When I said 'sophisticated' I meant in terms of plot, script, acting, etc. Although I used to love Argento many years ago, I think his movies have dated nearly as badly as British Carry-On films. Granted, he was great with colours and textures, but the plots of his films are often stupid and incoherent. When it comes right down to it if you go back to 1970's Argento, he's competing with The Exorcist, The Omen, etc. I won't be persuaded that anything Argento has done is better than these, or even Romero's Night of the Living Dead. Now THAT was a movie with ideas, and even earlier than the Argento movies I've mentioned. But each to his/her own. It's what makes life (and IMDB) interesting. But sorry, Dario. This just isn't working for ME anymore.
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chrisasiama
16 years ago
You make a valid argument and I see where you are coming from.
Compared to other classic horror films from the period 60's-70's like the Exorcist, Night of the Living Dead etc. Argento's films may pale in comparison depending on the viewer.
I think his films are better than alot of the tosh we see at the cinema today though. His classics like Suspiria, Deep Red etc may be flawed in terms of the poor acting, shoddy plot and other elements but at least he tried to be different and he had some imagination. I give more respect to a director who tries to innovate even if he falls flat on his face in the process.
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peytonplace1
16 years ago
Totally agree with that assessment. I won't be dumping Argento in favour of Eli Roth any time soon!
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Mr_K_Williams
16 years ago
Firstly I don't agree with the whole "it's aged" thing...
a great film is a great film forever... are you now saying you can't appreciate this anymore because of the lightening fast mtv style way films are shot today (mainly to mask the storyless dross most of 'em are)...
if you are, i find it hard to believe you enjoyed Argento in the firstplace.
Secondly, I don't agree at all, I think Deep Red/Profondo Rosso is superior to Tenebre in every way... it's better crafted, the sets are beautiful and terrifying at the same time, the music's better, Deep Red truly rewards the viewer after investing the attention and patience it thoroughly deserves... it is in-short the ultimate giallo.
Whilst i'm sorry but Tenebre is nothing but a pretty ordinary slasher flick masquerading as a giallo... it's not a clever movie... "ooh... it's all because of sex"... well there's a surprise i never saw that one coming... cough, cough... and the twist itself is actually pretty redundant and unnecassary... just an excuse for more murders
I actually akin Tenebre more to something like The New York ripper, than Argento's previous work.
Oh, and one more thing... how can someone claim that Deep Red has dated but crystal Plummage hasn't... TBWTCP is IMO horribly over-rated along with tenebre... The cat o' nine tails and four flies on grey velvet are both better movies.
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peytonplace1
16 years ago
Tenebrae a great film? You mean it finds itself on lists of all-time great movies, along with Bicycle Thieves, Citizen Kane, etc? Why am I thinking no? And why the surprise that I used to like Argento movies? People change, and so do their tastes. That's life.
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Mr_K_Williams
16 years ago
If you actually bothered to read all of what I wrote, you'll find that I DO NOT think Tenebre is a great film by any stretch of the imagination, far from it...
and in your original post you didn't mention anything about citizen cane or "greatest movie of all time" lists... you were implying that because Tenebre/Deep red etc are all 20/30+ years old that you didn't like them as much today as you did then...
and on the subject how olds citizen blummin cane! when it's at home...
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