Review from Amazon.com that summed it up pretty good:
"This is a film about faith, divine grace and the fruitless vanity stemming from our soul's original sin. To quote from one of the characters in the film," My mind preaches vegetarianism, but my heart longs for a juicy piece of steak." And this is the premise of the three characters journey into the Zone - to seek out their steak: to find the Room in the Zone that will grant them their wishes; and this coming from the very same people whose professions demands higher standards of moral living from them, careers that require them to preach vegetarianism. Of course they have failed in their lives professions, and the characters know this but their inner chaos stem from the private pains in their lives, their failure to live up to their calling and their denial/certainty about their indivisual failures and states of their tarnished souls. Although Stalker is someone who leads others into the the Zone as a guide, his purpose apparently being to help others obtain their wish and thus bring about happiness for others, yet Tarkovsky hints that Stalker's outward explaination is dubious as he will not hesitate to make scapegoats and guinea pigs of his clients in the face of uncertainty and danger. As for Writer, he is, yes, a writer who is going into the Zone to look and beg for inspiration and faith in life as a whole; until Writer can obtain this wish, his cynicism and lack of faith can be summed up in one of his quotes:" A writer can only write about his readers." Professor is a scientist whose reason for seeking out the Room is unspecified until at the very end of the film but I will not divulge his reason.He is a researcher who has to bear his boss's fury and defintely hates his job at the lab. Many great cinematic moments are to be found in the film, in fact the film is one great cinematic moment non-stop, even after it ends, and this can be attributed to Tarkovsky's brilliant handling of every aspect of the film; one can even go so far as to say that with this film tarkovsky proved that he is easily the Einstein of cinema. His vision is earth shattering, deviating almost completely from the original intentions of the writers of a novel on which the film was based. The ending when it is revealed the reason why one of the guides of the Zone hanged himself despite obtaining a wish from the Room will blow away anyone who lives in the frustrated knowledge of life and all our mortal desires as an empty vainity of vanities without the presence of God and selfless love. The editing, set designs, music and lighting, the human choreography, the wisdom and everything in this film qualifies it as the best film ever made. Totally original without trying to be. If you only watch one film for the rest of your life this has to be it! It will make you want to live better, stirring profound thoughts and feelings within you long after the film's over. This is more than a film, it's almost a miracle. The British label ARTIFICIAL EYE apparently has better English subtitles and shows the complete film without cuts unlike the American version, or so I read."
This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:
Topic - Stalker the best movie ever - I agree! - Eldragon65 09:33:10 03/28/10 (9)
- I like the visuals, atmosphere and imagination - PhilJ 17:30:34 03/28/10 (0)
- RE: Stalker the best movie ever - I agree! - Rod H. 16:35:45 03/28/10 (2)
- RE: Stalker the best movie ever - I agree! - Eldragon65 17:16:45 03/28/10 (1)
- He was truly an artist, and one of a kind. NT - Rod H. 18:18:46 03/28/10 (0)
- Crashing bore--regretted ever having netflixed it. * - mr grits 15:34:19 03/28/10 (1)
- Experiencing Art is as personal as faith - we rejoice Art not because we were told - Eldragon65 17:12:22 03/28/10 (0)
- Yup, a brilliant film. No doubt about it. nt - tinear 11:01:49 03/28/10 (2)
- Count me as one who doesn't like it at all - Victor Khomenko 11:35:15 03/28/10 (1)
- Buddhist would say: Empty your cup - Eldragon65 11:46:32 03/28/10 (0)