Encounters at the End of the World (2007)DVD Rip
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1093824/
Werner Herzog (Grizzly Man, Rescue Dawn) confirms his standing as poet laureate of men in extreme situations with Encounters at the End of the World. In this visually stunning exploration, Herzog travels to the Antarctic community of McMurdo Station, headquarters of the National Science Foundation and home to eleven hundred people during the austral summer (Oct-Feb). Over the course of his journey, Herzog examines human nature and Mother nature, juxtaposing breathtaking locations with the profound, surreal, and sometimes absurd experiences of the marine biologists, physicists, plumbers, and truck drivers who choose to form a society as far away from society as one can get.
An elegaic documentary from Herzog and its about as far away from the standard format of the usual documentary as you can get. Narrated by Herzog in his strangely accented voice sounding a bit like a lighter voiced Swartzenegger it is initially almost annoying but you get used to it.
It seems a lot of eccentric characters make it to the pole, most are impressively credentialled, people like the linguist in a land where none are needed but he tells that languages are dying by the dozens every day but no one cares. He wrote a carefully researched thesis but had to destroy it when the powers that be determined that the language he studied was not worth saving.
There's also the Russian who escaped the Soviet labour camps. He couldn't even talk about it but he carries a survival pack at all times containing a raft and tent amongst other things so he can leave in an instant if required.
The common theme amongst these experts at the coalface so to speak is that climate change is real and much worse than the politicians believe and the glacial pace of change will not be nearly enough. These guys should know they see the results for themselves.
It seems that its not if we will go the way of the dinosaur but how quick will it be.
Number 194 in IMDB's top 250 movies and rated at 8.2 well deserved stars.
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One common thread seems to be mental illness but this isn't always the case. And there is a survivor whose story is told in heart rending detail. The thing is a lot of these people seem to have so much to live for with close friends and family who care for them deeply. I'm convinced they're all due to some form of mental aberration and in some cases nothing really helps they just want to do it and they do.
Ebert gives this 4 stars.
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From the droll soundtrack to Peter Sellers manic performance as Clare Quilty its a winner all the way. The movie also hints at the less than savoury behaviour of Humbert but in the end he is a subject for pity as the hapless victim due to his doomed obsession.
The remake was surprisingly OK but is unnecessary and forgettable compared to the original.
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The movie starts slowly in surely one of the sleeziest villages ever seen in a movie where Montand mistreats his girlfriend. This only serves to highten the tension which comes later in the movie.
Its a well deserved number 126 in IMDB's top 250 movies.
The remake by under rated director William Friedkin is also worth a look but necessarily fades compared to this version.
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The download is RMVB playable by Mediaplayer classic or Real Media Player and in my opinion this format is exceptional for its relatively small file size and quality.
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