Rating: 
Summary: Slow? Sure! A Classic? Undoubtably!
Review: Again, Klaus does his thing in front of Herzogs Camera. And what a camera it is. From the opening secen where the Spaniards appear as ants in the fog, then a boot appears in front of the camera you realise that this is going to be spectacular. There are many highlights of this wonderful movie. The spaniards trapped in a raft going round in the rapids ( like their journey itself), the raft being over run by monkeys in the finish, to Aguirres grief at the death of his daughter. This is an amzing film.It is not for everyone I would conceed. The plot does move slowly, and the action lags in the middle. Despite all this the sheer emotional impact and documentary feel of the film ( due to the aspect used, the muted colours and rich soundtrack) creates an absolutly unique cinema moment.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic
Review: Between the haunting dreamlike music of Popol Vuh(named after the Mayan lost bible), the strikingly beautiful topgraphy , made all the more realistic and majestic by the assembly of a cast of unknown Indians and known actors, led by Klaus Kinski, this movie is one for the ages to never forget. The DVD transfer is fresh and makes the jungle scenes come to life with panoramic breathtaking views that are incredible. The opening sequence where the Spanish soldiers and their "slaves" is a perfect example of the sheer majesty as the camera slowly pulls out revealing a deep, nearly vertical mountain the crew is descending, it is nothing short of spectacular. The story itself is based upon the legendary Spanish quest for the lost city of gold El Dorado. The story reveals the insatiabale thirst for gold that corrupts the half brother of Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizzaro, Gonzalo Pizzaro, to rebel and take control of the crew in the most brutal fashion stopping at absolutely nothing, killing all who resist. His own greed is matched only by his desire to find the lost fabled city at any cost. Klaus Kinski is superb as the bad guy who got too greedy for even his own good. He eventually finds himself going insane drifting down river with a crew of monkeys still looking for El Dorado. Following the exploits of Kinski and his reluctant crew fight off the natives and their phanthom poison darts is followed by one tragic death after another. You know you are in trouble going down the river when the Spanish crew asks what are they saying and the Indian translator says " they say it is floating meat." Hungry cannibals are everywhere, fatigued and dejected Spanish crew are dwindling and Klaus Kinski is meaner and crazier as the movie progresses . I've seen this several times years ago and recently checked out the DVD and it is definitely worth watching again and again. Anyone interested in the Spanish conquest will thoroughly enjoy this bit of German excellence by director Warner Herzog and the oh so evil Klaus Kinski as Gonzalo Pizzaro. Recommended for international film buffs.
Rating: 
Summary: Kinski at his vile best
Review: I just watched Aquirre the Wrath of God. I had heard a lot about it. I found Klaus Kinski to be mesmorizing. He was spectacular. The story itself was a very honest and uncompromising saga and period piece. I thought that Werner Herzogs directing was visually stunning and that the final scene on the raft was compelling. This movie is not for everyone but I would have to say dittos to those who have deemed it a classic.
Rating:
Summary: mutilation? hardly
Review: aguirre, the wrath of god is certainly an amazing film. herzog's photography is some of the best ever filmed, along with kinski's world class performance... herzog filmed aguirre with a camera that he stole from his film school which had a filming aspect ration of 1:33(full screen). though new yorker video released a 'widescreen' version of this film, that version is a matted version of the full screen print. in addition to having a very well mastered print, in its original aspect ratio, we get a full commentary by none other than herzog himself. for this reason i strongly recommend this dvd.
Rating:
Summary: Presented as filmed!
Review: This can't be presented letter-boxed - if you check on Herzog's official website, it clearly tells you this was originally filmed in 1.33:1 ratio. So, ignore any 'oh! - it's pan-and-scan!' comments - because it's never actually been a widescreen film. The film is so stunning that, perhaps, some viewers may have actually remembered it as 'widescreen.' Herzog's a genius - end of story.
Rating: 
Summary: Great Film, But Don't Buy This DVD
Review: Aguirre is an extraordinary film, animated by a brilliantly crazed performance from Klaus Kinski, and filled with spectacular images (the ending with the monkeys is only the most indelible moment). But steer clear of this DVD. Why? It's pan-and-scan! Unbelievable! One of the most beautifully photographed films of the last three decades, and the makers of the DVD decide to mutilate it. I was so excited finding out that Aguirre was going to be released on DVD, then crushed as the film began and I realized it had been hacked up. Everyone connected with this travesty should be flogged, salted, and left in the sun for ants. Maybe if we refuse to buy this DVD, they'll eventually release a version that isn't mutilated.
Rating:
Summary: Chaos and Obsession
Review: The swirling whitewater of the Amazon as it descends from it's mountain birthplace in the Andes is the foundation of this film. The uncontrollable power and rushing force of the river mirrors the obsession of Aguirre, who leads a doomed expedition into the heart of the Amazon Jungle in search of the fabled Seven Cities of Gold. The tragedy of Aguirre's monomaniacal quest is the seed for much great world literature, including Moby Dick. Like Ahab, Aguirre refuses to stop, even though his death is assured. As a German film made only a generation after the war, it is impossible not to make a comparison between Aguirre and Hitler, as they both lead their people into destruction in the hopes of glory and fame. As a film, it is exceptionally well made, and the Spanish Conquistadores speaking German is only a little more odd than Romans speaking English with a British accent.
Rating:
Summary: STRICTLY FOR THE ARTHOUSE CROWD
Review: Set in the 16th century, Wrath of God obstensibly tells the story of a band of Conquistadores slogging through the Amazon rain forrest looking for one of their lost cities of gold. All my artsy aquaintences rave about this film, but for me it was just a group of men stumbling around in the jungle dressed in armour muttering to each other in German. If you're into abstract or esoteric concepts of plot, imagery, metaphor, tone, etc. that the art house crowd are forever mooning over, you might like this film. But if you're the kind of person who lives life directly instead of just reading about it, there are better films that touch on the subjects of ego run amok, hearts of darkness, the brutality of man unleashed when social constraints are removed, Jungian archetypes, etc., etc. Preferable alternatives under the afore-mentioned catagories; Kurosawa's "Ran", Kore-eda's "Marborosi," "Apocolypse Now," any of the Greek or Shakespearean tradgedies, (the book) "Lord of the Flies," Buffy the Vampire Slayer, take your pick. Beyond that I can only say that this film was truly a German work in that it follows that unwritten Teutonic maxim that anything edifying must be painfully tedious.
Rating: 
Summary: I don't get it
Review: The movie is slow with hardly no action as you might expect from adventure in the Amazon , the little action is somewhat incomplete and you might miss it if you blink . Say you get it for the plot ? I think it doesn't develop as much as it should , Aguirre just goes mad and that's it , no twists , no turns , no end , no point . As far as for the photography , it is ducomentry like with jerking camera first person view , long shots of nothing , the opening scence is indeed impressive but that's it.[....]
Rating:
Summary: AGUIRRE, THE WRATH OF GOD!
Review: Certainly one of the FINEST collaborations between director WERNER HERZOG and actor KLAUS KINSKI! This 1972 film is about the quest of DON LOPE DE AGUIRRE for ELDORADO, the mythical City of Gold! Leaving the mountains of PERU, following the CONQUEST of the Incas, AGUIRRE and his CONQUISCADORS head down the AMAZON! Yet another great example of Herzog's constant THEME about the "Modern Man" LIST in the PRIMITIVE World! DVD Extras on this one include AUDIO COMMENTARY from Herzog as well as German and English soundtrack options! Otherwise you get the original GERMAN with English SUBTITLES!
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