Movie Review -- Aguirre, the Wrath of God
When I think of a hit or miss movie now, I think of Aguirre, the Wrath of God. Perhaps a disclaimer could be added on the cover reading "May Cause Drowsiness." It will be easy to just doze off as you watch 94 minutes of a group of men led by a Spanish conquistador raft down the Amazon river. Yup, we have another one of those damn allegorical movies on our hands here. Despite being a movie full of violence, the "action" is retained at a minimum, and the gore is on par with Monty Python. As far as dialoge goes, well the word "dialogue" hardly applies since it's really largely monologues, as the crew members spend plenty of time thinking to themselves, asking what is going wrong with their expedition.
Now that we've gotten over the fact that it doesn't deliver the breathtaking action sequences and witty one liners, Aguirre deserves all the praise it receives. The biggest impact the movie has is when it's all said and done, you are about on the same level as Don Lupe Aguirre is: you feel exhausted, confused, and probably need a visit to your nearby shrink. This feeling is exactly what Herzog wants you to feel, as horrible as it may be, to illusrate his point. While on the surface it is a magnificent period piece showcasing the inept adventures of the Spanish in South American jungle, the movie can easily serve as a metaphor for several modern day leaders that miserably fail but cling to their goals beyond reason. Take your pick.
The movie is full of madness, and the slow pacing of the film (which can make it hard to watch) accentuate the mood perfectly. There's no tricky special effects to create chaos; the chaos lies within the rationale of Aguirre and his "yes" men. Say one word in opposition and off with your head, even though you're probably right.
Aguirre is a movie that only gets better upon later reflection. It's not a movie that makes its impact immedietely, in fact it could probably take some time and discussion with others who have seen it before its points really sink in. If you can handle a 94 minute movie that feels like it took weeks out of your life, then by all means go for it. Just keep in mind, everything that you're feeling is probably for the right reason.
A-