Sunday, May 8, 2011
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Sunday, May 8, 2011
MOVIE REVIEW
Cave Of Forgotten Dreams (3D)
A Spectacle "Avatar" Could
Only Dream Of Being
The venerable filmmaker Werner Herzog (right) with friend in a photo for his
latest documentary "Cave Of Forgotten
Dreams".
IFC Films
by
Omar P.L. Moore/PopcornReel.com
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Sunday, May 8, 2011
By turns fascinating and revelatory, Werner Herzog takes us into a deeper realm
with a tour of ancient caves in the countryside of southern France in "Cave Of
Forgotten Dreams", one of the year's finest documentaries and best movies.
The best thing to do is to give away as little of this marvelous movie as
possible. I would humbly invite you to transport yourself to the nearest
movie theater and take a 90-minute odyssey into a spectacular and singular
experience you won't dream of or soon forget.
Mr. Herzog uses 3D technology very proficiently for the subject matter at hand
-- so well in fact, that you feel as if you are being slowly pulled by a tether
on your movie theater seat into the beautifully-shot caves. Mr. Herzog's
narration is haunting, his thoughts incisive and provoking, and his insights
thoroughly entertaining. His words are as reassuring as they are almost
mythical. So much of this wonderful exploration is experiencing the zeal
and professorial enthusiasm of Mr. Herzog.
"Cave Of Forgotten Dreams" would have been good enough by itself without 3D, but
Mr. Herzog gets the most out of the extra dimension by tailoring the physical
and geological aspects of his very small workspaces in the caves. What his
cameras are unable to frame in proper context added depth brings into impressive
perspective.
It is no secret that for a long time I've despised 3D. The extra dimension
is wasted in almost every instance it is used. Very often it is a
substitute for, rather than an enhancement of, a story. Today 3D is so
ubiquitous as to be rendered irrelevant. Typically you don't get a sense
of 3D to the point where it's utilized to any appreciable effect. While
there were some 1950s films that used 3D fairly well (including Alfred
Hitchcock's "Dial M For Murder"), most have floundered mightily since.
"Avatar" made two billion dollars worldwide using 3D technology integral to the
film but overwhelming of any sense of story it had to tell. James Cameron
put a gleaming new pig's ear on an old, recycled story.
While Mr. Herzog's documentary sadly won't enjoy the huge mega-riches of
"Avatar", the German filmmaker has succeeded in arresting our senses and in the
process becoming an enthusiastic tour guide we want to keep listening to and
thinking about. Each word he speaks has a wide-eyed excitement. Each
insight is valuable. Mr. Herzog has such a distinctive voice and his
thoroughly immersive "Cave" is memorable long after it is over. Mr. Herzog
clearly enjoys what he does and you can't help but be caught up in his
curiosity.
"Cave Of Forgotten Dreams" is, at press time rated G by the Motion Picture Association Of America.
No further elaboration on the rating is given. The film's duration is one hour and 30 minutes.
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