Rating: 
Summary: Well-made, at times slow
Review: Invincible is the story of a Jewish blacksmith in Poland who is so strong he is invited to Berlin to participate in an occultist's show. Since this is 1932 Germany, the idea of a Samson-like Jew is unappealing to those in power, so he adopts the identity of an Aryan gladiator. Eventually, however, he comes to terms with his identity and poses a challenge to his boss.This boss, the occultist played by Tim Roth (the only "name" in the movie) is a supposed clairvoyant out to become Hitler's minister of the occult. It is a role of rich villainy, one that works well with Roth. Since this movie deals with Jews in 1930s Poland and Germany, it is hardly a feel-good flick, although the movie takes place prior to Hitler's chancellorship, when Nazi anti-semitism was still years from its violent peak. Nonetheless, the spectre of the Holocaust looms over everything. Although the movie has a lot to recommend it, it is not very well-paced and every time you think it's about over, it goes on. After a while, you begin to feel the length of the film. Nonetheless, this is a good film and worth watching.
Rating:
Summary: WHENCE SPRINGS HEROISM?
Review: Is evil embedded in the human condition? Are some people born evil? Or is it always a matter of free will? And from whence springs selfless heroism? Werner Herzog's INVINCIBLE is about Samson-like Zishe Breitbart (Jouka Ahola), a simple country blacksmith who is recruited to play the part of a strongman in fake clairvoyant Erik Jan Hanussen's (Tim Roth) popular Berlin nightclub act during the 1930s. Hitler's on the brink of power, and Hanussen caters to the Nazi's who frequent his performances. When Zishe -- on stage -- unexpectedly reveals himself to be a Polish Jew, he begins attracting a Jewish crowd that penetrates the Nazi audience. This affront to the Nazi's is great for the club's business but brings unexpected consequences to both Zishe and Hanussen. Detailing any more of the surprises in this hero's journey would dilute the movie experience. "Invincible," Herzog's first non-documentary in over a decade, displays his signature artistry, eccentricity and passion. And underlying everything is a powerful moral imperative about the contagion of resistance. I was riveted.
Rating: 
Summary: Where are the oscars?
Review: Now someone tell me...Why does this film get lost between the cracks and movies like The Pianist and Schindler's List don't? For me this movie touched upon issues I have never seen in a movie about this era. Everyone should view this film. It is a beautiful well made fable with terrific acting, cinematography and a heartbreaking score by Hans Zimmer. One of Herzog's best and most accessible films.
Rating:
Summary: Where are the oscars?
Review: Now someone tell me...Why does this film get lost between the cracks and movies like The Pianist and Schindler's List don't? For me this movie touched upon issues I have never seen in a movie about this era. Everyone should view this film. It is a beautiful well made fable with terrific acting, cinematography and a heartbreaking score by Hans Zimmer. One of Herzog's best and most accessible films.
Rating: 
Summary: Unbelievably Bad
Review: The acting and writing is atrocious and I was dumbfounded that some people would rate this movie highly.
The little brother's spoken parts are so British it is laughable and the hero, his brother, has a Scandanavian accent. The main character is no actor and it is embarrassing at times listening to him and watching him. The whole movie is so contrived and corny I gave up watching it more than halfway through. Just because it is based on a real character doesn't make it a good, or watchable movie.
Rating:
Summary: It's great to have him back.
Review: This is Herzog's first feature film in a while. I know he has recently moved to Los Angeles and apparently loves it. It may show in his film. This is his glossiest production to date. As opposed the the outdoors, where he is usually fond of filming, most of the action here takes place in Hanussen's Theater of the Occult. The picture is in English, which allows us the wonderful performance by Tim Roth. Herzog shows Hanussen as a kind of villain, yet he is too much like Herzog himself - someone who uses hypnosis, lies, and great imagery to put on a spectacular show. Neophytes might be a bit put off by the overdubbing of some of the actors, but that is a trifle. It is just great to be back in Herzog-land again. Like all of his films, there is a central image that tells the whole story. In this story, it is a remarkable dream sequence of The Invincible helping his little brother over rocks (WWII) through a sea of crabs (the Nazis).
Rating:
Summary: DON'T BOTHER WATCHING THIS ONE!
Review: This is possibly one of the worst films I have ever seen. The writing and acting, as far as I am concerned, are no better than that of a middle school live performance. The only reason I didn't turn it off was that I was hoping SOMETHING in the movie might help me justify spending $10 to buy it used. That something never came. I would never waste my time on this movie when there are others on this topic that so richly deserve my viewing time investment, such as "Schindler's List" & "The Pianist". Trust me, PASS IT UP just as fast as you can!
Rating: 
Summary: disappointing
Review: While the subject matter continues to fascinate, this film is too cliche ridden and questionably acted.
Rating: 
Summary: Strong story, weak movie
Review: You would think a movie telling the story of an exceptionally strong Polish Jewish blacksmith travleing to Berlin to perform feats that impress Jews and offend Nazis in a 1930s theatre of the occult would be inspiring, touching or at least interesting. This movie is none of these. The camera angles and cuts confuse and distract. The music, though beautiful, interrupts too many scenes with the same repetetive strains. The scenes in the theatre give a good feel for the entertainment of the time, but do we really need to see two full dance numbers? They're not bad, but they drag and have no point, like much of the movie. Tim Roth's spooky opportunist and Jouko Ahola's "Jewish Samson" and a few other actors' supporting characters seem authentic, but many actors fall victim to the contrived, obvious and overly-philosophical dialogue. Watching Marta, the love interest, overdramatically play the piano as if she's about to faint with every note is hideously tedious. The blacksmith Zishe's younger brother has some of the best lines of the movie, but muddles through them, seeming confused and losing the viewers. Sure, he's a ten-year-old kid, but shouldn't we expect more after children's performances in The Piano and Sixth Sense? How could such a lovely and incredible story be such a flat movie? How could this story end the way it does (I won't give it away) and foreshadow the horror we all know without me feeling anything? This is one story I hope gets a cinematic remake.
Rating:
Summary: Slow, Odd, but Interesting True Story
Review: Zishe Breitbart (Jouko Ahola) is a Jewish blacksmith in a rural Polish village in 1932 when he successfully challenges the Strongman in a visiting circus. A talent agent in the audience proposes that the young man travel to Berlin where there are greater and more profitable audiences for a man of his talents. Once in Berlin, Zishe is employed by a man named Haussen (Tim Roth), an occultist who owns a popular theater specializing in spectacle. Mr. Haussen understands his audience well and strives to show them what they want to see, which at that time was a salve for German egos bruised by World War I and fodder for German egos looking forward to renewed greatness under the rising Nazi tide. Haussen is pleased to add Zishe to his show, but insists that he "Aryanize" himself in order to please and not offend the customers. So Zishe puts on a blond wig and takes on the stage persona of "Siegfried The Iron King", and the audience adores him. Eventually, Zishe decides to declare his Jewish heritage, however. At first, this only helps the theater, as many Jews buy tickets to the shows. But personal disagreements and political realities eventually end Haussen's career and send Zishe back to his home in Poland. "Invincible" is a true story, written and directed for the screen by Werner Herzog. The story is so odd and obscure that I am not tempted to question its veracity; no one would make it up. It is also odd and obscure enough a tale to overcome the film's length and deliberately slow pace. There are long periods of time where nothing happens in this movie. Unless you are fascinated by occultist dinner theater in prewar Germany -which is somewhat cheesy by today's standards- the long stretches where the story just plateaus are likely to wear on your nerves. On the other hand, it is interesting to observe the particulars of these shows and of their audience. They provide some insight into the collective self-image in Germany between wars and how political extremists were able to exploit that to advance their own agendas. The performances in "Invincible" are all very good. Tim Roth probably doesn't have the screen presence to be a movie star, but he is one of the best character actors in cinema today, and he does some fine work here. I don't know if Jouko Ahola is known at all in Europe, but he embodies this simple but self-possessed character quite well. Young Jacob Wein also does as nice job as Zishe's younger brother. I recommend "Invincible" to movie-lovers who don't mind slow movies. It's an obscure little story, but it is pretty interesting upon closer examination.
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