Koyaanisqatsi Blu-ray

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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r

directed by Godfrey Reggio
USA 1983

An unconventional work in every way, Godfrey Reggio’s Koyaanisqatsi was nevertheless a sensation when it was released in 1983. This first work of The Qatsi Trilogy wordlessly surveys the rapidly changing environments of the Northern Hemisphere, in an astonishing collage created by the director, cinematographer Ron Fricke, and composer Philip Glass. It shuttles viewers from one jaw-dropping vision to the next, moving from images of untouched nature to others depicting human beings’ increasing dependence on technology Koyaanisqatsi’s heterodox methods (including hypnotic time-lapse photography) make it a look at our world from a truly unique angle.

Theatrical Release: October 4th,1982 (New York Film Festival)

Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews

Comparison:

IRE (Director's Premium Edition) - Region 0 - NTSC vs. MGM - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

Big thanks to Andrey Diment for all the DVD Screen Caps!

1) IRE (Director's Premium Edition) - Region 0 - NTSC - LEFT

2) MGM - Region 1 - NTSC - MIDDLE

3) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray RIGHT

Box Covers	NONE (comes in paper sleeve)
Distribution	IRE Region 0 - NTSC	MGM Region 1 - NTSC	Criterion Spine # 640 - Region 'A' - Blu-ray
Runtime	1:25:49	1:26:00	1:28:13.955
Video	1.33:1 Open Matte format Average Bitrate: 6.83 mb/s NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s	1.8:1 ? Original Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: 4.75 mb/s NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s	Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 49,257,095,173 bytes Feature: 27,023,609,856 bytes Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Total Video Bitrate: 34.91 Mbps
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate: IRE (Director's Premium Edition)
Bitrate: MGM
Bitrate: Blu-ray
Audio	DD 5.1	DD 5.1	DTS-HD Master Audio English 3923 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 3923 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
Subtitles	none	French, Spanish and none	None
Features	Release Information: Studio: IRE Aspect Ratio: Fullscreen - 1.33:1 Edition Details: • OOP DVD Release Date: ??? Paper envelope signed by the director Chapters 9	Release Information: Studio: MGM Aspect Ratio: Widescreen anamorphic - 1.78:1 Edition Details: • 'Essence of Life' featurette • Theatrical trailers for the Qatsi Trilogy DVD Release Date: Keep case Chapters 14	Release Information: Studio: Criterion Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 49,257,095,173 bytes Feature: 27,023,609,856 bytes Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Total Video Bitrate: 34.91 Mbps Edition Details: • Essence of Life, an interview program from 2002 with Reggio and composer Philip Glass on Koyaanisqatsi (25:08) • New interview with cinematographer Ron Fricke (16:24) • Television spots and a new interview with Reggio relating to his 1970s multimedia privacy campaign in New Mexico (4:46) TV Spots (5:44) • Early demo version of Koyaanisqatsi with a partial scratch soundtrack featuring poet Allen Ginsberg, along with a new introduction by Reggio (Intro - 4:19, Silent Demo - 40:20, Sound Clip 1 Demo - 31:02, Sound Clip 2 Demo - 16:15) • New interview with Reggio about the film’s original visual concept, with behind-the-scenes footage (5:00) • Trailer (2:21) Blu-ray Release Date: December 11th, 2012 Chapters 13

Comments

NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Criterion - Region 'A' Blu-ray - December 2012: Firstly, the Director's Premium Edition DVD was, if I remember correctly, a limited production number. I don't believe it is available anymore. It was in 1.33:1 (Open Matte) and looked... tremendous. Criterion's new 1080P is 1.85:1 widescreen and is advertised as a "New, restored digital transfer, approved by director Godfrey Reggio...". The Criterion colors generally match-up with some variations - and mostly appear richer. It is, predictably, crisper with superior contrast and shows some nice film grain. But that Premium DVD still looks sweet.

A huge part of this presentation is the audio and the Criterion offers a strong DTS-HD Master 5.1 track at a healthy 3923 kbps. The Philip Glass score is... very impressive in lossless. There are some adroit separations and the depth and high-end fill the entire room. The beautiful clarity really transforms the presentation. I would say this was the most beneficial upgrade of the Blu-ray.

Criterion pack in a lot of supplements including the 25-minute 'Essence of Life' interview program from 2002 with Reggio and composer Philip Glass on Koyaanisqatsi. There is also a new 16-minute interview with cinematographer Ron Fricke as well as 5-minutes of Television spots and a new 5-minute interview with Reggio relating to his 1970s multimedia privacy campaign in New Mexico. Included is an early demo version of Koyaanisqatsi with a partial scratch soundtrack featuring poet Allen Ginsberg, along with a new introduction by Reggio (Intro - 4:19, Silent Demo - 40:20, Sound Clip 1 Demo - 31:02, Sound Clip 2 Demo - 16:15) and another new 5-minute interview with Reggio about the film’s original visual concept, with behind-the-scenes footage. There is a trailer and this is part of Criterion's Qatsi Trilogy Blu-ray package that also has Reggio's Powaqqatsi (1988) and Naqoyqatsi (2002) in 1080P.

There is plenty of visual and aural merit to Koyaanisqatsi - and you forget until you actually watch it again. The audio is worth the presentation value alone. We will try to cover the other two films in the set prior to release. As it stand - I am sold on this - with heavy Kudos to the Glass audio in uncompressed.

***

ON THE DVDs: The Director's Premium Edition looks to be Open Matte, but is far sharper than the MGM. I understand it is a limited edition that comes in a paper sleeve signed by the director. I would love to have this copy myself. It has no Extra Features, the audio is also 5.1 but the picture quality is outstanding and the 1.33 looks far better for composition.

Gary Tooze

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(IRE (Director's Premium Edition) - Region 0 - NTSC - LEFT vs. MGM - Region 1 - NTSC - RIGHT)