Herzog/Kinski Collection

Anchor Bay Entertainment ($89.98)

A brilliant concept brilliantly done, this six-disc collection features all five of the film collaborations between Werner Herzog and his mad muse Klaus Kinski, including Aguirre: The Wrath of God, Nosferatu: Phantom der Nacht, Woyzeck, Fitzcarraldo, and Cobra Verde, as well as the poignant and disturbing documentary My Best Fiend. Each disc is graced with separated audio commentary tracks, making-of features, theatrical trailers, and the like, but it’s the experience of watching all five of the dysfunctional duo’s breathtaking movies that sends the mind and spirit reeling. There’s never going to be another collaborative team remotely like that of Herzog and Kinski — like the big bang, the universe simply won’t allow such a thing to happen twice — and Anchor Bay’s handsome (sexy, even) slipcased collection is enough to make the cinéaste in your family lose his or her cookies all over the other unopened Christmas-morning goodies from sheer, maniacal joy.

This article appears in December 13 • 2002.

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