Wow, I had heard of El Topo vaguely before, and I read up on it recently. I found out that a box set of all of his iconic films from the 60s/70s was going to be released on May 1st, so I pre-ordered it on a whim.

Wow.

I watched El Topo the other night and had a love/hate relationship with it. I liked the abstract ideas, but hated how they were jammed into a very structured narrative. Yet, I still thought a lot about the film the next day and it had a lasting effect on me.

Then last night I watched one of the other films from the boxset: The Holy Mountain.

The Holy Mountain is superior to El Topo on so many levels. It's much more free, the film contains barely any dialogue, yet so many powerful images. And some of the FUNNIEST satire I've ever seen on film.

I have yet to watch the other 2 films in the boxset, but let me say to anyone remotely interested in film: buy this boxset now. The boxset contains 3 feature films, 1 short film (40 min) and 2 soundtracks- and you can buy it online for literally 28 dollars.

Each film has been BEAUTIFULLY restored (you can the difference in a special feature about it), some of the best restoration work I have ever seen. Each film is challenging, thought provoking, and impeccably directed, with some amazing imagery. And each disc has a very ample amount of special features, all very very interesting (they didn't just toss this boxset together- they put a lot of love into it).


Many people will be turned off by these films because they are completely bizarre, but if you go in with an open mind, you'll learn a lot about imagery and really get an experience.

Awesome. Good to know. I'll keep his name in mind.

El Topo has its moments, but its the images and indescribable moments from The Holy Mountain that continually haunt/rape my mind? Wow that film is powerful in such a strange way.

Im curious about what you have to say concerning the other two films in the boxset (Fando y Lis and Santa Sangre I'm assuming?)

No, the other disc in the box set has his short film La Cravate. I'm watching Fando y Lis tonight, I'll get back to you.


Yeah and I've heard lots of people say El Topo is better and I know it's more well known, and I see what he's doing. A lot of places it works, and a lot of places it doesn't or feels very self absorbed. The ending was incredibly sad, but for me The Holy Mountain is much more involving. It flows more, and doesn't feel pinned down by any sort of structure. The atmosphere is amazing, the satire is hilarious, and the photography is absolutely astounding. The scene where the thief rides the giant fish hook up the tower is so beautiful, especially with the subtle music. I think my jaw was open during the whole thing.

El Topo is prob his hardest film to watch cause its so incomplete (he lost a lot of footage thus its choppy and confusing in a lot of areas, still a great experience tho)

Fando & Lis is like what people want Fellini to have been. Rumor has it people called this film a rip off of Fellini's Satyricon, but i dont think Fellini was almost killed during the premier like Jodorowksy! He had to run from a mob of angry mexicans who couldnt understand his thoughts.

Santa Sangre is a good one too but i couldnt get into it. this one feels "foreign". I need to see it again.

John Lennon produced Holy Mtn with 1 million bucks. Truely shows too what money can do in the right mindstate. Amazing hallucinatory mind ****. one of greatest exploration of one's dreams

BTW its wonderful his films are f inally being released, cause theyve been banned all over the world.

I wouldn't chalk it all up to dreams and hallucinations, Holy Mountain's symbolism had a lot to do with the occult and religions in general. I was really just happy to see that a million dollars (even 1970 American dollars in Mexico) could buy that kind of weirdness. I really think you'd be hard pressed to find such a massive group of people who would go through that kind of weird **** for that kind of money.

Even adjusting for inflation.

elliott (otiose)...