Koyaanisqatsi is my favorite movie. I saw a part of it while skipping channels on late night TV about 10 years ago and had my mind blown. I've since seen it a ton of times, including live with Philip Glass's "Ensemble". Big thumbs up. Startup types might enjoy much of the San Francisco footage, including the long gone double decker Embarcadero Freeway.
It's amazing how many references (subtle or not) to Koyaanisqatsi you see in other movies or even commercials that ape its style. My favorite, however, has to be The Simpsons' Koyaani-SCRATCHY: https://vimeo.com/21283911 :-)
I remember seeing this when it first came out. As an aspiring classical musician at the time who was interested in the avant-garde, I was naturally curious about Glass's music, but I went in without any concept of what the movie was like/about. The thoughts that ran through my head, roughly:
1. "Just music and images so far... ok, this must be the intro."
2. "Hmm... when is this thing actually going to start?"
3. "WTH?"
4. "Ok, this is getting a little boring..."
5. "...."
Step 5 was where I fell into what I can only describe as a sort of hypnotic trance that lasted until the end. It was an impressive experience, but I'm hard pressed to say I "liked" it so much as it felt somehow deep and profound, like some sort of 60's acid trip but without the drugs.
Okay, I agree it's memorable, but favorite? 10 years ago you weren't even watching it like it's supposed to be watched on laser disk or blu-ray. Thanks for Koyaani-SCRATCHY I think :-).
From movie critic Leonard Malton: (4-stars, highest rating) "Spellbinding, senses-staggering nonnarrative film soars across the United States in search of vistas both natural and man-made. Much of the photography is slow-motion or time-lapse (the title is Hopi Indian for "life out of balance"), all of it set to a mesmerizing score by Philip Glass. So rich in beauty and detail that with each viewing it becomes a new and different film. Should be seen in a theatre for maximum impact. Followed by POWAQQATSI and NAQOYQATSI"
This is a film which, if you watch it all the way through and don't let your brain argue with what you're seeing, will help you think about the earth and what people are and what they're trying to do, and other things that are hard to describe.
It's one of those movies that take on whatever theme you feel is appropriate.
It made me think of the scale of human achievement, how we move so much from place to place, how we build, pollute and destroy, how we care for others around us but know so little about the people we cross every day on our daily commute.
It's like being high without taking any drugs really.
In my mind this work is the GEB of video. And its themes are related.
Seen the movie approx 20 times. For me it's the most successful work of minimalist music ever, the best music to footage match I've seen (Danny Elfman does pretty well too I guess) and a deeply important view of earth, life and humanity that invites you to transcend your individualism and individualistic vantage point for a short while.
Brian Eno, speaking at the long now foundation recently, referred to long term patterns in human life as 'the cycles of time' vs 'the arrow of progress' and there is absolutely no movie that better shows this odd meta-pattern on Earth of cycles and lines combining, sometimes very obviously and sometimes more subtly. Watch it anywhere but watch it without ads [turn off your phone, get over your worry about being bored and see if your mind won't tune in]
Ron Fricke was involved in the making of this film. I whole heartedly recommend his two films Baraka and the more recent Samsara. The latter is the most stunning film I have ever seen and I recommend that everyone should see it. It is absolutely amazing! Baraka is fantastic too.
I posted this in response to Life is a game, this is your strategy guide https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=7182636, so people could see the headlines together. Did you notice that? Life is more complicated than a game.
I never understood Naqoyqatsi. We're at war with ourselves? The imagery didn't match up with the premise. I was expecting more actual war, but the movie seems to suggest technology causes us to be at war with ourselves, literally me fighting myself.
My brother shot the footage while traveling the world, I edited, and music is by 'Jupi/ter' on Soundcloud. The production value may not be as high as Koyaanisqatsi, but it wont' cost you anything but your time.
Currently it's restricted to 30fps by Youtube, but I'm going to try iron out a few technical problems and upload a 60fps torrent version later.
I have been watching this since I could catch it as a teenager on SuperChannel in the early 80's. The entire trilogy are still among my favourite films.
I remember seeing this at a repertory theatre about 15 years ago and having my mind blown. Yes Baraka and Samsara are both beautiful but IMO they lack the cohesiveness of Koyaanisqatsi, especially considering the interplay of music + images.
I echo the others who say that watching this with ads is a terrible idea. It completely kills the flow of it. I can't think of a worse movie to have interrupted by ads.
the Pruit Igoe music has been repurposed for a number of other films. You will hear it a lot in the Watchmen adaptation. Also visually, this film basically invented the city-as-a-circuit-board visual metaphor.
This was one of the few titles available on CAV laser disc in 1990 -- I watched it over and over in the course of working on MediaMaker, but for some reason I didn't discover the title till stumbling across it online a couple of years ago.
[+] [-] petercooper|12 years ago|reply
It's amazing how many references (subtle or not) to Koyaanisqatsi you see in other movies or even commercials that ape its style. My favorite, however, has to be The Simpsons' Koyaani-SCRATCHY: https://vimeo.com/21283911 :-)
[+] [-] msluyter|12 years ago|reply
1. "Just music and images so far... ok, this must be the intro."
2. "Hmm... when is this thing actually going to start?"
3. "WTH?"
4. "Ok, this is getting a little boring..."
5. "...."
Step 5 was where I fell into what I can only describe as a sort of hypnotic trance that lasted until the end. It was an impressive experience, but I'm hard pressed to say I "liked" it so much as it felt somehow deep and profound, like some sort of 60's acid trip but without the drugs.
[+] [-] 0xdeadbeefbabe|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] stevewilhelm|12 years ago|reply
Then share it with friends and family, and eventually donate it to your local public library.
Win, win, win.
[1] http://www.criterion.com/boxsets/934-the-qatsi-trilogy
[+] [-] 0xdeadbeefbabe|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] gcb0|12 years ago|reply
but im not so sure about supporting blueray either...
[+] [-] ca98am79|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] uses|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] xutopia|12 years ago|reply
It made me think of the scale of human achievement, how we move so much from place to place, how we build, pollute and destroy, how we care for others around us but know so little about the people we cross every day on our daily commute.
It's like being high without taking any drugs really.
[+] [-] childoftv|12 years ago|reply
Seen the movie approx 20 times. For me it's the most successful work of minimalist music ever, the best music to footage match I've seen (Danny Elfman does pretty well too I guess) and a deeply important view of earth, life and humanity that invites you to transcend your individualism and individualistic vantage point for a short while.
Brian Eno, speaking at the long now foundation recently, referred to long term patterns in human life as 'the cycles of time' vs 'the arrow of progress' and there is absolutely no movie that better shows this odd meta-pattern on Earth of cycles and lines combining, sometimes very obviously and sometimes more subtly. Watch it anywhere but watch it without ads [turn off your phone, get over your worry about being bored and see if your mind won't tune in]
[+] [-] parski|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] unknown|12 years ago|reply
[deleted]
[+] [-] madaxe_again|12 years ago|reply
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baraka_(film)
[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samsara_(2011_film)
[+] [-] colinbartlett|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] 0xdeadbeefbabe|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] debt|12 years ago|reply
Great trilogy.
[+] [-] joeevans|12 years ago|reply
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/24/movies/godfrey-reggios-vis...
[+] [-] RRRA|12 years ago|reply
Specifically Baraka which is to my taste his best, but also Samsara and Chronos.
[+] [-] the-kenny|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] joeframbach|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] cecinepasunoeuf|12 years ago|reply
If you're interested in this genre of film, I happen to have just uploaded a video in a similar style which you can watch here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYAVkuBxZ_Q&hd=1
My brother shot the footage while traveling the world, I edited, and music is by 'Jupi/ter' on Soundcloud. The production value may not be as high as Koyaanisqatsi, but it wont' cost you anything but your time.
Currently it's restricted to 30fps by Youtube, but I'm going to try iron out a few technical problems and upload a 60fps torrent version later.
[+] [-] 0xdeadbeefbabe|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] 51Cards|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] picklestime|12 years ago|reply
I echo the others who say that watching this with ads is a terrible idea. It completely kills the flow of it. I can't think of a worse movie to have interrupted by ads.
If you can, watch it any other way.
[+] [-] eterm|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] abruzzi|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] 80|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] AndrewGreen|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] troystribling|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] synesso|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] melloclello|12 years ago|reply