Danger: Diabolik (1968)

Exhilarating Gas

The Italian comic book comes to life in this incredibly strange and enjoyable picture. You know all those day-glo, pop-arty 60s misfires like Barbarella? This is what they were going for. It's like a nihilistic episode of the Batman TV show except that it's seriously sexy as well. Needs to be seen to be believed. Stick around for the commentary and extras too. (And this must be Morricone's craziest score.) July 7, 2008

Review of the Paramount dvd

The dvd case announces that the dvd content is copy protected, however, only the extras are copy protected. The main feature, which is title 8, is not copy protected.

The quality of the transfer is first class. The main feature is clean 24fps. The dvd retains a lot of the "feel" of film, and the color balance is very good. There are no "bars" around the image of the main feature, which fills the full 720x480 anamorphic frame. Unfortunately, this means that 15% of the picture is not visible when the film is viewed on a television screen (as opposed to on a computer screen)... This is probably not a concern for many, as the cinematography doesn't make much use of the area outside of the central ~70% of the image!

I highly recommend this dvd - You get an excellent transfer of a trashy film ;^) June 17, 2008

Dangerously Cheesy

"Danger: Diabolik" was Mystery Science Theater 3000's final movie... and it works. '60s era hottie John Philip Law stars as super-criminal Diabolik, with Marisa Mel as his longtime girlfriend Eve. Unlike 007, Diabolik is a one-woman man. Diabolik finds ingenious ways to escape from the law and steal emerald necklaces and gold. He doesn't mind wreaking havoc. The movie's cheesiness inspired the Beastie Boys' "Body Movin'" video as well as the upcoming "Speed Racer" movie from the Wachowskis.

"Diabolik" is gloriously campy and psychedelic. Law's acting leaves much to be desired... but he spends most of the film shirtless, so it doesn't matter. Ennio Morricone contributes a deliciously loopy score, with the hilarious song "Deep deep down." MST3K rightly drubbed "Diabolik"--it's dangerously cheesy! April 19, 2008

Good comic book adaptation

With Mario Bava, it doesn't really matter if the story is good or not- he creates visual experiences out of a telephone book if necessary. Here, Bava delivers a film based on the archetype of the fumetto nero- immoral and/ or amoral gangster-hero Diabolik. Here Diabolik is even more of an anarchist than a simple gangster. For the time it was quite unusual to tell the story from the villain's point of view and moreover to let the villain win. Stylistically this film is iconic: scenes or motives lifted from Diabolik pop up all over the place. It's stylish: great sets, cool dudes, good soundtrack and bright colours. What I like about this film is that it's one of the few comic book adaptations that work visually. As opposed to many other directors Bava makes full use of cinematic possibilities instead of copying the 2 dimensional panel look of a comic book. Of course the dramaturgy is rather weird, as the film works more like two episodes of a series then one story or one film.

May 30, 2007

James Bond, eat your heart out!

Costumes by Paco Rabanne, music by Ennio Morriconne, Marisa Mel and John Phillip Law in their sexy prime and even an appearance by Terry Thomas, all based on one of the most successful Italian comics of all time? What's not to like about this movie?

My favorite scenes are where Diabolik and Eva, in their fabulous underground lair roll around on his rotating bed in all of the money he has just stolen. Also, the wacked-out psychedelic nightclub scene in Valmont's Nightclub (which is my favorite music from the movie as well). Diabolik makes James Bond look like an amateur hack as he scales the side of a cliff in a latex catsuit to reach the tower where he then steals a necklace of "11 perfect emeralds" for his true love, Eva.

He's a one woman man, and impossible to catch! The ultimate anti-hero. This is a very fun film and full of eye candy. The sets, the people, the lighting....and it's a fun story too! DIABOLIK!!!!

Buy the soundtrack as well, if you can find it. It's awesome. May 16, 2007

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