Chronos

Fasten your seatbelts, the man who filmed Koyaanisqatsi is back with a new 70mm visual extravaganza filmed in Egypt, France, Italy, the United Kingdom, New York City, and Israel. Set to a soundtrack from New Age artist Michael Sterns, Chronos opens with a montage of shots before swinging over to Egypt for pensive looks at the pyramids, the Sphinx, and the temples. The measured music in semi-sonorous tones lends a palpable weight to the monolithic structures that are awesome, yes, but also our heritage as a species. The Acropolis at Athens, the Winged Victory in the Louvre, the Vatican, Grand Central Station, some 50 locations in all are filmed using a newly developed camera with a computer-precise motion control system. Slow motion, high speed time lapse, intricate tracking shots, all manner of the latest in film techniques are used to create this testament to both our planet and our accomplishments on it. Chronos is a beautiful experience, with some of the most breathtaking visuals of recent memory. But you might want to warn people that the high-speed Venice canal sequence might cause you to bonk heads if you're sitting next to someone; there are some nasty turns. Highly recommended. Editor's Choice. (Available from most distributors.)