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The films are presented in the original 1.78:1 widescreen ratio and in 1080p high defintion and the picture on this 2K transfer can be very good indeed at times, but you have to bear in mind that the footage used was not all filmed in the 80s, and some of it isn’t exactly in sharp-as-a-tack defintion, so that explains any disparity in the images onscreen. However, the contrast between the different qualities of footage are exactly as they were on these films original cinema releases.
For the record, I’m watching on a Panasonic 50″ Plasma TV with a Samsung BD-P1500 Blu-ray player.
Sound-wise, both films are presented in DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio and, as without any dialogue, you get the music of Philip Glass filling your senses. The main themes are powerful enough, and are frequently used, but all the incidental music also plays an important part in telling the story.
The extras on these discs are as follows. Sadly, none are chaptered, which is a shame given how long some of them go on for:
- Introduction by filmmaker and composer Gary Tarn (3:39): Positioned as an optional extra before Koyaanisqatsi, Tarn takes us through his thoughts on the film and certain moments within.
- Essence of Life (25:08) and Impact of Progress (19:56): Presented on the two discs respectively, director Godfrey Reggio and composer Philip Glass give their thoughts on making the film and its influences, and how, also respectively, the two films look at the Northern and Southern hemispheres, and what you get out of them is down to your own point of view.
- Anima Mundi (29:05): A shorter film from 1992, with Reggio and Glass working together for a third time, produced to celebrate the World Wildlife Fund’s Biological Diversity Campaign and it combines images of nature with pulsing rhythms.
The film was restored by MIR Cinematografica and Cineteca di Bologna in September 2010.
- Trailers: One apiece for Koyaanisqatsi (presented in 1.85:1, running 2:23) and Powaqqatsi (presented in 4:3, running 2:05).
The former concludes: “Until now, you’ve never really seen the world you live in.” Indeed.
- Booklet: Also included in the package is a 70-page booklet featuring a piece about the director from Anton Bitel, then some contemporary reviews, Ron Gold then looks at the first film in detail, Michael Brooke deals with the films of Philip Glass, Peter Cowie discusses executive producer Francis Ford Coppola, and finally, Jean-Baptiste Gouyon takes a look at the aforementioned short film, Anima Mundi. And, of course, there are a number of still images from the films.
As you put the disc in, the menu bursts into life with clips from the film and a piece of the main theme. There are subtitles in English, but when it comes to the chaptering, I feel one should come every five minutes on average. Arrow, like many other distributors, go for a low 12 however long the film. I would like them to increase that number.
|
Koyaanisqatsi Powaqqatsi PICTURE QUALITY SOUND QUALITY EXTRAS |
8 6 9 10 6 |
| OVERALL | 8 |
Detailed specs:
Cert: 
Running time: 86 and 100 minutes
Year: 1982 and 1988
Distributor: Arrow Films
Released: May 12th 2014
Chapters: 12 each
Cat.no: FCD920
Picture: 1080p High Definition
Sound: DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio
Languages: English
Subtitles: None
Widescreen: 1.85:1
Disc Format: 2*BD50
Koyaanisqatsi:
Director: Godfrey Reggio
Producer: Godfrey Reggio
Writing credits: Ron Fricke, Michael Hoenig, Godfrey Reggio and Alton Walpole
Music: Philip Glass
Cinematography: Ron Fricke
Powaqqatsi:
Director: Godfrey Reggio
Producers: Mel Lawrence, Kurt Munkacsi, Godfrey Reggio and Lawrence Taub
Writing credits: Godfrey Reggio and Ken Richards
Music: Philip Glass
Cinematography: Graham Berry and Leonidas Zourdoumis
Reviewer of movies, videogames and music since 1994. Aortic valve operation survivor from the same year. Running DVDfever.co.uk since 2000. Nobel Peace Prize winner 2021.