Me, I was eying both sets, cautiously hoping for a price-off between them, as I intended to buy only one. But which one? The films I really wanted most were on both, and while the BFI won the price-content ratio, the Shout collection looked much nicer and better presented.
Then, the US set suddenly dropped more than a third of its price, so I pounced.
And what a beauty it is... but don't take my word on it: check the gallery below! I will not be reviewing the films, as I want to peruse them at my leisure (instead of making a marathon of them), but I will list the extras for each title.
And here it is: basically a big book, with the thick cardboard pages in the back holding the discs.
The inside cover: yes, that is Werner Herzog all right!
The first 45 pages of the book consist of essays about Werner Herzog, and sections for every film in this set. Lots of text, lots of photographs, and very pretty.
Even Dwarfs Started Small
Extras:
Audio commentary with Werner Herzog and (an insane) Crispin Glover, moderated by Norman Hill.
Land of Silence and Darkness
Fata Morgana
Aguirre, The Wrath of God
Extras:
Audio commentary on Fata Morgana with Herzog and fanboy Crispin Glover, moderated by Norman Hill.
Audio commentary on Aguirre by Herzog.
German audio commentary (with English subs) on Aguirre by Herzog, moderated by Laurens Straub.
The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser
Heart of Glass
Extras:
Audio commentary on Kaspar Hauser with Herzog, moderated by Norman Hill.
Audio commentary on Heart of Glass with Herzog, moderated by Norman Hill.
Stroszek
Woyzeck
Extras:
Audio commentary on both Stroszek with Herzog, moderated by Norman Hill.
A conversation in German (with English subs) on Woyzeck between Herzog and Laurens Straub.
Theatrical trailers for both.
Nosferatu The Vampyre (English and German versions)
Fitzcarraldo
Extras:
Audio commentary on Nosferatu by Herzog.
German audio commentary (with English subs) on Nosferatu by Herzog, moderated by Laurens Straub.
Audio commentary on Fitzcarraldo with Herzog and producer Lucki Stipetic, moderated by Norman Hill.
German audio commentary (with English subs) on Fitzcarraldo by Herzog, moderated by Laurens Straub.
A short making-of item on Nosferatu.
Several trailers for both films.
Ballad of the Little Soldier
Where the Green Ants Dream
Cobra Verde
Extras:
Audio commentary on Green Ants by Herzog.
Audio commentary on Cobra Verde by Herzog.
German audio commentary (with English subs) on Cobra Verde by Herzog, moderated by Laurens Straub.
Trailers for Green Ants and Cobra Verde.
Lessons of Darkness
Little Dieter Needs to Fly
My Best Fiend
Extras:
Theatrical trailer for My Best Fiend.
An impressive set, and quite handsome too!
Couldn't resist another beauty shot...
The (back)end.