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The Quatsi Trilogy

Simple question: How is the video quality on Miramax's Qatsi DVD releases? I remember reading something about a re-release of the Koyaanisqatsi / Powaqqatsi some time ago, but... my memory is fuzzed.

So... solid releases?

Thanks.

I have the laserdisc version of Koyaanisqatsi which was a open matte full screen ratio. The dvd has some image missing from the top and bottom and in my opinion the image could have looked more sharper but still it's great to have on dvd!.

I have Naqoyqatsi and can attest that Miramax did an excellent job on video and audio.

I own the Koyaanisqatsi disc and i'm happy with it. Mesmerizing.

I agree with DVD BEAVER that the MGM dvd looked a little soft. Maybe somebody at EBAY might be selling the IRE dvd?

Supposedly it was said in retrospect that Reggio & Ron Fricke tried to make every composition look equally rewarding in both 1.85 and 1.33 because they were hopeful of many showings on television and didn't want to have to deal with having their visual language compromised (either by pan-and-scan cropping or by revealing unwanted information). After seeing both versions the conclusion that I came to is that neither ratio is consistently more pleasing than the other. There are many shots I feel greatly benefit from the confines of the 1.85 mask and just as many that only seem to make sense in 1.33.

As DVDBeaver indicates, the MGM disc is too soft, but the IRE disc runs a pretty high price whenever it shows up for auction, so the MGM might be your only bet.

The MGM Powaqqatsi looks great. I haven't seen that one in full screen to compare the ratios.

Miramax's Naqoyqatsi looks superb and also has fantastic sound. No worries there at all.

MGM... that's right. Thanks for the responses.

Amazon has an entry for Koyaanisqatsi on Blu-ray. (But just the placeholder--"This item is not currently available. Sign up to be notified when it is.") Does anyone know if this means anything? It's not like every movie that could ever come out on Blu-ray gets one of these pages.

swo17 wrote:Amazon has an entry for Koyaanisqatsi on Blu-ray. (But just the placeholder--"This item is not currently available. Sign up to be notified when it is.") Does anyone know if this means anything? It's not like every movie that could ever come out on Blu-ray gets one of these pages.

Koyaanisqatsi was one of the first films to have a similar page set up to sign up for news of its release on DVD. As I recall, that page existed for at least a year in advance of its actual release. I would be very surprised if the mere existence of this page actually is a sign of anything impending.

mmacklem wrote:Koyaanisqatsi was one of the first films to have a similar page set up to sign up for news of its release on DVD. As I recall, that page existed for at least a year in advance of its actual release. I would be very surprised if the mere existence of this page actually is a sign of anything impending.

There's been an Amazon page for P&P's A Matter of Life and Death for years now.

Not sure if this was mentioned already, but there's an HD DVD release of Naqoyqatsi out in Japan...

Cheers!
Peto

EDIT: The same @ YesAsia...