Bella Donna, Bhagwan Mirchandani, Elton John

In this cinematic concert, mesmerizing images are plucked from everyday reality, then visually altered with state-of-the-art digital techniques. The result is a chronicle of the shift from a world org...( read more  read more... )anized by the principles of nature to one dominated by technology, the synthetic and the virtual. Extremes of intimacy and spectacle, tragedy and hope fuse in a tidal wave of visuals and music, giving rise to a unique, artistic experience that reflects the vision of a brave new globalized world.

Flixster Users

76% liked it

677 ratings

Critics

48% liked it

52 critics

PG, 1 hr. 29 min.

Directed by: Godfrey Reggio

Release Date: October 18, 2002

Invite friends to see

DVD Release Date: June 24, 2003

Stats: 168 reviews

Get movie widget Recommend it Add to Favorites

Your Rating



clear rating
Share on: Facebook Twitter

Flixster Reviews (168)


  • May 13, 2006
    7/10
    Not as good as Koyanisqaatsi but great none the less.
  • September 12, 2009
    wonderfull music by philip Glass in this documentary series..
  • June 13, 2009
    The only DVD out of the trilogy to have special features (besides trailers). One special feature is an interview with Godfrey and Glass; both admitting that their first two films (Koyaanisqatsi and Powaqatsi) were both "experiments," and that's exactly how those first two movies ...( read more)felt to me.

    What's unique about this final installment in the trilogy is that (after having the practice) Godfrey decides to shoot only 20% percent of the film's footage; the other 80% is all global stock footage. This is what initially intrigued me; however, Godfrey decides to use simple computer effects to manipulate/distort the imagery into something different (on some shots, this actually seems to work; but for the most part, it's boring). After watching the prequels, I was really hoping the director would use the same techniques and apply them to OTHER people's footage (see my reviews on the prequels). I guess that theory didn't satisfy Godfrey, so he decided to be more "creative" and experimental with this third installment. It would've been nice to see, after 25 years of practice, a movie that was "better" than its predecessors.

    On a final note, this movie has the most boring compositions by Philip Glass (at some points, I almost forgot there was even music playing). It was very frustrating to watch all three of these films and continually be disappointed with the final product. However, after watching these projects, I now feel more confident in my own film making/editing abilities.
  • November 2, 2008
    the least good of the qatsi trilogy, but still a great reflection of the world of today, and a prediction to the future. like it is shown in a very visualy brilliant way, with sometimes confusing visual effects though, our society is more and more marked by new forms of high tech...( read more)nology and progress, and with that, worse types of violence and war.
  • September 6, 2008
    The final chapter in the trilogy isn't as good as the previous two. Still, it has some surprisingly remarkable imagery. Considering, the entire film is computer manipulated, it's amazing that there is still a genuine heartfelt emotion evident. Plus, the score by Glass (with the h...( read more)elp of Yo-Yo Ma) is to die for.
  • July 25, 2008
    Although I love Koyaanisqatsi/Powaqqatsi, this one was quite a disappointment. The visual style is special indeed, but it was way to artsy for me and felt more like something for a video art installation rather than a movie to watch.
  • June 27, 2008
    The title is a Hopi word meaning "life as war". This documentary takes images of modern life and the real world, and digitaly augments and alters them into a fantasia of living images, showing man developing into the technology based society of today.

    There are no words, and ...( read more)no real story, just a kaledscopic series of images to the music of Phlip Glass and Yo-Yo Ma. Basically it's a long music video. Earlier films by director Reggio are similar in their approach and subjects, dealing with nature and then industrial societies, and now technological culture and the future.

    A beautiful, inventive, abstract documentary
  • June 9, 2008
    OK, I guess, on its own. Compared to Koyaanisqatsi, though, this really didn't measure up at all.

Critic Reviews


November 8, 2002
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail

Feels like a bloated mass of data without much coherence. full review

October 31, 2002
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer

Reggio's trippy, ambitious downer can also sometimes come across like nothing more than a glorified Nike ad. full review

October 25, 2002
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

I have problems with Naqoyqatsi as a film, but as a music video it's rather remarkable. full review

View more Naqoyqatsi (Naqoyqatsi: Life as War) reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments


This board looks lonely. Be the first to talk about "Naqoyqatsi (Naqoyqatsi: Life as War)" !

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

More Like This


Click a thumb to vote on that suggestion, or add your own suggestions.

  • Ashes and Snow
    Ashes and Snow (100%)
  • Powaqqatsi
    Powaqqatsi (100%)
  • Fuck (F*ck)
    Fuck (F*ck) (50%)
  • G
    G (40%)

Theater Showtimes & TV Listings


Naqoyqatsi (Naqoyqatsi: Life as War) Trivia

Movie Quizzes


No quizzes for Naqoyqatsi (Naqoyqatsi: Life as War). Want to create one?

Video Clips


No video clips yet. Want to upload one?

Recent News


No recent headlines. Got one?

Most Popular Skin


No skins yet. Interested in creating one?