A difficult movie

Rating: Null/10 (26 June 1999)

In this age of technologically advanced films with jaw-dropping special effects and ennervatingly simple-minded plots, characters and dialogue, this film will seem difficult. It's definitely not for casual leave-your-brain-at-home viewing.
First there is the dialogue, or lack thereof. There is no talking at all for the first half hour of the film, and long stretches thereafter where no one says anything. This can be alienating to modern viewers who are used to vapid actors inanely flapping their mouths and spewing forth loads of verbal diarrhea. Second, the film moves slowly, often very slowly. Again, disconcerting to people not accustomed to exercising their attention spans. Third, the plot is inscrutable, often requiring the viewer to think fairly hard about what is going on. 'Nuff said about that.
The special effects, especially the photographic effects, are stunning, even after thirty-one years. I suspect, though, that time and its attendant advances in technology have dulled the visual effect a bit.
Yes, this movie requires a lot of effort from the viewer. But one suspects that it's well worth the effort.