The sci-fi he was supposed to make could have been a wonderful film itself, but the alternative is as good as you can get.

A wonderfully human, expressive, and poetic masterpiece. Like most of Wenders's films, there isn't much that could be called a plot, but with its rich characters, evocative dialogue, unpretentious self-reference, haunting score, and jaw-dropping cinematography, the film is so awash with atmosphere that it never drags but rather absorbs you utterly. This absolutely deserves to be spoken of with the same reverence as Paris, Texas, Wings of Desire, and the director's 70s road movies.