MovieChat Forums > The White Diamond (2005) Discussion > Herzog is way overrated

Herzog is way overrated

posted 16 years ago by jwegraham
12 replies | jump to latest

I've now seen a broad sampling of his work, and find Herzog to be an above average man--about two levels below anything bordering on genius--making average films...

I think his philosophy would appeal to the well-read, and probably amaze the simple-minded... but would not even barely scratch the surface as visionary...

His subject matter is only barely interesting, and probably betrays a deep-rooted German cynicism that does not want to want too much... he is content making movies that almost say something important...

Time after time the viewer is either left embarrassed at being asked to indulge an egotistical tinkerer, or left completely unaware of any consistent vision--and hence for me, completely unaware of the general appeal of the mythical Herzog...

Herzog is clearly a gutsy, gritty man; a purely noble hands-dirty film-maker willing to "jump in the fire". The trap: to assume that this means his films are actually worth watching...

[–] hallsha-1 13 years ago

One of the most pompous posts I've ever read.

[–] 13 years ago

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[–] 13 years ago

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[–] tallard 12 years ago

When he's good, I'd say he's really really really good, but when he's bad he's horribly bad. This film rates in the horribly bad category. It is the opposite of his film in Antarctica, where we actually go to know the people, and were exposed to some amazing cinematography. But this film reminded me of the Loch Ness film, absolutely no content, but a whining loser, and some buzzed out sidekicks. :(
Herzog can deliver, and I was really looking forward to a canopy adventure, but instead got nothing.

I've also seen a "broad sampling" of his work, and I do really enjoy most of it.

***So I've seen 4 movies/wk in theatre for a 1/4 century, call me crazy?**