Fitzcarraldo

Although many critics felt that Les Blank's documentary Burden of Dreams on the making of Fitzcarraldo--Werner Herzog's epic tale of a misguided dreamer who wants to build an opera house in the Amazonian jungle--was superior to the film itself, the DVD version offers its own "making of" story in the form of a superior audio commentary by Herzog and producer Lucki Stipetic. Admitting that the charges of environmental exploitation are a cross he has to bear, but good-humoredly scoffing at the critical rumors that Peruvian Indians were actually killed during the production, the obsessive Herzog is a fascinating extension of his protagonists, including the obsessed Brian Sweeney Fitzgerald (played by the late great temperamental Klaus Kinski), whose struggle to transport a river steamboat over a mountain, comprises the centerpiece of Herzog's film. In addition to the illuminating commentary, this beautifully presented widescreen transfer offers both German and English soundtracks in Dolby Digital 5.1 sound. Highly recommended. (R. Pitman)[Blu-ray Review—Feb. 10, 2015—Shout! Factory, 158 min., PG, $24.98—Making its first standalone appearance on Blu-ray, 1982's Fitzcarraldo features a soft transfer and a DTS-HD 2.0 soundtrack. Extras include two audio commentaries (one moderated by writer Norman Hill with director Werner Herzog and producer Lucki Stipetic; the other in German with English subtitles with Herzog and moderated by actor Laurens Straub), and trailers. Bottom line: one of Herzog's greatest looks a bit soft on Blu-ray but remains a powerhouse viewing experience.]