Cubussoli Very very predictable, including the post credit scene !!!

Stometer Save your money for something good and enjoyable

Huievest Instead, you get a movie that's enjoyable enough, but leaves you feeling like it could have been much, much more.

Glucedee It's hard to see any effort in the film. There's no comedy to speak of, no real drama and, worst of all.

MisterWhiplash With this 'first' part of Dog Star Man (I'd say you should watch the Prelude before this, but I don't buy that there's exactly a strong 'continuity' here, this isn't the Marvel universe or something), we get more of a narrative this time. By 'more' I mean that there is at least a character of a sort - a rugged man (Brakhage himself) climbing up a mountain. Ala that song by Chumbawumba (remember that one, yes I went there), he gets knocked down and then he gets back up again, and his visions won't keep him down. That is, if they are visions.This time there are more steady shots that last longer than the half a second or less that we got in the Prelude section, and yet in a strange way I wish it was *more* abstract. Because of there being "character" or a person or whatever, there's some expectation set up, at least for me, for more to go on. What we get is the furious, rapid-fire and stream of consciousness approach to imagery, where things go by so far I visage about 100 images in 20 seconds, and then it goes back briefly to slow-motion shots of the man climbing ever so slowly up the mountainside. Sometimes the dog is there and sometimes not.Maybe it makes the most sense as this section being like some abstract documentary of what it takes to climb up a mountain, and if you're in a mood that is rather infuriating your mind will go at a very fast clip across images and sights and things that may be unspeakable. That's what this series is strongest as it approaching things like red membranes where cells and tiny organs pulsate, and the sun, shot with a lens that makes it look up close and personal, is imposing in some way that is far off but close at the same time.And yet for all of the strong passages, I think having the man going up the hill, for as long as this movie is (30 minutes), makes it more monotonous. At least with the Prelude you didn't know what to expect, and it's more of a journey through someone's subconscious or unconscious. Here it's a mix of both this less-than-bare-bones scenario of a man on the mountain (albeit personal to Brakhage, who was out of work at the time with kids and one on the way, and this feels like a battle to persevere), and the abstract stream. It works, but not to where it's as outstanding as the Prelude.

Horst in Translation ([email protected]) Stan Brakhage made this half-hour short film over 50 years ago when he was in his late 20s. It is the first of four parts, however there is a prologue which runs for almost as long as this first part and Brakhage made a 5th part as well over 30 years after part 4. I wish I could talk a bit more about what was happening, but honestly I have no idea. The camera was so wild and all over the place to understand even remotely what was going on. of course, I could read it, but that's not the purpose of film as medium. You need to understand it from what you see. Occasionally, there were a man and a dog visible, but that's all I could make out. Looked like they were living in some remote era. I am not the greatest fan of Brakhage, but I definitely prefer his kaleidoscope-like animated film that only run for a couple minutes and it baffled me to see how popular this one here is. I found it boring from start to finish and have no plans to ever see it again. Not recommended.

BlueNeon-2 The trouble with Brakhage, and most avant-garde film, is that, while experimentation is valuable to the artist, it isn't necessarily art in itself. This 60's film is simply an experiment in visual manipulation, which occasionally has some interesting ideas that go nowhere in particular. The division of the film into sections seems unnecessary and, as far as I can tell, follows no particular reasoning. If you're on acid, you might love this film. If you're a filmmaker, you might find it interesting here and there. In general, however, it's not worth the time.

Orlok If you like to feel like you are better than other people, see this movie and pretend to like it. This film combines short, chiefly unrelated shots in order to explore the viewing experience. Though there is basic technical skill involved and Brakhage must have certainly spent a long time making Dog Star Man, if the film were cut up and recombined in much any other way, it is doubtful anyone would know the difference. This film comes from the same sort of mentality which created color field painting and other such things which chiefly interest people who don't have anything useful to do with their time. If you haven't seen it yet and aren't on acid, avoid this film at all costs.