Cirque du Soleil: Journey of Man (2000) User Reviews

Another IMAX miss.

[Shiva-11 · 6/10 · 18 May 2000]

Cirque du Soleil The Journey of Man: This unique circus troupe from Montreal ha been a feature act in Vegas for several years, but does their act translate well to the big screen (and being IMAX I mean B-I-G!)?

The first three segments are particularly uneventful: synchronized swimming has never interested me inI in 2-D and don't care for it any more in 3-D; blasé trapeze work with women suited up to look like canaries (they're hooked up to bungees so there isn't even a sense of danger) and a surreal balancing act that does little more than flaunt beefcake. The final two segments are much better and take advantage of the 3-D experience: two "statues" (a painted duo) move in slow motion and perform an amazing balancing act, whereas the final acrobatic scene is extremely imaginative and well choreographed.

Next time you're in Vegas stop in for the whole show, but make the movie a miss.

The sun rises (just a bit)

[Horst_In_Translation · 6/10 · 14 April 2018]

"Cirque du Soleil: Journey of Man" is a 40-minute presentation and in the title you can read already who this is from and what it is about. Cirque du Soleil is normally nothing you'd really associate with films, but they made made more movies than you'd expect and this is perhaps their shortest. It is full of spectacular costumes and sets, some scenes from the stages, others outside in the nature (seemingly at least) and the result is spectacular cinematography for sure. So visually it is a feast without a doubt. The music is not too shabby either. I must say I enjoyed the watch here and this is despite me not having the greatest interest in the biblical aspects from the story, aspects that are very frequent, very dominant. But you don't need to be interested in this kind of area in order to geta decent viewing experience here, amybe you need to be for a great one. There are still many other positive production values that make this one worth seeing and I think it is always a success if I can say you don't need to be on location and see it live in order to enjoy it as it is true for many theme park attractions and short films linked to particular blockbuster movies. This one here does not need you to be there. Watch it on a screen and you will also get a satisfying viewing experience. Especially recommended to fans of Ian McKellen of course, I give it a thumbs-up.

And the Band Played On

[lou-50 · 19 August 2000]

"Cirque du Soleil - the Journey of Man" is a visually stunning 3-D film that would be more rewarding if it was longer than 40 minutes and had a fuller message. As is, it serves as an enticement to see the complete Cirque du Soleil performance whether in person in Las Vegas or by recorded videotape. The stream of consciousness involving the little boy becoming an aging man symbolizing his development is not intuitively complete. In showing man's self discovery and his experiences of love and joy with us, the film fails to bring us his uniqueness and his identity. It may be enough, for some, just to see the virtuoso acrobatics of the four set pieces - the underwater magic of five synchronized swimmers, the quartet trapeze artists dangling on rope who twirl their bodies forward rhythmically from their waists, the couple with precise control who raise and lower each other by sheer muscular strength on a water lily platform, and the finale involving multi-level players standing on each other's shoulders and the star figure jumping somersaults to reach a pinnacle. But these are merely appetizers that lead us astray, making us anticipate a piece-de-resistance that will not be forthcoming.

Still A Feast For The Eyes & Mind

[gardeniapalms · 9/10 · 13 February 2020]

If I hadn't known this was a Cirque du Soleil production I'd have thought some really creative CGI work was at hand, but this IS A Cirque Di Soleil production so I know better.

Cirque du Soleil have always been masters at pushing our imaginations with the aid of their performers who push our understanding of just what the human body can do. As for this production, the performances are weaved together by another Master of his craft: Sir Ian McKellan as "The Narrator".

I did not find the story to be trite nor the performances to be stale. As with any other Cirque du Soleil experience not filmed in front of a live audience, Cirque du Soleil showcases a few acts by interweaving them into a new storyline for not only fans of but also to give people who had never seen a Cirque du Soleil production in person a sense of what they are all about.

While I will agree with a few comments as to the length of the video, there is an old show business adage: always leave 'em wanting more...and that they have done!

The storyline, the costumes, the characters, the music, the prrformances...for these eyes it was all top notch and didn't disappoint.

A long advertisement for Cirque du Soleil.

[doghouse-7 · 9/10 · 3 July 2000]

As per my expectations I was completely enthralled by the vividness and wonderment that usually accompanies a Cirque Du Soleil performance, however, at 45 minutes (I estimated only 35 minutes excluding the credits) it was only a tease. Just as your starting to get into the story it's over. My wait in line to get tickets was longer than the movie! As an advertisement for their shows it was on the mark, as a stand-alone piece…what a disappointment.

nothing new.

[MundaneNoodle · 5/10 · 20 November 2002]

If you've watched the Cirque du Soleil shows on vhs/dvd there is really nothing new here, save for some cool drumming and a water ballet at the start. Everything else will be instantly familiar. CDS really should have found some fresh talent for a production of this magnitude. Any fan will tell you that while the old standard acts are still amazing, one wishes for something new. As I long I'm bashing a production that I otherwise love, The trite "story" of a man's life cycle is just that...trite. It adds nothing and actually detracts from what the viewer really paid to see...the performances. It was totally uneccesary, CDS seemingly thinks it's necessary to make each production into this mystical, deep and cosmic experience. It's just not necessary, they need to stick to what they are good at, extraordinary human tricks and some darn good music, anything else is just filler. 5/10

Too Short

[MrPaltro · 9/10 · 12 June 2000]

I've seen Cirque live and loved every minute of it. The film version was an almost surreal. It kept my attention for its entirety. The running "plot line" of the journey of man was not too difficult to follow. My only real gripe is that the whole thing only took about forty minutes to run. Other than that it was pretty cool. My vote was a nine.

A 100% Plot-Free Movie

[Poubel · 5/10 · 26 February 2001]

Huh?

Overall, some very impressive acrobatics, but a sketchy, shaky plot line fails to hold it all together. My 3 year old liked it, but it would have been better if filmed and presented as, "Hey, look at us!"

An artistic interpretation of the human journey through life.

[stephenhr · 26 October 2000]

This is an art film that works for the over 45 age crowd. We have been around long enough to see our lives go through phases each with it's own sense of wonder. Look at the ratings by age group and you'll see the over 45 age group is the most appreciative. It may also be that we have waited long to see the promise of an art film realized in this sumptuous format.

If you can go see this film with a relaxed, open mind it will touch you and it will linger. Journey of Man has a solid concept in writing, excellent art direction, and the I-Max format is well utilized with it's amazing image and sound quality and the traditionally shorter runtime. The film exploits the latest 3D technology that has to be experienced to be appreciated.

40 minutes that I can't get back.

[bfesler-1 · 3/10 · 30 July 2002]

Let's just get it out of the way -- this film is artsy to a major fault. Instead of focusing on the talent and showmanship of Cirque de Soleil, it instead tries to take us on a whirlwind tour of a man's life. Needless to say, the "plot" falls flat, and the "instinct" characters are annoying at best. They detract from the rest of the action.

By the end of the film I was quite dissapointed -- the whole idea is good, but poorly executed and only manages to send the audience scrambling for the exit -- which was the case in our showing. People were pushing each other out of the way to leave!

The worst part of everything about watching this film was trying not to crack up and make jokes at the screen a la MST3K. It's prime material, which is a real shame considering the talent of Cirque de Soleil. Definitely skip this movie.

Worst of the Cirque performances

[tony-148 · 4/10 · 5 May 2003]

I've seen 2 Cirque shows live and all the DVDs and programming on A&E, this is by far the worst. Cirque is known for trying to interconnect performances through of flimsily plot line, it's usually easily ignored. Not this one, it's forced upon you by the reappearance of the boy->man and the trite voiceovers.

The scenery is beautiful and the lighting is incredible but the performances and cinematography never seem to take full advantage of it. It's like owning a Ferrari and driving it around the block at 15 MPH, sure it's beautiful but it could be so much more.

A MUST SEE MOVIE, FANTASTIC IS THE WORD

[wurliguy · 22 April 2004]

This is the very best 3D IMAX movie I have seen, also the best Cirque du Soleil I have seen. I have seen it 4 times so far.

This movie is very, very beautiful, very artistic, and the acts are no less than perfect in their execution. The sheer strength and control of the performers is awe inspiring.

Everything about this movie is fantastically beautiful.

The production values are exceptional.

The photography is exceptional.

The settings are absolutely beautiful.

The costumes are beautiful and either extremely colorful or perfectly designed for the act they represent, for example the "Living Statues" painted to look like marble. They are all very imaginative.

The 3D effects make this movie alive in a way nothing else can. It leaves you wishing for more and more and more.

I can find no faults with this movie, it is a must see movie especially in 3D, You leave the theatre feeling like you have seen a great work of art.

I wish I could find this movie on 3D DVD. (Shutterglasses) I would add it to my collection.

You know. I can't even be bothered thinking of a pithy title!

[Ron Plasma · 1/10 · 3 April 2001]

and now this, (following on from Salo).

I was encouraged to travel to the Bradford Film Festival in the hopes of seeing 2001 on a curved screen for the first time in thirty years. Ah, nostalgia! The last film viewing I had was at the notorious Broadbottom Film Club with a screen especially extended by my bed sheets. And Anne complaining that she hadn't come to see a film about monkeys! Still. Sold out weeks ago. Why couldn't I find that out from the information line?

Plan B. A trip to the iMAX cinema and Cirque du Soleil. This is in 3-D. And it's big. And it's boring. It stars sychronised swimmers for God's sake!

Do I have to do this? It's like reviewing a new "Janet & John" book.

Ron (Viewed 10Mar2001)

Wonderful scenery and acts; deficient narration

[pae · 20 June 2000]

The acts were marvelous. The outdoor scenery was wonderful. And Cirque reveals its dark side in several of the acts -- the closing of the Bungee acrobats scene comes to mind. I would give this feature a PG rating or maybe PG-13. Those who have seen Quidam/Mystere/O will have a sense of reunion with some long-lost friends. None of the sense of wonder I originally had with these wonderful live shows is lost in the IMAX format.

The narrator's script is the absolute pits. It is just way too pompous and serious for the material. I fondly wish that Woody Allen could do a post-production overdub of the voice in the grand style of "What's Up, Tiger Lily (1966)". Now, *that* would be fun!

When the situation is right...

[diondewald · 19 July 2004]

Though this is not the best of the cirque performances, it is worth watching when the conditions are right. I first saw this on an imax screen and it was fabulous, I went back to see it again! However, if you are going to watch a cirque show at home, this one is not the best. The acrobatic scenes are short and the narration scenes are long making for a awkward performance. If you do make it to the end though, you are rewarded with a meaningful message about life. If you have not seen any other cirque shows and happen to see this one first please know that they are not all like this, the average show is much heavier on the acrobatics, music and lighting and most shows do not have the forced narration and story line that this one features.