Cirque du Soleil - Varekai
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Movie Reviews of Cirque du Soleil - Varekai
Movie Review: DETAILED review of what you'll see
Summary: 5 Stars
If you have never seen Varekai (Cirque Du Soleil's newest world touring show as of Dec '02), let me sum it up for you.Varekai tells a tale of Icarus, who falls from the sky, to be cofronted by forest creatures who inhabit the place he lands. He looses his wings during the fall. And the whole show there is a theme of survival, and never giving up. There is even a happy ending for Icarus!
Varekai is filled with the most energetic and beautiful tunes. In Cirque Du Soleil tradition another excellent soundtrack put forth for the show. Varekai includes. . .
Icarian Games - men juggle other men on their feet
Triple Trapese - 4 spider like women artistically share one suspended trapese
Juggling - everything from soccerballs to ping pong balls with his mouth!
Water Meteors - 4 Chinesse youths twirl ropes with balls on the end
Flight of Icarus - the opening arial act
Georgian dance - a rousing dance number
body skating - a large group of performers balance and dance around on "ice"
Handbalancing - amazing balancing with one hand, even one leg!
Acrobatic pas de duex - a sensual dance and balancing act by one man and one woman
handbalancing on canes - a dance number on crutches, it symbolizes Icarus' struggle
Areal Straps - 2 male twins fly high about the stage displaying strength and accuracy
I beleive I have covered them all. I was lucky enough to see the show live in Chicago. And there is nothing compared to that. But it seems that this time Cirque has gone the extra yard. Unlike their previous DVDs you will actually get to see some of the pre-show goings on. Each show LIVE there is alot of stuff in the beggining of the show you do not see on the DVD. Like an opening number, interaction with the audience, SOME kind of way to open up the show. Cirque has outdone themselves this time by really giving the at home viewers an even better feeling of the WHOLE show.
All in all, this is a show you can not miss. And you get to see even more than in their past shows on DVD! This is a MUST buy.
Movie Review: A story of survival
Summary: 5 Stars
Arguably one of the best filmed versions of the Cirque du Soleil show out there, Varekai marks the company's movement into a flashier, more modern type of production that still manages to capture imaginations and make viewers soar. Varekai does break some of the Cirque "rules" and does different things with the universe, as newcomer director Dominic Champagne wanted, but manages to feel fresh and welcome at the same time.
Varekai continues the story of Icarus, a figure in Greek mythology who flew too close to the sun with wings made of wax. The wax melted, and Icarus fell. In this version, Icarus lands in a forest at the base of a volcano called Varekai, a land of survivors. Due to the fall, Icarus lost his ability to walk, but with the love of a caterpillar (later turned butterfly) and the support of the forest creatures, Icarus learns how to continue his life and keep surviving.
Varekai is a visual feast with amazing, bright costumes and edge-of-your seat acrobatics that will keep viewers enthralled from beginning to end. From the opening right up until the finale, it's absolutely mesmerizing. The first act, "Flight of the Icarus" is a powerful and unique opening that brings the audience into the Icarus's life and his emotions. Other stand-out acts include the risky "Icarian Games," the beautiful yet sensual "Triple Trapeze," the explosive "Russian Swing," and the unique "Aerial Straps" act. When compared with other Cirque shows out there, Varekai wins the award for most show-stopping acts and, in my opinion, funniest clown act. Claudia's perfectly-executed spotlight humor routine may seem like an old gag, but it always manages to make me roll.
Varekai is an amazing show that celebrates the power of the human spirit, survival and the journey of personal healing. Most importantly, Varekai is about rising up from the ashes and continuing to live. The show is filled with heart, emotion and passion, even more than many other Cirque shows out there. I'd recommend it for Cirque veterans and newcomers.
Movie Review: Varekai: one of the better things i have seen
Summary: 5 Stars
I haven't seen any show live, but i've watched Quidam and Journey of man on DVD, A behind scenes from La Nouba, also Alegria and Dralion in tv... and Varekai by Hbola.Varekai doesn't seems like a circus, the plot is quite original, the performances are superb: like the aerial straps act by the twin brothers dressed like birds, The Icarian Games, The Triple Trapeze (A new kind of trapeze, it's longer and can suport almost 3 or 4 performers), The juggling act is amazing (The performer can juggle even with golf balls in his mouth, also with mexican hats), The water meteors are three chinese kids that juggle a chain with two metal endings in each side, amazing, The Flight os Icarus (Aerial act, with a net), The hand balancing act by a girl called Olga from Quidam, The clown acts are funny and original (two of them: the first a magic act that goes wrong all the time, and the second the guy trying to sing and search the spotlight that moves constantly)... And the rest of the characters of the forest within occurs the whole history are wonderfully created. The closing act wonderful.
The stage (A forest made with copper pipes and the lightning are wonderful ) and the lightning are amazing.
The Costumes and the Makeup... not seen in other shows.
The music its outstanding (The CD music it's different, not like the show. Some people doesn't like it, but I think it's one of the most fantastic melodies i've ever heard)
Varekai is an excelent show because it has an unique energy, It brings elements of many cultures, is very aesthetic, and compiles amazing acts. This show begins a modern era in Cirque du Soleil.
The best show in my opinion is Varekai and very closely is Quidam.
(I love the Banquine and the Visversa 'statue' act from Quidam)
I recomend you this three DVDs: Varekai, Quidam and Journey of Man.
¡Ojalá vinieran por Latinoamerica!
Movie Review: Cirque at its finest
Summary: 5 Stars
All I can say for this one is WOW...never has a Cirque du Soleil show marvelled me as much as Varekai; this spectacular showcase of light, color, acting, music, and the acrobatics Cirque is known for is arguably the best they've ever produced. All these elements, in combination with good editing and camerawork, create simply the most aesthetic experience you are likely to have.
The show was created with a story in mind, specifically, the myth of Icarus, and it's interpreted here in a fantastic way, topped with a whimsical gypsy theme prevalent throughout a lot of it's music, most notably during it's beautiful violin solos performed by Romanian gypsy violinist Carmen Piculeata.
This show is very accessible for any age group because there's really something here for everyone; from the mind-blowing "Icarian Games" majestically performed by the Spanish Rampin Bros. and the Italian Steve Bros., to the beautiful "Handbalancing on Canes" performed by a well known Cirque artist, the Russian contortionist Olga Pikhienko.
The DVDs are full of extras, disc 1 besides having the show (available in 3 types of sound encoding), allows you to watch 3 acts from different angles, and disc 2 is full of additional thingies such as a "Making Of" docummentary, a "Meet the Artists" interactive feature, interviews with some of the performers and more.
This simply is a great package that's not to be missed by anyone who likes true entertainment, buy it if you know Cirque but haven't seen Varekai, and if you've never watched a Cirque show, buy it as well, you won't regret it.
Movie Review: I give it a 5 because of the DVD features
Summary: 5 Stars
I have seen all of the Cirque shows- some in person, all on video. Without a doubt, Quidam is my favorite. Varekai comes in a close second, tied with Dralion. Interestingly enough, a LOT of what's in Varekai are acts from Dralion and Quidam. It's obvious they would put Olga's hand balancing into the show, since that's her forte', but the hand Acrobatic pas de duex- I recognize a lot of those moves right out of Quidam. Just about all Cirque shows have some sort of arial strap act (which honestly bores me), some sort of trapeze act (which I can never get tired of), some sort of hand balancing act, and a juggling number (also love them).
They really did a great job at the music, and the costumes (especially in the body skating) are fantastic.
Regarding the clowns, the guy is really funny, the girl (can't think of her name) brings nothing to the act. Hopefully she'll mold into a more interesting character role later.
Don't get me wrong- the things I pointed out here don't make this less than an excellent show, I'm just pointing them out because this is a review. The acts are flawless and incredible, and the music and costumes are fantastic.
Anyway, I gave this one a 5 because they FINALLY figured out what the DVD format is good for- extras. There's an entire second disc of extras! They packed a lot of great stuff in there- personal interviews with some of the talent (I find it amusing when John Gikley says he doesn't consider himself a clown), and making-of featurettes, multi-angle performances, etc. Bravo on the DVD features!