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Spirits of the DeadRating:
Release Date: 25 February, 2003 Retail Price: $19.95 OUR Price: $17.99 You SAVE: $1.96! Cast: Complete Cast (8 total) |
Spirits of the Dead Reviews
Vadim Revisited
There seems to be a consensus among critics, even amateur critics, regarding the horror trilogy "Spirits of the Dead." The prevailing view elevates Fellini's segment of the film (and sometimes Malle's) while denigrating Vadim's "Metzengerstein" as some relatively trivial hackwork. That mindset, widely disseminated, amounts to a conspiracy of bad taste. In fact, Vadim's little film is a masterpiece, easily the finest part of "Spirits of the Dead." On the simplest level, the trilogy was intended as a homage to the genius of Edgar Allan Poe; and certainly Vadim's "Metzengerstein" --a beautiful evocation of medieval fairy tale blended with DeSadean eroticism--comes closest to fulfilling that ideal. In contrast, Malle's "William Wilson" and Fellini's "Toby Dammit" are worlds away from Poe. Indeed, Malle's version of Poe is terribly marred by an emphatic artiness that could only be appreciated by film school undergraduates. For example, there's the suicidal plunge of Malle's anti-hero (Alain Delon) from a bell tower; presented over and over again from a multitude of angles, no celluloid descent into hell has ever been more ponderous. And Fellini's "Toby Dammit" undercuts horror by a heavy-handed satire of the Italian Academy Awards, which seems to belong in the pages of "Figaro." Vadim, however, has created something as irresistible as a dream: a rainswept castle in Brittany where a fantastically beautiful but cruel princess (Jane Fonda) struggles in vain against boredom, fate, and her murdered love's reincarnation; that reincarnation being nothing less than a huge, intractable stallion, such as medieval warriors would ride!
In every scene, Vadim's imagination is as powerful but unobtrusive as the autumn sea-air that seems to pervade "Metzengerstein." Furthermore, in the title role, young Jane Fonda is superb--a dazzling Pre-Raphaelite vision in her wild, gossamer gowns! Even if Vadim were not as brilliant as he actually was, the sight of Mistress Fonda alone would make this little film a joy to behold. (By contrast, the overblown charms of the weary, iconic Brigitte Bardot in Malle's "William Wilson" don't really merit comparison!) In brief, Vadim's "Metzengerstein" more than compensates for the deficiencies of Fellini's and Malle's work--making "Spirits of the Dead" well worth viewing, reviewing.
Some people just don't get It........................
I disagree with all these reviews about spirits of the dead dvd. Every single story on here are all pieces of art.............I disagree that toby dammit is fellin's great piece of work..Give Me a break!!!!!!!!!!!!People just don't have any taste. Alain Deloin,Jane Fonda, Bridgett Bardott all contribute to this great piece of Art................Don't listen to the rest of the stupid reviews on the fellin's one being the only good story. If you Enjoy Vintage and Aprreciate Edgar Allan Poe This is for you overall that is One of the main reasons to buy this Movie........Bon Voyage...........
More Customer Reviews (14 total)
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