I remember liking
Enter the Dragon, but I can barely recall anything that happened in it, so obviously the movie didn't leave much of an impact on me. I'd like to explore more martial-arts films at some point.
I only like one Superman film, new or old, and that's
Superman II. (Although I was a huge fan of the animated series as a kid, if that counts.)
The western is my favorite genre, so it's surprising that I didn't like
McCabe & Mrs. Miller. Although maybe that's
why I didn't like it, since people call it an "anti-western" and it seems to appeal mostly to people who aren't big fans of the genre. I loved the ending, though, and I think I'd probably like the movie a lot more on a second watch.
If
Apocalypse Now is one of my top five favorite movies of all time, then it should be no surprise that its spiritual prequel,
Aguirre, the Wrath of God, is also one of my favorites. After all, both films share a similar structure, similar themes, similar imagery, similar setting. As Captain Willard says in
Apocalypse Now, "Never get out of the boat. Absolutely godd*mn right. Unless you're going all the way." Well, never get off of the godd*mn raft, either, because Herzog and his lunatic fiend Klaus Kinski are traveling toward the same destination as Captain Willard and his crew: the heart of darkness. Without the influence of
Aguirre, I doubt
Apocalypse Now would be quite the same film. Brando's character, in so many ways, is like a reincarnation of Kinski's conquistador (only not quite as insane because nobody does crazy like Kinski).
I didn't love
Aguirre, the Wrath of God the first time I watched it, yet months later I still couldn't stop thinking about it. Kinski's bug-eyed face haunted my dreams, and the movie grew on me in retrospect. When I re-watched it, I fell under its spell, and I proceeded to watch the majority of Herzog's filmography. Now he's one of my favorite directors. There's a level of authenticity and realism in his films that is unrivaled, in my opinion.
Aguirre, the Wrath of God is a fictionalization, yet when I watch it I feel like Herzog traveled back in time to 1560 and filmed a documentary about a crazed conquistador's pursuit of El Dorado, giving us a peek into another man's soul. The verisimilitude is staggering. Herzog never takes the easy way out. In his pursuit of realism and perfection, he'll shoot a scene in the harshest, most unforgiving conditions and environments. Civil war? Deadly critters? He doesn't care, and his daring and bravery reflects on screen.
Aguirre, the Wrath of God was one of three Herzog films to make my list. Obviously the other two didn't make the countdown, which is a real shame. For whatever reason, Herzog seems to be very underappreciated and/or underseen on this forum.
Fitzcarraldo--- his best movie, in my opinion, and my personal favorite--- didn't make the 80's Countdown. And now only one Herzog film makes the 70's Countdown. I think more of you should definitely explore his filmography and perhaps avert some of that Altman adulation toward a more deserving director.
My List So Far:
#4)
The Last Picture Show
#5)
Aguirre, the Wrath of God
#6)
Eraserhead
#8)
Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia
#9)
Nashville
#10)
The Holy Mountain
#11)
Paper Moon
#12)
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
#13)
Five Easy Pieces
#18)
Solaris
#22)
Straw Dogs
#23)
The Outlaw Josey Wales
#24)
Mean Streets
That's 13 entries so far. I doubt I'll have anymore until we reach the top ten.
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