Aguirre, Wrath Of God (DVD 2000)

This film has one of the most beautiful cinematic openings ever: the fallen mortals (Spanish conquistadors) make their way down from the mountains of the gods to colonise the natural world. But the natural world is not the innocent victim. Herzog sees a cold evil in Nature, and his protagonist Aguirre is its metaphorical dark spirit. Aguirre (Klaus Kinski) is reminiscent of Hagen from the Nibelungenlied: crooked and powerful. But he also embodies the deep evil in human nature which underlay Nazi philosophy. And Kinski plays it up beautifully. I believe this film will be Herzog's most famous legacy.

I found more appreciation for this film after I read Herzog's interview on the making of it. It's German film making at it's best, with one of the the most terrifying villains in cinematic history. It breaches the gap between violence, power and humor, bringing together breath taking shots and an intense narrative that keeps you to your seat to the end. From the magnificent opening shot to the final 360 round the raft, Aguirre, Wrath of God is a tense and stunning piece of filmmaking.

Well - being a film buff and having saw Herzog's excellent Nosferatu years earlier - I was dissapointed when I finally bought and watched this so-called "classic". although the scenery is visually stunning and Kinski is as always car-crash intense - the film was (to me) something of an anti-climax, boring throughout and unremittingly depressing (yes I know not all great films have to be "up") it's a movie I won't be rewatching anytime soon.
I just hope that Herzog's other classic (Fitzcarraldo) that I purchased roundabout the same time is more enjoyable.