Product Details

• Actors: David Ainley, Samuel S. Bowser, Regina Eisert, Kevin Emery, Ryan Andrew Evans
• Directors: Werner Herzog
• Writers: Werner Herzog
• Format: Color, Dolby, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
• Language: English
• Subtitles: Spanish
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
• Number of discs: 2
• Rated: G (General Audience)
• Studio: Image Entertainment
• DVD Release Date: November 18, 2008
• Run Time: 99 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (52 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B001DWNUD8
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,413 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Encounters at the End of the World" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

ENCOUNTERS AT THE END OF THE WORLD - DVD Movie

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Masterpiece, December 11, 2008

By 

Daniel G. Lebryk (Chicago) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Encounters at the End of the World (DVD)

There are movies, there are directors, and then there are masterpieces and masterful directors. Encounters is a true masterpiece, especially taken within the body of Herzog's work. This is a documentary first, much like Grizzly Man. Grizzly Man

The film in Antarctica itself is goregous. There is a subtle construction by Herzog that feels at first like a random documentary, but then builds over time to something much more than simply another film about "cute penguins", or planet earth. There is a below the ice and above the ice aspect to this film, physically and about the people. I loved the music, it fits so perfectly with the rythmn. The filming is done extremely well.

Early in the film Herzog promises to not make another film about cute penguins, and he certainly delivers. Although there is a short sequence about a cute penguin, lost walking the wrong direction with such determination to his certain death.

The bonus features in this DVD package are incredible. Aside from the extra footage under the water and flying in a helicopter, there is a second disc. The second disc is almost worth the price of admission, Johnathan Demme (director of Silence of the Lambs) interviews Werner Herzog for an hour and a half. The conversation is incredible. Demme opens the conversation reading a letter from Roger Ebert to Herzog(this film is dedicated to Roger). Suffice it to say, there is nothing I can possibly add to the full conversation. You will have to watch this amazing exchange.

Herzog apparently is highly influenced by music and sound. There is a fairly significant thread through this film dealing with both. Within two days I have watched two films where sound played a very major role or was another character in the film. I can very highly recommend Fraulein. If you love film, I think you will find Fraulein equally engaging.

30 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great dvd extras, October 27, 2008

By 

H. Kaiser (Berkeley, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Encounters at the End of the World (DVD)

What the current Amazon listing does not explicitly mention is the wealth of DVD EXTRAS that accompany the 100 minute feature in this 2-DVD set.

ABOVE THE ICE
BELOW THE ICE
SEALS & MEN
DIVE LOCKER INTERVIEW
SOUTH POLE EXORCISM
JONATHAN DEMME INTERVIEWS WERNER HERZOG

+ a hidden "Easter Egg" extra: SEAL MEN, an Antarctic Parody of Herzog's GRIZZLY MAN, with weddell seals replacing grizzly bears

all and all this is over 3 hours of EXTRAS!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars As much about the people as it is about the continent, August 6, 2009

By 

Jolly Green Giant - See all my reviews

This review is from: Encounters at the End of the World (DVD)

This film is as much about the people who reside and work in Antarctica as it is about the work they are doing there. A bus driver, a mechanic, and others with stated and unstated occupations are featured doing art in their room, playing guitar, watching a black and white sci-fi film, and standing outside of a piece of construction equipment. The philosopher standing outside of his construction vehicle was very moving, it was almost as if he was getting choked up describing Antarctica and philosophy. He was my favorite character in the film.

Several scientists are also followed in their work, including a couple of volcanologists, a cell biologist, a penguin scientist (Dr. David Ainley), a particle astrophysicist (Dr. Peter Gorhan), and more including divers. Their work is interesting but several awkward moments are allowed to film, but that is the filmmakers style, not indicative of bad editing.

The sheer beauty of Antarctica does not come across as well as in other films I have seen, but I did find this one to be the most realistic films of life in Antarctica. The filmmaker stated he was not going to Antarctica to "make another penguin film".

The underwater scenes are quite fascinating and beautiful. They were the primary reason I sought out this film and they are the best parts. Russian Orthodox music is infused with the glorious underwater sea life, creating a memorable moment in film that you may never forget.