Aguirre, the Wrath of God (Aguirre, der Zorn Gottes)1972
Aguirre, the Wrath of God (Aguirre, der Zorn Gottes) (1972)
TOMATOMETER
AUDIENCE SCORE
Critic Consensus: A haunting journey of natural wonder and tangible danger, Aguirre transcends epic genre trappings and becomes mythological by its own right.
Aguirre, the Wrath of God (Aguirre, der Zorn Gottes) Photos
Movie Info
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Cast
as Don Lope de Aguirre
as Don Pedro de Ursua
as Brother Gaspar de Carvajal
as Inez
as Flores
as Don Fernando de Guzman
as Gonzalez Pizarro
as Perucho
as Armando
as Okello
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Critic Reviews for Aguirre, the Wrath of God (Aguirre, der Zorn Gottes)
All Critics (46) | Top Critics (6) | Fresh (45) | Rotten (1) | DVD (4)
Aguirre is a compelling piece of historical fiction that lingers in the memory largely because of its lush, claustrophobic atmosphere and the towering presence of Kinski.
Made for buttons, it's an awesome feat of filmmaking.
The acting is properly larger than life, especially Klaus Kinski as the title character, a lean, driven but imposing man who has heads lopped off when in any way interfered with in his task of destruction and exploration.
Aguirre, Wrath of God is not just a great movie but an essential one.
This is a splendid and haunting work.
One of the great haunting visions of the cinema.
Audience Reviews for Aguirre, the Wrath of God (Aguirre, der Zorn Gottes)
Wonderful!!!! *****
Super Reviewer
The documentary "My best fiend" stunningly portrayed the love/hate relationship between director Werner Herzog and his star Klaus Kinski, this is one of their collaborations showing that both were willing to go to lengths to realize a project. One of the film's biggest assets, but also one of the greatest obstacles in the making, is the filming on location in the South African jungle. The impressive opening shot alone makes you appreciate the effort. With the river and the jungle almost becoming hostile characters of their own, Aguirre's expedition faces constant threats both from the outside and within, unable to escape their fate. Despite of the impressive landscapes, the film almost feels like an intimate play. Some of the acting feels a tad amateurish, but it actually gives the result an even more realistic touch. As the expedition has nothing left to do than kill time and miraculously hope for food while sitting on their raft, the movie suffers a little under its own slowness. Still, a memorable and impressive historical drama.
Super Reviewer
Deep in South American jungle there's something afoot. A splinter group from Pizzaro's expedition is sent to find El Dorado, the legendary city of gold. This group is steeped in Christianity as they spread it throughout the new land and the natives that inhabit it. It's like a trade in a way: We'll give you Christ if you give us the gold. As the film progresses and the group heads further into the jungle everything begins to fall apart as the natives become more and more restless and Aguirre (Klaus Kinski) develops the obsession of being the next Cortez. Aguirre lends itself to so many films that came after it, particularly Apocalypse Now. The basic premise between the two films is the same. A mission on a boat slowly falls into total chaos. Just like the characters on screen, we have no idea what's around the bend in the river ahead. With Aguirre, there are two things that make it such a great movie. The first is Werner Herzog's direction. All great directors use the environment and the background as another character in their film. Herzog accomplishes this by making shots seem so beautiful and so sinister at the same time. What lies in the trees over there? Herzog gets into the soul of the jungle right along with the souls of the characters. Of course when we talk about characters we have to discuss the second part of the Aguirre equation and that is Klaus Kinski. He is that desire, that rage, that cut throat individual that will advance to his goal no matter what the cost. He surveys the land like a god looking over his domain. He will start is own empire, even when things are at their darkest. In a way Aguirre and Kinski are bound by their identities. They're the same person in the end. Aguirre is one of those films that people stumble upon. A story that doesn't sound like much on the surface becomes an imaginative journey into the unknown. A story that is universal in nature, Aguirre is a great piece of German cinema.
Super Reviewer
Aguirre, the Wrath of God (Aguirre, der Zorn Gottes) Quotes
| Don Lope de Aguirre: | â??If I, Aguirre, want the birds to drop dead from the trees the birds will drop dead from the trees. I am the Wrath of God! The earth I walk upon sees me and quakes! But whoever follows me and the river, will win untold riches. But whoever deserts... |
| Don Lope de Aguirre: | If I, Aguirre, want the birds to drop dead from the trees the birds will drop dead from the trees. I am the Wrath of God! The earth I walk upon sees me and quakes! But whoever follows me and the river, will win untold riches. But whoever deserts... |
| Brother Gaspar de Carvajal: | You know, my child, for the good of our Lord the Church was always on the side of the strong.â?? Whatâ??s the priestâ??s point, and what was his interest in continuing with the expedition? |
| Brother Gaspar de Carvajal: | You know, my child, for the good of our Lord the Church was always on the side of the strong. What's the priest's point, and what was his interest in continuing with the expedition? |
| Don Fernando de Guzman: | All the land to our left and all the land to our right now belongs to us. I solemnly and formally take possession of all this land. Our country is already six times larger than Spain, and everyday we drift makes it bigger. |
| Don Lope de Aguirre: | Have you seen any solid ground that would support your weight? |
| Don Lope de Aguirre: | I, the wrath of God, will marry my own daughter and with her I'll found the purest dynasty the earth has ever seen. |