My love/hate relationship with this film

Rating: 9/10 (16 July 2008)

Once again, after waiting about a year, I watched the Director's cut of this movie. I've watched it about six times over the past 20 years. And once again I have no idea why I like it so much. It is so disjointed and filled with so many unresolved sub-plots, undeveloped characters and ludicrous situations that it should be classified as abstract, even non-objective art. If it weren't for Morricone's wonderful music, I would not have watched it a second time, much less a sixth.
I'm not an unwashed Philistine, with no culture or taste, but I'm damned if I know why this film is regarded so highly. And why I will most likely watch it again in the future.
It has some indefinable charisma. The music,the photography and the scattered storyline somehow come together and create an entrancing, compelling movie that really, in the long run, goes nowhere. I gave it a 9. I held back the last number because the movie still leaves me frustrated at the end.