I started by watching the older movie and it was dense and intense to watch a bit like "Jules et Jim", a movie that you can't forget it has been a book. The book has the same pattern and movie forward seems like walking through a pile of bricks. Nonetheless, it's enjoyable and the atmosphere builds up on you slowly but surely. It has a very nice depiction of Berlin in the same feeling as you can see it in Cabaret. I'm currently half through it and looking forward how it develops.