The shows are models of organization and presentation, each a direct interview where Moyers brings out Joseph's ideas, richly illustrated with museum-quality images of ancient cosmologies and art. Moyers doesn't so much as interview Campell as make him even more accessible than he already is. Watching the shows can be done in almost any order, or piecemeal, but the moment Campbell opens his mouth, he says things that strike us as relevant, in the 'revelation' sense of the word. Very good college lecturers can give us the illusion that they're pulling back the curtains of our dulled minds to expose real Truths - and Campbell does that every few minutes.

Part of Campbell's credibility is that he's not selling anything - he's not a crackpot, and he hasn't any belief system or ideology he wants to inculcate. Everythings 'on the up & up', intellectually speaking. He's also not afraid to bring his truths out into the real world of controversial ideas and social hot topics. Sex and religion are simple realities to him - religious fundamentalists of all persuasions might be revulsed at his openness to new ideas and his acceptance of the beauty of older barbaric ideas. He acknowledge Eros as an important force in living, something that organized religions sometimes seem bent upon denying.

Organizing the disorganized remnants of ancient rituals and modern religious rites with which modern man no longer identifies, Campbell identifies the purpose and meaning of things like sacrifice and mysticism in ways we can understand. Most impressive are passages later in the show where he touches upon the reality of his own mortality. Directly after describing the 'search for bliss' that gives one satisfaction with one's life, he describes what it means to have the strength to face the unknown of Death with expectant anticipation instead of blind fear. It's quite inspiring.

Our world is so full of lies, large and small, that Joseph Cambell's Truths are a major blessing. The content of this DVD is a small miracle, an introduction to Campbell that also manages to let him express some of his most profound concepts. Cambell comes across as an extremely likeable man, witty, honest ... no wonder he was one of the most beloved and respected college professors in the country.

The Winstar DVD cannot be faulted for quality. The video recording of the late '80s still holds up, and dual cameras capture Moyers' and Campbell's reactions without resorting to editorial cheats.

The show has a text biography and bibliography for Joseph Campbell, plus a gallery of key artwork, a video trailer, and some suggested weblinks for further study. The educational utility of the show is obvious. Savant had no trouble watching both it and the complimentary release Joseph Campbell Mythos ... yes, about 16 cumulative hours, spread over a week.

A final extra on The Power of Myth is an interview with George Lucas, who sort of holds the status of 'most famous acolyte' of Campbell, because of his acknowledgements of the master's first book, The Hero with a Thousand Faces as a core influence on the Star Wars cultural empire. The Lucasfilm ranch served as the interview location for Moyers' show, and Lucas' name was a natural to help promote Campbell and his teachings. This is perhaps the best side effect of Star Wars, and it in no way interferes with the messages, but the added interview is mildly irritating just the same. Lucas credits his pastiche of themes as being inspired by the mythical teachings of the master, and Campbell himself has no trouble at all describing the world of Luke Skywalker and Obi-wan Kenobi as a new myth, after the form of our atavistic core myths. As popular as Star Wars is, the idea that it is a new 'classic' myth should be resisted in any form ... yes, the outline conforms to some of Campbell's concepts, but the very idea that this basically shallow screenplay is a new myth that is re-invigorating the species, is a good example of the debasing power of commercialism.

On a scale of Excellent, Good, Fair, and Poor,
Joseph Campbell and the Power of Myth rates:
Movie: Excellent, 2 discs, 6 hours
Video: Excellent
Sound: Good
Supplements: George Lucas Interview, text biographies and bibiliographies, Art Gallery, Trailer
Packaging: Double disc NexPak case
Reviewed: April 27, 2002