Cirque du Soleil - Journey of Man [DVD]

The most important thing to understand about this DVD is that "Journey of Man" was originally created for an IMAX 3-D presentation. I saw it in the theaters and was blown away, and so I bought the DVD as a reminder of that experience. The sound on the DVD was spectacular, drawing out the beauty of the soundtrack, but there are inherent limitations on the visual side. Because IMAX's aspect ratio is close to that of a TV, there's no need to letterbox this feature, but there's no way to capture either the size of the IMAX screen or the 3-D effects that made it so spectacular.All of the acts were taken from the various touring Cirque shows: The opening "Taiko" from Mystere, some synchronized swimming from "O", "Cube" from Alegria, "Statue" and "Banquine" from Quidam, and so on. I'm not sure that there were any original acts, but each of the performances here has been further stylized and put into a setting that frees the act from the constraints of the stage, making each one larger and more powerful. "Statue" is especially striking, as the performers in full-body grey makeup perform on a vivid green leaf floating in a black pool. The colors are beautiful throughout, and the performances are, of course, spectacular. The acts are connected by sequences that were amazing on the big screen but feel a little bit unnecessary in the living room.The storyline explores the "child-like wonder" theme of previous Cirque productions, but I think that the theme is both better portrayed and has more of an impact here than I've felt in Cirque's other work. There are all sorts of amazing things in the world if you keep looking, and what you think you want isn't always what you need most.Basically, this DVD is a good buy for rabid Cirque fans who need to have everything that Cirque has produced, people who never got a chance to see Mystere, "O", or Alegria and so can enjoy some acts they haven't previously seen, or for those of artistic bent who don't mind shelling out the money for a 35-minute presentation of beautiful staging and cinematography. I fall into all three categories and am very happy with my purchase.However, EVERYONE should see this in its original IMAX 3-D format. On the big screen it truly is an amazing spectacle throughout. On the small screen it's more of a novelty.

First let me say that there is 3D and then there is 3D. I have purchased and enjoyed this disk using a Samsung 61 inch "3D Ready" DLP TV. This is an important distinction. My TV uses the "checkerboard" format rather than the 3D Blu-Ray standard. This checkerboard format is, in most respects, superior to that which you get on the new 3D TV's. This may account for the negative reviews from owners of the newer sets. The 3D is also superior to that which you saw in the original IMAX 3D theatre release. That is because theatres use passive 3D glasses rather than active. The difference in depth is substantial. The 3D, for example, in "Polar Express" is disappointing even in IMAX, but, placed on the home screen, is dramatic. Having said this, I can report that the friends with whom I have watched this on our system are simply amazed. This is Cirque as it should be. I have some quibbles with the way they have depicted the "Journey of Man", but these can be reduced to artistic differences and the film should be enjoyed on its own merit. I would also say that I have lent the film to friends with the official Blu-Ray format and the results are no where near as good. We are at the mercy of decisions made by big corporations. From what I have been able to read, the checkerboard format was too expensive to incorporate in plasma TV's, so it was abandoned. Plasma was not as good as DLP, but corporations had huge investments to recoup. So, they sold it to the public. We are all the poorer for this. (Please note: Mitsubishi still offers checkerboard and all new Panasonic Blu-Ray 3D players now incorporate this technology. I believe that this is a bow to its superiority for the home viewer. You will find both on Amazon.) In any event, this is good news for "3D Ready" set owners and lovers of Cirque. For folks who own other technology, try it. If it works, you are in for a great viewing experience.

I remembered watching this movie as a kid back in the day. Still holds up for me and is super aesthetic, even if I don't remember much from back when I first watched it in the early 2000s. One problem I would say is that it's a little short, but it's nice to watch if you have an hour or less to kill.

I wasn't sure just what to expect after reading reviews here but the price was reasonable for a 3D BD. Actually it is a quite nice production with very good use of 3D as part of the production but not as a gimmick. It is understandable why some were put off. The 3D is used but is not stressed. I found only two scenes that "pop" out of the screen (in an overhead shot in the living statue dance when the man lifts the woman into the air and, the end, when the hat hits the book exploding it into flying pieces). There were some shots in which it seemed that the action was intentionally kept within the frame of the image. The performances were not filmed on astage/arena with most using little or no rigging. It shouldn't be compared with a performance since it was shot much more like a film, mostly if not all, on location. Compared to most performances I have seen on television, this is a very conservative effort and quite well done but evidently not for everyone.

tres décevant durée 40 mn non precisé sur le site. je ne le conseille pas du tout pour les amateurs du cirque du soleil

Tanto el contenido como su visualización en 3D es muy efectista i bien realizada, también el sonido es muy correcto

Having fairly recently bought a 3d tv, and greatly enjoyed several films and games on it, I set out to see what else was out there in 3d land. Being quite keen on Cirque du Soleil and knowing they do sell videos of some of their shows, I wondered if any were in 3d, and found this.Put together purely for this video, Journey of Man is the simple tale of how one man perceives life, starting with the simple wonder and spontaneous joy of a child; how he grows up and becomes more cynical and literal minded, and then how he finally recovers what he lost and learns to enjoy wonder again. Each 'phase' is illustrated by an act, encompassing many C-d-S staples: strength, balance, and incredible coordination. The whole is linked by some nice CG effects which keep carefully clear of the acts themselves but enhance the 3d nicely. It is narrated throughout by the gentle, cultured tones of Ian McKellan (Gandalf).All in all, a thoroughly enjoyable production, and just like the shows, I was sorry when it ended ^_^

Bought dor a friend's birthday. He loves it

Having watched Cirque du Soleil on Sky channels, I was looking forward to getting this 3D disc. It was a long time coming and when it did arrive I was bitterly disappointed. The content did not show the true magnificence of the circus and the 3D effects were very limited. Perhaps l chose the wrong disc?