15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Double Dose of the Dying, May 19, 2002
This review is from: Gift Set 3: Deep Red & Tenebre (DVD)
Normally I prefer to pick up movies in their own individual formats and avoid these dual releases. I never really liked the quality of many of the setups, with their cheap renditions of movie art and lame packaging to the sometimes lower quality of the product itself. Still, this was not the case in the Dario Argento Collections because, as others have testified, Anchor Bay's transfer was crisp and clean, certainly beat the older transferals I had seen. To add to this, I like the way the cover art gives a more modern depiction of both movies meshed into one, plus gives you the original art sampled on the inside.
As for the movies themselves:
Deep Red is a classic Italian suspense tale involving a witness overseeing a murder, rushing to the scene of the crime to help, and then finding himself ensnared in Argento's classical psychological/some physical torment web that engulfs both himself and the killer. There are a lot of layers circulating throughout the movie, giving it depth beyond the normal genre "slasher" flick. That said, its also one of the more gruesome films that Dario directed. With killings involving cleavers, oddly conceived decapitations, and other unique methods of murder that I won't mention for fear of spoiling them, it manages to keep the gore lover's attention without insulting them. With film restoration adding to the movie, you are given a clearer overall picture of what Argento wanted to present as well, despite language switches causing the need for subtitles throughout the movie.
Tenebrae is the story of the acclaimed novelist Peter Neal, whose works have obviously attracted much recognition. Currently we catch him in Rome, "doing the rounds" to promote his newest work, Tenebrae. Unfortunately for Neal, the novel has attracted a certain fan who is a bit more murderously influenced than most. Overall, I was impressed with this work because it operated off of story and not just gore. Tenebrae does have a few gruesome parts in it, mind you, but it also has a few points where the plot pivots on its heels. It manages to keep you wondering "who" without depriving you of the psychological torment that someone normally expects from Argento.
Both are nice pieces that seem to suit both Argento fans, newcomers, and even some critics alike. I recommend them highly.
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15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
beautiful color to enrich a bloody classic, July 26, 2001
By A Customer
This review is from: Gift Set 3: Deep Red & Tenebre (DVD)
The color saturation is the key element to enrich a beautifully mastered bloody classic. Years ago I saw the japanese import laser disk of Deep Red; a muddy, murky print with scratches to boot. This is actually the complete Italian version Profondo Rosso and it has never looked better. The mise-en-scene of Dario Argento's Giallo masterpeice is allowed to fully flower, and can now be completely appreciated as it was meant to be seen. A key scene where a man's head is crushed by an oncoming vehical can now be seen in all it's gory, visceral detail, and seems to jump out right into your lap with this compelling DVD edition. The extras are excellent. An informative 25th aniversary featurette, trailers, and interviews with Dario. An unforgettable film experience given its full power by gorgeous print quality.
Tenebre is equally beautiful. The killer's flashback sequences come off particularly well. High contrast separates the red blood from background color, fully enriched by the print quality. The arm lopping scene, cut from all editions until now, will absolutely shock and amaze the viewer with its color contrast between the white wall and deep red gore.
The informative 4 page booklet for Deep Red and the poster for Tenebre are very nice additions to two beaufully enriched classics, with many scenes thought lost, only to be seen on inferior bootleg copies. Thank you Anchor Bay for this definitive special edition.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Which of the two is best?, November 6, 2002
This review is from: Gift Set 3: Deep Red & Tenebre (DVD)
Ive never met an Argento movie i didnt love and these two are no exception. Stylish and intense would describe them both. Called by some, the Italian Hitchcock, Argento is truly a master of the genre. The quality of both DVD's is great, with fantastic sound and picture quality. The musical score by Goblin is marvelous.
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