Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		2.5
Overall		4.0

Awaken 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf September 16, 2021

Director Tom Lowe tries to pull viewers away from the pains of everyday life with “Awaken,” which is a sensorial experience that examines the beauty and wonders of the world through the use of slow-motion and time-lapse cinematography. It’s an experience in sight and sound, not storytelling, with the picture trying to continue the work of director Godfrey Reggio (who serves as an executive producer here, alongside Terrence Malick), who once stunned audiences with “Koyaanisqatsi” and “Powaqqatsi,” which also explored the strange movements of humans and nature, with Lowe venturing into the wild with powerful cameras, trying to grasp the mystery and beauty of Earthly treasures.

Again, “Awaken” is not a story-driven endeavor, with Lowe electing to remain in observational mode, only using narration to boost the artistic ambition of the project. Without words, Lowe has visuals, showcasing the ways of different cultures as they embark on work or manage celebratory events. There’s a grand feel for the natural world, observing people play around a towering forest, and an elephant swims through the ocean, pushing its way through the deep waters. There are industrial areas of glowing community lighting pushing back against the night sky, environments are felt as Lowe tracks a dog sled race through the bitter cold, and a woman enjoys a summer day while riding her bike.

“Awaken” looks amazing, and it’s working to generate a hypnotic effect, laboring to deliver a look at life that focuses on the subtleties of action and posing, using extensive slo-mo to achieve its creative goal. This prolonged exposure to the cinematographic process has its limitations, triggering exhaustion midway through the viewing experience as it gradually becomes clear that Lowe’s fixation on creeping movement is all “Awaken” really is, making the run time feel a lot longer than it actually is. If one can’t settle into the transcendental vibe of the picture, the endeavor, as superbly made as it is, can make for a tough sit.

Awaken 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Screencaps are taken from the 1080p Blu-ray version of "Awaken."

The 4K image presentation (1.78:1 aspect ratio) for "Awaken" deals with a vividly shot feature, and one that's specifically attentive to screen detail. That's all the movie offers, and the disc captures that experience quite well, surveying all kinds of textures on humans, animals, nature tours, and artistic creations. Sharpness is superb, permitting the viewer to carefully examine the locations and people, finding dimension reaching the horizon, and cultural examinations are loaded with distinct decoration. Colors are exciting as Lowe passes through lush green forests and deep blue waters. Clothing stuns with rich yellows and reds. Primaries have superb emphasis here. Delineation is satisfactory. Highlights are memorable with elements of fire, which burn brightly, and sunsets are a common sight.

Awaken 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 7.1 DTS-HD MA sound mix only briefly deals with a human voice, which is seldom used throughout the picture. Narration emerges with authority, providing a dramatic presence. Scoring cues are the priority here, and music from Joseph Trapanese arrives with ideal sharpness, contributing precise instrumentation and pleasant low-end response with thundering percussion. Surrounds create a circular listening event with orchestral offerings, and atmospherics are quite inviting, capturing aquatic movement and forest visitations.

Note: Offered on the disc is a "Location ID" subtitle track, which I highly recommend to those curious about the areas of the world Lowe visited with his cameras. The feature itself doesn't list these locations, preferring a more enigmatic journey around Earth.

Awaken 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features director Tom Lowe.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (1:29, HD) is included.

Awaken 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Those interested in cameras and travel videos will probably get the most out of "Awaken," which seems made for people with the ability to spend hours on YouTube watching photographers try to top each other in games of resolution and country access. "Awaken" is specific filmmaking for a specific audience, but Lowe doesn't hide this fact, confidently presenting his vision for life in slow motion, where everything presented in the frame provides a chance to connect with another way of thinking and living.