It's the first time I've checked out Tarkovsky's work, so I wasn't sure what to expect to be honest. I'm still interested in checking out his other stuff anyway, especially Stalker. And who knows, maybe I'll revisit Solaris someday and fall in love with it... that's exactly what happened with A Space Odyssey.
FWIW - I like Stalker better. (And MIRROR). But they are certainly cut from the same cloth.
But there is no question, that it helps to be in a specific frame of mind before watching Tarkovsky films.
(Same can be said of Bergman).
I have always said that Tarkovsky was why the term "deliberately paced" must have been invented.
But in a good way. ( and if you're in the right frame of mind). I can easily see myself becoming annoyed and exasperated with a Tarkovsky film if I was expecting something else. (In fact, I think I had a similar reaction as you the first time - because in my mind- I was about to watch some SCIFI! Yeah!!! Wooo!! ----yeah, not exactly Blade Runner
But a different kind of of metaphysical scifi. I enjoyed the hell out of it
after I was tuned in to his frequency.
. Especially STALKER.
But, I can easily see the issues being a first time viewer. (Boring is always the complaint - and he
is very slow paced. But, I would argue that that is instrumental in putting you in the mindset and the apparent monotony and slow pace is useful tool. - This technique was also used famously by Belgian filmmaker Chantel Akerman in her film
Jeanne Dielman, 23, Quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles (where we watch the minutia of a woman's humdrum life coming apart in slow methodical detail for almost 3 and half hours (!) leading to a shicking ending) and Michael Hanake in his film
The Seventh Continent (where we see a family repeat their boring routine over and over for the bulk of the film in order for the shocking ending to really jar us).
Or, it's just a matter of taste, and his style isn't your cup of tea! (That's o.k., too!)
Me, for instance: Although I admire its significance - I largely can't stand the French New Wave films.
If you wanna torture me - force me to watch Jules Et Jim.
