听 By his own admission, director Werner Herzog knows "Cobra Verde" to be a flawed film. It is quite disjointed but there are some undeniably powerful scenes, all of which are beautifully captured on a fine Region 1 DVD transfer.
The picture quality is very good. The African locations in the latter part of the film look particularly fresh and vivid in colour.
The sound comes in either a 2.0 English dub or a 5.1 German language mix with subtitles. As you'd expect, you're far better off with the 5.1 version not only for the effects, but also to avoid the often cheesy dubbing. In 5.1 you'll also enjoy the added power that the sub woofer lends in underscoring the most ominous moments of the movie.
The main extra feature on the disc is a full-length commentary from Herzog, as on the superb "Aguirre: Wrath of God" DVD. It's all that's needed and he offers a perceptive insight into the cinematic demon that was Klaus Kinski. Within a few days of filming, he felt the urge to kill Kinski, and he compares the actor's on-screen rages in this film to his antics during production. But Herzog is also full of praise for the "wonderful intensity" Kinski had on the screen, and admits to missing him greatly. It's a fascinating commentary, and it illuminates a little of their incredible working relationship.
Chapters: 28
Region: 1
Ratio: 1.77:1 (Anamorphic)
Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1
Extra Features: Scene selection, audio commentary by director Werner Herzog, talent biographies, trailer, multiple languages, subtitles.
