Werner Herzog

[Norcen]

I have noticed that a few have seen his films. I'm curious to which films have been seen. I assume that most have seen his Nosferatu film, which was a masterpiece in itself and my personal favourite vampyre movie. I prefer the Nosferatu style Dracula over the overrated Lugosi's version.

Kinski did a wonderful performance like always.

Anyway, has anyone seen any other films besides Nosferatu?

My personal favourites are the Kinski five (all the films with Kinski in it), Heart of Glass, Little Dieter Needs to Fly, Fata Morgana, Stroszek, and My Best Fiend.

[Morgoth]

Kinski was a madman, if you've ever read anything about him you realise that his genius as an actor stemmed completely from his insanity. In fact, he even hatched a rather serious plot to murder Herzog during one of their films. I think one of the strangest things about the man was his absolute refusal and contempt for doing re-shoots. Rather an odd thing for a professional actor. But Kinski always had a weird love-hate relationship for his craft, equating an actor with a whore, as I recall. Which probably explains why he appeared in such fare as 'Schizoid' and 'Crawlspace' alongside films like 'Doctor Zhivago'.

As for Nosferatu, I have to say that I prefer the original F W Murnau one in just about every way, that film really is like watching a nightmare. However, that does not detract from the Herzog version's ghastly visuals and Kinski's performance. The nice thing about both films is the distinictive and revolting look of the vampire - which is much more in keeping with traditional vampires of legend than the pretty boy Ann Rice types. One thing I will mention is that while Shreck's Dracula was a sinister animal, Kinski's carries with him this unsettling pathetic quality, this sense of being a creature as miserable as it is teribble without ever delving so deep into this sort of thinking as to ever evoke any actual sympathy for the creature. Extremely well handled.

[Melkor]

I'm not particularly fond of Kinski, as many will know, he was quite a pain in the arse to work with, and that his genius stems from his insanity. Though I must admit, he was excellent as the nosferatu: his revolting and utterly hideous make-up is a great homage to traditional vampires. Anne Rice may have popularized the genre, but her take on them as pretty boy pansies is just disgusting. *I found the Murnau version a bit better, though: ironic, since the director was the madman here http://www.rodansroost.com/ikonboard/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif . Ultimately though, both 'Nosferatus' are classics in their own right.

A bit of interesting of trivia: F.W. Murnau's 'Nosferatu, eine symphonie des grauens' is in the Vatican's Top 45 list of best movies ever made under the category of Art.

And still off-topic, isn't 'Fata Morgana', aside from being the name of a film, also the moniker for some desert mirage?



Peace,



Melkor



http://www.rodansroost.com/ikonboard/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/darklord.gif

[Zillamon51]

I haven't seen any of these films, so I can't comment.

Anchor Bay is re-releasing the Herzog/Kinski Collection DVD box set, though.

http://www.dvdfile.com/software/dvd-video/archive/2004/01_04.html

[Norcen]

Fata Morgana means mirage or something like that. It's been awhile since I watched that film...truly a strange one. If you watch the film, you'll understand why it has this title. He was actually arrested and placed in prison while filming this one. Herzog was really affected from this afterwards (I'm not talking about comfy prisons in the U.S.).

I'm a big Kinski fan...He is truly the "ultimate actor", in my opinion.

I guess no one else has really seen Herzog's other masterpieces such as Fitzcarraldo (Herzog actually had a huge steamboat be pulled over a mountain for a scene), Enigma of Kaspar Hauser, Heart of Glass (every actor, except for the main actor, were under the state of hypnosis), Aguirre: The Wrath of God (Kinski's first movie with Herzog, where Kinski threatened to leave the film unfinished and Herzog calmly told Kinski that once he made that bend that there would be eight bullets in Kinski and the ninth in Herzog's own head. Kinski stayed with the film), *and Stroszek...

I suggest all of you to go out and check Herzog's films ut and see why he is so important to New German cinema.

The Herzog-Kinski Collection by Anchor Bay is wonderful. It was out for a limited time and it's interesting to see them bring it back...definitely worth it.

I liked Herzog's Nosferatu for a variety of reasons, but I truly do enjoy the original as well. I just found Herzog's to be more depressing, darker, tragic, and truly terrifying. The opening scene is one of my favourite films scenes ever.

Kinski really did a great job with Dracula, surpassing all other incarnations of the famous vampyre. When you think about it...living forever and unable to die on earth is very terrible. Watching centuries come and go...friends, family...people dying while you stay alive would be horrible. Kinski made the vampyre pathetic, frail, monstrous, lonely, and a hunter. you can sympathize with Dracula, whereas in the original Nosferatu...there is not much sympathy.

The original Nosferatu needs to have good music... My first copy of the film was the Alpha Video's version. The music was terrible and really ruined it for me. I finally got the Image version on DVD and the music was better, but I really disliked the coloring of the film. I don't mean making it look like a film in color, but just one color for specific scenes which reflected the time. when it was night, it would be purple. Late afternoon would be red and day would be brownish/orange. I prefer the stark black and white that can be found in most copies of the film.

I just loved Herzog's from the start. Herzog's Nosferatu was his first film I saw. I was introduced to both Kinski and Herzog at once and immediately became a fan. Herzog's also has the best Renfield as well.

I suggest everyone check out Aguirre: The Wrath of God, Fitzcarraldo, Stroszek, Heart of Glass, Invincible (starring Tim Roth), and The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser.

[Norcen]

If one was a true professional actor, one would get it all in one take. I'm not much of a fan of reshooting either and sometimes find that reshooting actually takes away the meaning of the scene.

Oh yeah, if you really want to get deep into Herzog...then check out his nightmarish film "Even Dwarfs Started Small"...

The entire cast is made of midgets...Shot in black and white...a truly odd and dark film. Hilarious at points. Sad in others..Sad in the way of how weak and pathetic all of us are.

[Goji Son]

Quote[/b] (Norcen @ Jan. 18 2004,02:03)]If one was a true professional actor, one would get it all in one take. I'm not much of a fan of reshooting either and sometimes find that reshooting actually takes away the meaning of the scene.
And a true, professional, perfectionist, director would never rely on one take to show get his overall vision. *Reshooting doesn't take the meaning out of the scene unless the actor isn't willing to go one step further on every try the director gives them. *In that case, they aren't a true professional. *But that's all in my opinion of course.

[Norcen]

A true director will tell the actor exactly what he wants...and then it is up to the actor to deliver. Woyzeck took only 6 weeks and a great performance by Eva Mattes and Klaus Kinski. One of the more powerful scenes only took one shot. You can't do something like that again and had the same affect.

We all have different visions and takes on things.

[Goji Son]

Very true, some stuff can happen only once but most of the time retakes are essential.