Deep Red - The Reviews

[springjack]

Originally Posted by norliss

Where does he ever proclaim to be an "Argento Expert" and what would that have to do with below...?

The image quality of Inferno could have been a lot better and on this I and many others agree. I guess that makes all of us "Argento Experts" dicks too...

Just because Mr Mackenzie doesn't like something, doesn't make him a dick. The man is entitled to his opinion. And everyone, please refrain from name calling here please. I'm sure none of you would appreciate looking on a site and seeing people calling you a dick.

Whenever he does an Argento review he praises to have seen countless home video prints of the movie in question and always points them out frame by frame. If someone knows a movie frame by frame I think that qualifies that person as an expert. Also, I said "so called" and that was not a quote.

When I said the word "dick" I was not referring to "whiggles" the person, but to whiggles "the reviewer". I have nothing against whiggles and as a whole I really enjoy is site.

I have not offended anyone, as much as I know I am in an English forum and the word "dick" is offensive, I am Portuguese and the word "dick" also has a meaning like "what are you saying???!!!". For that I´m sorry because you are not obligated to know the different meanings of that word in every part of the world.

You are the one assuming that I called all of you "Argento Experts" and dicks (explanation above).
One thing is to say the movie could have been better but another is to say that this edition it´s a basic case of "It'll do until something better comes along." That affirmation is totally ditching the Arrow edition and that is a little harsh for such a wonderful edition. The movie is not perfect but we´re talking about an old movie not made with the best of stock.

[Pecker]

I posted this earlier in the other thread - I didn't realise there was a seperate reviews thread.

Mods, please delete whichever one is in the wrong place, if you wish.

I watched the DC last night with Me Julie - though she was asleep after 5 minutes (she's had a long week).

The PQ is a significant step up over the SD DVDs. If you don't have this, or it's one of your favourite films, which you'd like to see at its best, and £15 or so won't break the bank, then I'd buy it.

Problems - it doesn't lok as good as BU's Bird With the Crystal Plumage, despite the earlier film only being shot flat on 2-perf Techniscope. Arrow have clearly used the same master as the Italian WMV, as the more yellow tinge visible in most shots is clearly there. Whilst being a step up over the DVD, it's still not quite as natural-looking as I'd hoped.

Clearly, if Arrow have used the WMV master, they can't be responsible for what has been done to it before, and making a fresh master may have been so expensive that we simply wouldn't have had this on BD. So, no slight on Arrow, any many thanks to them for bringing us this worthwhile effort.

On to the film - I doubt I'll watch the DC again. The style of Argento is there to see, with a great plot and impressive set pieces. But watching the film again after a gap of a few years merely underlines its flaws. It's over-long, character development is minimal, the dialogue is 'clunky' (and that's being charitable in the extreme), and apart from Hemmings the acting is largely abysmal. Daria Nicoodi - I've seen better acting from 15 year olds in GCSE drama lessons, and no that isn't a calculated overstatement, it's a hard fact.

The extra scenes in the DC add nothing of note to anyone's character (all of which are painted tissue-thin, anyway), bring nothing to any emotional arc (much of which is a flat line, anyway), and contain none of Argento's stylistic flashes.

In short, everything that is appealing about the film is in the shorter version, whilst everything which is less good, or which even detracts from its finer points, is contained in the additional scenes.

In addition, the swapping between English dialogue and English subtitles over Italian dialogue, often two or three times in a scene, is extremely distracting – especially as Nicolodi’s character’s voice alters by about an octave, depending whether she’s speaking English or Italian. I think I’d rather watch it all in Italian with subs, which perhaps I should have done.

Just my opinion, of course, and I'd be glad for anyone to point out and additional parts which are important.

Sorry that I've not had time to do more of a comparison. I'll post more if, as, and when I get chance.

Meanwhile, if you're a fan of the film and not totally skint, buy it.

Steve W

[Sargento]

I hope I haven't opened a can of worms here guys, but I normally look at new Arrow releases as being the definitive ... COTLD, DAY, DAWN, and of course the sumptuous INFERNO. But Deep BD was -for me - not the release I was expecting. Oh hum ... still the best I am gonna see it I guess. Let's hope Tenebrae, Bird and Cat are a world beaters as the others I mentioned above! Oh and please please please get Phenomena out soon and make it a world beater too!

[nekromantik]

Does anyone else's Directors cut disc have subtitles that come too early? they are at least 2 - 3 seconds too early and distracting when not watching english audio track.

Not checked disc 2 yet.

[Sargento]

Yes Nek I did notice that ... it was one if the things that jumped out at me cos I was looking for the 5.1 English audio. I noticed the subs in the theatre right before the go into the psychic and the talk about the butterflies comes on before anyone talks! Thought I was just being picky cos I was tired!

[nekromantik]

Originally Posted by Sargento

Yes Nek I did notice that ... it was one if the things that jumped out at me cos I was looking for the 5.1 English audio. I noticed the subs in the theatre right before the go into the psychic and the talk about the butterflies comes on before anyone talks! Thought I was just being picky cos I was tired!

wonder if this is a fault that will be fixed or not.

[Sargento]

Originally Posted by nekromantik

wonder if this is a fault that will be fixed or not.

It was the least of my concerns Nek I am afraid.

[bdc]

I also noticed but it didn't bother me that much (I didn't watch the full film in Italian yet though,just a part).

[Sargento]

Originally Posted by bdc

I also noticed but it didn't bother me that much (I didn't watch the full film in Italian yet though,just a part).

No it didn't bother me too much BDC .. was more concerned over the image quality and lack of 5.1 English

But I won't slate it cos I know just how hard Arrow work on these releases. As I said, it is no doubt the best I am gonna see this movie in HD, it's just not that much of a leap over upscaled SD.

I did say I will re-visit when I was less tired and give an up to date opinion.

[nekromantik]

yeah the pq aint that good but lets just see if the BU release will be any better.