In 1916, Gustav Holst, a composer of music and self-admitted mystic, wrote a brilliant orchestral suite entitled "The Planets." Sixty years later, internationally renowned keyboard artist and composer Isao Tomita created a... more » highly popular electronic version of the Holst suite. Now, award-winning director Don Barrett has chosen "The Tomita Planets" for the soundtrack of this musical video grand tour of the Solar System. Using actual outer space photography returned to Earth by the Mariner, Viking, Voyager, Pioneer, Magellan and Galileo spacecrafts, combined with supercomputer animation, scientific accuracy throughout the planetary segments co-exists with artistic license within transitional material to create a magnificent marriage of sight and sound, art and science.« less
Incredible Nasa footage choreographed to Isao Tomita
09/19/1999
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Far from just another computer cartoon, this video features the gorgeous and beautfully haunting interpretation of Gustav Holst combined with incredible images sent back from the Mariner, Viking, Voyager, Pioneer, Magellan and Galileo space missions. Very pleasent and relaxing, amazing and breath taking for anyone still connected to reality void of Hollywood special effects. Subtitled with much interesting information on each planet, this video will interest anyone with an interest in music or science."
Planets Charts New Course In Music Video
11/21/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Reading the other reviews, it's obvious the purchaser didn't get it. This is a dramatically narrated, long form music video that is the largest selling space title in history. Patrick's reading of the prose/poetry narration is world class. The fact that some of the animation looked old was because it was.Discovery Channel or Learning Channel would kill to put this on the air."
An Award Winning Masterpiece is somewhat unappreciated
Ann Peyser | New York, NY | 05/09/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Based on the mixed reviews, you would think this DVD was some kind garage video. Not so. First, you have to accept the fact that the musical score is not orchestral, but a seminal electronic work of the 70's. The animation, while not up to Imax standards, is animation created by NASA to inform the public. Certainly NASA never figured it for art, but that's what it is. This is an informative, interesting musical video experience. If you want a dry stupid documentary, stay with the Learning Channel and their UFO shows."
It's not supposed to be orchestral.
spacechimp | SF, CA | 02/03/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This is the video to accompany Isao Tomita's famous Moog interpretation of Holst's The Planets, which stands alone as an amazing and influential work in early electronic music. If you understand that you're not getting a generic orchestral performance of The Planets, you will appreciate this DVD much more. The CG animation is so-so (it shows its age), but is not really central to appreciation of the DVD. If you're just looking for an orchestral performance, you can pick up any number of Holst CDs on ebay for about a dollar. Otherwise, you can find Tomita's The Planets on vinyl or CD and skip the video and narration."
Ultimate Music Video
spacechimp | 12/27/1998
(5 out of 5 stars)
"A magnificent long form music video, choreographed to the Isao Tomita Version of the Planets. The audio is awesome, the video, otherworldly. The experience is quite unlike watching any video I've ever seen. It was wonderful."