22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Total enjoyment, August 19, 2002
Once upon a time films were made with low budgets and heaps of imagination, and this is one of them. Though given a whopping $3M by the ego-maniac Dino de Laurentis (King Kong the atrocious remake) the genius Mario Bava brought this 60s beauty in at $400K. Even converted into today's hard currency it would be hard to conceive of a modern day director either struggling out of bed for such a miniscule sum, or ever bringing a film in under budget. Instead Bava treats the eye and the mind to a dazzling psychedelic modernist fantasy.
There seems to be a common notion that many directors of the past were somehow more stupid than the giant intellects of the cinema of today and that they had no comprehension of what they were doing. Bava knew exactly what he was making with this movie version of a popular European comic and that was to make a film that was fun.
Pitted against a world of old stilted politics, bumbling police and chalk-stripe-suited Mafia villains Diabolik, a cool ultra-thief with an underground lair to be envied by Dr No and every other evil genius, outwits his pursuers time and time again with a manic laugh, a delicious girl-friend and his 'n' hers Jaguar E-Types.
This film is a two-hour trip; the score is superb and the images have a vivid organic feel unachievable with today's over-processed CGI FX. If you love the visuals of Barbarella you'll love this. Bava, though, has a more cynical view of the world and in one scene presents us with a nightclub where villains ply the "innocent" hippies with drugs making them dance in hysterically funny ways that is just as an incisive critique of that era as it would be of some rave scenes today. Some things just don't change.
Sure if you want to adopt the brave stance of the post-modernist and assume the sophisticated position of The One Who Laughs At Bad Old Films then you'll get some kind of kick out of this. But you won't get anything like the kick you will by just relaxing into the brilliantly-lit mad world of Mario Bava where nothing is quite what it appears and baddies win - almost.
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The definitive "Easy-listening" movie., January 26, 1999
By A Customer
If you like Burt Bacharach, Ennio Morricone, if you loved Barbarella, Harry Palmer, etc... You can't ignore "Danger : Diabolik". I've been looking for this movie in Europe for 18 months, and finally ordered it form the USA. And this is the most stylish film I've ever seen. Poor scenario (but this is definitely enjoyable) with an amazing atmosphere. E-Type Jaguars, secret underground bases, mind-blowing music : this is how the world should be.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A faithful comic book adaptation!, June 21, 2005
This review is from: Danger: Diabolik (DVD)
Mario Bava was known predominantly for making classic horror films like Black Sabbath but he also essayed several other genres in his long, illustrious career: sword and sandal epics, science fiction and, with Danger: Diabolik, a comic book heist thriller.
In the first 15 minutes there is more visual imagination at work than most films of its ilk made today. Bava uses close-ups for establishing shots (a la Sergio Leone), unusual perspective shots and snap zooms. The veteran filmmaker elevates the standard premise that was so in vogue in the `60s with impressive sets, cutting edge fashion (for its time), cool cars, hot babes, high-tech gadgets and a hep, swinging `60s Euro-lounge soundtrack mixed with jazzy spy music by Ennio Morricone. Bava understood that film was predominantly a visual medium and he tells the story with a minimal use of dialogue (Diabolik rarely speaks), instead propelling the narrative largely through eye-catching imagery.
Danger: Diabolik seems refreshingly inventive today and has aged surprisingly well despite the `60s fashion and décor. You have to admire a film that has the balls to have an anti-hero as its protagonist who has no problem killing cops that get in his way, stealing from a wealthy elderly couple and living a decadent lifestyle. Bava's film fulfills all of the requirements of its genre-exciting car chases, sword fights and so on-and does so with a style and panache that is missing from today's movies.
There is an audio commentary by actor John Phillip Law and Bava biographer Tim Lucas. Law recounts some of his experiences making the movie (including working with his lovely co-star Marisa Mell) with a great, deep resonating voice reminiscent of Robert Evans. This is a very informative track with Lucas providing the bulk of the factoids and Law the anecdotes.
"Danger: Diabolik: From Fumetti to Film" is a 20 minute featurette that traces the film's origins from its long-running Italian comic book (or Fumetti). Legendary artist Stephen Bissette (Saga of the Swamp Thing) and Beastie Boy Adam Yauch sing the praises of Bava's film. John Phillip Law talks about how he prepared for the role and even does Diabolik's famous laugh. This is an excellent look at the film and Bava's skill as a filmmaker.
Also included is the Beastie Boys' music video for "Body Movin'" which samples heavily from Diabolik only to substitute the close-ups with members of the band playing the certain roles. This is a funny, clever video that is the hallmark of the Beasties. Yauch provides an optional commentary which repeats most of what he said in the featurette.
Finally, there is a teaser and theatrical trailer.
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