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Koyaanisqatsi, Part II
Koyaanisqatsi [1] came out in 1983, and I remember that Siskel and Ebert both
gave the film a thumbs up dispite having no plot, no characters, no dialog
(follows from the “no characters” bit) and thematically a bit confusing,
since koyaanisqatsi means “life out of balance” and the film tries to show
the conflicting nature of man and nature but all the visuals are simply too
beautiful to convey this meaning.
Still, it seemed an intriguing film, but one that I didn't get around to
watch until the late 80s.
I'm at FAU (Florida Atlantic University) [2] sitting in “Music Appreciation
Class” with my friend Bill when the professor walks in pushing a cart with a
TV (Television) and VCR (Video Cassette Recorder) and announces that we're
watching a movie called Koyaanisqatsi because the score was written by one
Philip Glass [3], a modern composer. He slips the tape into the machine,
presses “Play” and turns off the lights. I sit back expecting an interesting
film.
Ninety minutes later, we wake up.
It's a soothing film. Flowing visuals. Flowing music. Coma inducing if you
aren't prepared for it. Koyaanisqatsi may be this great film, but my feeling
is that it makes for a great background experience, not a forground one.
That is, unless you've got a major caffeine rush going.
[1]
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0085809/
[2]
http://www.fau.edu/
[3]
http://www.philipglass.com/
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