THE MOVIE

What is Baraka? Well, as the case states:

"Baraka-an ancient Sufi word with forms in many languages. It is simply translated as a blessing, or the breath or essence of life from which the evolutionary process unfolds."

How does this translate onto a dvd? Well, that's entirely subjective, really. Consisting of footage shot around the world of many different things, such as forests, cities, animals, humans, machinery, nature, etc, it tries to show the interconnectedness of everything around us. Although the footage is occasionally striking, it does unfortunately feel the need to lecture us to the errors of our ways at times. While some of the connections it tries to make are a little simplistic and perhaps stretching things a little, there's no doubting that it redeems itself with some wonderful photograhy of more neutral subject matter. Part of the problem would clearly be the result of watching this on anything smaller than an IMAX screen, which would provoke the surrealistic experience the creators would have wished for. It is clearly designed to be a revelatory sensory overload experience, but in these jaded times, it takes more than just a pile of bones, a tree falling and a child's sad face to make us feel overcome and repentant.

Like I said, it's a subjective thing.

THE TRANSFER

Video:

While this isn't 16x9 enhanced, it's not a total tragedy. At first the image looks very detailed and clean. It is upon closer inspection that you realise that it isn't quite as detailed as it should be, considering that it was filmed on 70mm film. The overall look is a slight soft focus picture that just isn't as sharp and crisp as it could have been. We have a few recurring instances of shimmering throughout the film that also shouldn't have been there. Colours seem mostly fairly good, with the various locations coming up very nice, with soft muted landscapes to vibrant ceremonial outfits of tribal dancers and the busy modern cityscapes. Thankfully grain doesn't make much of an appearance, if any at all. Non-enhanced issues aside, I think that this isn't too bad at all, considering the subject matter.

Audio:

With both Pro-logic and DD5.1 available, you'd be mad for passing up the enveloping that occurs with the 5.1 mix. The tribal songs and the varying natural sounds make for a great, if largely exaggerated, soundstage. While not all the rear placement is strictly accurate in positioning, we can forgive them for trying to bring us into the picture and feel as though we are present with the offerings. With no dialogue narration to be concernd with, we are able to focus on relaxing the attention to clarity and just enjoy the sensory experience. To this end, the soundtrack works just fine, and will not disappoint. Actually, the soundtrack alone makes for great background music while doing other things.

THE EXTRAS

I think what would have been a better option for the extras is if they were all compiled into one larger "Making Of" documentary. While we are given various interviews with the crew involved, behind the scenes footage, etc, they aren't assembled as good as could have been, with long pauses between and fairly poorly tacked together sequences. The overall result is a disjointed feeling to what should have been an enlightening selection. Considering the potential the material and the main feature shows, it's a great big shame, really.

SUMMARY

Hmmm...what could have been, and what is, are two very different things. That sort of sums it up for me. If the image was 16x9 enhanced, this would be great demo video material. As it is though, it's merely "good". The extras could have been improved and a commentary would have helped. As it is though, maybe rent this one when you next pay a visit to your good friend Mary Jane and play it as a double bill with Pink Floyd's The Wall for a night you'll probably never remember but think was great anyway.