I loved it from the word go, and consider it the most visually beautiful film I've ever seen, as well as one of the most emotionally engaging (contrary to inexplicable popular opinion that is is cold). My first view was at an (extremely rare) 35mm showing in Harbour Lights cinema, Southampton. Given that the film wasn't available on VHS (or DVD) at the time, nor was it shown on television, it had almost the same allure for me as A Clockwork Orange (at that point banned in any form in the UK, and thus it cast a near-mythological shadow).