|
Frequently Bought Together
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Product details
|
Reviews
Product Description
Encounters at the end of the World is the visually stunning exploration of a land of fire, ice and solitude from award winning director Werner Herzog. Set in the awe-inspiring polar landscape, McMurdo, Antarctica is home to a hidden society. Here a thousand men and women live among some of the world s most beautiful and unexpected natural wonders, whilst at the same time risking their lives in the pursuit of cutting edge science in the extremely hostile conditions. Now for the first time an outsider has been permitted into this extraordinary place. Werner Herzog and his cameraman take us on their adventure, exploring a previously unseen world and capturing some of Antarctica s breath-taking scenery and wildlife for the very first time - both above and below the ice cap. Delivering the same kind of enthralling images as Planet Earth, Encounters At The End Of The World is a unique film that will leave you captivated by life in the ultimate Down Under.
Review
Extraordinary Herzog finds breathtaking beauty here in the awesome scale of things FOUR STARS --Uncut
Superb. It also contains some of the most jaw-dropping photography you're likely to see this year. Powerful... eye-boggling... utterly masterful. FIVE STARS --Timeout
Breathtaking Almost every image is astonishing. This is a film that makes our existence feel utterly insignificant in the most life-affirming manner possible. Brilliant. 9/10 --Clash
Superb. It also contains some of the most jaw-dropping photography you're likely to see this year. Powerful... eye-boggling... utterly masterful. FIVE STARS --Timeout
Breathtaking Almost every image is astonishing. This is a film that makes our existence feel utterly insignificant in the most life-affirming manner possible. Brilliant. 9/10 --Clash
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
14 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
In Herzog's first documentary since Grizzly Man, the masterful director ventures deep into Antarctica, in search of a community formed of fringe scientists who live for the study of the local wildlife.
Through a series of interviews and archive footage, we get into the mindset of these great minds who cut themselves off from the rest of the world for the love of what they do. Understandably, many of the residents live up the
now well-established Herzog muse; walking the tightrope between genius and insanity.
The animals themselves are also explored in great depth, with the deranged penguin being a particular highlight, as the director explores the notion of insanity in the animal kingdom. The cinematography is also sublime, matching anything seen in Planet Earth or similar.
Once again, Herzog himself provides a voice-over with the kind of voice you could listen to all day, and at certain times makes observations that are laugh out loud funny - "Why is it that a monkey should choose not to mount a goat and ride off into the sunset?"
Even if you're not familiar with the director's previous work, Encounters at the End of the World is well worth checking out and would make a perfect present for any member of the family.
Through a series of interviews and archive footage, we get into the mindset of these great minds who cut themselves off from the rest of the world for the love of what they do. Understandably, many of the residents live up the
now well-established Herzog muse; walking the tightrope between genius and insanity.
The animals themselves are also explored in great depth, with the deranged penguin being a particular highlight, as the director explores the notion of insanity in the animal kingdom. The cinematography is also sublime, matching anything seen in Planet Earth or similar.
Once again, Herzog himself provides a voice-over with the kind of voice you could listen to all day, and at certain times makes observations that are laugh out loud funny - "Why is it that a monkey should choose not to mount a goat and ride off into the sunset?"
Even if you're not familiar with the director's previous work, Encounters at the End of the World is well worth checking out and would make a perfect present for any member of the family.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Werner Herzog is the sort of guy who seems to be able to turn his hand to anything. He is a pretty decent film director/producer of both features and documentaries. I can't wait to see his latest offering "Cave of Forgotten Dreams". He can act a bit, writes books and screenplays and is an accomplished opera director. He no doubt also cooks a mean sunday roast, or whatever the German equivalent is. Now at the ripe old age sixty eight he still keeps himself gainfully employed. With advancing years he seems to have become more reflective. What is mans future and his place in the Cosmos? Questions which are picked over in this fascinating documentary. As Herzog points out early on, this is not another documentary about fluffy penguins! Indeed, could we take another!
Much of the documentary is spent interviewing the mostly American population who inhabit the McMurdo Station in Antarctica. This seems to be quite a sizeable settlement sitting on the worlds white bottom. The denizens happen to be an interesting bunch, many of whom are homespun philosophers. It seems that Antarctica draws the types who do not like to let the moss grow under their feet, and many have fascinating tales to relate. Herzog shows some documentary footage of early explorers in McMurdo sound to illustrate just how much things have changed. In Shackleton's day it was a question of survival, but fast forward to today and McMurdo station can boast such abominations, Herzog's words not mine, as yoga classes, a bowling alley and even an ATM machine. It is worth watching Shackleton's own film of the expedition "South", which has been nicely restored by the BFI to fully understand just how much things have changed. Perhaps funniest was the sight of grown men with white buckets over their heads to simulate a white out. The documentary is beautifully shot by cinematographer Peter Zeitlinger, who had a whole wonderland of natural phenomena to play with. There is incredible film taken in the waters under the ice amongst the most astonishingly coloured jellyfish. I was also fascinated by the film taken in the passages made by the fumaroles, or natural vents around the slopes of the active volcano Erebus.
It is impossible even for Herzog to visit Antarctica without taking some film of wildlife, so there is the odd penguin and seal that creeps inevitably into camera shot. Most sobering was the sight of the silent divers preparing for a dive, with Herzog comparing them to priests deep in contemplation. Then we see the divers swimming in the great silence beneath the ice that seems to form natural vaults over them in what becomes a cathedral to the beauty of the natural world. With the threat of global warming it is real possibility that we may lose all this. Sadly it is only a few of us that will be privileged to visit "The Last Continent". Herzog's documentary is both interesting and beautiful to look at. It also has something important to say.
Much of the documentary is spent interviewing the mostly American population who inhabit the McMurdo Station in Antarctica. This seems to be quite a sizeable settlement sitting on the worlds white bottom. The denizens happen to be an interesting bunch, many of whom are homespun philosophers. It seems that Antarctica draws the types who do not like to let the moss grow under their feet, and many have fascinating tales to relate. Herzog shows some documentary footage of early explorers in McMurdo sound to illustrate just how much things have changed. In Shackleton's day it was a question of survival, but fast forward to today and McMurdo station can boast such abominations, Herzog's words not mine, as yoga classes, a bowling alley and even an ATM machine. It is worth watching Shackleton's own film of the expedition "South", which has been nicely restored by the BFI to fully understand just how much things have changed. Perhaps funniest was the sight of grown men with white buckets over their heads to simulate a white out. The documentary is beautifully shot by cinematographer Peter Zeitlinger, who had a whole wonderland of natural phenomena to play with. There is incredible film taken in the waters under the ice amongst the most astonishingly coloured jellyfish. I was also fascinated by the film taken in the passages made by the fumaroles, or natural vents around the slopes of the active volcano Erebus.
It is impossible even for Herzog to visit Antarctica without taking some film of wildlife, so there is the odd penguin and seal that creeps inevitably into camera shot. Most sobering was the sight of the silent divers preparing for a dive, with Herzog comparing them to priests deep in contemplation. Then we see the divers swimming in the great silence beneath the ice that seems to form natural vaults over them in what becomes a cathedral to the beauty of the natural world. With the threat of global warming it is real possibility that we may lose all this. Sadly it is only a few of us that will be privileged to visit "The Last Continent". Herzog's documentary is both interesting and beautiful to look at. It also has something important to say.
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Full of odd questions ("Is there such a thing as insanity in penguins?"), Werner Herzog lands on the ice runway at McMurdo base for five months in Antarctica devoid of night. McMurdo looks like an ugly mining settlement (reminds me a bit of Norwegian Arctic towns like Alta and Hammerfest) but "as banal as it appears, it is filled with professional dreamers"...dreamers whose favourite food, funnily enough, is Frosty Boy Ice Cream.
The scientists see the ice as a dynamic entity, not the static monolithic environment many think when they hear the name 'Antarctica'. There are cracks in the ice that sound like ghostly footsteps, and seal calls which sound like Tangerine Dream. Life forms in the sea are "like science fiction creatures" as one scientist puts it. It is "a horribly, violent world" full of strange, Lovecraftian organisms, some of which seem to possess "borderline intelligence...almost art."
Some of the scientists Herzog interviews have a religious sense of awe in the face of their discoveries, while others seem almost braindead. "Yes, it's a truly wonderful moment when you increase the known biodiversity," one tells him, sounding about as excited as if he had just filed a report on the origins of sawdust. But another talks with spiritual and poetic insight of the sub-atomic particles called neutrinos.
The whole film, in fact, is full of surprising insights - for instance, that the British empire started to fail only after Shackleton had reached the South Pole. In other words, when no further expansion was possible. Strangely, in a film about uninhabited Antarctica, Herzog delivers a moving defence of the languages that are dying out around the world: "Tree huggers and whale huggers are acceptable, but no one embraces the last speakers of a language."
Herzog gets all apocalytic towards the end of the film, talking about the imminent demise of humanity, but whether or not one shares his pessimism, there is little reason not to watch this stunning documentary.
The scientists see the ice as a dynamic entity, not the static monolithic environment many think when they hear the name 'Antarctica'. There are cracks in the ice that sound like ghostly footsteps, and seal calls which sound like Tangerine Dream. Life forms in the sea are "like science fiction creatures" as one scientist puts it. It is "a horribly, violent world" full of strange, Lovecraftian organisms, some of which seem to possess "borderline intelligence...almost art."
Some of the scientists Herzog interviews have a religious sense of awe in the face of their discoveries, while others seem almost braindead. "Yes, it's a truly wonderful moment when you increase the known biodiversity," one tells him, sounding about as excited as if he had just filed a report on the origins of sawdust. But another talks with spiritual and poetic insight of the sub-atomic particles called neutrinos.
The whole film, in fact, is full of surprising insights - for instance, that the British empire started to fail only after Shackleton had reached the South Pole. In other words, when no further expansion was possible. Strangely, in a film about uninhabited Antarctica, Herzog delivers a moving defence of the languages that are dying out around the world: "Tree huggers and whale huggers are acceptable, but no one embraces the last speakers of a language."
Herzog gets all apocalytic towards the end of the film, talking about the imminent demise of humanity, but whether or not one shares his pessimism, there is little reason not to watch this stunning documentary.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Encounters at the End of the World
This is an incredible story, with some fabulous footage taken under the ice in Antartica. The bonus sections is rich with stunning imagery. Read more
Published 1 month ago by jo
Utter Drivel
I was so disappointed with this. I expected to see something amazing and instead got an hour an a half of utter boredom accompanied by the worst guitar soundtrack in history. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Ripped Off
dissapointing
I like some of Herzog's films but this one is dissapointing, like Herzog is overwhelmed by the location it has a strange naivete and awe at oddly unawesome things. Read more
Published 8 months ago by E. Wardle
Kind of boring
I just couldn't stay interested in this film. It didn't feel like there was a coherent story or theme - it was like a hastily edited travelogue of a strange place. Read more
Published on 6 Mar 2010 by shpadoinkle
not a nature film
this film never set out to be a nature documentary, herzog states this from the beginning. this film is about the people who work and live at the antarctic research station... Read more
Published on 24 Feb 2010 by jamesr0012
Encounters at the End of the World
This is an amazing film - yet another great documentary from Herzog, one of his best I think. Apart from the soundtrack and the imagery (under the ice) it is querky and funny as... Read more
Published on 15 Jan 2010 by Ms. L. McAlpine
Eccentric people, Stunning Scenery and Beautiful Music
Wonderfully quirky film, with Verner's droll very dry commentary. The female vocal piece during the diving sequence brought me too tears. Great Film.
Published on 23 Dec 2009 by Mr. P. R. Eden
Excellent Herzog
This is a great Blu ray disc. Ever wondered how life is in Antarctica and what people actually do there? Read more
Published on 13 Dec 2009 by S. H. Sok
Original ice
Fabulous and such an original production. A change from the predictable and often dull travelogue!
Published on 24 Nov 2009 by Starbook
Encounters at the End of the World
I was dissapointed with this documentary film, the landscape shots were brilliant but the film has a whole didn't hold my attention.
Published on 19 Nov 2009 by Johnains
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
|
|
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
