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Baraka: 2-Disc Special Edition
R1 - America - MPI Home Video Review written by and copyright: Pat Pilon (22nd December 2008). |
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The Film
 In today's technologically-pervasive world, it's hard to think of anybody living without a computer, electricity or even running water. Even many cities don’t have all that much technology to populate their houses with. Whether living with or without technology is better is up for debate, and this movie presents the stark contrast that exists between the two. 'Baraka', made back in 1992, is somewhat even more relevant today, as technology has improved much more since 1992. The differences would be much more striking now. The movie contrasts the serenity of nature and people living without technology with the jarring, fast-paced urban world of today. Animals enjoy the outside, playing and resting as they choose. Monks and other people choosing to live a 'simpler' life sit and contemplate, while people living in the city deal with the hassle of other people, confined spaces and noise. 'Baraka' is told without dialogue and is from start to finish a sensory experience. Gorgeous cinematography by Ron Fricke (who also directed) and a striking new age score by Michael Stearns, along with select sound effects such as waves hitting the shore and chainsaws cutting through trees to highlight certain moments are the means by which the movie communicates. It is to be taken in. Contemplation is for later; in the moment, you have to absorb it. There is one particularly interesting montage of images that I have to point out. The crew went to Tokyo, and through time-lapse photography shows how many people walk through Shibuya, and take the subway. These moments are intercut with scenes of chicks, on a conveyor belt stuffed beyond capacity, going down the chicken chute to be sorted. With this, you see many commuter stuffed into a subway coming in and out of various stops. Technology has its advantages, but it's clear with this segment what Mr. Fricke wants to say. A few more highlights in terms of visuals: a monkey lounging in a hot spring, a vast (and I mean vast) field of bomber airplanes, a wall of portraits, and endless clouds rolling through the sky. It's astounding how captivating a movie without words can be. From start to finish, the imagery is great and really sucks the viewer into the experience. The music helps heighten the mood and convey the proper emotion. Much, much discussion is possible with this movie, as it is no doubt many things to many people. Mountains, guns, animals, theatre, travel, and many more images are shown on screen, creating an incredible layering, meant to espouse many ideas at once. The movie is probably meant to enlighten people and to make them realise there is a world around them they aren't aware of. There's a world beyond their city and beyond their country. People around the world may be the same, but their situations are different. Living in the city does have its advantages, but knowing how things are outside the city is more important.
Video
2:21:1 anamorphic widescreen. For this release, the movie was scanned at 8k resolution, which is just about unheard of (though it does take advantage of the 65mm print). Regardless of the technique, the picture looks great. MPI did a wonderful job with this disc. Even on my 100-or-so-inch screen, I didn't see any edge enhancement (or if I did, it was a ridiculously small amount). There are no artifacts, and no pixelation throughout the movie. The print is likewise clear and clean. It shows no scratches or specks, yet still maintains a steady sheen of grain. The level of detail is still pretty high for standard def content, while colours and contrast show a nice depth and clarity. It's a great piece of work. I can just imagine how incredible the Blu-ray version looks.
Audio
The movie comes in Dolby Digital 5.1, but also in a newly remastered full bitrate DTS 5.1 (96/24 for those who are keeping track) offering. The music comes through very clearly, utilizing all speakers very well. The main instruments come out very solidly through the front, while the surrounds expand the soundfield across your living room. The range is very good and some of the scenes surprised me with their impact. The low end gets some nice frequencies and the mids are clear. Those with a decent system that can take advantage of the 96/24 track will be very happy. There are, obviously, no subtitles.
Extras
Disc one has no extras. Disc two only has two things, but they're both fascinating. First is the Baraka: A Closer Look documentary (76:20). It's a great piece, and is basically all behind-the-scenes stories. The beginning has a few of the major crew talking about the movies that led up to 'Baraka' and the ideas and reasons behind the movie. Then, you have tons and tons of great behind the scenes stories. The crew go through the various locations and you hear some great stories about how they shot some of the more impressive moments. The music is also talked about near the end, but its mostly stories from the set. Next and last is Restoration (7:04). It's all about the work that went into making this transfer. They talk about why they went with 8k scanning, and how the process works. It's a very simple featurtte with a simple subject, but it's very nice to hear these people talk about the work that went into making this transfer what it is. You also see a few before-and-after of the old transfer and 8k restoration, and the differences are striking.
Overall
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