant and crisp. Discovery China was lifeless and dull by comparison, with noticeable interlacing. If I had put in another Blu-ray, the difference might not have been so stark, and here are the reasons why:
Baraka was lovingly remastered and restored using a very expensive and time-consuming 8K scanning process, which is advertised on the box and explained on the disc in a short video. This BD transfer was remastered from the original 70mm negatives at the highest possible resolution available today in a special film scanner at FotoKem, supposedly the only one of its kind in existence. Scanning the film into the machine alone took 3 continuous weeks, even before restoration could begin.
Oversampled at 8192 pixels per row (that's where the "8K" in the 8K Ultra-digital process comes from), the transfer was then cleaned up, color-corrected, restored, and then downsampled for Blu-ray. (Full HD is about 1/4th the resolution of the original scan, at 1920 pixels per row.) Some of this may just be techno-bragging and silly marketing, but the results are clear. Baraka is arguably the best looking Blu-ray on the market, and the 8K process is well worth the effort and expense. I hope other studios will follow suite and devote this level of care to a release.
As for the film itself, its main themes are the universality of the human experience, the diversity of human life, and timelessness. There's no narration or text, so if you're the type who has to have everything blow up, it's best to avoid this disc.
The music, likewise, is timeless, unlike Chronos which has a New Age soundtrack that can get annoying and sounds dated. The music in Baraka has some japanese flute pieces, orchestral pieces, and other ethnic sounds, but nothing terribly memorable. My only issue with Baraka is the paperboard case that it comes in. The disc slips into a slot, which greatly increases the change of scratching. I understand the environmental-friendliness of this decision, but would prefer a better packaging design.
It would've been nice to have an audio track for commentary from Ron Fricke or the producers, because some of the images need explaining, or at least identification as to where in the world they are.
If you want drool material, this is it.
Movie Review: Maybe THE highest quality image available on blu-ray; a gorgeous film
Summary: 5 Stars
5.1 stars
Boy oh boy, I was hoping that this blu-ray would do justice to the phenomenal depth and intensity of cinematographer/director Ron Fricke's Baraka, and rarely have I ever been less disappointed!
This film, already stunning in its wordless narrative of so many cultures and natural wonders on our incredible planet, comes to life like no other in blu-ray. As explained in one of the extras, this is the highest-quality transfer ever made to BD or dvd. Yes, you read that right. It's an 8k scan of a 70mm print, both the highest level of their respective digital and analog technologies, and this BD is in fact even crisper than the original theatrical print, having been cleaned up in parts from the print's occasional flaws. I've never seen a better picture on a home video screen.
There are few words to express how good this film looks, and few films ever made deserve this kind of perfectionist treatment. If one film can be said to more movingly cover this many views of mankind and our impact on this planet, I sure haven't seen it. Fricke takes his awe-inspring work on Koyanisqaatsi and the other Qaatsi films and moves them to the next level here. There are no simple answers or even questions, just images of Earth and its denizens, biped and so much more; funny thing is, we're the only species destroying the planet. That's made all too clear here, and the lack of words brings it home more forcefully, especially when juxtaposed with superb images of the immense peace and harmony present when mankind is not. The stunning colors and amazing depth of the images are done full justice by this frighteningly fine transfer; prepare yourself appropriately, turn out all the lights, and lose your mind in this one-of-a-kind visual experience, made even more intense by Michael Stearn's majestic score.
If you have a hi-def tv and a blu-ray player, run don't walk to get this BD disc. It will redefine what your system can do, while reminding you that it's just a screen and that the real wonders lie outside, in reality, on a planet whose dominant species is quickly eradicating many of the greatest treasures to which it was heir, as we're mutely shown. This film might even inspire you to do what you can to help preserve some of the myriad jewels to which this work of art bears witness.
Can't begin to recommend the film enough, likewise this absolutely perfect blu-ray disc, to all who love the medium of film and/or the planet Earth.
Movie Review: Baraka - a spectacular must seen! never miss film!
Summary: 5 Stars
Baraka means blessing in a multitude of languages. This is a 1992 non-narrative film directed by Ron Fricke and was the first in over twenty years to be photographed in the 70mm Todd-AO format.
Baraka is also the only film that re-scanned at 8k resolution with special dedicated equipment did at FotoKern Laboratories. This automated 8k film scanner has operated continuously more than 3 weeks for finishing the scan with more than 150,000 frames, producing over 30TB of image data in total. It has been spend a total of 16-months for digital intermediate process re-mastered before releasing it as blu-ray.
Baraka was filmed at 152 locations in 24 countries. It is one astonishing work ever did.
Baraka proof viewing pleasure means thousand word. See it to believe how brilliant spectacular it being film and produce.
Baraka give you the most beauty of earth where you never feel and seen before, your life is something missing without watching it.
Picture Quality
Unbelievable how stunning the picture quality is where you hardly believe it was shooting on year 1992. It is by far the only beyond top notch quality you ever seen in any recent film transfer. The beauty and clarity deserved it 8k transfer.
The output is like you seen in real life where it surpass for the most aclaim outstanding movie - Avatar which basically mostly did in CGI, Baraka is not CGI, Baraka is real!
They is no single issue of DNR, EE or whatever technology apply, no sign of edge issue, judder, color banding, over sharpen or whatever you name it, it is not there. The only there is pure perfection transfer ever did.
Audio Quality
Even though this film without any narration, the perfect music score by Michael Stearns and featuring music by Dead Can Dance, L. Subramaniam, Ciro Hurtado, Inkuyo, Brother and David Hykes is outstanding than whatever you believe! Without them, this film is nothing.
Conclusion
The only film that beyond the edge. Top notch transfer in both PQ & AQ.
A must own for any blu-ray lover and a must seen film in your entire life at least once!
5 star for everything Baraka deserved! 10 out of 10 without any doubt! Brilliantly bravo!
Can't wait for it sequal "Samsara" which schedule to be release in unknown time on this year 2011.
Movie Review: 5-Star Blu-ray Video / 5-Star Nature Doc
Summary: 5 Stars
I recently got a 50" plasma (panasonic G10) and a blu-ray player (panasonic 60) and I wanted to test out all the blu-rays that supposedly had the best picture quality. These nature docs have been considered some of the best.
GALAPAGOS = 4-Star Blu-Ray Video / 2-Star Nature Doc
The video is good, but not great like a pristine movie transfer like Sin City or Kung-Fu Panda. I found this nature doc particularly boring. It has a few nice bits, but there's lots of repetition of shots, and wildlife just isn't as interesting as the other docs. I would only reccomend this if you're super super super interesting in learning about Galapagos.
GANGES = 4-Star Blu-ray Video / 3-Star Nature Doc
Video quality is about the same as Galapagos, good, but there's a lot better. This nature doc is a lot more interesting than Galapagos, more magic shots, better tid bits, a more emotional experience. This is worth checking out for the content.
PLANET EARTH = 4.5-Star Blu-ray Video / 4-Star Nature Doc
This is a fantastic video transfer, better than Galapagos and Ganges. By better, I mean, richer blacks, deeper colors, sharper detail. All around, a step up. This is a four disc experience. I think they put all their best content on the first disc. Seriously, the first disc was thrilling, the others were a huge step down, in terms of locations and wildlife. Maybe it's a weird personal preference thing, but I watched the first disc three times, but could barely get through the others. I would say disc one is a must see.
BARAKA = 5-Star Blu-ray Video / 5-Star Nature Doc
This wins the Super Shiny Titanium Standard Award for best video and best nature doc. It was shot on 70mm and transfered to, like, quad-HD digital. This is one of the very best blu-rays ever made. It holds up against all new releases, because the source was 70mm. And this nature doc seemed the most magical. If you want to get a good demo disc, to show to any audience, this is the one. And the Baraka experience sticks with you. I can see myself watching this quite a few times in the years ahead, just for the experience.
Movie Review: Montage of the World
Summary: 5 Stars
The Good Things
*Supremely excellent video/sound quality. Definately one of the best Blu-Rays on the market.
*Includes a couple of extras; a "A Closer Look" documentary and a "Restoration" documentary.
*The film has very excellent photography. It shows a vast number of unique images with great composition and quality. Most of it is downright stunning.
*Also provides some fascinating views of society, nature, people, and the world in general. If you stop to consider the imagery, it could make you think a lot.
*At the same time, it could also be considered calm and relaxing.
*Provides some views of people, places, and events from many parts of the world that you may never get the chance to see. It also has some very intimate portraits of people.
*Good music.
The Bad Things
*On the selectable items on all menu screens, all of the text is gold and your selection is white, so it's hard to tell which button you are selecting.
The Questionable Things
*This is not a movie with any plot, story, or characters; it's simply a montage of world footage. If you don't like documentaries, this may bore you. Otherwise, it will amaze you.
*Comes in an eco-friendly package, so it's entirely recyclable cardboard with the disc shoved in a slit on the sleeve. It's kind of weird and not very stable.
This film has some of the best photography ever, both in quality and composition. And on Blu-Ray, it's practically perfect. In addition to giving me something to stare at intensely, it is also something that will inspire me; its views of foreign people, the things they do, their cities, their ruins, their rituals, and the nature that surrounds them are very detailed and revealing. And unless you have ADHD, perhaps it will inspire you too.