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Mr_Shaggs
Reviews
Wu du (1978)
Great one!
This movie is really good. The plot, which works like puzzle forces viewer to think and guess, what will happen next. Such a trick brings a lot of surprises and makes a viewer really looking forward to solution of a riddle. Fighting scenes are very good. There's a lot of different combat styles (although one of styles was a bit unreal for me, but it's only my opinion) to watch and it's fascinating show. The only thing which may be irritating is actors look. A bit too effeminate (at least for me). Hong Kong was always good at kung-fu movies especially in the 70's and 80's, so "Five Venoms" (or other its versions) is great choice.
Gli orrori del castello di Norimberga (1972)
Typical Bava's Gothic horror.
Bava was always good at creating scary atmosphere around old castles and small villages. This one is typical for his Gothic horror movies. Huge castle, full of mysteries and one murder ghost brought back to life. And this part of movie is great. Landscape drowning in mist, creating sleepy atmosphere, playing with colour, dark hallways and torture chamber. This all make wonderful atmosphere of Gothic mystery. Movie has also a few moments of suspense (eg. chasing of Eva). But besides that.. Well, it could be shorter for about 20 minutes. Sometimes it's really boring. Acting isn't so bad, but it could be better. For example Elke Sommers's role was generally about screaming. She hasn't any challenge in her role. The most strange thing in this movie is main theme - it reminds me of D'Amato's "Porno Holocaust".
I recommend it generally for Bava's Fans
Vegas in Space (1991)
Essence of s-f cheese!
Ladies and gentleman, please give an ovation to the most stinky piece of cheese released by Troma! A group of agents is ordered to check what's happening in "Vegas In Space". Because men are not allowed to enter there, they change their sex through pills. After they arrived they are introduced to the emmperrores, who tells them that all the problems are caused by theft of royal diamonds... And here normal plot ends. Rest of the film is set of scenes somehow connected with the problem of a stolen jewelery. Sometimes it's very difficult to find out what and why something is happening.
Whole movie is a mix of typical for 60's s-f and transsexual&narcotic kitsch of the 80's. Paper spaceships, buildings made of saltshakers and hordes of women, who's look remind me of Boy George or other transvestite singer. I wonder how much money did they spend on a makeup. A lot of sudden zooms with coils in a background, extremely colorful clothes, characters and places intensifies this amount of kitsch. But the best is moment after 50th minute. Pure, narcotic surrealism with music similar to the Gary Numan's. Also we can see a robot version of gore (really funny), fighting with a Martian for parking place and party with freaky dancing moves (as for 60's). I have to admit (but it'll be blasphemy) sometimes this movie beats all Ed Wood's movies! "Vegas In Space" is essence of kitsch in the s-f movies. Director should get Oscar for a perfect connecting 60's and 80's climate. MUST SEE!
Demonia (1990)
Little gore, no suspense and pathetic ending
In XVth century church group of nuns committed a religion blasphemy. All women preformed satanic rituals and wild orgies with strangers, who later vanished in a mysterious circumstances. Of course it had an effect. One of the nuns gave birth to a child, which was immediately burn. People who lived nearby church had enough and decided to crucify wicked nuns. A few centuries later group of archeologists started to do the research nearby ruins of church. This fact made locals very suspicious and unfriendly, because of superstition of murdered nun's revenge. It's question of time when sinner's ghosts came back to get their death toll.
Fulci always goes from one extreme to another. Once his movies were full of suspense ["Murder to the Tune of the Seven Black Notes "] or gore ["Zombie Flesh Eaters"]. Demonia is a try to mix these two. But, it's failed. Fulci tries all of his suspense tricks such as eye close-up, sudden zooms and creating orinirique atmosphere. But it makes this film worse. Close-up looks really poor and zooms are very annoying. Oh, we can't forget about music. Sometimes it honestly can build atmosphere but it's only one scene. In other ones, especially in ruins where we hear drunk organist's symphony it's driving insane. Gore also lets down. There are only two scenes, of which one is typical for Lucio (eyes scratched out by a cat)but second one - tearing man apart - really satisfied me. The biggest flop is main character and strictly speaking acting. Her looks brought me a lot of fun. For example, in scene where Paul (leader of archeologists) says to her that they must leave her look is wonderful! It's similar to kid's look when they are forbidden to eat sweets/play computer games/whatever. But all of these are nothing when we compare it to the ending! I have seen many bad movies, but it's first really PA-THE-TIC ending in my life. There is nothing better than view of burning nun in company of soap opera's music! As for me, it's probably top bottom of Lucio Fulci's movies and it's a little pity, because the plot is quite good.