Rating: 
Summary: Minor Quibble re Film Speed
Review: I saw the restored print of this film shown over two nights at the Music Box Theatre in Chicago in 1988 or 1989, with the original orchestral score transcribed for the theatre's immense pipe organ. It was one of the most enjoyable moviegoing experiences I've ever had, and I put off purchasing any version of this film until I found one based on that print. This DVD was therefore the end of a long wait for me, and well worth it.I do have one minor complaint, though. During the exhibition in Chicago, there was some explicit discussion by the curators about the difficulty of setting the film speed. (At that time, it was based on Lang's descriptive statements about the proper pace of a procession of Burgundian knights shown early in the film.) So I was very conscious of that speed when I watched this DVD, and it seems to me it clearly has been set too fast here. The actors' bodies move through space in an unnatural way, and it does reduce the effectiveness of some scenes. Particularly, it robs Siegfried's exaggeratedly formal, dancelike Delsarte-based postures of some of the dignity they maintained when the film didn't seem undercranked. The film would have fit on the two discs just as easily at a slower speed, so I'm not sure why this poor choice was made.
Rating:
Summary: Minor Quibble re Film Speed
Review: I saw the restored print of this film shown over two nights at the Music Box Theatre in Chicago in 1988 or 1989, with the original orchestral score transcribed for the theatre's immense pipe organ. It was one of the most enjoyable moviegoing experiences I've ever had, and I put off purchasing any version of this film until I found one based on that print. This DVD was therefore the end of a long wait for me, and well worth it. I do have one minor complaint, though. During the exhibition in Chicago, there was some explicit discussion by the curators about the difficulty of setting the film speed. (At that time, it was based on Lang's descriptive statements about the proper pace of a procession of Burgundian knights shown early in the film.) So I was very conscious of that speed when I watched this DVD, and it seems to me it clearly has been set too fast here. The actors' bodies move through space in an unnatural way, and it does reduce the effectiveness of some scenes. Particularly, it robs Siegfried's exaggeratedly formal, dancelike Delsarte-based postures of some of the dignity they maintained when the film didn't seem undercranked. The film would have fit on the two discs just as easily at a slower speed, so I'm not sure why this poor choice was made.
Rating: 
Summary: The Enchanted Forest
Review: Long before "Lord of the Rings" and "Gladiator" there was "Die Nibelungen". The great German director of "Die Nibelungen" was Fritz Lang, who stated that only he and Erich von Stroheim made movies for art; not money. And 1924's "Die Nibelungen" made money. A Nordic legend, "Die Nibelungen" is the story of Siegfried, son of King Siegmund, who seeks the hand of lovely Kriemhild. First, he must tour a strange, primevil forest and wrestle mountain gnomes, mystical dwarfs, and a fire-breathing dragon. He wins the true love of Kriemhild, only to fall victim to jealous murder. His widow's vendetta of revenge comprises the rest of this massive 5-hour epic. This enchanting fantasy features stark symbolism and brilliant animation. Stop-motion, animatronics, and in-camera dissolves(never done today) are among the many special effects. Filmed mostly on the massive Berlin UFI studio sets, "Die Nibelungen" is Lang's first great masterpiece of mise-en-scene; a treat for the eyes, a numbing of the senses. Raised eyebrows,... and rolling eyes dominate the dated(but classical) Germanic acting. A leading role is played by Rudolph Klein-Rogge, who joined Lang 5 years later for "Metropolis". The magical cinema ambience is aided by veteran producer Erich Pommer. Kino's gorgeous new DVD of "Die Nibelungen" contains 100 minutes of film never seen before in the modern world. Despite some artifact damage and minor pixelation, scenes are so clear and pristine as to be disturbing. When Siegfried dies, DVD clarity reveals the trembling of the spear in his back; as the very much alive actor continues to breath. The DVD offers several amazing special features, including scene selections, an original color storyboard, miniature-set production notes, actual footage of Lang shooting the movie, and a photo gallery. A comparison of the fire-breathing dragon scene here, and in Douglas Fairbank's "Thief of Bagdad(released 6 months later)" concludes that movie piracy in China today had it's roots in America long ago. The Revenge Motif of Fritz Lang's "Nibelungen" surfaced again years later in his films "Fury" and the "The Big Heat". In Joshua Logan's classic story of "Camelot", King Arthur proclaims that "Vengance is the most worthless of motives..". In "Die Nibelungen", it's the only game in town.
Rating:
Summary: Truly an Epic and a Work of High Art!
Review: My real initiation into silent films started with a DVD release of The Lost World, which interested me because it was based on one of my favorite novels. As I have expanded my silent horizons, I have discovered that the artistic quality of many early films ranks easily with the great works of the later parts of the 20th century.
During the inter-war depression in Germany, the economics of the horribly weak German mark put the German film industry in the enviable position of paying their people in marks and selling the films abroad for dollars and pounds sterling. This allowed the most extravagant productions and virtually eliminated artistic restrictions on German filmmakers.
Die Nibelungen is a great example of what could be done. It is huge in scale with fabulous sets and costumes that might rival many modern spectacles. The story is, of course, the great German epic myth of Siegfried, though the plot is much much more along the lines of the medieval epic poem than the more Nordic version of Wagner's operas. It is original in concept and Lang's direction is superb. The photography is beautiful. The characters develop fully, taking good advantage of the nearly 5-hour length. Full of complex themes - love, hatred, a strange medieval concept of loyalty, and especially vengence - this film has the capacity to draw the viewer in and strain the emotions. I just couldn't stop watching, even though I was emotionally exhausted at the end.
Of course, one must make allowances for the special effects - this was the early 1920's. The dragon was described by my daughter as laughable, which I suppose it was. But if you can at least try to look past the technical limitations of the time, you will find an exquisite classic film that is well worth the time investment.
I have discovered a whole world of fine films by learning to see silents within their own context. Many of them, and Die Nibelungen is near the top of the list, are truly great works of art, and must not be dismissed by the modern SFX-glutted audience. Yes, they are black and white. Yes, they are silent. Yes, they have primitive special effects. But the photography is often gorgeous, the acting can be superb, the production values sometimes rise to equal the best of the modern films, and some of the old directors could mold a really fine product. Die Nibelungen is one of the best I have seen.
Rating:
Summary: Great Films, Great DVD
Review: These are fascinating films, and it is great to have them widely available in this format. The prints are in very good shape, the scores for both films are excellent. The DVD transfers are admirable, and the extras are worth a look. But ultimately what makes these DVDs worth owning are the films. Fascinating, entertaining, disturbing, and sure to repay multiple viewings. Much has been made of the still dazzling special effects and huge sets, and that rather clunky but impressive dragon. Don't let that fool you. Die Nibelungen is a film about people, and it is to director Fritz Lang's considerable credit that the acting is across the board excellent, with Rudolph Klein-Rogge turning in an astonishing performance as Attila the Hun. Klein-Rogge's work is one of the highlights of silent film acting. He never goes too far, never over-emotes in that stereotypical "silent film acting" kind of way. His Attila is a fascinating lovesick warrior wanting to please his wife but still bound by traditions that he just can't break. If you care at all about silent films, or films in general, you should buy this set. It is worth every penny.
Rating:
Summary: Great Films, Great DVD
Review: These are fascinating films, and it is great to have them widely available in this format. The prints are in very good shape, the scores for both films are excellent. The DVD transfers are admirable, and the extras are worth a look. But ultimately what makes these DVDs worth owning are the films. Fascinating, entertaining, disturbing, and sure to repay multiple viewings. Much has been made of the still dazzling special effects and huge sets, and that rather clunky but impressive dragon. Don't let that fool you. Die Nibelungen is a film about people, and it is to director Fritz Lang's considerable credit that the acting is across the board excellent, with Rudolph Klein-Rogge turning in an astonishing performance as Attila the Hun. Klein-Rogge's work is one of the highlights of silent film acting. He never goes too far, never over-emotes in that stereotypical "silent film acting" kind of way. His Attila is a fascinating lovesick warrior wanting to please his wife but still bound by traditions that he just can't break. If you care at all about silent films, or films in general, you should buy this set. It is worth every penny.
Rating:
Summary: Great film, okay DVD
Review: This masterpiece of silent German cinema receives a solid, meat-and-potatoes treatment on DVD. Image quality varies greatly from scene to scene, but the new digital recording of Gottfried Huppertz's original film score is excellent. There aren't very many extras on this two-disc set: a still-frame essay, photo galleries, and a few minutes of rediscovered footage from the film's production are all featured on Disc 1. A scholarly audio commentary would have been a welcome touch, but you won't get it from Kino. I'd rent this film instead of buying it, but it's undoubtedly a masterpiece of silent cinema. A must-have for true film buffs.
Rating:
Summary: A mythical icon
Review: With this movie Fritz Lang show once more why the movies can be a genuine proof of art in its purest expression.
Think just fifty years before when Wagner built Bayreuth for showing us all his works.
And the most powerful of them , the quintessential of the set was precisely The Ring .
Lang made a sublime adaptation of this work . 1924 was the year of this landmark picture.
Inspired in the powerful mythologic essence , Lang keeps the expressiveness, the force and the soul of this legend.
Believe or not , but I've always thought that you never will be capable to appreciate in his wholeness Metropolis , if you are not involved by the mythical spirit of this film.
A must for all the viewers really interested not only in the cinema evolution , but in the soul of the art.
|
