Change Your Image
rasler
Reviews
Aguirre, der Zorn Gottes (1972)
Hype ?!
Foremost to say, I have enjoyed Herzog's work ("Lessons of Darkness" is a documentary masterpiece) and have no trouble at all (on the contrary...) watching unconventional movies, ...but come on...!
All this jabber about the stunning imagery (yes, it has charm; yay, it is a stolen 35mm camera; yes, it has a touch of rawness and moreover artistic integrity)... no, I have seen endless movies (especially from Herzog...) that deserve that compliment far more than this movie.
The same goes for Kinski: -yes, he may be one of the greatest actors of all time (at least the most mesmerizing, intriguing, eccentric and choleric specimen), but then again, who is he competing against? Having seen the German original (again, a sad tradition in German movies - dubbed, nonetheless!), I couldn't decide what was worse, the acting, the synchronization, or the voices themselves? (which in the majority probably weren't those of the actors anyway...) And again, I just can't get rid of the feeling that Herzog wrote this film just for Kinski (the end credits read: Klaus Kinski in...), and sadly his performance - as good as it is - finds no match - and not due to the fact that he is supposedly ingenious!
The plot, as we can all read, written by a mostly drunk Herzog in three days, is not worth mentioning, and yes, is not substantial for this movie, I'm aware of that, but.... yawn! -neither does the imagery, nor the (admittedly - great) soundtrack, nor the acting, nor the atmosphere, nor the psychological momentum, nor the possible immense philosophical questions a man of great vision may have coming to mind, make up for this.
Please don't get me wrong, this movie is not a waste of time and surely worth watching (I would give it a better 7 out of ten), but reading all the comments and being aware of Kinski's and Herzog's vast abilities, I just expected a whole lot more. This is not a great movie, that's what it all comes down to.
Lektionen in Finsternis (1992)
A pure masterpiece, unsurpassed in its visual power...
This is less a documentary than it is a work of art. Herzog presents a visual symphony comparable to the grandeur of Dante.
The cinematography of this movie is a constant presence of beauty and terror, heart-throbbing and breathtaking, still always far from pathos. Inspiring and touching throughout its full length, Herzog demonstrates the power of pictures, the essence of film or photography as a medium separate from logical understanding.
There is no storyline to this motion picture since it defines itself as such, - not as a visual derogative of verbal expression but as a free form of expression displayed in sensuous, demanding and touching PICTURES!
This movie is a must for any photographer or person involved in visual arts, I have seldom encountered such a sincere and demanding work of cinematography.
In a frenzy of subjectivity this flick deserves a full 10 out of 10, I am ready to die now, thank you...