Rob Leane May 7, 2019
If you're looking for a game to touch your heart and challenge your thumbs, check out Katana Zero...
Release Date: April 18, 2019
Platform: Switch (reviewed), PC
Developer: Askiisoft
Publisher: Devolver Digital
Genre: Action Platformer
Sometimes, when you try a game for a couple of minutes, it makes an immediate impression and the decision to seek out the full experience is made right there on the spot. This is what happened when Den of Geek tried demoed Katana Zero, the 2D action platformer from Askiisoft and Devolver Digital, at London's Egx Rezzed last month. And, at the risk of spoiling the end of this review, it's safe to say we're glad that we did pick up the full game.
Katana Zero has an art style that quickly catches the eye on a showroom floor, with a neo-noir sort of sheen that's slathered on top of a simple 2D cityscape.
If you're looking for a game to touch your heart and challenge your thumbs, check out Katana Zero...
Release Date: April 18, 2019
Platform: Switch (reviewed), PC
Developer: Askiisoft
Publisher: Devolver Digital
Genre: Action Platformer
Sometimes, when you try a game for a couple of minutes, it makes an immediate impression and the decision to seek out the full experience is made right there on the spot. This is what happened when Den of Geek tried demoed Katana Zero, the 2D action platformer from Askiisoft and Devolver Digital, at London's Egx Rezzed last month. And, at the risk of spoiling the end of this review, it's safe to say we're glad that we did pick up the full game.
Katana Zero has an art style that quickly catches the eye on a showroom floor, with a neo-noir sort of sheen that's slathered on top of a simple 2D cityscape.
- 5/6/2019
- Den of Geek
If you, like me, were expecting Katana Zero to be a quick and mindless arcade jaunt through a dystopian city like a side-scrolling Hotline Miami, prepare to be surprised. What’s here instead is great gameplay to be sure, but also some of the snappiest dialogue and presentation since Paper Mario and the Thousand Year Door, and a story that pulled me along harder than any amount of wanton slaughter did.
Let’s start with the basics: Katana Zero is one of the most well-produced pixel art projects I’ve ever laid eyes on. Everything from the superb animations (of which there are countless) to the subtle layer of shading that drapes sprites and changes color depending on ambient lighting make it an astonishing feat. I rarely spend much time talking about graphics, but all these effects serve the aesthetic of the world to a huge degree. The retro ’80s...
Let’s start with the basics: Katana Zero is one of the most well-produced pixel art projects I’ve ever laid eyes on. Everything from the superb animations (of which there are countless) to the subtle layer of shading that drapes sprites and changes color depending on ambient lighting make it an astonishing feat. I rarely spend much time talking about graphics, but all these effects serve the aesthetic of the world to a huge degree. The retro ’80s...
- 4/18/2019
- by David Morgan
- We Got This Covered
For Immediate Release
Your Favorite DC Super Heroes Unite For Non-stop Thrills As
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment And DC Entertainment Release
Justice League Action: Season 1 Part 1
On DVD October 10, 2017
Celebrity-Laden Cast Features Kevin Conroy, Mark Hamill, James Woods, Carl Reiner, Christian Slater, Jon Cryer, Sean Astin, Ken Jeong, Andy Richter, Diedrich Bader and more
Burbank, CA – The world’s most beloved DC Super Heroes are back together – but unlike any iteration you’ve ever seen – as Warner Bros. Home Entertainment and DC Entertainment present Justice League Action: Season 1 Part 1, the first DVD collection of the hit Cartoon Network animated series! Featuring the voices of some of the top celebrities in the business today, Justice League Action: Season 1 Part 1 comes to DVD ($18.94 Srp) on October 10, 2017.
Witness the Justice League like never before in this all-new animated series where the pace is quick, the action is relentless and the fun is non-stop!
Your Favorite DC Super Heroes Unite For Non-stop Thrills As
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment And DC Entertainment Release
Justice League Action: Season 1 Part 1
On DVD October 10, 2017
Celebrity-Laden Cast Features Kevin Conroy, Mark Hamill, James Woods, Carl Reiner, Christian Slater, Jon Cryer, Sean Astin, Ken Jeong, Andy Richter, Diedrich Bader and more
Burbank, CA – The world’s most beloved DC Super Heroes are back together – but unlike any iteration you’ve ever seen – as Warner Bros. Home Entertainment and DC Entertainment present Justice League Action: Season 1 Part 1, the first DVD collection of the hit Cartoon Network animated series! Featuring the voices of some of the top celebrities in the business today, Justice League Action: Season 1 Part 1 comes to DVD ($18.94 Srp) on October 10, 2017.
Witness the Justice League like never before in this all-new animated series where the pace is quick, the action is relentless and the fun is non-stop!
- 8/3/2017
- by Matt MacNabb
- Legions of Gotham
Chicago – Blending the spiritual majesty of 1992’s “Baraka” with ominous overtones suggesting a world out of balance (so memorably portrayed in 1982’s “Koyaanisqatsi”), master cinematographer Ron Fricke’s “Samsara” is the sort of rapturous visual feast that his fans have come to expect from him. The key difference here is the spectacular level of clarity brought to each image.
Shot on cumbersome 70mm cameras that were dragged through heavy security across 25 countries, “Samsara” was clearly a labor of love for everyone involved. During its limited theatrical run, the film was screened in a brand-new high-resolution 4K digital projection that boggled moviegoers’ minds with its unprecedented depth of detail. The impact of such an intense sensory experience is often dramatically diminished on the small screen, but thankfully the 8K UltraDigital HD version of the film available on Blu-ray is a mammoth exception.
Blu-ray Rating: 4.0/5.0
The scintillating perfection of Fricke’s gorgeously...
Shot on cumbersome 70mm cameras that were dragged through heavy security across 25 countries, “Samsara” was clearly a labor of love for everyone involved. During its limited theatrical run, the film was screened in a brand-new high-resolution 4K digital projection that boggled moviegoers’ minds with its unprecedented depth of detail. The impact of such an intense sensory experience is often dramatically diminished on the small screen, but thankfully the 8K UltraDigital HD version of the film available on Blu-ray is a mammoth exception.
Blu-ray Rating: 4.0/5.0
The scintillating perfection of Fricke’s gorgeously...
- 1/17/2013
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Today’s film is the 1985 short Chronos. The film, which is a documentary, is directed by Ron Fricke, is dialogue free and uses time lapse technique. This movie marked the directorial debut of Fricke, who has worked as the cinematographer on numerous documentaries. His latest film, Samsara, which is the first movie from Fricke since 1992, is now in limited release in North American theatres.
****...
****...
- 12/9/2012
- by Deepayan Sengupta
- SoundOnSight
Director Ron Fricke (Baraka, Chronos) and producer Mark Magidson reunite to bring audiences another visually stunning and dynamic portrait of life on earth with Samsara. The first movie in over a decade shot entirely on 70mm film, the theme of Samsara is based on its translation from the Sanskrit language. Literally meaning "to flow on" through the cycles of life and thus the "ever-turning wheel of life," the filmmakers explore the interconnections between cultures and societies around the globe.
Samsara was filmed over a period of five years in 25 countries, documenting sacred rituals, disaster zones, urban industrial sites, as well as natural and historical wonders. The audience is treated to over an hour and a half journey across the continents, visiting a range of sights from the Wailing Wall in Old City, Jerusalem to the lingering and decaying aftermath of post-Katrina floods in New Orleans' Ninth Ward; from the natural...
Samsara was filmed over a period of five years in 25 countries, documenting sacred rituals, disaster zones, urban industrial sites, as well as natural and historical wonders. The audience is treated to over an hour and a half journey across the continents, visiting a range of sights from the Wailing Wall in Old City, Jerusalem to the lingering and decaying aftermath of post-Katrina floods in New Orleans' Ninth Ward; from the natural...
- 9/14/2012
- by Debbie Cerda
- Slackerwood
Like its predecessors Chronos and Baraka, Samsara is a documentary with only its poetic connections between its images to create a thematic narrative. Capturing footage from a touted five continents, Samsara is an experience that doesn’t educate viewers about the content on screen (but instead opens their minds to a universality between subjects of many different backgrounds (National Geographic, this is not).
Ron Fricke was cinematographer for the film, and its director. Mark Magidson produced, while they both edited and wrote Samsara.
Over the phone, I talked to Ron Fricke and Mark Magidson about making their film, the process of editing such a massive movie, the inevitably beautiful Blu-ray that will be made for Samsara, and more.
Samsara opens in Chicago on September 7.
When it comes to making these films, how much time is spent preparing as opposed to actual filming?
Mark Magidson: A lot of setting up,...
Ron Fricke was cinematographer for the film, and its director. Mark Magidson produced, while they both edited and wrote Samsara.
Over the phone, I talked to Ron Fricke and Mark Magidson about making their film, the process of editing such a massive movie, the inevitably beautiful Blu-ray that will be made for Samsara, and more.
Samsara opens in Chicago on September 7.
When it comes to making these films, how much time is spent preparing as opposed to actual filming?
Mark Magidson: A lot of setting up,...
- 9/7/2012
- by Nick Allen
- The Scorecard Review
Samara
Directed by: Ron Fricke & Mark Magidson
Documentary
Running Time: 1 hr 34 mins
Rating: PG-13
Release Date: Sept 7, 2012 (Chicago)
Plot: A series of visual sequences captured around the world that express universal themes of life and death.
Who’S It For? If you like massive films, and are open to the idea of filmed sequences not having a narrative, then Samsara is an eye-opening treat for you. If you wished someone would use the scope of something like The Dark Knight Rises towards documenting real wonder, here’s Samsara.
Overall
When alien historians saunter down to our planet to clean up after 2017′s World War Oops, we’d better hope that they uncover Samsara when writing their research books on Earth culture. With no immediate parallel but to its predecessors Baraka and Chronos, it is a film that best condenses the diversity and simultaneous universality of existence on our planet, all...
Directed by: Ron Fricke & Mark Magidson
Documentary
Running Time: 1 hr 34 mins
Rating: PG-13
Release Date: Sept 7, 2012 (Chicago)
Plot: A series of visual sequences captured around the world that express universal themes of life and death.
Who’S It For? If you like massive films, and are open to the idea of filmed sequences not having a narrative, then Samsara is an eye-opening treat for you. If you wished someone would use the scope of something like The Dark Knight Rises towards documenting real wonder, here’s Samsara.
Overall
When alien historians saunter down to our planet to clean up after 2017′s World War Oops, we’d better hope that they uncover Samsara when writing their research books on Earth culture. With no immediate parallel but to its predecessors Baraka and Chronos, it is a film that best condenses the diversity and simultaneous universality of existence on our planet, all...
- 9/7/2012
- by Nick Allen
- The Scorecard Review
Chicago – In our latest HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film, we have 20 pairs of guaranteed, anytime movie passes plus 5 grand prize packs up for grabs for the new Oscilloscope Laboratories film “Samsara” from the creators of the award-winning film “Baraka”! Each prize pack includes an autographed poster, soundtrack and “Baraka” Blu-ray!
“Samsara” from writer and director Ron Fricke and writer Mark Magidson opens on Sept. 7, 2012 at Landmark Century Centre Cinema in Chicago. “Samsara” was filmed over a period of five years in 25 countries on five continents. Shot on 70-millimeter film, “Samsara” transports us to the varied worlds of sacred grounds, disaster zones, industrial complexes and natural wonders.
These run-of-engagement movie passes are good for any scheduled “Samsara” showing Sunday through Thursday at Landmark Century Centre Cinema in Chicago. To win your “Samsara” movie passes or a grand prize pack courtesy of HollywoodChicago.com, just get interactive with our unique Hookup technology directly below.
“Samsara” from writer and director Ron Fricke and writer Mark Magidson opens on Sept. 7, 2012 at Landmark Century Centre Cinema in Chicago. “Samsara” was filmed over a period of five years in 25 countries on five continents. Shot on 70-millimeter film, “Samsara” transports us to the varied worlds of sacred grounds, disaster zones, industrial complexes and natural wonders.
These run-of-engagement movie passes are good for any scheduled “Samsara” showing Sunday through Thursday at Landmark Century Centre Cinema in Chicago. To win your “Samsara” movie passes or a grand prize pack courtesy of HollywoodChicago.com, just get interactive with our unique Hookup technology directly below.
- 9/7/2012
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Chicago – It is revitalizing to take a break from traditional cinema, and the new artistic film “Samsara” is a non-linear quasi-documentary and travelogue that is a parade of images contemplating existence and the beauty around us. Who doesn’t need that tonic of meditation every so often?
Rating: 4.5/5.0
Filmmakers Ron Fricke and Mark Magidson are expanding on concepts explored in their previous films “Baraka” and “Chronos,” which also explore non-linear imagery. This film goes all over the world over five years, but mostly focuses on the humanity that strives within it. With the time-lapse view of ordinary events, personhood is reduced to a primal state, one of tribes and animalistic movements. The rhythms and the soundtrack are reflective of these images and create a soothing visual symphony for virtually all the senses.
The film begins with a series of close-ups, faces in compose. There is suddenly movement, dancing and then...
Rating: 4.5/5.0
Filmmakers Ron Fricke and Mark Magidson are expanding on concepts explored in their previous films “Baraka” and “Chronos,” which also explore non-linear imagery. This film goes all over the world over five years, but mostly focuses on the humanity that strives within it. With the time-lapse view of ordinary events, personhood is reduced to a primal state, one of tribes and animalistic movements. The rhythms and the soundtrack are reflective of these images and create a soothing visual symphony for virtually all the senses.
The film begins with a series of close-ups, faces in compose. There is suddenly movement, dancing and then...
- 9/7/2012
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Shot in 70mm over a period of five years in 25 countries by Ron Fricke, the man who photographed Koyaanisqatsi and directed Chronos and Baraka, this is a compilation, or collage, of beautiful and striking images put together for suggestive and meditative effect. There is no commentary but there is music, some specially commissioned, and a "concept" devised by Fricke and producer/co-editor/co-writer Mark Magidson, turning on a variety of opposites – growth/decay, wonder/disgust, tradition/rootlessness, purpose/futility, faith/disbelief. Much of the stop-motion or undercranked camerawork is designed to make crowds into seething anthills and to emphasise the absurdity of repetitive work, and it's rather trying. Still, there are so many remarkable images that there is something every few seconds to provoke or please. I was reminded, however, of a line by the New Yorker writer Peter De Vries: "On the surface he may seem deep. But deep down inside,...
- 9/1/2012
- by Philip French
- The Guardian - Film News
Cinematic poetry can be scoffed at, labeled pretentious, and thoroughly dismissed without a second thought. But somehow, Ron Fricke’s “Baraka,” a “non-verbal documentary” that uses time-lapse photography and impressionable ambulatory cinematography to chart the human race through more than twenty countries managed to move even those who hold the “art-film” label with serious vehemence. The film is one of a handful of documentaries that favor visual tone over language (with absolutely no interviews or narration), a small clique that includes Godfrey Reggio’s “Qatsi Trilogy” to Fricke’s own short-form “Chronos.” They don’t come around often -- and aside from researching and trekking all over the world, we can only assume they’re difficult to finance due to their nature -- but when they do, cinema-goers can be assured they’re in for something exceptionally unique. So, good thing...
- 8/24/2012
- by Christopher Bell
- The Playlist
Anyone who thinks there's nothing new to be found in movie theaters during the late summer may want to reconsider when they see Samsara , the new movie from filmmakers Ron Fricke (on left) and Mark Magidson, whose continued experiments in creating visual and musical meditations have taken them across the globe to capture sights and sequences very few people ever have a chance to experience. Fricke first began experimenting working in the nonverbal medium with Godfrey Reggio on the 1982 art film Koyaanisquatsi: Life Out of Balance in which Fricke's distinctive time-lapse photography really turned a lot of heads. From there, Fricke joined up with Magidson to make the 45-minute IMAX film Chronos and its 1992 feature length follow-up Baraka , both times travelling across the globe...
- 8/21/2012
- Comingsoon.net
Filmed for over five years in 25 countries and on 70mm, "Samsara" can most simply be described as an experience. There are no words, just a driving score; no characters, just startlingly honest portraits; no sets, just a global stage. The title, a Sanskrit word that translates into “the ever turning wheel of life,” is the center point around which a 99 minute series of moving images revolves, each one remote, unusual, and absolutely beautiful in some way. Sound like a tall order? It is. Director and cinematographer Ron Fricke and producer Mark Magidson are practiced at this nonverbal visual art form, though. In fact, having together made two other films of the same breed before – "Chronos" (1985) and "Baraka" (1992) – it’s safe to say they’ve mastered it. Here, the two discuss how they made their creation about creation. Added with your past two films, "Samsara" is your third time producing...
- 8/20/2012
- by Gabrielle Lipton
- Indiewire
A scene from Samsara
Photo: Oscilloscope Laboratories In response to the user survey I posted back at the beginning of July you may have noticed a few new additions on the site lately. I've started the Morning 5 column, in recent days the Night Cap and today I bring you Overlooked Trailers, a feature I will be posting on Fridays featuring trailers of interest that I may have, for one reason or another, not gotten to over the course of the week and trailers I simply didn't feel like writing about... such as those you'll find on the second page of this inaugural edition. Many of you said you'd like to see information for smaller and independent films posted more often and this is only one of the ways I hope to do that and today I have a couple of titles -- Samsara and The Ambassador -- that look incredibly appealing,...
Photo: Oscilloscope Laboratories In response to the user survey I posted back at the beginning of July you may have noticed a few new additions on the site lately. I've started the Morning 5 column, in recent days the Night Cap and today I bring you Overlooked Trailers, a feature I will be posting on Fridays featuring trailers of interest that I may have, for one reason or another, not gotten to over the course of the week and trailers I simply didn't feel like writing about... such as those you'll find on the second page of this inaugural edition. Many of you said you'd like to see information for smaller and independent films posted more often and this is only one of the ways I hope to do that and today I have a couple of titles -- Samsara and The Ambassador -- that look incredibly appealing,...
- 8/3/2012
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
Back in April we got our first glimpse at the stunning documentary Samsara, a film from filmmakers Ron Fricke (who also edited the iconic Koyaanisqatsi) and Mark Magidson, who delivered the acclaimed film Baraka previously. What makes this film special is that it was shot entirely on 70mm film, and that hasn't been done in over a decade. Now a new trailer shows off even more of the gorgeous footage captured for a documentary that is said to be an "unparalleled sensory experience." I really hope I get the chance to see this in all its 70mm glory, because there is some truly beautiful cinematography at work here. Watch below! Here's the new trailer for Ron Fricke and Mark Magidson's Samsara originally from Apple: Samsara reunites filmmakers Ron Fricke and Mark Magidson, whose award-winning films Baraka and the short Chronos brought a new visual and musical artistry to theaters.
- 7/26/2012
- by Ethan Anderton
- firstshowing.net
If the Cloud Atlas trailer didn’t pack enough visual wallop for you, your brain may need to get checked. However, if you still need more eyeball candy, we’ve got another visual treat today and it’s for a film that narrows it scope to just one time period. But that’s not to say Samsara is some small drama, rather a globe-sprawling documentary with some staggering cinematography, all shot on expansive 70Mm.
Directed by Ron Fricke, the cinematographer behind Godfrey Reggio‘s stunning documentary Koyaanisqatsi is following up 1992′s Baraka with Samsara. Spending the last half-decade making the film which was shot in over 100 location, this one looks to be one of the best theatrical experiences of the year. While it will only likely get a small release, hopefully it lands close to you. Check out the new trailer below via Apple, which is comparable to our first look.
Directed by Ron Fricke, the cinematographer behind Godfrey Reggio‘s stunning documentary Koyaanisqatsi is following up 1992′s Baraka with Samsara. Spending the last half-decade making the film which was shot in over 100 location, this one looks to be one of the best theatrical experiences of the year. While it will only likely get a small release, hopefully it lands close to you. Check out the new trailer below via Apple, which is comparable to our first look.
- 7/26/2012
- by jpraup@gmail.com (thefilmstage.com)
- The Film Stage
eOne and Hopscotch Films have acquired Australian and New Zealand rights to Samsara, the follow-up to Baraka. Filmed over a period of five years in 25 countries on five continents and shot on 70mm film, Samsara reunites director Ron Fricke and producer Mark Magidson. They teamed on Baraka and Chronos. Samsara depicts the varied worlds of sacred grounds, disaster zones, industrial complexes, and natural wonders and by dispensing with dialogue and descriptive text, the film veers from the traditional documentary. eOne Canada already bought rights to the film in Canada and will release it in the fall. Oscilloscope releases the film August 24 in the U.S.
- 5/16/2012
- by MIKE FLEMING
- Deadline
The world we live in is such an amazing place, and there are places I will never go to or get to see in person. Seeing these places in the movies might just be the closest I ever get to some of these places, so it's just another reason we can be thankful for the art of filmmaking.
You're about to watch a stunning trailer to an insanely beautiful looking documentary called Samsara, which explores “the links between humanity and the rest of nature.” It was directed by Ron Fricke (Baraka) who shot the entire film using epic 70mm photography. This looks like an incredible film, and I'm excited about seeing it.
Here's the Synospis:
Prepare yourself for an unparalleled sensory experience. Samsara reunites filmmakers Ron Fricke and Mark Magidson, whose award-winning films Baraka and Chronos brought a new visual and musical artistry to theaters. Dispensing with dialogue and descriptive text,...
You're about to watch a stunning trailer to an insanely beautiful looking documentary called Samsara, which explores “the links between humanity and the rest of nature.” It was directed by Ron Fricke (Baraka) who shot the entire film using epic 70mm photography. This looks like an incredible film, and I'm excited about seeing it.
Here's the Synospis:
Prepare yourself for an unparalleled sensory experience. Samsara reunites filmmakers Ron Fricke and Mark Magidson, whose award-winning films Baraka and Chronos brought a new visual and musical artistry to theaters. Dispensing with dialogue and descriptive text,...
- 4/25/2012
- by Venkman
- GeekTyrant
Prepare to have your mind blown. Ron Fricke got his start as the cinematographer on Godfrey Reggio's masterpiece Koyaanisqatsi, a non-fiction film that weaves together time-lapse footage of the world around us into visual poetry. He then went on to direct his own work with the IMAX shorts Chronos and Sacred Site and the similar non-verbal feature film Baraka. Now, ten years after the release of Baraka, he has returned with a follow-up entitled Samsara ("the ever turning wheel of life"). Shot on 70mm film, the film once again explores themes of life and death and "humanity's relationship to the eternal" through fantastic imagery on a large canvas. The first teaser trailer has arrived this week and it gives us a small taste of this imagery, although I could have done without all the quotes from critics interrupting the visuals. Samsara will get a theatrical release this summer through Oscilloscope Laboratories,...
- 4/25/2012
- by Sean
- FilmJunk
In 1982, Ron Fricke wrote, edited and directed photography for Koyaanisqatsi, a movie that’s become a modern experimental classic that sought to create a pure sensory experience beyond what narrative storytelling could do. It’s the kind of film that audiences have to yield to, letting it wash over them like color-wrapped sound waves, and it seems likely that Samsara will be artistically related to Fricke’s early work. He re-teams here with Mark Magidson to create something that – if the movie delivers on its trailer – has to be seen and heard to be believed. The pair are most known for their work on the short doc Chronos and the feature Baraka, and their style is one that mashes moments together in order to find a sense of meaning. They’re incredibly good at it. Plus, the imagery! It’s amazing. The kind of stuff that steals your heart right out of your chest and makes you...
- 4/24/2012
- by Cole Abaius
- FilmSchoolRejects.com
After viewing the trailer, it’s easy to correlate the beginnings of director Ron Fricke. The man was the cinematographer Godfrey Reggio‘s stunning documentary Koyaanisqatsi and now his latest film, following up Baraka in 1992, looks to be another beautiful work of art. Filmed completely in the phenomenal 70mm film format, Samsara attempts to tap into the language of life itself and while a lofty goal, one can not deny the stirring images on display. Fricke spent the last half-decade making the film which was shot in over 100 locations. Forgot 3D, here’s hoping this one gets the projection it deserves. Check out the trailer below via Apple.
Synopsis:
Prepare yourself for an unparalleled sensory experience. Samsara reunites filmmakers Ron Fricke and Mark Magidson, whose award-winning films Baraka and Chronos brought a new visual and musical artistry to theaters. Dispensing with dialogue and descriptive text, Samsara explores the wonders of our world,...
Synopsis:
Prepare yourself for an unparalleled sensory experience. Samsara reunites filmmakers Ron Fricke and Mark Magidson, whose award-winning films Baraka and Chronos brought a new visual and musical artistry to theaters. Dispensing with dialogue and descriptive text, Samsara explores the wonders of our world,...
- 4/24/2012
- by jpraup@gmail.com (thefilmstage.com)
- The Film Stage
Following their fantastic films Baraka, filmmakers Ron Fricke (who also edited the iconic Koyaanisqatsi) and Mark Magidson are back with a stunning new documentary called Samsara. Fricke says the film "will delve deeper into my favorite theme: humanity's relationship to the eternal." Shot entirely on 70mm film (which hasn't been done in over a decade), the feature length documentary was shot in about 100 locations in 25 countries, and took over four years to complete. The trailer speaks for itself as the imagery is just beautiful, stunning, and would make Terrence Malick turn his head. Watch the gorgeous trailer below! Here's the first trailer for Ron Fricke and Mark Magidson's Samsara originally from Apple: You can also download the official Samsara trailer in High Definition over on Apple Samsara reunites filmmakers Ron Fricke and Mark Magidson, whose award-winning films Baraka and the short Chronos brought a new visual and musical artistry to theaters.
- 4/24/2012
- by Ethan Anderton
- firstshowing.net
While the wonders of 3D and IMAX are currently the latest toys being embraced by filmmakers looking to immerse audiences in the worlds they conjure up for the big screen, some directors realize that beautifully composed images, presented in the best possible quality, can speak more volumes that the latest gadgets. Ron Fricke, the helmer behind the acclaimed short "Chronos" and the celebrated feature length "Baraka" (and an editor on "Koyaanisqatsi") knows more than anyone the power that a single frame can bring. And returning with his first feature film in two decades, he hasn't lost a beat.
A brief, yet no less stunning trailer has landed for his upcoming "Samsara," and it proudly boasts the fact that it was shot in 70mm. And with good reason. This teaser for the film is not short on images that would make Terrence Malick weep, in a film that evocatively explores links between humanity and nature,...
A brief, yet no less stunning trailer has landed for his upcoming "Samsara," and it proudly boasts the fact that it was shot in 70mm. And with good reason. This teaser for the film is not short on images that would make Terrence Malick weep, in a film that evocatively explores links between humanity and nature,...
- 4/24/2012
- by Kevin Jagernauth
- The Playlist
The Mayans, the wise race of ancients who created hot cocoa, set December 21st, 2012 as the end date of their Calendar, which the intelligent and logical amongst us know signifies the day the world will end, presumably at 12:21:12am, Mountain Time. From now until zero date, we will explore the 50 films you need to watch before the entire world perishes. We don’t have much time, so be content, be prepared, be entertained. The Film: Chronos (1985) The Plot: Filmed in 70mm IMAX, Chronos is a photographic travel to some of the most awe-inspiring locales, cultural monuments and natural formations found throughout planet Earth. Capturing some breathtaking visuals in crystal clear detail and editing the collection of long, uninterrupted stationary filming in time-lapse Director Ron Fricke takes the audience on an unforgettable exploration of some of our planet’s most intriguing sights. The Review: Chronos, along with the other pictures by filmmaker Ron Fricke, are...
- 3/16/2012
- by Adam Charles
- FilmSchoolRejects.com
"Samsara," the latest film from "Baraka" and "Chronos" filmmakers Ron Fricke and Mark Magidson had its U.S. premiere last week at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival (it previously screened at Tiff last year). The companion piece to 1992's "Baraka," which has since become a cult hit for its stunning visuals and philosophical, non-verbal storytelling, follows much in the same vein. The title, "Samsara," is the Tibetan word for "the ever turning wheel of life," and deals with concepts of birth, rebirth and death on a scale that is both global and intimate. The film was shot on location all over the world on 70 mm film, utilizing Fricke's signature time lapse photography, and continuing to push the technological boundaries by incorporating computerized camera movement. We had a chance to sit down with "Samsara" and "Baraka" producer Mark Magidson the morning after the movie unspooled to a...
- 2/7/2012
- The Playlist
The Santa Barbara International Film Festival, which runs January 26-February 5, has announced its complete lineup of 197 films for its 27th edition. Nadine Labaki's "Where Do We Go Now?," the Audience Award-winner at the Toronto International Film Festival, will close out the festival. The U.S. premiere of Ron Fricke's "Samsara," a follow-up to his meditative documentary montages "Baraka" and "Chronos," will be the festival's Centerpiece Gala film. As previously announced, Santa Barbara will host the world premiere of Lawrence Kasdan's "Darling Companion," starring Diane Keaton and Kevin Kline, as the opening-night film. Among the festival's many honorees are "The Help" star Viola Davis, "Beginners" star Christopher Plummer, Martin Scorsese and "The Artist" leading couple Jean Dujardin and Berenice Bejo. Also receiving Virtuosos Awards are actors Demian...
- 1/5/2012
- Indiewire
The Toronto International Film Festival has released the complete line-up of their impressive documentary slate which include new works from directors such as Morgan Spurlock, Werner Herzog and Alex Gibney. Herzog explores a triple homicide case in Texas in Into the Abyss; Morgan Spurlock follows fans to San Diego’s Comic-Con in Comic-Con: Episode IV – A Fan’s Hope; Jessica Yu delivers a wake-up call about the world’s water supply in Last Call at the Oasis; and Nick Broomfield visits Wasilla, Alaska in his search for the ‘real’ Sarah Palin in Sarah Palin – You Betcha! Here is the complete line-up. Enjoy
Masters
Pina Wim Wenders, Germany/France
Canadian Premiere
German master filmmaker Wim Wenders shoots in 3D to capture the brilliantly inventive dance world of Pina Bausch and her company, Tanztheater Wuppertal. Excerpts from many of her most famous pieces are shot outside in the streets and parks of...
Masters
Pina Wim Wenders, Germany/France
Canadian Premiere
German master filmmaker Wim Wenders shoots in 3D to capture the brilliantly inventive dance world of Pina Bausch and her company, Tanztheater Wuppertal. Excerpts from many of her most famous pieces are shot outside in the streets and parks of...
- 8/3/2011
- by Ricky
- SoundOnSight
A week after the announcement of the first, and largest, wave of films added to this year’s Toronto International Film Festival slate, the festival is now finally rounding out its list, with some of the most interesting additions yet.
Criterion Collection fans will again see a few of their more beloved filmmakers involved here, as Wim Wenders will be bowing his latest film, Pina, during the festival, as will Werner Herzog (not truly a Criterion Collection approved filmmaker, but we’ll count it). Herzog will be bringing his new documentary, Into The Abyss, which looks at those behind at triple homicide, including one man who is on death row and will be put to death just days after speaking with the filmmaker.
Other additions include Ron Fricke’s Baraka follow up, Samsara, Nick Broomfield’s surely controversial documentary Sarah Palin – You Betcha!, and documentaries from Alex Gibney and Morgan Spurlock.
Criterion Collection fans will again see a few of their more beloved filmmakers involved here, as Wim Wenders will be bowing his latest film, Pina, during the festival, as will Werner Herzog (not truly a Criterion Collection approved filmmaker, but we’ll count it). Herzog will be bringing his new documentary, Into The Abyss, which looks at those behind at triple homicide, including one man who is on death row and will be put to death just days after speaking with the filmmaker.
Other additions include Ron Fricke’s Baraka follow up, Samsara, Nick Broomfield’s surely controversial documentary Sarah Palin – You Betcha!, and documentaries from Alex Gibney and Morgan Spurlock.
- 8/3/2011
- by Joshua Brunsting
- CriterionCast
Shawn Ashmore, Ashley Bell, Shannyn Sossamon, Dominic Monaghan and Cory Hardrict in The Day
Photo: Content Media The 2011 Toronto International Film Festival announced 56 more movies added to its festival line-up this year with selections in the Vanguard, Midnight Madness, Documentaries, City to City and Tiff Kids programs. And to be honest, the line-up is filled with titles, most of which are absolutely new to me.
I have seen one of the films under the Vanguard banner, a selection of young and cutting edge features and I've heard of Joachim Trier's Oslo, August 31, Ben Wheatley's Kill List (watch the trailer to the right) was a hit at South by Southwest earlier this year and the documentary selections include familiar names such as Werner Herzog, Morgan Spurlock, Jonathan Demme, Alex Gibney and Wim Wenders, the latter of which is delivering a 3D documentary centered on the dance world of Pina Bausch and her company.
Photo: Content Media The 2011 Toronto International Film Festival announced 56 more movies added to its festival line-up this year with selections in the Vanguard, Midnight Madness, Documentaries, City to City and Tiff Kids programs. And to be honest, the line-up is filled with titles, most of which are absolutely new to me.
I have seen one of the films under the Vanguard banner, a selection of young and cutting edge features and I've heard of Joachim Trier's Oslo, August 31, Ben Wheatley's Kill List (watch the trailer to the right) was a hit at South by Southwest earlier this year and the documentary selections include familiar names such as Werner Herzog, Morgan Spurlock, Jonathan Demme, Alex Gibney and Wim Wenders, the latter of which is delivering a 3D documentary centered on the dance world of Pina Bausch and her company.
- 8/3/2011
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
We had an smidgen of an idea that the Real to Reel section might be especially strong this year, but with the likes of Frederick Wiseman, Rithy Panh, Jonathan Demme, Werner Herzog, Jessica Yu, Alex Gibney, Joe Berlinger, Ron Fricke, Nick Broomfield and Michael Glawogger, we're now beginning to think that Thom Powers' section has not only outclassed Toronto's sister event Hot Docs, but just about any other doc-related film festival. Among the noteworthy World Premieres announced, we look forward to Gary Hustwit (Helvetica, Objectified) Urbanized, Andrey Paounov's The Boy Who Was King, Werner Herzog's Into the Abyss and the mind-numbing miscarriage of justice that has produced a trilogy of films from Joe Berlinger (Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory). Chronos and Baraka helmer Ron Fricke brings us what will be a visual feast in Samsara, and certainly good for a couple of laughs we have Jessica Yu's...
- 8/3/2011
- IONCINEMA.com
It's very hard to categorize a film like Baraka. Because of its particular characteristics - a complete lack of a verbal component, a non-linear 'plot' and a broadened coverage of our planet - it doesn't fit it with any existing genre. With that being said, I wouldn't want to have to put a label on this beautiful production. Its simplicity and remarkable ability to convey the idiosyncrasies of our planet have made it a favorite among film enthusiasts since its release in 1992. In many ways the highly acclaimed Planet Earth series (released last year by the BBC) owes much of its success to Baraka, mainly for the cinematography and time-lapse photography it uses. When Baraka director Ron Fricke (Koyaanisqatsi, Chronos) [1] set out to make this film he had a clear idea of what he was doing. According to the featurette, his goal was to "reconnect with humanity and communicate on a level which,...
- 6/4/2009
- by Myles Dolphin
- SoundOnSight
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