Koyaanisqatsi - Life Out of Balance Reviews

Koyaanisqatsi (1982) is breathtaking, mesmerising, and haunting in places too. It's definetely a film for the film-programmed minds, and it's a masterpiece of film-making that's still relevant today.

Brilliant, shame the mega Philip Glass score has been used to oblivion

From the Hopi language, Koyaanisqatsi is a word that roughly translates as "crazy life," or "a life out of balance," or perhaps more appropriately, "a way of life that calls for another way of living." Incidentally, that's exactly what this film shows: no plot or story, just a document of the modern age of man, far out of balance from nature, which calls for human beings to adapt to their own constructs.

This film doesn't offer any conventional story with any characters; it's purely an experience built from images and sound, to illicit thought and feeling in the viewers. Both the images and music are beautiful in their own ways: with Phillip Glass' epic, well-structured music score, the film takes on a palpable rhythm and mood that perfectly accentuates the gorgeous scenery. The film plays around a lot with time-lapse footage and slow-motion, which serve to show common cityscapes in an invoking new way. Altogether, the film is as hypnotic and mesmerizing as it is thought-provoking.

This film was cobbled together from all kinds of footage filmed across the United States from 1975 to 1983, with a tight budget. Regardless, the filmmakers show superb prowess with their photography and editing skills. At least on a technical level, they've maximized their potential and tools to craft an audio/visual masterpiece, weaving the images and music to the themes implied with the term Koyaanisqatsi.

As far as the content goes, like any piece of art, it's left to the viewer's interpretation. The most opaque of themes will revolve around civilization's progress, the depletion of nature, and the effects of technology and industrialization on the human race. There are times in the film where humanity seems triumphant, and other times where it feels like it's spinning out of control in a downward spiral of chaos and destruction (especially in one of the film's final shots, depicting an Atlas-Centaur rocket exploding; it's a sequence that's always hit me the hardest, given the combination of imagery, music, and the overall theme that human civilization rises so high, but will eventually crash and burn).

Watching this film is not only a treat for the eyes and ears, but also a sobering, moving experience unlike any other. I believe it truly represents the best and worst of the human race in the modern age, and everybody should see it at least once in a lifetime.

5/5 (Entertainment: Perfect | Content: Perfect | Film: Perfect)

Although Koyaanisqatsi may not be everyone's cup of tea, it is a film that everyone should experience at least once. You will note that I said "experience," and not "see," because Koyaanisqatsi is definitely an experience: An almost hypnotizing blend of images (largely timelapsed) and music, Koyaanisqatsi is a contrast of nature verses technology.

The trailer for Koyaanisqatsi states that "Until now, you've never really seen the world you live in." I would add that after viewing this film, you will never get the name of it out of your head.

Koyaanisqatsi is definitely worth buying. (A+)

A uniquely transformative film. Open your eyes and mind and sit back and enjoy this piece of art and conscious film making.

This interesting experimental film is sort of like a documentary, but it has no words describing it's images...instead it has images in time lapse or slow motion showcasing our world...from moments of nature to the industrialized America and even moments of war, with some electronic music played over top of it. As much as I was sort of expecting to be disinterested in this film, there were actually many times where I find myself inexplicably captivated by the images. It is a well made experimental film, and I think it succeeds where other films of this nature do not, probably because it is even simpler than the average experimental film (so many have this feeling of trying to prove they are smarter than you). I wouldn't ever say this is for everybody, but I liked it for what it was.

A unique experience 1982 !!!

In 2012, the definition of this movie seems a little disappointing, but given that it is 30 years old, the time lapse photography must have been outstanding in its day. Still a very interesting movie with a brilliant score.

A very compelling movie that plays to the senses. The soundtrack is fantastic. However, I'm not sure I would watch this again sober.

One of the most visually arresting films of all times, juxtaposing life in its natural state versus what man has done to the planet. This film shows how destructive we've been to the planet, and the consequences that they can have.

One of the greatest films ever made.

A socio-political tour de force, and proof that life on Earth is indeed out of balance.

Truly is a great cinematic accomplishment and a wonderfully moving experience. You don't have to "get it", just WATCH it! Philip Glass's score, which alternates from frenetic synthesizers during the time-lapse footage and elegiac sobriety in the slo-mo shots, adds to this one-of-a-kind movie. However, this is best seen on the big screen for maximum impact.

The imagery is great - some truly inspired photography in some sections... but the musical score is enough to inspire a psychotic episode.

Don't blink, or you'll miss something beautiful. The most amazing camera work and such a lovely piece of music. Wow this is an amazing documentary.

The combination of Phillip Glass' incredible music and Ron Fricke's extraordinary time lapse photography equal one of the most entrancing experiences I've ever had. A masterpeice one hundred times over!

an object of terrific beauty. spins the dial of time as though we see civilization through the eyes of tribe culture. showing us more than we can handle in the juxtapose, and a transcendant vision of life as now just as it was in the landmark cinematography this 80's herald reinterpreted.

No dialogue but the film says very much about where we are as a society.

I'll give it some points for being zenlike, but it is an insult to filmmaking to call this a movie.

Interminably pretentious, this film is a lesson in why more than skillful cinematography is necessary to make meaningful and fulfilling art. I could not even finish the film because the combination of the Philip Glass soundtrack and pseudo-philosophical environmentalism was about to make my brain bleed.