Aguirre The Wrath of God (1972) 4K UHD (BFI)

[vinvanveen]

Originally Posted by descender421

Are this an Nosferatu worth blind buying as my first two Herzog films? I know that's subjective but both look very interesting to me.

That depends on your overall taste in movies. But they are among his most well-regarded films.

[oddbox83]

Nosferatu was my first Herzog film.

Love at first sight.

[Lope de Aguirre]

Originally Posted by descender421

Are this an Nosferatu worth blind buying as my first two Herzog films? I know that's subjective but both look very interesting to me.

Yes, they are imo a great entry point for Herzog's work.

[KENTA]

Originally Posted by descender421

Are this an Nosferatu worth blind buying as my first two Herzog films? I know that's subjective but both look very interesting to me.

Most definitely. Two of his best works.
I actually think Herzog's Nosferatu trumps both the Murnau and the Eggers version.

[descender421]

Thanks all! I ended up preordering both and looking forward to watching them!!

[PulsatingBrain]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Unfortunately, Aguirre, and Nosferatu are the only two that have gotten 4K restorations, so nothing else is on the table right now.

Ah that is a shame it is only them, but still good it is them. Hopefully Fitzcarraldo will come before long.

[PullBackCamera]

Originally Posted by descender421

Are this an Nosferatu worth blind buying as my first two Herzog films? I know that's subjective but both look very interesting to me.

Aguirre yes, Nosferatu no - one of Herzog's weaker films. Fitzcarraldo is the zenith, I suppose they'll get to it soon enough.

[ste71]

Originally Posted by PullBackCamera

Aguirre yes, Nosferatu no - one of Herzog's weaker films. Fitzcarraldo is the zenith, I suppose they'll get to it soon enough.

I'd be the reverse, Nosferatu then Aguirre.

[PullBackCamera]

Originally Posted by ste71

I'd be the reverse, Nosferatu then Aguirre.

I've never seen the point in any of the Nosferatu remakes. Just stick with the original Murnau.

[ste71]

Originally Posted by PullBackCamera

I've never seen the point in any of the Nosferatu remakes. Just stick with the original Murnau.

I love horror, especially gothic horror so.....

[oddbox83]

Originally Posted by PullBackCamera

I've never seen the point in any of the Nosferatu remakes. Just stick with the original Murnau.

The Herzog version is as much a masterpiece as the original.

All IMHO of course. Why do you find it weak out of curiosity?

[Dr. Humbert]

Originally Posted by PullBackCamera

I've never seen the point in any of the Nosferatu remakes. Just stick with the original Murnau.

Oh come on.

[Cremildo]

Sometimes the point of a movie is that it's good. Which Nosferatu the Vampyre is.

[PullBackCamera]

The original Nosferatu is a masterpiece of lighting and composition, which have always been weak spots for Herzog. His filmmaking philosophy has more to do with mounting grand endeavours in front of the camera - whether this be dragging a ship over a mountain in darkest Peru, or wrangling a great performance out of Kinski. His Nosferatu isn't conducive to the former kind of feat, nor am I especially taken by Kinski's performance in it, and therefore I consider it a minor work. It's also a remake and the pacing is very slow.

Aguirre, on the hand, is the original going-crazy-on-a-river-in-the-middle-of-the-jungle movie, before Apocalypse Now, before Fitzcarraldo, Cannibal Holocaust, etc, and fits Herzog's filmmaking style to a tee. As a low budget indie it's a little rough around the edges but also unique and wonderful and inspiring. This, Fitzcarraldo and Stroszek are the best of Herzog IMHO, alongside some of his docs such as Little Dieter and Lessons of Darkness.

[oddbox83]

For me, the composition is beautiful in Herzog's Nosferatu. Herzog goes for natural lighting, which is just as well considering it's mainly shot in actual locations rather than sets. This highlights the natural beauty of the outdoor scenery and supports the bleakness of the town once Nosferatu arrives. When we do get dark scenes, I feel Herzog lights them well, echoing the shadows of Murnau's original at times without feeling forced and carbon copied.

Kinski's incredibly understated performance is a particular strength. It adds extra depth to a character that channels what other filmmakers were exploring within the Dracula mythos, adding more nuance and tragedy to who had originally been written as more of a black and white villain. This approach works, which is why it since ended up being the default approach for decades and cemented in Coppola's 1992 Dracula.

Herzog's approach is one of extremes when it comes to character. He switches between incredibly understated performance and madly over the top depending on the movie. Here most of the characters seem to sleepwalk through a nightmare, imparting the movies almost hypnotic quality at times and echoing the style he'd taken to extremes in an earlier movie where he actually had his actors in trances for the performance he wanted. Him managing to get such a restrained performance from Kinski is something of a miracle, when getting mad Kinski was arguably easier to do.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Cremildo

Sometimes the point of a movie is that it's good. Which Nosferatu the Vampyre is.

I don’t even see it as a hot take, it’s better then the original for me. A classic of the horror genre and I ant wait to open it in 4K. Going to do a double viewing with this one and the very latest Nosferatu, which I also loved. In fact I might go crazy and watch BS’s Dracula too.

[PullBackCamera]

The guy was asking for a first Herzog and, whether you like the film or not, Nosferatu is certainly atypical. That said, it's a masterpiece next to Salt and Fire! Now there's a film that I recommend nobody ever watch ever.

[JRcanReid]

I am genetically predisposed to preferring older versions of movies over remakes, and I LOVE the Murnau version, but I rate the Herzog version as the best version of the four I've seen.

[HundredYearLurker]

Every Man for Himself and God Against All is likely my favorite and Aguirre and Fitzcarraldo are right up there. I love Nosferatu, but it's just a notch below those three for me.

[Lope de Aguirre]

Originally Posted by PullBackCamera

Aguirre yes, Nosferatu no - one of Herzog's weaker films. Fitzcarraldo is the zenith, I suppose they'll get to it soon enough.

I consider Aguirre (1972) + Nosferatu (1979) among Herzog's best films.
I think from his 60s - 90s output Aguirre is the best entry point.

Aguirre was for a few years my favorite Herzog film, for many years and to this point Nosferatu is my favorite Herzog-, Kinski- and Vampire-film out there.

Fitzcarraldo is great and the last time I watched it it was the best experience of the 10 or more times I saw it. But at least till now it was never a contender for favorite Herzog film.

Heart of Glass (1976) is also a teriffic film and is the most similar to Noseratu among Herzog's films.