How to watch?

I just finished this, so the question mark at the end of the subject line is me questioning my own choice. This is a rough film to sit through for 205 straight minutes. It's slow paced, somewhat repetitive in its message and at times confusing. I do not mean that the story, the symbolism or anything within the actual guts of the movie confuses, but there are times, because of aging, where I found myself briefly confused as to whether or not they were older characters resurfacing or if they are new ones. On most occasions, they are indeed older characters, but it might rattle you a bit, especially at about the two and half hour mark.

I'll openly admit, this is the weakest of the three Tarkovsky films I've seen (Solaris, Stalker and The Mirror being the others), but only because it didn't have the payoff the others did. The finale is simply, here is what life is, here is what time does and her is what will always be. If you're floored by this, then the movie will be an astounding journey. It in no way does what Stalker managed to achieved, which was to make a relatively boring movie into a profound experience. This plods along and aside from the scenes of brutality, which there are many, it never peaks. It is, essentially, life.

So back to my subject line. If I could go back and do it over again, I'd break up the eight sections. I'd almost like to go back one day and watch each section over, going back over the dialogue, the lighting and pay more attention to the surroundings. Tarkovsky is a master at putting objects into a room for reasons ranging from symbolism to framing. He's also consumed with how water plays apart, especially its movement.

Loving, liking or hating is subjective. I realize the film's current reputation, so I'll agree to agree or disagree with anyone's assessment of the film as one of the top 100 of all-time, but how would you watch it, assuming you've seen it already.