I was forced to watch this film during an ‘arts appreciation class’ is college, and I thought the movie was crap.
I believe watching the proverbial ‘drying of paint’ would be far more entertaining.
Tastes vary and I can't take you to task for your characterization of what is my personal favorite film. I have a very long attention span and can stay focused on a compelling film (or book, take Mann's "The Magic Mountain" for example) that others may find overly long (such as Judgment at Nuremberg and Lawrence of Arabia, two other favorites).
The only movies I truly dreaded -- where the minutes dripped by like hours -- were The Matrix and Lord of the Rings. I had to watch them at a colleague's home as part of dinner and movie. Being polite, I feigned interest but it was hard to stifle my yawns through the near torture of that fare.