The Maya Collection: Chichen--Itza

Beautifully packaged, filmed and scored, this tape represents one in a series of ten detailed explorations of Mayan ruins in Mexico, Belize, Guatemala and Honduras. The 35mm cinema camera of Enrique Lecuona Saiz wanders through Mayan ruins recording history, sacred sites, observatories, markets and hot baths to the soaring music of Juan Lino. The result is visually beautiful and aurally inspiring. I must admit, though, that after awhile ruins and stones get a little dull without much contextual narration, no matter how hard the filmmaker and musicians are trying to pump them up (there is not a single human being in this film). In addition, the tape is sparsely narrated, so some illustrations or re-enactments of Mayan culture would have added considerable depth and humanity to what is basically a music video of Mayan ruins. Nonetheless, for those with an interest in beautiful images of Mayan sites, one could hardly do better than these tapes. Recommended, with reservations. Aud: H, C, P. (R. Ray)