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Zachary George Najarian-Najafi

20Feb13

Herzog is a rare artist; one of the few who somehow reaches some universal truth. Few films are as emotionally or spiritually enlightening as this one.

the mesmerizing cinematography makes it -- reitwein also worked on kaspar hauser. from now on i will only watch herzog films reitwein worked on. it feels like a very good late era bunuel, except a better film than bunuel would ever have the inclination to make.

Sunrise

31May12

Despite initially enigmatic formalism, there are glimmers of future Herzogion poetics. Yet, what's most amazingly symbolic is the extended shot where glass-makers work glass, tying the polarities of heated air and maluable material; further representing the clouds and earth, liars and thieves, soothsayers and capitalists. To foresee results of labor one must give in to uncertainties behind dreams or future visions.

Trolley Freak

19Apr12

Herzog's weird and wonderful film is visually spectacular and strangely hypnotic, an appropriate description for a production that is infamous for the hypnotism of its cast. Based on Bavarian folklore, the plot concerns the crisis which descends upon a village when the foreman of the local glass blowing factory dies without revealing the secret of how to make its famous ruby glass. Challenging but rewarding viewing..

Lopezz

7Aug11

Herzog is capable of making great films and terrible films. This is somewhere in between, but it's definitely not one of his best. Some interesting surrealist scenes don't make up for the lack of interest of the whole.

Will Bryan likes this

byavuz

15Jan11

Bizarre and ultimately, unsuccessful I think. But its still worth seeing a movie that buzzes with the same dreadful hypnosis the actors are under.

Christian Harding

6Jun10

Typical of any Werner Herzog film, the cinematography is wonderful. And the film as a whole is perfectly fine, but ultimately a bit of a disappointment, to me at least.

Daniel S.

21Apr10

***1/2. I first watched this film in 1977 in a local theater and I still remember now that I was totally euphoric after the screening. I hadn't understood one scene of the film but its stunning cinematography and Herzog's handling of the most obscure and dark themes of German Romanticism had filled me with enthusiasm. The actors, hypnotized every morning by Herzog and a psychiatrist, seemed to have popped out of George Romero's NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD. It's 2010 now. I understand a lot better the script of the film because I've watched all the movies Werner Herzog shot before HEART OF GLASS, I still consider that some scenes of the film are, like the dance with the dead man. exceptional, but I'm not euphoric anymore. I'm getting old, I presume. Recommended.