Normally when I love a movie, I want to discuss it in depth. Even with people who didn't like it, as long as they aren't being dismissive (which I don't think I was).


>1) I don't remember many plot elements because they weren't
>very important to me on first viewing

So the plot is not important, and the movie is all about tone? I care a lot about plot.


>2) If you didn't love the movie based on tone, cinematography,
>originality alone, there isn't much hope

I was impressed with how the tone of the movie was created and maintained, but it was so long and with such a sparse and confusing plot that I didn't thoroughly enjoy the movie.
I am not one who generally cares much about cinematography.
I could give it bonus points to originality, but that only goes so far. It still has to be an entertaining movie.


>I always like reading essays/reviews after a flick though, and
>Ebert's great movies list is usually good:
>
> http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20070908%2FREVIEWS08%2F70909001%2F1023

Thanks, I am checking it out...
Good article. And it helps explain why I didn't like it but others loved it.

This quote from Ebert (who quotes Tarr) probably sums up why I DIDN'T like the film:

To know where we stand as the film begins, we should start with these words by the director, Tarr: "I despise stories, as they mislead people into believing that something has happened. In fact, nothing really happens as we flee from one condition to another ... All that remains is time. This is probably the only thing that's still genuine -- time itself; the years, days, hours, minutes and seconds."

Applying that philosophy to movies doesn't sound very entertaining at all. It's a very interesting concept, but in my opinion, does not make for entertaining movies; rather, I found it boring in its execution.

I love movies because I love stories; it all makes sense now that the point of this film was NOT to tell a story.

Thus, this movie, however brilliant it may be in some circles, was simply not meant/made for me. And that's fine; I am still glad I checked it out.