2 posts tagged “movies”
It's never been easy or even possible to choose a favorite of anything. Often something that feels like a favorite, something that is outstandingly special, does not hold up well to repeated exposure. Likewise, some items with excellent replay value are not significant enough to consider a favorite. However, I definitely have a favorite setting for films: the jungle river. Apocalypse Now, Mosquito Coast, Fitzcarraldo... I would probably love "The African Queen" if I ever get around to seeing it. The story and acting can be bad (Mosquito Coast) as long as the river shots are compelling. A clear winner of this genre suffers none of those flaws, however. "Aguirre Der Zorn Gottes" contains the most beautiful shots of the muddy Amazon tributaries, death-defying trips through rapids, placid waveletts lapping at the burlap cowl of the missionary, and even nice close-ups of the algae growing on logs of the raft. You can smell the water, you can feel the vibrations of the behemoth catfish conking the bottom of the raft. You can feel the warm temperature of the water splashing when the horse takes a swim. In the capable hands of Werner Herzog, Klaus Kinski lays down an absolutely bulletproof performance. What other team could pull off having a German-speaking blonde-haired freak act as a Spanish conquistador? Add 100 monkies, a chilling soundtrack, and you have a very clear winner. Its one of the only films I can watch unlimited times and still consider a favorite.
