Molecules

Aguirre, the Wrath of God (1972)

I am vaguely familiar with Werner Herzog having seen random films now and then to which I can never remember the titles... if they haven't been excellent documentaries they have been real-life dramas with a documentary feel. One of his latest was an excellent POW film with Christian Bale called Rescue Dawn, highly recommended.

Anyhow Aguirre is perhaps his most famous work and I must've caught the ending on TV several times over the years, but what a beautiful film! Beady-eyed Klaus Kinski as the titular crazy bastard is great of course, I love the funny crab shuffle/limp he did - so cute!

The film depicts events that actually took place, a doomed mid-16th Century Spanish expedition to find the legendary riches of El Dorado in the Amazon basin

I don't normally go in-depth at the risk of sounding like a dolt, but the themes addressed in Aguirre were clear and done so in a compelling fashion, all with (what seemed like) great attention to period detail: the folly of the white man and his tireless ambition and greed, Old Europe/Christianity's relentless rape of a peaceful world that was far better off without them... Aguirre is mad but he personifies these ideals in his delusion.

Along the way we're treated to some amazing one-off shots and genuine 'how did they do that?' moments; and as you would expect from a German documentary filmmaker there are no cheap tricks or frills, you are there in the muck with the leeches, humidity and hopelessness. Oh and this one is on youtube as well so get in there!

1972, I had no idea this film was that old... Here's a good video for those who have already seen the film, Aguirre's reputation for it's hellish shoot precedes it.

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adidasss

I thought it was painfully average, but I've seen Little Dieter needs to fly which is one of my all time favorite documentaries and tells the same story only through the eyes of the actual protagonist...

I also preferred El Dorado to Aguirre, it had a much more dreamlike atmosphere and better cinematography...:\

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“Think of what a paradise this world would be if men were kind and wise.” - Kurt Vonnegut, Cat's Cradle.

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jackhammer

An absolutely brilliant film that just get's better every time you see it.

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adidasss

Ok, could we stop quoting the entire freakin' post, it's unnecessary and annoying to scroll through....:\

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“Think of what a paradise this world would be if men were kind and wise.” - Kurt Vonnegut, Cat's Cradle.

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jackhammer

There is a quick cursor action on your mouse

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Terrible Lizard

Not really. You have no soul.

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Molecules

ech.. i'm sure it's not as impeccably good as i remember it being but i genuinely can't think of anything I disliked about RD at the time, likewise with Aguirre which I just watched. It sounds like the movie you prefer has a different outlook, I thought Herzog's gritty (an overused adjective but it fits) style suited the story in this instance. Little Dieter Needs To Fly sounds intriguing though, if anybody has other Herzog recommendations I am all ears. Eyes even.
I've seen: the documentary about pet semetaries (was that him even?), some Brad Dourif sci-fi/ documentary and the ultra-depressing one with the dancing chicken scene that Ian Curtis was apparently very fond of. As you can tell I am a bit clueless in the Werner department

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Terrible Lizard

Have you seen Fitzcarraldo?

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“YOU ARE SCUM SLUT.”
-John Martyn

Molecules

nope but IMDB has an 8.0 averag for it, i'll seek it out!

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adidasss

Are you talking about Rescue dawn? If so, have you actually seen Little Dieter which it's based on? I can assure you that nothing comes close to hearing the actual man (who is one of the most amazing men I've heard of) tell the story with his own words. So much more powerful than some actor playing it, trust me. I'm not sure why Herzog decided to (re)make the film, my guess is so that he could keep funding his other, more worthy projects.
You should see Grizzly man if you haven't already, my second favorite Herzog film/documentary.

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“Think of what a paradise this world would be if men were kind and wise.” - Kurt Vonnegut, Cat's Cradle.

Last.fm