Customer Reviews

Werner Herzog Collection

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I have not reviewed this collection, only thought someone should list the contents. This information courtesy of Anchor Bay Entertainment:

The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser
· Widescreen Presentation enhanced for 16x9 TVs
· Theatrical Trailer
· Audio Commentary with Director Werner Herzog and Norman Hill
· Werner Herzog Bio
· In German with Optional English Subtitles

Even Dwarfs Started Small
· Full-Frame Presentation
· Audio commentary with Director Werner Herzog, Actor Crispin Glover and Norman Hill

Heart Of Glass
· Widescreen Presentation enhanced for 16x9 TVs
· Theatrical Trailer
· Audio Commentary with Director Werner Herzog and Norman Hill
· Production Notes
· Werner Herzog Bio

Little Dieter Needs To Fly
· Widescreen Presentation enhanced for 16x9 TVs
· Production Notes
· Werner Herzog Bio

Stroszek
· Widescreen Presentation enhanced for 16x9 TVs
· Theatrical Trailer
· Production Notes
· Werner Herzog Bio
· Audio Commentary with Director Werner Herzog and Norman Hill
· In German with Optional English Subtitles

These are stunning films. "The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser" is one of the classics; the shot of the rye field in the wind alone is worth the price of admission. It's good that Anchor Bay is emphasizing that they'll rectify defective disks, though, because problems abound. Thanks to an earlier reviewer for posting their complaints URL! On my copy of "Kaspar Hauser" the commentary simply won't turn off (and it's not that I haven't figured out how, because it turns off on the other disks). Then occasionally it turns off all by itself, but if you try to get the subtitles, it turns back on -- so you can't watch the film WITH subtitles but WITHOUT commentary. Exasperating! While I was fiddling with commentaries, however, I managed to watch the whole of "Heart of Glass" with commentary. "Heart of Glass" is not the most accessible film -- not because, as Herzog says, it's slow, but because hypnotized actors are more like zombies than actors. But the film with the commentary on is the most surreal, fascinating experience -- the stories behind the making of the film are an artwork in themselves. The same is true of "Kaspar Hauser" -- an unintended benefit of the disk problem. Providing Anchor Bay makes good on their defective disks, this is a great set.

Has anyone else had a problem with 'Lessons of Darkness/Fata Morgana'? I've tried two different copies of this box set and the same few minutes at the end of Fata Morgana won't play. It skips and goes back to the DVD menu.

Regardless of that, the box set is worth it. An amazing collection of films, well put together. I want to see the end of 'Fata Morgana', but the other six movies are spectacular.

This group of films I would describe as pure cinema in that they are more concerned with image and sound than narrative. As such they seem primal and connect in an electrifying way with primal emotions in the viewer. They are full of suspense because they are full of the unexpected and in that regard are the opposite of the Hollywood, or Bollywood, cinema. They are tantalizing, intriguing and human with tragedy and comedy in their mix. They make for uncomfortable viewing and I want to watch them again and again. To own and return to for many years to see the possibilities in cinema. Brilliant use of music - folk, classical, opera - and powerful clarity of image in the pristine transfers make for a rivetting experience. Brilliant stuff.

I've encountered a snag with "Fata Morgana" as well-- in my case, it was missing entirely. However, I contacted Anchor Bay's feedback department (http://www.anchorbayentertainment.com/index.asp?p=FAQ_Problem) and they sent me a fully functional DVD pretty quickly. I'm glad they did, as it's a gorgeous piece well worth seeing.

This is the first I've ever taken the time to review anything online. I'll tell you why. I got a gift card for Barnes and Noble. Thought I'd get a cool art book or something. They did not have any cool art books so I went looking for Fassbinder. None of him either. They did have this Herzog set which I'd seen on shelves before. Even though I'd seen all but one of these films, it was 40 clams and included Stroszek (Herzog's best film I think). Anyways, the thing that sealed the deal (besides not finding much else at B&N) was the Crispin Glover commentary on Fata Morgana. Two total weirdos talking about optical illusions in the desert sounded pretty good. Got home though and there was no Fata Morgana on the dvd titled Fata Morgana. Why am I giving this 5 stars? Because I called Anchor Bay and left a message with Craig explaining how I got shorted a film. I forgot about all about it and figured I got hoodwinked like any good little American consumer. A week later, he calls me back. Two days later I have Fata Morgana in my mitts. Thanks Craig for being cool and upstanding. Thank you Anchor Bay for putting Herzog sets inside shopping malls.

The best way to describe this set is to use Herzog's own words:"A nightmare that you can't stop watching!"
My absolute favorite is "Little Dieter needs to fly!"-What an inspiring story. That DVD alone is worth the investment.
"Even dwarfs started small" might be the weirdest movie I have ever seen, but am willing to watch it again.

Buy it if you like Herzog and know his work.
Do not buy it if you expect main-stream pop-corn movies.

Werner Herzog opens windows into worlds that are otherwise unreachable with his films and documentaries. I had no problems viewing Fata Morgana, as some reviews claim. Perhaps the glitch has been corrected. I highly recommend any film attached to this film maker, especially Werzog/Kinski, and this amazing collection.

What can I say about this box set? Well I considder this an essential item in my video library, but then again, I'm a Herzog fan. If you're the kind of person who likes your films polished and shiny with clean cut characters and corny ideals than this probably isn't for you. These films are all heart and focus on characters western audiences are not used to seeing, which is what makes them so special to me and thousands of other Herzog fans. If you're already familliar with Herzog's work you'll be delighted with this set. Seven of his classic works spanning from the completely bazarre like Even dwarfs started small (which I particularly recommend) to documentaries such as Little Dieter needs to fly, all packaged nicely in individual cases with a booklet outlining all films. A must have for fans but definitely not for everyone.

this box set is nice enough, but i really wanted fata morgana, and it's not on the shared disk with lessons of darkness. other reviewers have noted this, but when i go to the anchor bay site to seek redress, it's offline! this is false advertising, and if it were ebay, their vendor ratings would be in the cesspool.

an annoying defect to an otherwise decent product. herzog should slap them down.