8.7 | / 10 |
Users | 4.8 | |
Reviewer | 4.5 | |
Overall | 4.6 |
A 70mm film shot entirely without dialogue, just sound and images, on six continents and in 24 countries, exploring the formation and evolution of Earth, the ascendance of man and the consequences of technology.
Director: Ron FrickeDocumentary | 100% |
Nature | 77% |
Video codec: VC-1
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.19:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.20:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (96kHz, 24-bit)
English: Dolby Digital 5.1 (640 kbps)
None
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (locked)
Movie | 5.0 | |
Video | 5.0 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 2.5 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
The thread that weaves life together.
Henry David Thoreau once said, "The world is but a canvas to the imagination." Perhaps he had
Baraka in mind when first contemplating this now-famous quote. A film of startling
grandeur that never ceases to inspire, Baraka is indeed a canvas that spans the world,
bringing to life a wonder and spectacle that is second-to-none, a rousing portrayal of life as it is
lived
from the busiest city streets to the most remote corners of the globe, instantly transporting
audiences to witness places and meet people never before so vividly captured or richly detailed. It
is
a story of the world, told not with words but with images so clear and striking that the eyes and
mind will often deceive the viewer into believing he or she is no longer within the confines of a
living
room but in a bustling factory, a crowded subway, a sleepy village, or a grandiose and serene
seascape. Baraka transforms theaters into gateways to the world where audiences
witness in a mere 90 minutes what would have taken a lifetime several generations past.
Baraka is life, not as we know it, and not even as we thought we knew it, but as it truly
is, and it is a spellbinding experience.
Everyone in this frame agrees -- 'Baraka' is a must-own Blu-ray.
Baraka offers a breathtaking 1080p high definition, 2.20:1-framed transfer. Filmed in
65mm and painstakingly and lovingly restored with an 8k UltraDigital HD Process, the film
represents the current zenith of Blu-ray picture quality. The depth, clarity, and color reproduction
of
the film is incredible. Each scene provides awe-inspiring, reference-quality imagery that
effortlessly places the viewer within each frame of the film regardless of its locale on the world's
surface. It's a teleportation device of sorts, a trip around the globe
that
costs only as much as your HDTV, Blu-ray player, and the disc, and it's worth infinitely more than
that. The level of detail is absolutely remarkable, almost too-good-to-be-true for home viewing --
and before now, it was. Take, for example, one of the first shots of the film, that of a Japanese
Macaque
relaxing in a hotspring. Not only does the spring's water flow and wave and look as natural as
can be, but
it
practically invites viewers to approach their screens and put a toe in to test the temperature.
The creature's fur is so
detailed
that one can practically count each strand, and the bits of water and ice droplets scattered about
its
mane just might send shivers down the spine.
The detail in every shot is exceptional, with the above simply setting the stage for what is to
come. Stone-laden streets, the brick façades of buildings, an individual's hair, their garments,
and facial detail all provide breathtaking clarity and true-to-life attributes. Colors are bold and
true, never overblown or dull, with no artistic license but to provide the finest lifelike imagery
imaginable. The depth of the film is simply astounding, and the scope is incredible. No detail is
left unseen, no corner of the image is ever soft, and no color is never anything but vividly
reproduced. The exterior texture of the huts as seen in chapter six -- as several people situated
outside create jewelry -- reveals every crack, rough spot, and crease. Subsequent images
showcase intricate clothing and jewelry featuring an array of colors, each distinct and separate,
with no bleeding or smearing. These scenes merely exemplify what viewers will enjoy during the
film's 97 minutes of visual bliss. There just aren't
enough superlatives to discuss the visual power and prestige of this presentation. As stated
before, it is the peak of home video imagery, and is another title that simply cries out for a large
display. No matter the size of the screen, it will seem insignificant next to the majesty and scope
of the film.
Presented with a DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless soundtrack created from the original 24 track tape elements, Baraka sounds as good as it looks. Featuring excellent fidelity, first-rate imaging, and efficient and effective use of every speaker in the system, the world of Baraka comes alive through the wonders of its soundtrack. The low frequency effects throughout the film are captivating and attention-grabbing. Listen to a scene in chapter three featuring raging water, or a heavy rainstorm in chapter 9 and booming thunder that follows, to which the sound of a buzzing chainsaw replies. A large tree then crumbles to the ground, the end result -- a devastating sonic moment that brings that corner of the world and experience to life. Here, as throughout, the bass contributes mightily to add additional realism and power to the film. The bass is incredible, tight, and precise, the epitome of what good bass sounds and feels like. The soundtrack fluently reproduces music and effects, such as the chirping birds of an early morning, a woman brushing the street, and a bell ringing in the distance in a scene found early in the film. The audio presentation gives the impression of being so effortlessly natural that it provides the ideal compliment to the amazing visuals. A natural, mystical score accompanies every scene. Chapter 4 features a tribal gathering, and the soundstage becomes absolutely immersed in ritualistic chants and calls from a group numbering in the hundreds. Audiences watch as these individuals become one with the beat and the audience listens as the beat becomes one with the individuals. What does it mean? What does it represent? To any viewer unfamiliar with these peoples, the answer remains a mystery. The point of this and every other scene is the experience of discovering something that most could never imagine. The visuals are astounding, but the sound places listeners squarely in the middle of the experience. Baraka is as fulfilling sonically as it is visually, a treat for the ears that features one of the most robust and natural soundtracks yet.
Baraka debuts on Blu-ray with two supplemental features. 'Baraka:' A Closer Look (1080i, 1:16:23) is the first. This extensive documentary examines the origins of the production and the inspirations of the filmmakers, looking at the decision to create a nonverbal film and the advantages and challenges of such an endeavor. The creation of the film Chronos is discussed, including its influence on Baraka, the experiences and technologies the filmmakers brought from that film to this, and the development of newer and better cameras for the film is also examined. Shooting techniques, schedules, cost and time restraints, the process of recording sound, travel to Kuwait to capture the aftermath of the Gulf War, various filmmaking pitfalls, and the film's theatrical release, among other areas of interest, are brought to the attention of the viewer. The subject matter of Baraka is heavily discussed as well. Running almost as long as the film itself, this feature is a revelation into the filmmaking process of Baraka and is a must-watch for fans and budding filmmakers. Restoration (1080i, 7:04) is a short but fascinating feature that closely examines the restoration of the film, the awe-inspiring experience of viewing the film as it was meant to be seen, and the process utilized to most closely replicate that experience at home.
Baraka features no special effects, no make-up, no trickery. It is the world, that which can be seen out the window and far beyond, stretching to limits that seem impossibly large but continue to shrink with time, with technology, with films like Baraka. Baraka simply is. It is life. It is nature. It is joy. It is sadness. It is you. It is me. It is whatever the imagination believes it to be. Indeed, it is the world, an ever-changing canvas upon which is painted scenes of great pleasure and utmost pain, of the most striking beauty and the most vile ugliness, and of the natural and the manmade. The film, like any fine work of art, takes on a differing meaning for each viewer as it has assigned to it personal interpretations of the presentation of its imagery, its unspoken narrative, and its scale and scope. Nevertheless, there is one universal truth assigned to Baraka, and that is the film's striking reproduction of its subjects, through them creating visuals that take the breath away and leave audiences believing that, for 90 minutes, they were the world's foremost adventurers, philosophers, historians, or naturalists. This amazing and visionary look at the world arrives on Blu-ray with a picture so pure, so deep, so natural that it seems to have been made with the format in mind. It is nothing short of a tribute to the filmmakers, their audience, and most importantly, their subjects. This is Blu-ray at its current peak. There may be nothing better than Baraka, visually, available to the public today. Likewise, the lossless soundtrack is almost as remarkable. It completes the experience, revealing every sound, natural and musical, with pinpoint precision. Finally, the disc provides two key supplements that increase the enjoyment, understanding, and appreciation of the Baraka experience several-fold. Baraka is a must-own disc, not only for demonstration purposes, but for the wonderful construct of the film and its inspiring imagery and sound. No collection, small or large, is complete without a copy. Baraka receives my highest recommendation.
2011
IMAX
1985
2009
2007
2006
2008
The Complete Series
2006
BBC
2011
BBC / Narrated by David Attenborough
2009
2006
2007
2009
2009
2008
2007
2008
IMAX
1994
2016
The Original UK Series
2011
2013