Essential Encounters Opinions

[buckeyebowhunter]

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).

[donnyjack]

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.

[ron w]

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!

[donnyjack]

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.

[donnyjack]

Don't know how the double post happened???

[wtpops]

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.

[frassettor]

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!

[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.  

[Leland]

Great footage,get's the blood flowing.
Leland

[FBB]

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.

[sticbow]

they are both awsome production's but Primal Dreams will be damn hard to beat  

[RLA]

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.

[brian brooks]

RLA, The Wensels's are the deal.Listen well my friend(

[RLA]

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.

[xtrema312]

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.

[azhunter]

Essential Encounters was fantastic. Loved it. Have not seen primal dreams, but I am going to order it.

[buckeyebowhunter]

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  

[Wary Buck]

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.

[Ben Maher]

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 .

[Keefer]

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 <><