Customer Reviews

Encounters at the End of the World

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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!

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.

I am a big fan of Herr Zog. But while "Encounters" provided me with an overall positive experience, it is a flawed film. First, the good news. Hearing the inorganically musical underwater vocalizations of Weddell seals through the theater's multichannel speaker system was alone worth the price of admission. One of the scientists studying the pinnipeds aptly describes their varied and otherworldly sounds as Pink Floydian. I am also pleased to have beheld extended footage of the magnificent world beneath the sea ice. It is a teeming environment whose surface we are only beginning to scratch, and I cannot blame Herzog for choosing choral background music that perhaps screams "awe" a bit too loudly; there is no danger of it cheapening the majesty of the frozen stalactites or the splendor of the sunlight dispersing through the ice-ceiling. Lastly, I'll note the humor, usually intentional, that Herzog uncharacteristically displays. His Teutonic deadpan is not his only comedic asset; he has a keen sense of the ridiculous, and ample targets among the many dubious denizens of the Antarctic.

My complaints are essentially twofold. First, the movie is disjointed. It is a hodgepodge of Herzog's encounters with various Antarctic researchers and residents; there is no apparent order or theme. This is a minor criticism, as most of the segments make for fine viewing on their own, but it would have been more satisfying if Herzog had presented a unifying thesis or two about the Light Continent (aside from the oft-repeated observation that it is populated by a fair number of "professional dreamers"). He should have at least arranged the segments in a clearly meaningful sequence. At its best, the film made no more of an impression on me than "that was beautiful," "that was cool," or "I didn't know that." Second, and more significantly, Herzog's narration is at times irritating. As someone who has studied climate change, I share his frustration and pessimism. But there is no call for saddling the film's final moments with apocalyptic platitudes (e.g., "the end of human life is assured") and a cursory reference to global warming. These sentiments are incongruous with the rest of the film, which does not substantially address environmentalism and whose most haunting scene is of a mad penguin that abandons its flock and runs inland towards distant mountains, to certain death, with a singular determination. Herzog's doomsayings, in any event, are better communicated by the satellite images of rapidly melting polar ice that we observe on a climatologist's computer screen. I know that Herzog is capable of more measured reflections on the impersonal and uncontrollable power of nature; for example, from "Grizzly Man": "what haunts me is that in all the faces of all the bears that Treadwell ever filmed, I discover no kinship, no understanding, no mercy. I see only the overwhelming indifference of nature. To me, there is no such thing as a secret world of the bears. And this blank stare speaks only of a half-bored interest in food. But for Timothy Treadwell, this bear was a friend, a savior." In "Encounters," Herzog superficially and self-indulgently overstates his case. I'm looking forward to his next film.

Since other reviewers have adequately summarized this film, I'll skip straight to what I thought were the best and worst qualities of "Encounters":

BEST:

- The filming itself is brilliant, as you'd expect from Herzog. The contrast beetween the spellbinding landscape and the banal living quarters of its inhabitants is striking.

- The interviews provide terrific insight into the passion and curiousity that is necessary to subject oneself to living, even temporarily, in the most inhospitable land on the planet.

- The footage of the Antarctic Ocean floor is truly otherwordly. The creatures beneath the "frozen sky" are beyond even the most imaginative science fiction writers.

- There are approximately three hours of extra footage contained in the extra features on disc one and disc two, including segments of footage taken above and below the frozen surface. There is also a 90 minute interview of Werner Herzog conducted by acclaimed director Jonathan Demme, which is very interesting and, for me, worth the price of admission.

WORST:

- The film's interviews are often laden with scientific jargon that I suspect will alienate a general audience. I found the content of the interviews fascinating, albeit completely over my head.

- As other reviewers have noted, the interviews with the so-called "commoners" that were not in Antarctica for scientific study were too short. I felt that insufficient time was spent on telling their stories.

- While many of Herzog's observations and contemplations are fascinating, they never seem to connect to a larger theme or thesis. This lack of intellectual focus makes the landscape itself the focus of the film, and ultimately overwhelms Herzog's encounters that gave this film its name. I believe Herzog's intent was for these encounters to leave an impression on his audience, but it failed to do so for me. Perhaps if the contents of the interviews had built off of one another and arrived at a larger lesson or thought, something other than the landscape shots would have stuck with me.

Overall, I found the film to be inexcusably unfocused, leaving little else other than the setting to be admired. Herzog has done better than this. I call this film surreal, rather than poignant, as so many of his films have been. In any case, I have high hopes for his next project.

I was in McMurdo when this was shot and it was nice to see the old place again and some of the ex co-workers from the old days.

This is, as Werner states, not a cute penguin movie. This opens peoples eyes to the normal life there, as normal as can be in such a place, and lets others see how life can be in extremes as well as how dull things can get and the very diverse group who populate such a place not only for their own reasons but for the good of the planet as there has to be some place that all those odd people, myself included, can be put for a few months so the rest of the world can survive.

The importance of the greenhouse and Mr. Frosty is explained well though there is hardly a way to really appreciate how important it is to have something small and welcome when there are few other things that can be enjoyed, there are few who have known such isolation as being on the Ice during a comms outage and spending days waiting for a phone or e-mail to the outside world and in a way the effect of this life is caught a little in the eyes of those on camera and the softness of their voices, as if we speak ever lowly so as not to miss the voice of the Ice as it passes us by.

If you are interested in working or taking a cruise trip down then this is a great introduction to what to expect, rules as well as conditions, though he seems to have missed the parties and general revelry but he did capture the feel of freedom and the wonder of wanderers.

Werner Herzog is one of those unique directors that never give you quite what you expect, but always satisfy. This film, in amazingly clear and crisp "blu-ray" makes you feel as if you are on Antarctica and underwater. In fact, you feel every scene as Hertoz has a talent of pulling you into the picture. There is no dispute that a blu-ray player and a good flat screen television is just about as great an experience that you can achieve nowadays and Herzog takes it to task.

The scenes are massive in scale and include glaciers, mountains, underwater breathtaking scenes, human interaction and a thorough dissection of the land and the people that occupy this one outpost. Hertoz narrates the film with not just his comments on the amazing scenery, but his personal interactions with the people living there to study. There is plenty of heartbreaking and amazing history throughout the film (i.e., Shackleton's journey). The characters are both normal and odd. Traveling to this location in a huge specialized plane shows the crew in each of their unique positions; sleeping in bags on the floor, strapped into less than comfortable looking chairs, tents set up inside the aircraft, conversations both normal and strange. At times explaining their interest in the areas conditions and their own methods of survival - some of which are quite funny, if the consequences of dying were not so real.

The cinematography is the real star here and with copious amounts of blue and white surrounding you, the feeling is surreal. There are no cute penguins or whales, just great shots of bizarre looking starfish that move and clams that snap open and shut as they travel through the water. The underwater visibility is impeccably clear. The ice cutting, severe wind and blizzards make the experience real. This is another place with unique individuals all filmed in magically and frightening real circumstances.

ENCOUNTERS AT THE END OF THE WORLD (2008, dir. Werner Herzog, for The Discovery Channel) reminded me gleefully why I loved watching Jacques Cousteau when I was growing up. Herzog has outdone himself with this great, great documentary.

Herzog took it into his mind to explore the people as much as the region of Antarctica (the South Pole). His anticipation and arrival there are as fascinating as the rest of this film. He arrives at the main base camp in Antarctica with dreams of Shackleton--and he finds "what looks like an ugly mining town". He is in no way anxious to stay there, where there is "a yoga studio among other abominations."

Herzog wants to get out and see scenery and people! Boy, does he ever, and he really delivers. I wish filmmakers would watch this and learn from a master. Herzog zeroes in on a gaggle of eccentrics who work around the snowy desert wilds, including a man who barely escaped East Germany with his life and a seemingly compulsive liar who claims to have traveled from Lima, Peru to Ecuador through the sewers.

In the beginning, Herzog attends a survival exercise that had me in stitches. To simulate a snowstorm whiteout, large, square white buckets are placed on the trainees' heads. This, I can tell you, is very realistic as far as sensory impairment in a storm. It is their job to tether themselves to the hut, to each other, then go out looking for a lost comrade--all blind. The pathetic results are so hilarious.

The many interesting people, the atmosphere, the cold, all prompt Herzog to meditate on metaphysical issues. He corners a reticent penguin scientist and asks if there are any "insane" penguins. The scientist looks and sounds idiotic--but then Herzog actually films a penguin losing its mind. I won't spoil it. It is too sad, and too good. However, Herzog suggests the global warming may be partially responsible.

Herzog knows how to give. It is that quality that documentarists are missing. Not once does he mug for the camera or even shoot himself; he's content narrating, and I found his soothing, hissing German-tinged voice to be one of the best parts. He sounds a lot like his old protégé Klaus Kinski.

Another kick-ass feature was the sound of the big seals, calling underwater. They sound like a combination of landing flying saucers and other corny 1950s B-movies sound effects. Amazing that they make sounds like that--and no one knows exactly why they do it. The wife said she had never heard anything like that (except in my own musical compositions).

Get this...it is the equal of MARCH OF THE PENGUINS (see my review) and it will tickle your philosophy bone too. You cannot be without this great film. KUDOS, MASTER HERZOG!

But in fact, there is one poignant extended scene about penguins and the one who, for whatever reason, chooses to head off across 5000 km of ice to certain death. And, while the rule for scientists in Antarctica is not to interfere, even if they did the penguin would only set out on his doomed journey once again.

That scene is only one small slice of the wondrous and often weird realities that Werner Herzog turns his camera to in Encounters at the End of the World. A glance at the other reviews here shows a minority view, but to me it is impossible to watch this documentary without becoming suffused with joy and awe at the continent but even more at the fact that all this, including us and the very individual people working on the continent, has come to be and continues to unfold with destination -- as Herzog alludes to -- completely unknown.

The soundtrack enhances this continuing mystery, with chants and strings and even sounds of seals under the ice. Only in an extended under ice water scene toward the middle of the movie does it become overbearing and detracting from the beauties the camera is recording.

As an aside, kudos to the National Science Foundation (NSF) for its Antarctic Artists and Writers program that provided funding for Encounters. If only all my tax dollars were so well spent.

The bottom line is simple -- make Encounters part of your permanent DVD library.

It's almost sad how jaded you can get. Here were these absolutely stunning images from Antartica, and I was like "yeah, but I've already seen this in IMAX and Planet Earth"! The more interesting parts were listening to the inhabitants of the region - who knew that there was a small city there, with over a thousand residents? And their mixed background, cultures, and philosophies are both amusing and wonderous, elevating this film from ordinary to deeply interesting and moving.