It is different indeed, much younger version of him, more straight forward. Later he is more artistic and stylistic, more demanding to watch, but also more rewarding.
Sold. Now I will definitely include them in my next film plans.I consider it a feat of strenght on my way to find the guts to watch all of Tarkovsky's movies 
Once I tried to start mastering his filmography. I watched "Solaris" and "Mirror" and realized that I was not yet mature enough to assimilate all the cultural baggage that is invested in these and other films of his.