For start, I agree with most of comments about this movie. Yes - plot is totally stupid (raised by rats ??!). Yes - Julian Sands is awful in this role. Yes - direction is completely flat and non-Argento like. Yes - there is bizarre Turkish-bath scene which is something never-seen from Argento... everything is correct! But, you must watch this as an "classic opera-styled movie" and things works! Let me explain: movie definitely look like classic opera in a movie shape - it is full of cartoonish characters that constantly overact and look and act funny (usual thing in operas), almost every scene contains fabulous Morricone score - even dialogs and other shots that are usually not scored, here have some music in the background (normal in operas - they are made of music!). So, how you can expect then to have amazing POV shots, insane camera work and other classical Argento trademarks that will, in this context, ehm, "stand out like a turd in a punch bowl" (Leisman from "Up the Academy") ? This type of flat direction and overacting, too funny characterisation of almost every character (every character is funny and looks and acts just like characters from comical operas except leading roles: Asia, Sands and Di Stefano - their acting is not comical), some totally stupid dialogs (check some dialogs in operas!) and even stupidity like "raised by rats" (some classic operas have more silly ideas than this one is) fit int this opera-style movie perfectly! Then, even Turkish bath scene, rat killing machine and other insanities with bizarre over the top gore are great fun to watch! And it still has some Argento touch - some ideas and shots in a catacombs are truly great (when phantom chase unexpected visitors and one of them try to hide...).
I especially like ending. Asia is great in final scene and even Sands is better than in a rest of movie (he really sucks... ) and with absolutely amazing Morricone theme, final scene is very emotional and truly touching.
This movie is highly underrated and completely misunderstood among Argento fans. I mean, most of people say - if it is not like anything that Argento made it is automatically sh*t? Do not watch it thru the eyes of Suspiria, Inferno, Deep Red... Try to watch it like a sort of parody of classic opera and you will get the point!
At least, it is funny and entertaining as much it is silly.
I especially like ending. Asia is great in final scene and even Sands is better than in a rest of movie (he really sucks... ) and with absolutely amazing Morricone theme, final scene is very emotional and truly touching.
This movie is highly underrated and completely misunderstood among Argento fans. I mean, most of people say - if it is not like anything that Argento made it is automatically sh*t? Do not watch it thru the eyes of Suspiria, Inferno, Deep Red... Try to watch it like a sort of parody of classic opera and you will get the point!
At least, it is funny and entertaining as much it is silly.
