The MoFo Top 100 Foreign Language Film Countdown

This is a pair I wouldn't have predicted. I didn't realise Fitzcarraldo was that popular on here, and I'd never even heard of Samurai Rebellion.

Two more lukewarm entries for me. This bodes well for Herzog making some noise this countdown I would think.

Fitzcarraldo is excellent, a for me, but was not on my ballot. I haven't seen Samurai Rebellion.

Fitzcarraldo is my favourite from Herzog so whilst it didn't quite make my personal ballot I'm delighted to see it show on the list. Samurai Rebellion has been on my 'want to see' list for quite some time now but sadly the opportunity just hasn't presented itself yet.

Seen: 13/22 (Own: 8/22)


Faildictions ((バージョン 1.0):
78. La grande bellezza [The Great Beauty] (2013)
77. El abrazo de la serpiente [Embrace Of The Serpent] (2015)

Fitzcarraldo is another of Herzog's films with scenes that no other filmmaker would attempt. Most of the scenes where the boat is hauled over the mountains are real. Kinski plays another of his obsessive characters where he doesn't seem to be acting, and during much of his abusive behavior, he probably was just being himself. All of these conditions contribute to the power of the film.

Samurai Rebellion seems a bit too formal and drawn out to be as exciting as it should be but when the action comes, it's pretty good. Worth seeing but too reminiscent of other classic samurai flicks.

No votes.

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Seen: 17/22 so far for me.

I haven't seen Samurai Rebellion, but several people (here and outside) recommended it to me after I saw and loved Harakiri, so that figures.

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Anyway, another one I haven't seen. Fitzcarraldo is a film that I didn't love (hence, not on my list), but that still worked for me on many levels. It's a really interesting watch even if I don't feel it fully comes through in the end.


My Summary:

Seen: 5/22
My list: 1/25

It's rare for any discussion of Haneke not to at some point turn towards criticisms of his misanthropic view of the world. And, yeah, his films are undoubtedly bleak. But I think its overlooking how there is also an element of despair present in his depiction of man's darkest impulses. And you don't arrive at despair without at first caring deeply. And the sense of guilt that lingers in the mystery at the centre of Cache has deep humanistic implications. But we can also just put that completely aside, as the film is a ripping thriller. Deeply unsettling, but also deeply entertaining. I didn't pick it, and somehow overlooked placing my fav of his movies (The White Ribbon) on my list, but at some point I'm hoping his brand of sad and hopeless stories will crawl out from the shadow cast by the reputation of Funny Games (which, while maybe not a very human film, is also similarly pigeon holed as just being misery for misery sake)


The idea of making Fitzcaraldo has always been significantly more interesting than the movie itself. Possibly why I prefer Burden of Dreams to it. Is it a good movie? Sure. And I'm due to rewatch it at some point. But I place it pretty low on my list of prime Herzog's. It might even be at the bottom.


I know I really liked Samurai REbellion, but saw it at a period where I binge watched so many classic samurai films they just all eventually blended together. I think it was very likely near the top of all of them. I remember appreciating the contrast with how composed and sedate its narrative scenes were, and how explosive its moments of violence could blast through the formal constrictions the rest of the film would settle into. That is, if I'm thinking of the correct movie.

I haven't seen either, though Fitzcarraldo has been on my watchlist for a while.

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Kobayashi is all over Criterion Channel right now.

Fitzcarraldo is an interesting look into a mans obsession. I prefer Aguirre, Stroszek and The Enigma Of Kaspar Hauser, but of the three, I only expect Aguirre to appear.

Have not watched Rebellion yet, but much like everything else here, it’s on my watch list.

Fitzcarraldo is justifiably the more famous Herzog/Kinski collaborations, but, like crumbs, I think I prefer Burden of Dreams (ad maybe even My Best Fiend). Anyway, it wasn't the token Herzog I chose.


Samurai Rebellion is one of the best of the second-tier samurai films, and does have that extraordinary and gorgeous climax fight shot in tall grass.

I preferred the documentary of Fitzcarraldo, but didn't care for the movie.. I gave it no more than a 5/10


Never saw "Samurai Rebellion", but thought I would have, especially because of Toshiro Mifune, one of my favorite actors.

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Samurai Rebellion not on my list but I reviewed it here and gave it a

Excerpt from my review:
I liked this! Even though there's some sword fighting at the end of the film, this is essentially a melodrama.

What I thought was interesting is how this Japanese film from 1967 seemed to take it's cues from late 1950s American melodrama films. There's some resemblances to Douglas Sirk's earlier films.

The samurai for all his status, is dominated by his strong willed wife. A woman who was forced on him by an arranged marriage. In some ways this is Japan's version of a feminist film. Many earlier Japanese films showed women as being subservient. Here, the women are full of will power and determination and make bold statements.

I will wholeheartedly add myself to that list of recommendations. If you enjoyed Harakiri, you'll definitely love Rebellion.

I believe it could very well be.

For me, it made #13 on my list

Have not seen Fitzcarraldo.
From Werner Herzog I have only seen Aguirre, which I only respected. It didn't compel me to venture deeper into his films. The anomaly being Nosferatu and that's more out of a strong curiosity to see what he does with the subject matter.




Movies Seen: 9 of 22 (40.9%)
4. Rome, Open City (1945) #93
6. Army of Shadows (1969) #90
13. Samurai Rebellion (1967) #79
19. Paprika (2006) #100
25. In This Corner of the World (2016) One Pointer

Another 50/50 for me. Seen one / haven't seen one. Fitzcarraldo deserves a place in the top 100, even though it wasn't on my list (sadly, I don't think any Herzog films made my list.) There's not much on my list that I'd change, but I feel my #24 is way too obscure to show up here - and I wish I'd given Caché or especially a token Werner Herzog film it's due. Trouble is, I feel that the Kinski period of his work with the likes of Cobra Verde, Aguirre, the Wrath of God, Fitzcarraldo etc etc, while all being excellent films, doesn't have one that really pushes itself forward as the 'best' one. So it's either pick none or pick them all.

Samurai Rebellion looks very interesting - I look forward to watching it,

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Films I've seen : 7
Films that have been on my radar : 1
Films I've never even heard of : 14
Films I've heard of : 1

Films from my list : 0