Genghis Blues
|
List Price: Our Price: $9.99 You Save: $9.96 (50%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $8.94 (click here) Category: DVD See more DVD releases |
|---|
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
Movie Reviews of Genghis Blues
Movie Review: Fantastic DVD
Summary: 5 Stars
As all the other reviews have put so well - a great DVD and an inspiring story - especially if you are a musician or someone going through hard times.Movie Review: Profoundly moving and a joy to watch
Summary: 4 Stars
I recently read a short obituary for Paul Pena in which this documentary was mentioned, and was inspired to rent it. What a beautiful story it is! Not unlike the fictional protagonist in "Schultze gets the Blues," Paul Pena, a blind musician living in San Francisco, was fiddling with his short-wave radio one day and came across some Mongolian music which turned out to be Tuvan throat singing, a fascinating art form virtually unknown in the United States. Through long and exhaustive study (which included the laborious translation of songs from Tuvan to Russian to English, because there is no Tuvan-English dictionary, using Braille), Pena taught himself this genre and mastered the art to the point where he was invited to travel to Tuva and compete in the national throat singing competition. The film includes a delightful cast of characters ("characters" as in: unique individuals) who travel with Pena, and a fascinating look at the handsome and deeply spiritual Tuvan people, who welcomed Pena with incredible warmth and kindness -- to the point where he actually felt a stronger bond with them than with his community back in the U.S. Truly a special film not to be missed. PS I rate this film FIVE BIG STARS but maybe I goofed and Amazon's program doesn't permit the number of stars to change once a review is sumbitted.Movie Review: Fascinating stuff
Summary: 4 Stars
The overwhelming impression I get from this film is: wow, these guys are alive! They are not just making their way through a boring life, they're out there doing interesting things, doing cool stuff, having adventures & generally living their lives to the fullest. The "they" that I refer to includes just about everybody in the movie, from Paul Pena to the guys travelling with him to Richard Feynman to the Tuvans that Paul meets and befriends.
The documentary gets hazy in spots (I'm still not sure of some of the Tuvan inter-relationships) but does a good job of establishing empathy with Pena, a blind man relying on others in a place far from home. The DVD extras are o.k., the interview with the filmmakers gave some backstory to the movie. I did not watch the film with the filmmakers commentary turned on; a commentary seems kind of contrary to the purpose of a documentary but I suppose you could get more factual info & technical details on the commentary.
Movie Review: A premise of huge potential which comes up short
Summary: 3 Stars
I read the reviews before I rented this...most people loved it, a couple absolutely hated it. I had a nagging suspicion that I would become part of the small, dissident group of people who did not find this to be the uplifting, inspiring story that so many hail it as being.
Not that I didn't want to love it. The story fascinates me, and I didn't find Paul Pena to be as irritating as some reviewers did. One can understand his frustration at being so disoriented, out of his element, and totally dependent on others. If he is whiny, he has good reason to be. However, I agree that some of his friends come across either as jerks or flakes, and that does tend to make the touring group as a whole less sympathetic.
Mostly, I think the fault lies with Roko & Adrian Belic, who simply seem unable to sustain a coherent narrative. A story like this should have been easily knocked out of the ballpark, but somehow the Belics managed instead to craft a meandering, poorly assembled story which repeatedly loses momentum. At points (the vignette with the cursed shamanistic drum), the film wanders off into the downright flakey & lost my interest once and for all. By that stage of the movie, I was just ready for it to be over with.
The Belics had an opportunity to make a really really great documentary & fumbled it away. The film is definitely worth watching, but I can't help but wonder how much better it could have been in the hands of others more competent.
Movie Review: whiney, alcoholic, aging hippie makes ass of himself in another culture
Summary: 1 Stars
I hate to be the only one to say it. but this movie sucked. It's very strange to me how the premise being about a bluesmen going to Tuva to connect with throat singers was abouts something else entirerly which was not inspirational. This movie is really about the stupidest americans going to another culture and being disrespectful.
The main character paul pena is the biggest complaining ass. He manages to stay pretty drunk throughout his whole time in Tuva, and in one instance hands an unsuspecting Tuvan a joint. Not that i wouldnt have enjoyed doing that as well. But its hard to take since Paul also complains of needing medication and being depressed. But paul isnt the only ass of this documentary. He also has help from his Friends of Tuva and the filmers. if there is any value in watchings this piece of @#*# its in what not to do when you visit other countries. Seriously, one of his friends even got into a fight and almost died there. From that character's earlier appearences in the film, i would have to say that he would have deserved it. The only thing going for this movie is photage of acual Tuvan's singing. Im so sorry they had to meet this guy. If you do decide to get this don't forget to watch the interview with the directors. Thats definately the best part. Ive met some pretty ridiculous film students before, but this two are like charactures of them. if you are interested in seeing other movies where americans act retarded in other countries i would recommend seeing The Journey Of Man.