Fitzcarraldo

Herzog thought that the translation of Fitzcarraldo onto DVD improved it considerably and he was right; the heightened picture quality and sound do it serious favours. The long visual sequences look even more dramatic with a crisper image and similarly the hard work of hauling a ship over a mountain becomes more apparent with the redigitised sound - you can actually hear the thing creaking and straining its way to its destination.

The subtitling/language options are also valuable. Listening to the film in English (the language in which it was actually made) thankfully eliminates the necessity to read and watch at the same time.

Herzog's belief that the DVD version is better than the cinematic release is a fact that he shares in the director's commentary - one of the bonus features. This is a fascinating interview, in which he reveals why he wanted Jack Nicholson in the title role, why Mick Jagger was axed and the truth behind the rumours about shooting. In terms of the film itself, he sheds light on some of the more confusing aspects, explaining the narrative, the location choice and the motivations behind the project. For Fitzcarraldo fans, this is a great indulgence and for newcomers it is a helpful tool, enhancing understanding and thus enjoyment of the film.

Other extras include film notes, a biography of the actors and a gallery. It's a shame there isn't a Making Of documentary, or behind the scenes footage, as that would have taken the DVD up a notch, considering that one of the most interesting element of the film is contemplating just how they got that boat over that hill.

However, all in all, this is not a bad DVD package, especially considering the film was made well before the advent of the CD.