Baraka [Blu-ray] ReviewsBaraka [Blu-ray]
FULLY RESTORED – The only movie ever transferred with an 8K HD Scan Shot in breathtaking 70mm in 24 countries on six continents, BARAKA is a transcendent global tour that explores the sights and sounds of the human condition like nothing you ve ever seen or felt before. These are the wonders of a world without words, viewed through man and nature s own prisms of symmetry, savagery, harmony and chaos. BARAKA produced by Mark Magidson and directed and photographed by Ron Fricke, awar
Rating:  List Price: $ 34.98 Price: $ 16.89 Coming to America (Special Collector’s Edition) [Blu-ray]
Pampered Prince Akeem of Zamunda comes to New York with his royal sidekick to find a true-love bride.Half of the characters in this 1988 John Landis potboiler seem to be played either by Eddie Murphy or costar Arsenio Hall, swaddled in elaborate Rick Baker makeup appliances that render them unrecognizable but also weirdly immobile. As a pampered African prince who journeys incognito to Queens, New York, to find a bride who will love him just for himself, Murphy manages to look smug and naive at
Rating: List Price: $ 16.99 Price: $ 6.77
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(out of 474 reviews)
Review by P. Kowalsky for Baraka [Blu-ray]
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I will not attempt to extol the virtues film itself (what more can I say than has already been said?), but of the new collector’s edition: I too have the original DVD release, and the VHS release. This new transfer is AMAZING, and is exactly what the first DVD release should have been… PRISTINE video (very few artifacts, little or no pixelation), and IMMACULATE audio (crisp, clean, and great presence without sounding “over-processed”). If you have both versions and can’t tell the difference, then it’s time to watch it on a large screen TV, and clean yer ears out! The improvements are painfully obvious. This is a truly incredible film, and finally justice has been done with the fantastic quality of the consumer version. Like someone else said, give your old copy away, and BUY THIS VERSION now! I’m glad I picked it up, and you will be too.
Review by Lynn A. Sirrine for Baraka [Blu-ray]
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The words mesmerizing, beautiful and astounding cannot begin to describe this wonderful DVD. Ron Fricke is to be commended highly for this moving work of art. I have a wide-screen HDTV and found the DVD to be much more moving than the VHS version I had seen on old TV in the past. If you have a choice–definitely go to the widescreen DVD version. The Dolby sound also was much enhanced over the previous version. I firmly believe ALL PEOPLE should view this film at least once in their lifetime–free from all external encumbrances–this film requires your undivided attention.All of a sudden, the world becomes a much smaller planet–one in which we all live in our own way and one in which every living being is important.If you are prone to cry at beauty–have a box of tissues handy. If you are not prone to cry at films, have a box of tissues handy anyway. You will probably need them. This is a very moving film. I was particularly impressed with the burning oil field scene because of the intense feeling the film created. Viewing this film should be a requirement for living on the planet.
Review by Chad Loder for Baraka [Blu-ray]
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This is an incredible, serious, and beautiful film. The imagery is astounding and often thought-provoking. The music is also great and matches the film very well — if you like Peter Gabriel’s “Passion” (the instrumental soundtrack to The Last Temptation of Christ), you will like the score for Baraka.I disagree with the reviewer who said that Baraka is just an imitation of Koyaanisqatsi. If you’d bother to read the credits, Ron Fricke (the creator of Baraka) was also responsible for ALL of the filming for the -qatsi trilogy (which includes Koyaanisqatsi). Baraka is a different kind of movie, with a different, more subtly communicated message.Baraka was shot in the (very expensive) 70mm format, which yields a very high quality picture, especially when transferred to DVD. Ron Fricke is a master of the 70mm format, and he actually designed many of the camera rigs used in Baraka (including the very high quality time lapse footage). Give Fricke some credit for having learned something in the almost 10 years since Koyaanisqatsi was filmed.If you are expecting vapid, New Age eye candy, this is not the movie for you. If you want a beautiful film that will change you, a film that you can watch again every 6 months without getting tired of it, then buy this DVD. I have the original DVD (very hapy with it), so I can’t say whether the film transfer quality in the Collector’s Edition is on par. Maybe one of these days I’ll buy the Collector’s Edition and see which one I like best.
Review by FrontPage for Baraka [Blu-ray]
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And crank down the bass a little (if you have a subwoofer). This movie gives the person with their DVD players, SUV and well- paying job to see something in this world that the viewer most likely has not seen, which is an intimate look at cultures, environments and nature the world over. With no concern of SARS or an expensive plane ticket, you feel afterwards that you truly experienced a global tour.Baraka begins at a rather cautious pace, and as each scene passes by your vision, the intensity and depth slowly but steadily increases. It’s a bit hard to describe, but I feel in a way that it causes the viewer to look inward at his/her own view of what the world is about and what life means. In a way, it compells you to ask yourself some deep questions. Make sure to keep your attention on watching the movie with NO interruptions to get the full effect. Pausing for phone calls, snacks or bathroom breaks is verboten, so get everything done first!Baraka unfolds in the early morning and as the film passes through the first 10 minutes or so, you see examples of different beliefs and religions mixed with clips of nature. Eventually the two collide. And by the end, you’re amazed at the solar eclipse and lunar starfields. Yet Ron Fricke’s intent wasn’t to make any statement at all. There are elements of almost every type mixed into the film from peaceful co- existance to conflict (no graphic footage, don’t worry), faith, technology, beauty and struggle. In some ways you may feel helpless after watching the slow decay/destruction of the world at the hands of mankind, yet Fricke also inserts visions which somehow reassure that nature ultimately holds the key to the fate of human beings since she is infinitely more powerful (and is much more patient).If you get the chance, sample Baraka (a national video rental place has it on stock in special interest, so you can take a peek at it), and you’ll more than likely want to own this. The majority of filming is either in slow motion or in time lapse, with not a single word spoken. Fricke and Mark Madigson developed some camera and dolly techniques that created the smoothest time lapse photography available, and some of the filming they’ve done you may recognize in some commercials or even movies. NOTE, this is for the earlier MPI version DVD (DVD7060), which is somewhat similar in content, and the never version claims a new 70mm transfer and digitally- remastered audio. One thing I noticed that wasn’t noted in the specs on the Collector’s Edition is they didn’t mention a full screen version; the older DVD is double- sided, one for the widescreen and the other for pan & scan.Other suggestions: Koyaanisqatsi (deals mainly with the industrial cultures, cinematography by Fricke, 1983), Chronos (by Fricke, 40 minutes, 1985 which has music a little dated, but the film techniques are similar) and Powaqqatsi (1988). Of these, Baraka is best, IMHO.Tidbit: There was also a coffee table book with images from scenery in Baraka.
Review by for Baraka [Blu-ray]
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Baraka is a profound statement about humanity and our relationship with this world, both disturbing and enlightening. The film contrasts the havoc that we wreck in modern day against the peaceful existence of more primitive times. No other film has ever conveyed the diversity of our world as well as Baraka. Ron Fricke masterfully frames each and every sequence to create suspense and tell a story with no dialogue. I can only imagine he has put his heart and soul into the film in order to achieve the fantastic images. Combined with a soundtrack that is painstakingly constructed to match the film’s mood, I was amazed that a wordless film could evoke such emotion in the viewer. One of my favourite movies — I was deep in thought for many days after having seen it. It is unfortunate to see this movie on video — it belongs definitively on the 70 mm screen.
Review by Sibelius for Coming to America (Special Collector’s Edition) [Blu-ray]
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No doubt at all that, ‘Coming to America,’ is one of Eddie Murphy’s finest movies of all. A true comedy classic, this film will have you rolling from start to finish at the zany characters and performance throughout.The DVD itself, on the other hand, leaves much to be desired. As far as extras go the only ammenity offered is 1 lousy trailer. Also, the video transfer itself is far from pristine and the Dolby 5.1 audio track sounds like it could still be sweetend up. Sure, i suppose the fact that this DVD was authored back in 1999 may explain why the disc comes across as a bit primitive in terms of bells and whistles, but with that being said, it’s high time for a proper re-release to do this comedy classic some audio-visual justice!
Review by DBK for Coming to America (Special Collector’s Edition) [Blu-ray]
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This is one of my all time-favorite African-American movies. First of all, Eddie Murphy is hilarious (in all of his roles). Arsenio Hall is a perfect foil for Eddie’s hijinks. Eddie let his full range of talent show in this film; he played an innocent person who grows into a mature adult right in front of our eyes and realizes that there is a price to pay for love; whether or not you are born into royalty. This is one of those movies that a person watches over and over again and ends up reciting the lines as the movies is playing. James Earl Jones and Madge Sinclair are wonderful in this movie as well as the King and Queen. Madge Sinclair was one of the world’s best actresses and I miss her greatly. She tells James Earl Jones “put a sock in it, Geoffrey, the boy is in love.” Nobody can deliver that line to a black king, except a black queen. John Amos, (whom I have loved since Good Times), is a great actor as well. He plays the part of a black businessman so well, and as a father he takes no stuff off of the King. He tells James Earl Jones, “I will break my foot off in your royal _____); now that’s a ghetto father for you. James Earl Jones knew where to draw the line with Cleo McDowell. I also like the fact that the Kingdom of Zamunda was filled with kindness, and the people were happy, the royal family was truly wealthy and had everything. You know, this movie is truly a fantasy and helps us escape from our everyday lives. Just to see the Queen and King eating breakfast and talking to their son on a “speaker phone” because the table is so long, is funny. The King and Queen taking their entourage to Queens when they received the telegram to send $1 million to Semmi who had spent up all his pocket change is one of my favorite scenes. That music that is playing during the sequence when the entourage arrives in Queens is so wonderful, moving and swirling, I am buying the soundtrack just to get that song. When I get married, I would like that song to play as my “court” walks down the aisle before me. All the cameos in this movie are great as well. Nobody can play a doped-up thug like Samuel L. Jackson; Samuel is a natural at playing a killer. Also, Louie Anderson was funny, so was Eriq LaSalle, and Alison Dean. Now the guys in the barbershop have to be taken from classic characters in the black community. In all the black neighborhoods I have been in during my whole life; there has got to be a black barbershop full of men eating, talking stuff, and cutting hair. When “Clarence” says that Martin Luther King, Jr. ran up to him and hit him in the chest, I just crack up, cause Martin Luther King, Jr. was a prophet of non-violence. And, Eddie Murphy playing a white man is too funny, and a Jewish white man on top of that. Now, that takes creativity; and comic genuis, and Eddie’s got it. And, Arsenio’s portrayal of Rev. Brown is right on target, there is always some country preacher in the neighborhood that comes to every event, eats up the food, and blesses the weddings, blesses the children, and buries the dead. One of my favorite parts is when Lisa tells Prince Akeem, she cannot marry him; because he lied to her about his identity. That made Akeem grow up very fast, and learn that nobody; no matter who he is, can buy love. The clothes in this movie are also wonderful. Deborah Nadoolman did a great job showing how royalty would dress in a foreign country where it is warm, Also, how they would dress in Queens during the winter; those fur coats Madge Sinclair had on were fantastic and so were the suits worn by the King himself. His coat of an entire lion’s skin was dramatic and the diamond eyes on that lion’s head were cool.The ending this cinderella story was great, love did really win out in the end.Well, I could go on and on about how much I liked this movie but, I am going to stop now. Get this movie and keep it in your video collection so you can watch it and laugh over and over.
Review by D. DUROSE for Coming to America (Special Collector’s Edition) [Blu-ray]
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A charming, polished and original comedy featuring a great performance from Murphy and some memorable laughs. Some of my favorite scenes are:
- when they all get up from the leather couch and there is soul glow grease all over it from where their heads were (“Just let your Soul GLLLOOOWW!!”).
- when Samuel L. Jackson robs the McDowell’s restaurant that Murphy and Hall are working at. The ensuing scene between Jackson and Murphy is classic.
- when Murphy gets his hair cut off in the barbershop (Snip. “that’ll be 10 dollars”).
- that “She’s Your Queen to Be” song.
There are so many more scenes that I love that I could mention. A must-see!
Review by JGC for Coming to America (Special Collector’s Edition) [Blu-ray]
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Eddie Murphy has made many great movies (Beverly Hills Cop, Trading Places & The Distinguished Gentleman) but Coming to America is his very best. This movie is so funny and I never get tired of watching it!
Review by for Coming to America (Special Collector’s Edition) [Blu-ray]
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rule number one about this movie, is DONT WATCH THE TRAILERS FIRST! they give away ALL the funny parts! this is an extremely funny movie! eddie murphy and arsenio hall at their best! what a great life this prince has: beautiful naked BLACK girls that bathe you! and a luxuriuous life. anyways besides the black naked girls, this movie is extremely funny! espeicially how the “prince” doesnt know much about the american language. but if u watch the trailer first, on dvd, then it will make the movie not funny anymore. this movie is even better than eddie murphy’s newer videos, well exception of the Dr.Dolittle movies.this is a great movie, and i personally, took this movie to mind, and thought HEY, this is a good way to check if a girl is a GOLD DIGGER before you ask them out! Pretending to be poor instead of pretending to be rich, an EXCELLENT idea! this movie made me laugh through out the whole movie. and i especially like the part when they talked about boxers, that was funny.