tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8293273378239831747.post5176027931831995973..comments2024-02-18T08:45:16.295-08:00Comments on The Film Connoisseur: Shock (1977)Franco Macabrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994905312221715861noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8293273378239831747.post-34506578449408791612010-04-15T13:10:00.511-07:002010-04-15T13:10:00.511-07:00Well, this is precisely one of the benefits of tal...Well, this is precisely one of the benefits of talking with other film buffs, discovering filmmakers we didnt know about. <br /><br />I had not heard about Antonini, but Im up for anything interesting. David Hemmings, I remember him from Barbarella. That premise sounds interesting...Im going to do some reading on Antonini's films, see what he's all about. Thanks for suggesting Blow Up, I love films dealing with existentialism.Franco Macabrohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10994905312221715861noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8293273378239831747.post-38427903933490183802010-04-15T12:37:00.228-07:002010-04-15T12:37:00.228-07:00I'm surprised you havent seen "Blow Up&q...I'm surprised you havent seen "Blow Up" its one of Antonioni's most famous films. It stars David Hemmings as a photographer in swinging London who accidentally photographs a murder. Very existential, lots of typical mid 60's urban alienation stuff going on. Its a major link between Italian art cinema and popular Italian genre cinema. Most of themes of "Blow Up" can be found in giallo films and the films of Argento.Shaun Anderson [The Celluloid Highway]https://www.blogger.com/profile/18066744649878418309noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8293273378239831747.post-51870563125854602202010-04-14T18:38:39.443-07:002010-04-14T18:38:39.443-07:00@Shaun: I know what you mean, Italian horror can r...@Shaun: I know what you mean, Italian horror can really try you patience sometimes, Fulci, Argento, Lamberto and Mario Bava are all guilty of this. <br /><br />But as you say, the movie is actually easy to follow, but every now and again, some image pops in and I start to follow where its going...and it goes nowhere. But this one has little of that. <br /><br />Lisa and the Devil is the weirdest one of Bavas for me so far, lots of symbolism and lots of images that are hard to connect to the story or the film, sometimes I felt Bava was purposely trying to loose me, and the audience. But I actually enjoyed Lisa and the Devil for that weird surreal quality that it has. <br /><br />Whats this about Blow Up and Antonini? Im lost there, I haven't seen that film. <br /><br />@Carl: I enjoyed it, but I wouldn't say it was his best. As far as Italian Exorcist rip offs, I think the first Behind the Door did a little better in that department. Shock didn't feel like an Exorcist rip off to me. But Behind the Door did, every step of the way. It was too obvious. <br /><br />As far as Exorcist rip offs go, I need to see Abby.Franco Macabrohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10994905312221715861noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8293273378239831747.post-64272939339158999602010-04-14T15:56:02.675-07:002010-04-14T15:56:02.675-07:00Ive seen this one two times now and still havent g...Ive seen this one two times now and still havent grown very fond of it, but many people consider it to be the finest of the Exorcist ripoffs that flooded Italy in the 70s. Maybe 3 times the charm?I Like Horror Movieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15851268002582984544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8293273378239831747.post-34401748961509330642010-04-14T09:54:31.870-07:002010-04-14T09:54:31.870-07:00To be fair to the film though, I cant think of man...To be fair to the film though, I cant think of many Italian horror films that do make sense. Compared for example to the horror films of Lucio Fulci it is straightforward. You often find In Bava's films symbolism that doesnt make sense. It is almost as though the directors of popular Italian cinema were trying to make their highly generic efforts a little more arty (see also Jess Franco), or too at least ally it in some ways to Italian art cinema. There is a big cross over in the work of Argento for example - especially with Antonioni - the influence of Blow Up on Argento's films is profound I think.Shaun Anderson [The Celluloid Highway]https://www.blogger.com/profile/18066744649878418309noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8293273378239831747.post-27525367661568238102010-04-14T08:43:06.159-07:002010-04-14T08:43:06.159-07:00I know what you mean Shaun, sometimes we love a fi...I know what you mean Shaun, sometimes we love a film for personal reasons. <br /><br />I did enjoy it though, specially the last 20 minutes. And there were some shots I enjoyed as well, like the one with the moving hair, or that jump scare! I havent seen a scare like that one repeated on any movie, it was pretty effective. I instantly rewinded that scene. <br /><br />But some scenes didnt make much sense, like how exactly did the kid make Brunos plane go out of whack by simply placing his picture on a swing and swinging it back and forth! I was like swing voodoo? What the hell? <br /><br />As I watched it, I felt that some scenes and images made no sense whatsoever. I was like okay, we are watching a syringe in close up...then suddenly, theres a sunset...hmmm I wonder why? Then we never go back to why the sunset appeared and it just looked like a muddled mess to me. <br /><br />Still, with all these flaws, I found some good moments in it, which is why I gave it a 3. <br /><br />Im still on my journey to watch all Bava movies!Franco Macabrohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10994905312221715861noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8293273378239831747.post-1899742606445941542010-04-14T08:34:06.952-07:002010-04-14T08:34:06.952-07:00There is nothing new or innovative about Shock, bu...There is nothing new or innovative about Shock, but I love this film. It is far and away my favourite Mario Bava movie. This is possibly due to it being the first of the maestro's films I actually saw. Of all his films it is the one I return too the most. I know is it lesser Bava, and shouldnt really be compared to his major horror films of the early to mid 1960's, but there is just something about it. There is something mysterious and mystifying at times about the films we love.Shaun Anderson [The Celluloid Highway]https://www.blogger.com/profile/18066744649878418309noreply@blogger.com