There are days that I wish I had a TV with a really big screen. No, I mean a REALLY big screen. Oh, I could settle for some 50 inch Plasma TV, but somehow that still isn’t enough to handle some of the films I watch on DVD. I’m talking a 75 foot BIG screen. Granted, I realize this would mean some major construction on our house, not only to add the auditorium, but to fill it with theatre-style seating. This is the kind of room I need to full appreciate the film, “Chronos.” Director Ron Fricke, who in the past has brought us the stunningly visual films, “Koyaanisqatsi” (no, I can never pronounce it right either) and “Baraka”, finds another of his works hitting store shelves in a fully loaded DVD Special Edition. “Chronos”, which was originally released in 1985, was designed specifically for IMAX theatres. The film takes viewers on a trip around the world, visiting over 50 locations on nearly every continent. The cinematography alone makes for an entertaining production, but it is the addition of the music of composer Michael Stearns that really brings the visuals to life.

Stearns has had a musical career dating back to the 1970’s, and his work can be heard almost everywhere you go. He has released numerous CDs (several of which I own), and throughout the past several decades branched out into composing for films, commercials, documentaries and even rides for major amusement attractions. I’ve been a fan of his work for a long time, and find his music to be quite hypnotic.

Watching the DVD of “Chronos”, I am immediately struck by how terrific it looks. But I can also tell that it loses something on the small screen, hence my comments about the 75 footer. I imagined what it must have looked like on an IMAX screen, where you tend to be enveloped by the image. I’m sure those with big screen TVs will be able to appreciate the visuals, though still not as fully as they might get in a theatre. The audio on this DVD is unbelievable. I was able to enjoy the Dolby Digital 5.1 track on my home stereo, but I now feel the need to upgrade. Stearns personally worked on the remix of the DVD to include a DTS 96/24 Digital 5.1 track specifically for home theatre systems. As for how that track sounds, give me a little time to buy my new system.

Not content to just sit back and toss out the DVD with only the film, the producers decided to add some awesome extra features. There is a commentary by Fricke and Stearns, along with production manager Alton Walpole. It is a fascinating commentary, as there is a lot to learn about how much work went into creating this film. Then there is a “Behind the Scenes” section that includes 5 different featurettes. “The Artist and Their Camera” is a 5 minute gallery of pictures with commentary. Here we see how some of the shots were set up and the types of cameras that were used. In “The Beam” we hear from Michael Stearns as he explains the instrument of the title, which is little more than a long steel beam with strings. He demonstrates its use, and I have to admit the sound is quite interesting. This one comes in at about 5 minutes as well. This is followed up with the 7 minute “The Composer”, where we once again hear from Stearns as he explains his involvement with the production. “The Production Manager” is a 14 minute interview with Alton Walpole, where he describes what a logistical nightmare it was to pull off the production. Finally, we have a very short ‘commercial’ of sorts for the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center, which was involved in the production of the film.

For Geography nuts, you can choose a subtitle feature that shows the names of the locations while you watch the film, while one of the other features allows you to find out information about each location as taken from the Columbia Encyclopedia. There is also a director’s shot list, which is quite extensive. One short feature I found interesting was an explanation of the sound formats used on the DVD. Last but not least, a DVD-Rom feature has entries from the Columbia Encyclopedia, complete with hyperlinks.

“Chronos” isn’t a film that you watch as much as you experience. If you have to have a story, this is not the DVD for you. If you love a great mix of music and visuals, then you can’t get much better than this.

Directed by: Ron Fricke
Extras: Filmmaker’s Commentary with the Director, Composer and Production Manager, Behind the Scenes Featurette, Behind the Landscapes, Optional Subtitles That Indentify Each Location in the Film, Director’s Shot List, DVD-Rom - Columbia Encyclopedia
Specifications: Widescreen, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound, DTS 96/24 Surround, PCM Stereo Matrix Surround
Studio: Goldhil
Release Date: Available
Region: 0
MPAA Rating: NR
Website

We'll give Chronos an A.