RottenTomatoes.com
Log In | Register | What is RT?
Check out the new RT Community
  • Home
  • Movies
  • DVD
  • Celebrities
  • News
  • Critics
  • Trailers & Pictures
  • CommunityBeta
  • Box Office
  • | Best Of
  • | Certified Fresh
  • | Showtimes
RT Search Powered by Google
help icon Enhanced RT
searches on Google
Click here to turn on enhanced search results from RT on your Google searches.
 
Movies / On DVD / The White Diamond
The White Diamond

Rate this Movie Help Icon

  • Write a Review
  • Read Reviews
  • Add to List
  • Buy Poster External Icon
Bookmark and Share

The White Diamond (2005)

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
  • DVD
94 %
Tomatometer
Template ImageTemplate Image

How does the Tomatometer work Help Icon

Reviews Counted:18

Fresh:17

Rotten:1

Average Rating:7.7/10

Rated: 15

Runtime: 90 mins

Genre: Education/General Interest

Theatrical Release:16-10-2007

Synopsis: Werner Herzog has a taste for absurd personal missions, especially those involving a human struggle against nature. From characters like Aguirre--the Spaniard who searches for a hidden city of gold... Werner Herzog has a taste for absurd personal missions, especially those involving a human struggle against nature. From characters like Aguirre--the Spaniard who searches for a hidden city of gold in Peru, to Fitzcarraldo--who wants to build an opera house in the Amazon rain forest, Herzog is friend to all doomed endeavors and mad poets of disaster. In WHITE DIAMOND, Dr. Graham Dorrington is the visionary scientist at the heart of an excursion into the jungles of Guyana. An aeronautics expert, Dorrington has designed an airship for exploring the rain forest canopy. But his motivations are not entirely scientific: a friend's death during a similar experiment years before still haunts him, driving him to atone for the violence of what he calls a "stupid, meaningless accident." Herzog's camera bears witness to Dorrington as he rhapsodizes about the beauty of the silent flight above the forest, and the childlike enthusiasm with which he approaches his craft. Dorrington's curious, inventive mind, shaped by Western science and imbued with the sensibilities of an artist--a combination on which Herzog embellishes--is contrasted with that of Mark Anthony, a Rastafarian native who watches the proceedings with a bemused smile. His poetic presence provides another take on humanity's place in nature, endowed as he is with a mystical transcendence unseen in the Western world. The imprint of Herzog's subjectivity is what makes the documentary work, and here the choice of subject matter lends itself perfectly to the director's favorite themes. The otherworldly creatures which he magnificently photographs in the treetops become a symphony of the terrible beauty of nature, while his characters narrate the heroic and winsome attempts of humanity to reconcile itself with nature's uncontrollable power. [More]

Director: Werner Herzog

Director: Werner Herzog
Producer: Annette Scheurich, Lucki Stipetic, Werner Herzog

Reviews for The White Diamond

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
  • DVD
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View
Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
02/09/06
Time Out
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Time Out New York | comment Comment
08/16/07
Dave Calhoun
Dave Calhoun
Time Out New York

Herzog illustrates through both Dorrington and the Rastafarian the wonder of simply being human.

Full Review Source: Film Journal International | comment Comment
03/01/07
Maria Garcia
Maria Garcia
Film Journal International

The film is one small story and how it can be presented and interpreted to mean so much, giving significance to a more introspective definition of triumph.

Full Review Source: Window to the Movies | comment Comment
07/06/06
Jeffrey Chen
Jeffrey Chen
Window to the Movies

One of Herzog's most breathtaking and life-affirming films.

Full Review Source: Combustible Celluloid | comment Comment
03/04/06
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Combustible Celluloid

The film ascends to some dizzy, emotional heights. Worth a peek.

Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com | comment Comment
12/06/05
Christopher Null
Christopher Null
Filmcritic.com

A superb portrait of the dangers as well as euphoria that can come from chasing one's most treasured dreams.

Full Review Source: Lessons of Darkness | comment Comment
11/29/05
Nick Schager
Nick Schager
Lessons of Darkness

Herzog loves to document humanity's perpetual struggle with nature, and in The White Diamond, the jungle -- sometimes makes sophisticated human technology laughably clumsy.

Full Review Source: AV Club | comment Comment
09/26/05
Scott Tobias
Scott Tobias
AV Club

Although The White Diamond is entire of itself, it earns its place among the other treasures and curiosities in Herzog's work.

Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times | comment Comment
09/01/05
Roger Ebert
Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

When we finally see the ship sailing through majestic cloud formations over the breathtaking Amazon canopy, the name seems absolutely fitting -- for a gem of an aircraft and a jewel of a movie.

Full Review Source: Chicago Tribune | comment Comment
09/01/05
Michael Wilmington
Michael Wilmington
Chicago Tribune

Herzog's eye for the weird sometimes makes the docu feel strained, but engaging characters imbue the pic with depth and emotional appeal.

Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
09/01/05
Russell Edwards
Russell Edwards
Variety
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

A minor but often visually stunning meditation on nature and man's desire to conquer it.

Full Review Source: Hollywood Reporter | comment Comment
07/08/05
Frank Scheck
Frank Scheck
Hollywood Reporter
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

An intoxicating dream of a film that speaks to the daydreamer in all of us.

Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide | comment Comment
06/03/05
Ken Fox
Ken Fox
TV Guide's Movie Guide

The film is rather aimless, if not pointless, but you cannot take your eyes off it for one second.

Full Review Source: New York Daily News | comment Comment
06/03/05
Jack Mathews
Jack Mathews
New York Daily News

In The White Diamond, man and nature barely rub against each other, and it's this friction that makes for the film's most astounding images.

Full Review Source: Slant Magazine | comment Comment
06/03/05
Ed Gonzalez
Ed Gonzalez
Slant Magazine

Touching, transfixing, unique.

Full Review Source: Christian Science Monitor | comment Comment
06/02/05
David Sterritt
David Sterritt
Christian Science Monitor

Magnificent shots of waterfalls and other natural phenomena abound, but it's far too late in the history of nature photography to expect anyone to gawk at them.

Full Review Source: New York Post | comment Comment
06/01/05
Kyle Smith
Kyle Smith
New York Post

Werner Herzog's documentary suggests that while the German filmmaker has mellowed a bit with age, he is still fascinated by the danger and romance of the natural world.

Full Review Source: New York Times | comment Comment
06/01/05
A.O. Scott
A.O. Scott
New York Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Werner Herzog may lack heroes, nowadays, who seem adequate to his fierce capacity for wonder. When occasion demands, however, he can still turn the world upside down.

Full Review Source: New Yorker | comment Comment
05/31/05
Anthony Lane
Anthony Lane
New Yorker

Any day in which I'm able to step into the gaze path of extreme, globe-trotting seeker-of-otherworldliness Werner Herzog -- like a matinee dreamer transfixed in a projector's beam -- is a day well lived.

Full Review Source: Village Voice | comment Comment
05/31/05
Michael Atkinson
Michael Atkinson
Village Voice
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View
all

Latest News for The White Diamond

July 26, 2007: Critical Consensus: Woo-Hoo! Simpsons Is Certified Fresh; No Reservations Is Bland; Rescue Dawn Shines
This week at the moves, we've got America's favorite family in their long-awaited big-screen debut (The Simpsons Movie); a tale of two chefs (No Reservations, starring Catherine... More...

December 13, 2005: Awards Season Gets Rolling with Crix Picks
If you're a fan of the late-year awards season, be sure to add Movie City News to your hit list, because they deliver some consistently excellent coverage. Mid-December is when... More...

See All

More DVDs

Top Rentals
Tomatometer Percentage Movie
15% 15% The Ugly Truth
98% 98% Up
36% 36% G.I. Joe: The Rise of …
52% 52% The Taking of Pelham 1…
45% 45% Ice Age: Dawn of the D…

More Rentals…

New On DVD This Week
Tomatometer Percentage Movie
36% 36% Angels & Demons
68% 68% Funny People
25% 25% Four Christmases
45% 45% Shorts
53% 53% David & Layla

More New Releases…

What’s Hot On RT

Prince of Persia

Prince of Persia

Your first look at the swashbuckler.

Vampires

Vampires

We rank cinema's bloodsuckers.

Avatar

Avatar

The full trailer for Cameron's epic.

2012

2012

12 facts about Emmerich's disaster flick.

Other News

  • Top Stories
  • Popular
  • Interviews
 
 

Comments

 
 
Top Stories
Headlines Comments
  
  • Natalie Portman Says Kat Denning Is in Thor Source: MTV
30
  • Disney Restructuring Has Broad Implications Source: Los Angeles Times
10
  • Joel Silver Talks Ninja Assassin, Sgt. Rock, Lobo, and More Source: Collider.com
1
  • Weekly Ketchup: Idris Elba cast in Thor, more Spider-Man 4 rumors
112
  • Idris Elba Joins Thor Source: Hollywood Reporter
112
  • Jackass 3D Coming in 2010? Source: Collider.com
32
  • 6 Reasons 'Twilight' Is Doomed Source: The Wrap
64
  • Forbes Names Hollywood's Most Overpaid Actors Source: Forbes
20
  • Chris Weitz Says He's (Almost) Done with Directing Source: Film School Rejects
26
  • Spider-Man 4 Casting Rumors Multiply Like Rabbits Source: Deadline Hollywood Daily
51
Popular
Headlines Comments
  
  • Box Office Guru Wrapup: New Moon Shatters Records
168
  • Critics Consensus: New Moon Wanes
129
  • Tomatometer Watch: Will Twilight's New Moon Dazzle?
97
  • Total Recall: Star-Crossed Lovers
75
  • Total Recall: John Travolta's Best Movies
62
  • Weekly Ketchup: Idris Elba cast in Thor, more Spider-Man 4 rumors
56
  • Five Favorite Films with Werner Herzog
50
  • Friday Harvest: New Moon, Avatar, and more!
32
  • "I Don't Hate Women": Lars von Trier on Antichrist
8
  • Ho, ho, ho! It's RT's Great Big Gift Guide!
0
Interviews
Headlines Comments
  
  • "I Don't Hate Women": Lars von Trier on Antichrist
8
  • Eric Bana talks Love the Beast - RT Interview
8
  • Fight Club Sound Designer Reflects on Film's 10th Anniversary
19
  • James Schamus talks Taking Woodstock - RT Interview
6
  • John Hurt Talks Harry Potter, Quentin Crisp and Alien - The RT Interview
15
  • Terry Gilliam Talks Doctor Parnassus
19
  • Wes Anderson Talks Fantastic Mr. Fox - RT Interview
8
  • Wolverine Creator Len Wein Talks About the Film
28
  • Gavin Hood Talks Wolverine; Possible Sequel
28
  • Duncan Jones talks Moon, Sam Rockwell, and Mute
14
 
 

Sponsored Links

Around The Network

  • The White Diamond at Rotten Tomatoes

Fresh Links

Featured
RT on YouTube
RT on YouTube External Link

Subscribe to RT's YouTube channel and don't miss a second of our cracking video content.

RT on Twitter
RT on Twitter External Link

Follow Rotten Tomatoes and join us as we tweet about the week's releases.

 
 
About| Site Map| Help| RT To Go| Contact Us| Critics Submission| Linking to RT| Licensing| Movie List| Celebs List| Newsletter
IGN Logo

IGN.com | GameSpy | Comrade | Arena | FilePlanet | GameSpy Technology
TeamXbox | Planets | Vaults | VE3D | CheatsCodesGuides | GameStats | GamerMetrics
AskMen.com | Rotten Tomatoes | Direct2Drive | Green Pixels


By continuing past this page, and by the continued use of this site, you agree to be bound by and abide by the User Agreement.
Copyright 1998-2009, IGN Entertainment, Inc. About IGN | Support | Advertise | Privacy Policy | User Agreement | Subscribe to RT's XML feed! IGN RSS Feeds
IGN's enterprise databases running Oracle, SQL and MySQL are professionally monitored and managed by Pythian Remote DBA
Certain product data ©1995-present Muze, Inc. For personal use only. All rights reserved.