What do you guys think about the Primal Dreams sequal Essential Encounters? I liked Primal dreams but was a little disappointed because I was hoping for a little more hunting footage from the wensel brothers (October Whitetails spoiled me).
I watched it again this weekend and I enjoy it very much. It does have more hunting footage and some discussion on hunting issues. It also has an additional CD that has some outtakes and interviews of some of the folks they consider special like the captain of the Valuate Main the boat that Fred Bear did some of his Alaskan hunting off of.
With what is out there today as far as hunting DVD/videos, I don't think you will find to many that are even close....there are a few. Letting loose and Bowhunting Reflections are 2 that come to mind.My only hope is that the Wensel's and the Mitton's keep at it!! I will say I think Primal Dreams is still my favorite!
I watched it again this weekend and I enjoy it very much. It does have more hunting footage and some discussion on hunting issues. It also has an additional CD that has some outtakes and interviews of some of the folks they consider special like the captain of the Valuate Main the boat that Fred Bear did some of his Alaskan hunting off of.
Don't know how the double post happened???
I see them as a different kind of video. My wife does not like hunting much, has no objection to me doing it but does not want to hear about it or see it so i respect that and only watch my hunting videos when she is not home.
Primal Dreams, i was able to talk her into watching it, with me cutting around the few kills in it, and she enjoyed it very much add had a better understanding of why i like to hunt.
Two of the best i have seen in a long time, just a different kind of video. Just my take on it.
I think it's one of the neatest videos I have seen. It tells the whole story of Traditional bowhunting. It doesn't focus on the kills, it focuses on the journey. It's about family, excellent woodsmanship, shared with good friends. It portrays everything what Traditional archery means to me!
Dont get me wrong, I loved primal dreams because it represents everything it means for us to be traditional archers/bowhunters, it is filmed in an excellent fashion, and as frassettor said it touches on things like good woodsmanship, conservation, and family, all things that are important to us as trad bowhunters. However, there are times when I enjoy videos that are strictly about bowhunting, and bowhunting strategies/techniques, insight on things that will allow me to improve my bowhunting success. I am by no means saying that I judge success on animals taken alone, I myself like most hunters enjoy the Journey of the Bowhunt more than anything, but you guys know what I am saying. My all time favorite bowhunting videos are probably Bowhunting October Whitetails, High noon bucks, Street smart bucks, and the old Hunter's specialties videos. I know how good the wensels are at creating awesome films, I guess in the back of my mind I just keep hoping they will make another October Whitetials with the technology they have now. :)
Great footage,get's the blood flowing.
Leland
I agree with Buckeyebowhunter, though it's a good production I think a lot of people would like to see the Wensel's hunting and talking more about a given hunt. I respect and like to hear what they have to say. I know that in this day and age production quality is is something the people producing the film are concerned about but I really don't care if the impact is caught on film or not. I guess I would like to see something a little more down to earth showing hunting how it happens and some behind the scenes stuff and a little educational. Basically use October Whitetails as a platform and build on it.
they are both awsome production's but Primal Dreams will be damn hard to beat :thumbsup:
It wasn't what I was expecting, it was great video quality! They sure got to show off some of what can be grown on private land in Iawa! But I guess I was expecting more hunting & teaching. This was the first one of there videos that I had seen.
RLA, The Wensels's are the deal.Listen well my friend( :)
No doubt about that! And no disrespect ment, just not what I was expecting, the title of this thread was asking for opinions! I just gave my very meaningless one.
I didn't get all the way through it yet. I am watching it with the kids and they need a non school night to continue. Great filming, narration, a lot of shots of huge bucks, but not what I would call a hunting video so far. I don't see that as good or bad. I look forward to watching the rest.
At times the constant shots of huge bucks, the likes I will never see, are almost distracting from the poetic cinematography and excellent narration. A couple times I caught myself thinking I have seen that shot already.
Essential Encounters was fantastic. Loved it. Have not seen primal dreams, but I am going to order it.
I'm with FBB. We all know that the wensels are excellent at making great videos about why we bowhunt, and what it means to be a hunter. But I feel that they could use this to lead us into a great film about just bowhunting, like they did when they made October whitetails twenty years ago. Since I was born the year October whitetails was created, I need one for my generation :biglaugh:
Seems to me the Wensels/Mittens set out to make PD and EE something totally different than anything else out there. And they accomplished that, creating a video about the pursuit of big game with simple sticks and string...in such a way that even non-hunters can enjoy it. You watch these videos and can't help but come away with a feeling of the love of and respect for nature these five guys have. And I know the first one (PD) won some awards pitted against independent films of all kinds. That kind of respect across genres is probably unheard of in a "hunting" video.
PD/EE are NOT whack 'em and stack 'em videos. Why make another of those...there are already a ton of them out there (and most you could NOT watch with non-hunters without being embarrassed.
While I think many of us would like to learn a little more about "how to" hunt better, I'm not sure they can cover that base while staying true to their original style of video.
I would also think a "how to" video would be very hard to pull off in such a professional way. If anyone could do it, these guys could. But I've got to believe it would be hard to do without it coming off stiff and disjoint.
If that doesn't make sense, envision a video of whatever athletic sport floats your boat. For me, track-cross country-basketball. A how-to coaching video of these sports can be a learning experience for sure and I've viewed a ton of 'em. But they are freaking boring! Meanwhile, a highlight film capturing the essence of those sports with highlights and a great soundtrack...that would be much more enjoyable.
Remember the guy with the deep, dramatic voice that did the old NFL highlights? (You're going to have to be fairly old). Now picture that as opposed to a film about X's and O's (how-to). I just think it'd be much tougher to do the X's and O's of hunting and make it a masterpiece of cinematography like PD/EE are.
Compared to the utter rubbish horn porn that passes itself off as entertainment we see these days , I will be eternally thankful that these lads took the time to make such quality film that I can show to hunter and non hunter alike .
I recieved my copies of EE AND Brothers of the Bow just yesterday and I watched both last night .
IMHO, Primal Dreams is still the high point of Bowhunting / hunting film and EEncounters compliments it perfectly .
Fantastic stuff .
I loved both movie's and have a good idea that just popped up into my head for their number three movie...It would start something like this ...Have the Wensel's knapping "No Barry not taking a Nap" but making a stone point...Then the next day Gene ,Barry and Mike Mittin with his hair looking like a string puff meet in their caveman camo and depart for a hunt...Now shoot the scene to modern day sitting around the campfire putting a few finishing strokes on a broadhead With mike still having the "String Puff hair doo of coarse"! Next day have all three standing outside their wall tent departing for a day's hunt...O.k I'm no director but thought it would make a really nice third movie called "Born Instincts" or something like that...Keep up the good work on the movie's and hope to see a third some day...Keefer's <><
I think the Brothers of the Bow are pretty sneaky in how they present their "how to" information. In both PD and EE, if you just plop them in and let your mind go numb like you would watching a normal hunting DVD, all you are going to get is astounded by the amazing HD footage. They are not standing there, in your face, promoting sponsor product like we have been conditioned to in todays available trash. If you PAY CAREFUL ATTENTION to the hunts and encounters presented, there is an infinite amout of tips, tricks, and "this is how we do things" put forth.
Watching Essential Encounters is kind of like shooting a stickbow; you will get out of it what you put in. That is special stuff!
Anybody here remember watching "The American Sportsman" back in its glory days? Narrated then by Curt Gowdy, and there was much attention paid to the feeling and aesthetics of being afield with rod or weapon. The catch or kill was a bonus pleasure, if it happened. There was no sense of ego or big money. I remember being a young boy, spending 30 minutes in a rapture as I dreamed of walking in those places and footsteps. That show was able to capture the essence of a wild adventure.
I think Primal Dreams came the closest to doing this same thing, as any production I've seen in 40 years. Watching it is not a hunting experience for me...it's a trip into the heart of what I get when I'm in the field or on the water.
I have not seen Essential Encounters. Maybe I'll bump into a friend watching it some fine day.
What Kevin Dill said!! Exactly..Both DVD's brought me back to that simpler time..I have enjoyed watching both Wensel/Mitten productions several times so far...Mike
I vote for a litle more hunting on the next one, if they do it. I got a little weary of enormous velvet bucks in food plots and New Age music (all crescendos). Alltold, though, I would much rather watch the Brothers work than the "kill kill kill to hard rock synthetic music" that passes for hunting shows on television......
And then, "The American Sportsman" with Jim Thomas..
Seems like each generation reflects on what was seen in a bygone era.. It does take me back to my younger days --- life was good.. Each day is a blessing !
I watched clips of one of these on dead down wind the hunting program on tv. It was really good. Prompted me to order them. I like tom Nelson. He is not a trad guy but having this on the show was good. probably 15 minutes or so.RC
Just my opinion here.
I believe the guys accomplished exactly what they intended to do..........to produce another great video that reminds us of exactly WHY we do what we do. And with any luck, it will show non-hunters the same thing.
I enjoy actual hunting scenes as much as the next person. But I find that I'm watching PD or EE more often than not.......just because it reminds me of all the things I enjoy about being out there. I actually don't NEED to be reminded, but it does my heart good to watch these videos and know that others actually "get it".
Videos with scene.....after scene.....after scene of shooting animals have their place I guess.....but the magic of editing sure cuts out a lot of the best parts of the overall experience.
You could always get one of their older videos if you want to see the lads flinging arrows at lots of animals......I actually bought a DVD of Bowhunting October Whitetails since my old VHS got lost somewhere over the years.
:campfire:
I honestly dont see why there couldnt be a good educational bowhunting video made without kill after kill without fist pumping, and knuckle pounding, but just a good down to earth traditional bowhunting video. I'm not saying that the poetic narrations are bad because they are great and i know what the wensels set out to make when they created PD. I just feel like the Wensels/Mittens (who are some of my favorite guys to watch and learn from) are capable of making a darn good Taditional hunting video about hunting (not about why we hunt..because we all know why we hunt).
Bowhunting Reflections (Steve Gorr and Fred Anderson) is a great traditional bowhunting video. Would love to see what the Brothers could do along those lines.....
I do like bowhunting reflections, but I remember being a little salty about there being no whitetail hunting. Just because whitetail are my favorite because I havnt had the opportunity to hunt any other big game animals.
Its not a "whack um, and stack um" video.
Its more a nature documentary with hunting added.
I liked it a lot better that primal dreams.
QuoteOriginally posted by buckeyebowhunter:
Dont get me wrong, I loved primal dreams because it represents everything it means for us to be traditional archers/bowhunters, it is filmed in an excellent fashion, and as frassettor said it touches on things like good woodsmanship, conservation, and family, all things that are important to us as trad bowhunters. However, there are times when I enjoy videos that are strictly about bowhunting, and bowhunting strategies/techniques, insight on things that will allow me to improve my bowhunting success. I am by no means saying that I judge success on animals taken alone, I myself like most hunters enjoy the Journey of the Bowhunt more than anything, but you guys know what I am saying. My all time favorite bowhunting videos are probably Bowhunting October Whitetails, High noon bucks, Street smart bucks, and the old Hunter's specialties videos. I know how good the wensels are at creating awesome films, I guess in the back of my mind I just keep hoping they will make another October Whitetials with the technology they have now. :)
Couldnt agree more :thumbsup:
I loved both videos...very well done. I, like others however, would love to see Gene and Barry in more hunting footage like October Whitetails and "how to" footage. How about their instructional seminar on video!!!??? I know I'm all over that one. You can never learn enough from these two guys!