Anima Mundi

Amazon.com

Director Godrey Reggio presents a vibrant, visually compelling look at the animal kingdom in Anima Mundi, a 1991 short film that fits nicely between two other movies featuring the music of minimalist composer Philip Glass. 1983's Koyaanisqatsi and 1988's Powaqqatsi focused on the urban and physical realms of the planet, speeding up our view of the wonders of the world, and managing to find art in the heart of the city's interconnecting freeways and overpopulated spaces. But as Anima Mundi states in its epitaph, "the breath, the life, the spirit, the soul of the world" embodies a more mysterious existence, from sea to mountain top. There is such beauty and grace in the movement and exoticism of animals that this 30-minute short serves as a cautionary reminder by celebrating everything we, as humans with our omnipotent sense of superiority, seem intent on destroying over time. "The world is indeed a living being, endowed with a soul and intelligence," wrote Plato, and Anima Mundi is glorious, gorgeous visual proof of that maxim. --Paula Nechak

Customer Reviews:

A feast for the eyes and ears............2007-04-14

This video is truly a work of art both visually and musically. The photography is top-notch and the visual images are well-coordinated with constant stream of beautiful images. I don't know if the video was updated since some other reviewers wrote their reviews, but I play my version on an HDTV with an upper end DVD and I don't find it a "negative experience" at all. While the video quality is not HDTV, it still very aesthetically pleasing. I imagine it would be spectacular in a theatre, but it is still very impressive in my living room.

There is no talking in this video and it is very much felt experience to watch it. There are many interesting animals, magnified protists, algae, etc. There are also kelp forests, many sea creatures, a live volcano and many ocean pictures.

As is pointed out in the editorial reviews, Anima Mundi means world soul. This video tries to capture a sense of this and it succeeds marvelously. If you are looking for a documentary, this is not it, but it never was positioned this way in the market.

You can get more information on the Anima Mundi as a concept on the Internet. There is at least one terrapsychology website that can go into more detail on what this term means and what this video is trying to convey. I think it's great for anyone, but it would make a particularly good classroom video and it's just the right length for this purpose.

Not what I had hoped........2007-03-20

With director Godfrey Reggio at the helm - and with a 30 minute running time - I was expecting to be overwhelmed by the might and majesty of the animal kingdom packed into a half-hour package.

Unfortunately, I find a less-than lackluster video transfer by the Richard Diercks Company, Inc. -likely from the source material for the videocassette- with resolution equal to s-vhs. The image is slightly 'jerky' due to it being shot in 24fps and increased to 30fps. Add to the list of flaws: muted colors, poor contrast and a purplish line on the far left side of the screen.

Still, I could have been 'wowed' by stellar cinematography but alas, much of what is shown onscreen is stock footage. Some of the slow motion scenes are nicely done but others (again, stock footage?) were shot at standard speed and frames were duplicated to replicate slow motion. Personally, I find the technique distracting.

However, being the animal lover that I am I was moved by many of the shots in the film. The soundtrack is a typical, yet pleasing Philip Glass score and complements the images onscreen.

With all the problems I have with this product, I do hope it will be remastered from the original source material for an HD-DVD release.

Cheers.

the animal kingdom.......2007-01-30

Yes, it's directed by Godfrey Reggio, no, it's not like the hopelessly overrated Koyaanisqatsi but with animals, but it is a beautifully filmed, meditative close up of animals in the wild. As others have noted, the running time is quite short.

amazing.......2005-08-15

A gorgeous treatise on the beauty of the living earth, Godfrey Reggio's "Anima Mundi" is the absolute opposite of his more famous "Koyaanisqatsi." With Philip Glass again providing the score (this time a more animated, globalistic affair than his highly minimalist work for "Koyaanisqatsi") over an otherwise silent parade of spellbinding images of life and earth, this movie is a moving experience that plays out in under half an hour. Previous reviewers have panned the video quality and while it's not exactly plasma-screen-good, it's certainly sufficient enough to make this a worthy buy.

poor quality hurts this film.......2003-06-12

This film is good, its not the best though because at thirty minutes it really cuts its self short. Sure its a short film, but the subject matter it is trying to deal with just can't be properly covered in thirty minutes. Even so its worth a watching,
but too bad the DVD is poor in the visual quality. Glass is great with the music, as usual. The film Microcosmos and the film Baraka are actually better films in dealing with nature.
Check them out too.

Average customer rating:

Necesidades

Manufacturer: Customflix
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Music Video & Concerts | Genres | DVD | Video

Chronos [Blu-ray]

ASIN: B000PSISMO
Release Date: 2007-04-23

Amazon.com

Necesidades is a music and video performance composed and created by Hans Timmermans, also known under the name of his solo project Budha Building. Necesidades is all about the contradictions in our needs. The search for recognition but also the drive to be unique, is an example of such a contradiction. Pressure, chaos and stress are the opposites of relaxation, rest and awareness. The inspiration for the performance comes from the movies of Ron Fricke and Godfrey Reggio. They were the founders of 70mm films like Baraka, the Qatsi trilogie and Anima Mundi. Necesidades was filmed during journey from Moscow tot Tokyo.

Average customer rating:

Vol. 4-O Melhor Do Anima Mundi
Starring: O Melhor Do Anima Mundi
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Average customer rating:

O Melhor Do Anima Mundi
Starring: O Melhor Do Anima Mundi
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Music & Arts | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

( O ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
ASIN: B000AQKZ5O
Release Date: 2005-08-02

DVD:

DVD

DVD