I am holding in my grubby little hands the just released DVDs of these two movies and as soon as I can get the freakin’ plastic wrap and “Security Device Enclosed” stickers (Why does Amazon.com need those, anyway?) off the damn things I’m gonna go watch 'em!
Hey! There’s no booklet thingie inside 'em! Well, time to watch 'em. I’ll post my reactions later.
And all I can say is WOW! Color corrected, color enhanced, wide screen, surround sound, and one of the finest film to video transfers I have ever seen! 
For someone like me who is an überfan of the movie, it was like watching it for the first time all over again. I’d swear that Godfrey Reggio managed to slip in a few frames of extra footage.
The special features consist of the trailers for the three films of the Qatsi trilogy and interviews with Philip Glass and Godfrey Reggio. It would be nice if there was a director’s commentary to the film, but given what Reggio says in the interview portion, it’s pretty obvious why there isn’t one. Also, if you don’t like spoilers, then DON’T watch the interviews before you watch the movie! I know it sounds impossible for a movie like this to have spoilers, but trust me, watch the movie first, and then watch the interviews.
The interview with Reggio (no spoiler here, so don’t worry) is really fascinating as it shows examples of some of his early work with Ron Fricke that points in the direction that they were to go in with Koyaanisqatsi.
Anyway, I know what I’m getting everyone for Christmas this year!
On to Powaqqatsi! I’m really looking forward to this film as I’ve never seen it before.
And I’m slightly disappointed. The film lacks the strong narrative structure of Koyaanisqatsi and has a rough, unpolished feel to it. The film does exhibit a “voice,” if you will, in spots, but in most places that voice gets subsumed by the images. The film is such a stark contrast from the other one that I have to wonder if the reason for it isn’t due to financial constrains. (Glass indicates in the interview that neither he nor Reggio make a heck of a lot of money off these films.)
Still, the soundtrack is fantastic, and the film itself looks good with a great film to video transfer. The spoiler warnings about the interviews still apply (its a new set of interviews for this film). I am going to have to watch this film again to see if it “grows” on me.
Overall, its worth watching, and slightly reminescent of Baraka.
Oh, now I really need to get my hands on a copy of these. I love Koyaanisqatsi – the music is amazing in and out of itself, but the footage is what really makes it hit you like a kick in the gut. And that interview certainly sounds… interesting.
Yeah, Powaqqatsi just never seems to reach the same level of excitement as Koy.
Naqoyqatsi looks very promising from the trailor.
Incidentally, has everyone caught where the music from The Truman Show came from?