Suspiria - wathced it for the first time last night.

[MARKMAN]

What an amazing assault on the senses this film is. I got the 3 disc special edition, and boy am I glad I did. Apart from a viewing of Inferno years and years ago, this is my first foray into the mind of Dario Argento - more films need to be ordered methinks.

I, rightly, sent my girlfriend off to bed as I knew that she wouldn't like the film, and then settled down to watch it - and it delivered almost everything it should have.

Argento certainly has a "photographic eye", there isn't one scene where the composition is anything less than beautiful, I wish that I could take one photograph like that never mind shoot a whole movie. The use of colour sends you into sensory overload - the blues, the greens, the reds - oh, the reds.

The music by Goblin, which was apparently made before the film and played to the cast to inspire them, was cock-on perfect. The synthesizer/chant style perfectly partnered the look, feel and pacing of the film.

The plot itself meanders a little, and I found the denoument a little too rapid. However, and this may sound silly, I found myself not just watching this for the plot, but to see the next immaculately cinematographed scene.

The whole Pan-Euorpean cast, which gave cause for the looping of English dialogue, purely added to the atmosphere and does not detract you from what is happening on screen. From the opening scene in the Airport you know that you are in for something special.

The overt use of scarlet as a colour for blood and for the red wine in the sink compensates the dynamic feel of the film, and brings you closer to the almost surrealist world of the Dance Academy (where the film is set).

All in all, a great film, and a perfect introduction (for me) into the world and mind of Dario Argento.

[Barney_Tabasco]

Wait till you see Deep Red - disturbing as hell!

[Nathan-Wind]

Originally posted by Barney_Tabasco
Wait till you see Deep Red - disturbing as hell!

Agreed Deep Red is the scariest film I have ever seen :)

I wasn't keen on Suspiria though, but I can see why people like it.

[platty]

Originally posted by Barney_Tabasco
Wait till you see Deep Red - disturbing as hell!

Especially when,

that dummy comes out of the cupboard!:eek:

[Barney_Tabasco]

Yep, that was the bit i was thinking of inparticular :eek:

[Nathan-Wind]

:clap: I had to take a break and go make a cup of tea when that happened.

[hate tank]

I, too, love Suspiria. But beware: most Argento movies, especially the later ones, are rather crappy. Once Argento began to move away from his unique visual style his cinematic output started to degrade. That's the problem with Argento. Usually the plot is weak and illegogical, whereas his style used to be outstanding. Tke away the visuals and you are left with below-average Giallo thrillers and horror movies.

You should definitely avoid:
Trauma (aka Aura)
Phantom of the Opera
Stendhal Syndrome

I recommend (in addition to Suspiria):
Deep Red
Phenomena
Inferno

Opera and Tenebre are OK, but not as stylish as the above mentioned. However, the are - in my opinion - his most violent movies.

[MARKMAN]

Thanks for the advice Mr. Tank - or can I just call you Hate?:)

[Dagada]

Originally posted by hate tank


I recommend (in addition to Suspiria):
Deep Red
Phenomena
Inferno

Opera and Tenebre are OK, but not as stylish as the above mentioned. However, the are - in my opinion - his most violent movies.

I would swap Phenomena and Tenebrae around in your list - For me, Tenebrae is more rounded and satisfying than Deep Red. Opera is worth a watch, but has large lapses of logic. They're both VERY violent, perhaps only slightly capped by Sleepless (Nonhosonno), which features exploding heads and even more realistic and explicit knife wounds.

If you're thinking about investing in some Argento, go for the three Anchor Bay double packs. They've got great picture, sound and extras - even if the one with Demons 1and 2 isn't so good - or even directed by Dario.

[hate tank]

Demons 1 and Demons 2 ... urgh .... don't even think about buying them. Ultra-violent splatter movies with no style, no plot, no brains (except those spread over walls and floors )

[Michael Brooke]

<I>Demons 2</I> is by far the worst film with Argento's name on it, but <I>Demons</I> isn't too bad in a braindead splatter movie kind of way.

I also thought the first 30 minutes of <I>The Stendhal Syndrome</I> were absolutely superb, and worth seeing the film for the opening scenes alone - though I admit it goes precipitously downhill later on.

[Bish]

Demons 2 could have been quite an enjoyable flick if it had carried on from where the first film left off, instead it ended up as a poor re-make set in an apartment block. It's one of only films that I own that I consider rubbish.

IIRC Sleepless (Nonhosonno) has been passed uncut by the BBFC. Does anyone know if it was the full version that was presented to them?.

[hate tank]

The Italian DVD of Nonhosonno has an approximate running time of 113 mins. The version submitted to the BBFC clocks in at 112:21 and is listed as "passed with no cuts made". My guess is that the UK disc will be uncut.

By the way, if you're interested in Italian discs go to
http://www.dvd.it
They also have an English language version.

[Dagada]

There are only a couple of things in it that would warrent a snip - and given The Man From The BBFC's positive reaction to a film with much worse gore in it (Cradle Of Fear) at Fright Fest, I'd be suprised if it was cut.