tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33019812.post477200418931435133..comments2024-01-15T05:26:06.518+00:00Comments on THOUGHTS OF XANADU: FitzcarraldoKubla Khanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11973223751363547679noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33019812.post-16246358487932696022008-02-04T21:17:00.000+00:002008-02-04T21:17:00.000+00:00This comment has been removed by the author.William Molloyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14179486115167447491noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33019812.post-58316280428646533042008-01-28T13:44:00.000+00:002008-01-28T13:44:00.000+00:00thanks for that kubla. I didn't see it on that pla...thanks for that kubla. I didn't see it on that plane. I hear what you're saying and the point about performance not necessarily pointing to meaning,a message, is exactly what I was trying (in my usual long-winded way) to say:the existentialist hero.<BR/><BR/>Why compare? I don't know. it's something we do all the time, isn't it? We say we like this song, not that one..or this work touches us more than another piece by the same author/artist/musician.<BR/><BR/>Yes, passion towards his aim. But for me, and this is only my subjective liking/disliking, I just couldn't relate to it. <BR/><BR/>Anyway, thanks for your insights. As always, I learn something new when reading your blog.<BR/><BR/>Keep well,<BR/><BR/>b.billoohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10716970909272480118noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33019812.post-64318535565901400602008-01-28T11:35:00.000+00:002008-01-28T11:35:00.000+00:00May be we need to see a movie at different planes,...May be we need to see a movie at different planes, without an overbearing desire for what it says. the message or the meaning may not always be so important.<BR/>Kinski's performance is just enough......<BR/>re comparisons, surely that will be atrocious. a movie, a different language, a different world from another. why compare?<BR/>i think we must watch something for just the act of watching at times, for cinema is the most profound of arts, more immediate than literature, more near.<BR/>in the end, as Fitz smoulders himself and his expensive cigar ( he spends a bit of money on it) he watches everything with a certain look, which suggests his partisan attitude towards his surroundings and at the same time his passion towards his aim. the end is the thing, so the beginning when he is actually panting.<BR/>we c'd go on......Kubla Khanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11973223751363547679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33019812.post-68306095877849476212008-01-28T05:18:00.000+00:002008-01-28T05:18:00.000+00:00KK, I don't know what you have against comparisons...KK, I don't know what you have against comparisons. <BR/>I'm still struggling to understand what you found so great about this film. <BR/><BR/>The Conrad point you make is spot on (in my opinion)..as if the 'adventure' could be redeeemd by the "idea" ! <BR/><BR/>I don't think it's just the one-sidedness of the character that is unappealing; it's his bloddy-mindedness. <BR/><BR/>In the final analysis, what is it that we are supposed to appreciate: the mission of bringing the music, or the sheer effort and determination ? I think it's the latter, but it just doesn't work for me. If the Will is everything then it doesn't matter if it is good or delusional. It's beyod good or evil..billoohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10716970909272480118noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33019812.post-48783049649034708102008-01-27T19:54:00.000+00:002008-01-27T19:54:00.000+00:00It will be facile to compare movies with each othe...It will be facile to compare movies with each other, though i have not seen the ones you mention.<BR/>if i will, we will share notes.Kubla Khanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11973223751363547679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33019812.post-21078444707992324212008-01-27T06:09:00.000+00:002008-01-27T06:09:00.000+00:00KK, at the risk of pissing you off no end, I thoug...KK, at the risk of pissing you off no end, I thought this was a crap film. I wonder if 'the west' can think of a genius that isn't 'mad' (Goethe?: often rounded, always open)<BR/><BR/>Have you seen Rescue Dawn? What did you make of it? <BR/><BR/>On the other hand, thought Wild Blue Yonder was very good-and love the music. The Emmi Leisner track on that is superb.<BR/><BR/>Gosh, it's a lovely , lazy Sunday morning here, and perhaps the bright light that suffuses everything means that I just can't set muh store to this Romantic, 'northern' striving.<BR/><BR/>Best wishes,<BR/><BR/>b.billoohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10716970909272480118noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33019812.post-64607502962205575372008-01-26T19:37:00.000+00:002008-01-26T19:37:00.000+00:00Fitzcarraldo is not a missionary, yes. and his ope...Fitzcarraldo is not a missionary, yes. and his opera is not a tool to scare but silence, in a benign way. the comparison with apocalypse now is more with the ship and other rubber tycoons in mind rather than Fitz himself.<BR/>Fitzcarraldo is a man whose interests are self absorbing, removed yet linked to the system he is a part of.Kubla Khanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11973223751363547679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33019812.post-69085599874384922342008-01-26T17:19:00.000+00:002008-01-26T17:19:00.000+00:00Actually in comparison to Apocalypse now Fitzcarra...Actually in comparison to Apocalypse now Fitzcarraldo is pure innocence. He doesn't music as a tool to scare people, there really one could draw much more uglier parallels to colonialism. What it does not make it any better is that Fitzcarraldo really doesn't care about the rubber and such except of course that his does finance his dream, but if lets say some greenish leftish organizations could provide him with the money - so i imagine - he just as good would have made business with them. Apocalypse now is far worse re colonialism, even though Fitzcarraldo is maybe more "graphic or " in this respect. In Apocalypse Now Wagner, (and especially when one looks which passage from Wagner is being used, Valkyries) is used to scare the people while Fitzcarraldo only wants to enjoy himself, or maybe even share his passion, he has zero missionary or pedagogical interest.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33019812.post-1563661258273520622008-01-26T17:16:00.000+00:002008-01-26T17:16:00.000+00:00yes, only a certain passion can lead to greater th...yes, only a certain passion can lead to greater things.<BR/>as i pointed out, he is breathless at the beginning because he is so frantic. it is only his madness that saves him. yet, one cannot touch him, for he is strange, and estranged.Kubla Khanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11973223751363547679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33019812.post-30141977243709820792008-01-26T17:04:00.000+00:002008-01-26T17:04:00.000+00:00i truly love this film, Fitzcarraldo really is the...i truly love this film, Fitzcarraldo really is the only reasonable person with regards to opera. i really do think most of the time Herzog is not so great, but with Fitzcarraldo this is awesome. Of course there are all those things to consider, colonialism and such, then again, he is an outcast too, gets mocked all the time and his friend with the brothel is also not exactly what one can call social acceptable, at least not everywhere. as i was reading Hebbel yesterday i came across this sentence that passion isn't a sin (in the sense that it destructs), but coldness is. It's suitable somehow for him. It is not true that he does only love himself, he loves art, the opera, and in general one can see this movie as a sort of parable of how far one can go for one's passions, for art. I am all for it, for such crazy undertakings and opera everywhere.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com