“Almost like a real web site”
 

IN7OMM.COM
Search | Contact
News | e-News
Rumour Mill | Stories
Foreign Language
Auf Deutsch

WHAT'S ON IN 7OMM?

7OMM FESTIVAL
Karlsruhe | Gentofte
Krnov | Varnsdorf
Banská Bystrica
Oslo | Bradford

TODD-AO PROCESS
Films | Premiere
People | Equipment
Library | Cinemas
Distortion Correcting
DP70 / AAII Projector
 

VISION, SCOPE & RAMA
1926 Natural Vision
1929 Grandeur
1930 Magnifilm
1930 Realife
1930 Vitascope
1952 Cinerama
1953 CinemaScope
1953 Panavison
1954 VistaVision
1955 Todd-AO
1955 Circle Vision 360
1956 CinemaScope 55
1957 Ultra Panavision 70
1958 Cinemiracle
1958 Kinopanorama
1959 Super Panavision 70
1959 Super Technirama 70
1960 Smell-O-Vision
1961 Sovscope 70
1962
Cinerama 360
1962 MCS-70
1963 70mm Blow Up
1963 Circarama
1963 Circlorama
1966 Dimension 150
1966
Stereo-70
1967 DEFA 70
1967 Pik-A-Movie
1970 IMAX / Omnimax
1974 Cinema 180
1974 SENSURROUND
1976 Dolby Stereo
1984 Showscan
1984 Swissorama
1986 iWERKS
1989 ARRI 765
1990 CDS
1994 DTS / Datasat
2001 Super Dimension 70
2018 Magellan 65

Various Large format | 70mm to 3-strip | 3-strip to 70mm | Specialty Large Format | Special Effects in 65mm | ARC-120 | Early Large Format
7OMM Premiere in Chronological Order

7OMM ON EARTH

Australia | Brazil | Canada | China | Denmark | England | France | Germany | Holland | India | Iran | Israel | Ireland | Mexico | Norway | Poland |  Russia | Spain | Sweden | Turkey | USA |

LIBRARY
7OMM Projectors
People | Eulogy
65mm/70mm Workshop
The 7OMM Newsletter
Back issue | PDF
Academy of the WSW

7OMM NEWS
• 2026 | 2025 | 2024
2023 | 2022 | 2021
2020 | 2019 | 2018
2017 | 2016 | 2015
2014 | 2013 | 2012
2011 | 2010 | 2009
2008 | 2007 | 2006
2005 | 2004 | 2003
2002 | 2001 | 2000
1999 | 1998 | 1997
1996 | 1995 | 1994
 

in70mm.com Mission:
• To record the history of the large format movies and the 70mm cinemas as remembered by the people who worked with the films. Both during making and during running the films in projection rooms and as the audience, looking at the curved screen.
in70mm.com, a unique internet based magazine, with articles about 70mm cinemas, 70mm people, 70mm films, 70mm sound, 70mm film credits, 70mm history and 70mm technology. Readers and fans of 70mm are always welcome to contribute.

Disclaimer | Updates
Support us | Staff
Testimonials
Table of Content
 

 
 
Extracts and longer parts of in70mm.com may be reprinted with the written permission from the editor.
Copyright © 1800 - 2070. All rights reserved.

Visit biografmuseet.dk about Danish cinemas

 

Review of "Baraka" Blu-ray version

Read more at
in70mm.com
The 70mm Newsletter
Written by: Thomas Hauerslev, editor, in70mm.com Date: 06.12.2008
As a projectionist I have been fortunate to premiere "Baraka" in 70mm during one of the very first commercial engagements. That took place during two June weeks in Copenhagen, Denmark in 1993. I even had the pleasure to say hello to Producer Mark Magidson at that time.

Nobody knew anything about the film, but still, 6060 guests turned up to see the film. Not a lot, considering the Imperial Bio have 1104 seats and large curved 70mm screen. In 2000 "Baraka" returned and by that time it sold out.

Since 1993 I have seen it between 5 and 10 times, probably more - and only in 70mm. I continue to see it, because of the sheer excitement of seeing REALLY SHARP IMAGES in the cinema, slow editing, the portraits, beautiful places, the cinematography, the music and the sound. The impact of large format is very intense for me, so "Baraka" allows me to relax, be inspired and wonder ever time I see it. I'm certain many people have different reasons to see it again and again, as "Baraka" is always a crowd pleaser when it is shown in cinemas all over the world.

Over the years "Baraka" has become a contemporary 70mm classic like "Lawrence of Arabia" and "The Sound of Music".
 
More in 70mm reading:

"Baraka" Fully restored for Blu-ray
"Baraka" cast and credits
"Samsara" - in Panavision Super 70 / System 65
"Baraka" The High Rez HD Digital lntermediate Restoration: HR/HD DI



Publicity & Marketing
MPI Media Group
Dark Sky Films / Dokument Films
16101 S. 108th Ave.
Orland Park, IL 60467

P: +1 708 873 3128
F: +1 708 873 3177
 

What is the new Blu-ray disc like?

 
I'm biased because I have seen it so many times in 70mm, but I must say, this disc looks very, very good on the small home "theatre" screen. If only all films looked like this (even in the cinema), there would be no reason to go out any more, except if you want the social dimension of sitting with hundreds of others, the (awful) smell of popcorn and sharing something unique.


It's "70mm for the Home Screen" - a high-impact experience.


"Baraka" has finally been released in a state-of-the-art home-video version, that does justice to the 70mm cinema version. It isn't 70mm of course. But it is certainly the equivalent of "70mm" compared to regular DVDs and home entertainment. The 8k high resolution scanning process has revealed plenty of detail never before seen in the home.

"Baraka" was filmed in Todd-AO 70mm [actually in 65mm] and have so much resolution, which will never appear in our home, because even the largest home screens (up to 103) are still dwarfed by a full blown 60ft/20m curved 70mm screen. In "Baraka"'s case it is really a draw back to watch it on a small home screen - if you see it for the first time. The big screen is essential to be drawn into the film. On the other hand, it's the ultimate "Baraka" souvenir and serves as appetizer to go and see for the first time (or again) in 70mm.

I saw the disc on a flat screen. Sitting close to a curved screen is key to get a "you are in the movies" experience. As soon as I can get it together I will try to project this Blu-ray disc on one my curved test screen to see what it looks like. I promise to follow up on that issue.

Michael Stearn's music has been digitally restored for this release, as the movie elements had deteriorated over the years. Apparently, he went back to original recording masters and re-record the soundtrack. It does sound very good. A lot of top, middle and bottom - the clarity when played in DTS is overwhelming. During the next days I will go back and listen to the Dolby tracks, which I'm sure will be equally as overpowering.

The 6-track movie sound is incredible. I nearly fell off my chair when a thunder storm, including lightning, surprised me (again) in the film. The dynamics was scary and very powerful, to say the least. The low-end in some sequence made our windows rattle! A real test for your sound system too. I use large JBL 4-way speakers with 14" woofers and lots of amplifier power - and I wasn't disappointed.

Two very interesting companions are part of the special features. "A Closer Look" chronicles the genesis and history of "Baraka" since it's release 15 years ago. All fresh interviews and historic footage of the filming. The second featurette is called "Restoration" and tells the story about the negative scanning and the people involved. Very interesting material, and well produced.

"Baraka" on Blu-ray is shipped in an eco-friendly cardboard packaging, which seems a little fragile to me, compared with plastic packaging. I can live with that, however, and MPI is to be congratulated to consider cardboard's friendlier impact on our environment. While we wait for Ron Fricke's next non-verbal 70mm film, titled "Samsara" I recommend seeing "Baraka" on Blu-ray from MPI. It's Blu-ray as good as it is, and serves as standard for how home-video should look like. Well done!
 
 
   
Go: back - top - back issues - news index
Updated 28-07-24