Product Description

Acclaimed by an audience of over 23 million worldwide, Cirque du Soleil is a distinctive and remarkable troupe that has reinvented and revolutionized the circus arts. Journey of Man is a breathtaking odyssey that follows the stages of human development from birth to maturity, with each stage presented by a Cirque du Soleil act. The signature Cirque du Soleil celebration of color, light, music, and costume combines with a backdrop of various natural and historical landmarks around the world, creating a triumph of artistry beyond compare. From the opening explosion of light and sound that represents the universe's formation, Cirque du Soleil's Journey of Manleads us through the birth of the Universal Child as it travels from childhood through adolescence and manhood on to maturity. An awe-inspiring feast for the senses, incomparable artistry and stylish elegance make this an adventure of a lifetime.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #19767 in DVD
• Brand: CIRQUE DU SOLEIL
• Released on: 2001-10-30
• Rating: G (General Audience)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Color, DVD, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .25 pounds
• Running time: 39 minutes

Amazon.com
Like all Cirque du Soleil productions, Journey of Man is a showcase for transcendent beauty and astonishing physical achievement. Originally produced as a 3-D IMAX presentation, this 39-minute film remains impressive on smaller screens, although its guiding theme (the evolution of humankind through the power of dreams, faith, and love) is sweetly contrived. It's the way this theme is expressed that matters: elements of Cirque du Soleil's awe-inspiring stage act are performed amidst wondrous settings, accompanied by Benoît Jutras's inspiring score, and metaphorically representing the birth, growth, and maturity of "the Universal Child." The journey of man comes full circle to the sustaining belief that all things are possible. It's this point that is best expressed by the remarkable feats of Cirque du Soleil's lavishly costumed performers, including a uniquely graceful underwater ballet, swooping bungee- cord choreography, two precisely balanced human "statues" in perfect synchronicity, and other wonders that must be seen to be believed. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews

Very poor effort, Cirque.
If you are a die hard Cirque Du Soleil fan and must have everything they put out, like me, then by all means go out and buy this DVD. If not, I would strongly recommend you pass on this one.

Why you ask? Well, lets start with the fact that it is (dollar amount)and is only 35 minutes long, and it's not even in widescreen. There are only a few acts and they are very short. There are no acts in this show that aren't available in their full length in other videos or DVDs. Even the soundtrack is copied from other shows, with the exception of "Journey of Man", which is a great song, but is much better (and is complete) on the audio CD.

There are a couple of pros, though. The audio seems to actually be 5.1, not 5.0 as specified on the box, and the quality of the video is quite good, once you get past the fact that is in 4:3 format. The scenery is spectacular, it is nice to see a rich background to the acts (as apposed to the scafolding of the big top). And it is a cute story...

With a little more effort, this could have been great. Unfortunately, it's, well... not...

CIRQUE TO THE (I)MAX
I saw "Journey of Man" in 3-D and felt I could catch the Banquine flyers in my lap. The movie is the next best thing to a live Cirque du Soleil show, even though nothing compares to the being there. The soundtrack, written by Benoit Jutras, not only proves to be a great background for the film, it is great to listen to even without visuals. I hope this movie is eventually released on DVD.

A good mix of Cirque and IMAX
This was an enjoyable film, but I walked away a bit diasppointed at how few of the stunts that Cirque du Soleil is famous for were in it. I think I would have enjoyed it more if I had never seen Cirque live because I don't think anything could compare to being there. It was beautifully filmed and gives a good preview of some of the things you might see in a live Cirque show. Making it 3-D and adding the IMAX effects make it unlike anything else I have ever seen.

I would recommend it enthusiastically for someone who has never seen Cirque live. If you have seen them live, by all means see it anyway, but be prepared for it to be nothing like a live show. Compared to the price of a ticket to a live show, Journey of Man was a bargain and I didn't feel like I wasted a penny.