"I find him almost immediately."

May 16, 2010 5:52 PM

Werner Herzog Reads Where's Waldo
posted by Deathalicious (38 comments total)

via Digg, of all places
posted by Deathalicious at 5:54 PM on May 16, 2010

Almost as good as "Stanley Cavell Reads Where's Ralph Waldo."
posted by HP LaserJet P10006 at 5:56 PM on May 16, 2010 [1 favorite]

Oh fiddlesticks. Turns out this is just an impersonation: it's not actually Herzog. That's me doing my best Herzog impression, but as I'm much younger than he is and also not German, there are bound to be some differences in the way he and I sound. Sorry for the confusion! I have never met Mr. Herzog, but would sure like the chance. I agree he is one of our planet's most fascinating individuals.

I'll just flag myself and quietly walk away.
posted by Deathalicious at 5:59 PM on May 16, 2010

I don't care, I still like it.
posted by mullacc at 6:02 PM on May 16, 2010 [3 favorites]

Turns out this is just an impersonation

I assumed as much, but still funny in any case.
posted by HP LaserJet P10006 at 6:02 PM on May 16, 2010

There are WORDS in a Where's Waldo book?
posted by oneswellfoop at 6:04 PM on May 16, 2010

This is a hilarious series, and no less entertaining for being somebody's Herzog impression. In fact, if Herzog himself had done them I might worry about him a bit.
posted by contraption at 6:08 PM on May 16, 2010

I found it amusing, even if it's an impersonation.
posted by msbutah at 6:12 PM on May 16, 2010

The real Herzog can do whatever he wants and I'll consume it as if it were Ulysses.

But yeah, the kid may not sound much like him, but pretty spot on in the style.
posted by cmoj at 6:13 PM on May 16, 2010

I love love love this series and I don't care at all that it is someone's impression!

For anyone who's disappointed: Here is a story about a plastic bag that is actually narrated by Werner Herzog.
posted by bewilderbeast at 6:13 PM on May 16, 2010 [7 favorites]

Previously.
posted by koeselitz at 6:15 PM on May 16, 2010

I want one of Klaus Kinski!
posted by Dick Laurent is Dead at 6:16 PM on May 16, 2010 [1 favorite]

Alert me for "Andrei Codrescu reads Hop on Pop."
posted by Wolfdog at 6:18 PM on May 16, 2010 [5 favorites]

Yeah, I assumed this was an impression too, but that doesn't make it any less funny.

Next up: Lars von Trier reads Arthur Goes to the Dentist.
posted by griphus at 6:19 PM on May 16, 2010 [1 favorite]

Werner Herzog : Wim Wenders :: Phil Collins : Peter Gabriel
posted by koeselitz at 6:21 PM on May 16, 2010 [2 favorites]

Voldo is dancing. Wait, what?
posted by b1tr0t at 6:23 PM on May 16, 2010 [1 favorite]

Where the grizzly bear?
posted by william_boot at 6:27 PM on May 16, 2010

Werner Herzog predicts internet banking and iPhone shopping, 1982.
posted by koeselitz at 6:29 PM on May 16, 2010 [1 favorite]

This was very funny.
posted by Solon and Thanks at 6:40 PM on May 16, 2010

Werner Herzog Read Curios George is still, IMO, the best one (an alluring trinket of unimaginable cultural significance), but this is pretty good too. Harold & the Purple Cayon or something by Ezra Jack keats should be next...
posted by Chrischris at 6:44 PM on May 16, 2010

Every time I see a plastic bag flying around the freeway I smile and wave at Werner.
posted by special-k at 6:47 PM on May 16, 2010 [1 favorite]

Neat. If only to hear. "Valdo" over and over...
posted by HuronBob at 6:50 PM on May 16, 2010

Deathalicious, I meant to post this a week ago, and dropped the ball, so, good thing you've got my back.
posted by Hoenikker at 7:07 PM on May 16, 2010

Legend has it that Herzog actually pulled a gun and threatened Waldo with death unless he blended into the crowd.
Can anyone verify the accuracy of this!?
posted by mannequito at 7:07 PM on May 16, 2010 [3 favorites]

I'm pretty certain "Werner Heisenberg reads Where's Waldo?" would be even better.
posted by kozad at 7:26 PM on May 16, 2010 [2 favorites]

Deathalicious, I meant to post this a week ago, and dropped the ball, so, good thing you've got my back.

I searched MetaFilter for Waldo and Herzog and then checked again, because I honestly couldn't believe it hadn't been posted already.
posted by Deathalicious at 7:36 PM on May 16, 2010

Wut? I'm Waldo?
posted by battleshipkropotkin at 7:39 PM on May 16, 2010

Yeah, the words aren't really crucial to a Where's Waldo book.

I realized this a few months ago when I was in the kids' section of a library and thought "Awesome, I'll read a Waldo book!"; it turns out that instead of Where's Waldo Now? they only had ¿Dónde Está Wally Ahora? and I was really disappointed until I realized that, uh, I could probably still manage to find Waldo in Spanish.
posted by Mrs. Pterodactyl at 8:03 PM on May 16, 2010 [7 favorites]

Loved it. Others in the series.

Werner Herzog reads Curious George
Werner Herzog reads Madeline

Heh, great post. thanks Deathalicious.
posted by storybored at 8:15 PM on May 16, 2010 [1 favorite]

I'll just flag myself and quietly walk away.

No, this is much, much better as a skillful, intelligent parody of Herzog.

If it was a serious Herzog effort it would reflect badly on him, and if it was a self-parody it would have been mildly amusing, but a little too twee.
posted by dgaicun at 9:48 PM on May 16, 2010 [2 favorites]

God I loved Where's Waldo as a kid. Slash now.
posted by disillusioned at 2:04 AM on May 17, 2010 [1 favorite]

"No, this is much, much better as a skillful, intelligent parody of Herzog."

Spot on -- this is a really good impersonation, more for what he's saying it and his intonation than actually sounding like Herzog. Great post.
posted by nthdegx at 5:14 AM on May 17, 2010

Pretty good. Not perfect, but pretty good -- and elicited a chuckle.
posted by AwkwardPause at 7:59 AM on May 17, 2010

I'm pretty certain "Werner Heisenberg reads Where's Waldo?" would be even better.

The more you know how fast he is moving, the less you know about where he is.
posted by njohnson23 at 8:07 AM on May 17, 2010 [1 favorite]

For anyone who's disappointed: Here is a story about a plastic bag that is actually narrated by Werner Herzog.

Oh my gosh. That was amazing. It did remind me of this shorter, somewhat sillier piece.
posted by Deathalicious at 9:35 AM on May 17, 2010

We are searching for Waldo - but what is Waldo searching for?
posted by GuyZero at 10:08 AM on May 17, 2010

This is the second time there has been a thread on Metafilter like this and it is absurd. First and foremost because it is not Werner Herzog. It sounds absolutely nothing like him. So what's the point? It's neither funny, interesting or enlightening.

I will say, however, thanks to bewilderbeast for the plastic bag link. THAT is Werner Herzog's voice. Give both a listen and you'll see the stark contrast between the two.
posted by Rashomon at 2:18 PM on May 17, 2010

First and foremost because it is not Werner Herzog. It sounds absolutely nothing like him. So what's the point? It's neither funny, interesting or enlightening.

It's not an impersonation of his actual voice, it's a parody of his tone and concerns and of the books themselves. As someone who has watched a lot of Herzog and read a lot of children's books, I enjoyed them, this time and last time. But I'm baffled that anyone thinks they're actually Herzog, or that they should be. As dgaicun said, they wouldn't be nearly as good if they were: it would be odd and slightly worrying if Herzog were spending his time making these and posting them on YouTube, whether in earnest or as self-parodies. What great directors actually spend time consciously parodying themselves again and again?

They're basically a fun way of deconstructing some much-loved children's books.
posted by rory at 2:48 AM on May 18, 2010