Rating: 
Summary: oh please...
Review: I watched this film as I didn't think a western director could possibly shoot an erotic film that's both artsy and arousing, on par with the best works of Wakamatsu, Kumashiro or Konuma. Watching "The Image" hasn't caused me to change my mind I'm afraid, although I have since enjoyed a very nice little Franco film called "Venus In Furs". Corny as hell, trying to be literate and refined when it's only dull and clichéd, The Image has everything, from excessive acting to uninspired casting choices. No offence but the girl that's supposed to be attractive is just insipid, and that's one problem getting into the film in the first place, when it relies so much on you sympathising with the fantasies of the male character. But even if you get past that point, what you're left with ultimately amounts to nothing more than your average euro softcore flick, with shoddy effects, dull lightnings, worn-out decorum and fantasies about as arousing as a rhubarb-flavoured candom or a glowing dildo in an erotic shop. And please leave S&M to the Japanese. European directors only make it offensively tasteless.
Rating: 
Summary: what a naughty little girl you are
Review: i'm waiting for the s&m b&d film that doesn't have a voiceover. even so, the young blonde sex slave in this film is very attractive and terribly naughty; her mistress is appropriately severe, and the man she's led to service is a pleasant guy who's pretty happy with his good luck. of course, the slave is abused in a variety of ways (she can't be a real slave unless she's handed around for sampling), and she really seems to suffer/thrill about it. some fleeting oral sex shots, but otherwise excellent photography, sound and acting, and one of the best examples of late 20th century softcore.
Rating:
Summary: Euro-erotic masterpiece!
Review: In the tradition of "The Story of O" and "Emmanuel"...this Radley Metzger 1975 classic is stupendous!
Beautifully filmed, with minimum fanfare, it gets straight to the point within minutes of you watching it. And that point is not pornographic...but rather sensual and erotic. The total submission of the young star, Anne, played by Mary Mendum, to her older dominatrix girlfriend Claire and her boyfriend Jean, is "a middle aged couple's dream come true". If you want your wife or girlfriend to be dripping with anticipation...turn the lights down and have her watch this film, in its entirety and I'm certain any woman will be drawn in to its lusty presentation! That being said...this is not a film for group viewing by your neighbors next door...unless????
Unlike the video taped, bluntly pornographic XXX movies of today... 1975's "The Image" was filmed, in a way when showing just enough, was good enough to be shown. Although there are some shocking scenes of oral sex between the stars, this film mostly deals with sexual tension and lustful sentiments, inside anyone (male or female) who has ever "lusted" after a youthful girl, strictly to inflict decipline, pain and pleasure upon her. Five stars is not high enough of a rating for this "must have in your erotic collection masterpiece!" I would have always enjoyed more violent sex and torture scenes, however, given what's being produced these days....this film clearly stands out as a "classic of all time" proportions!
Rating: 
Summary: revealing!
Review: Metzger explores the hidden desires of bored rich people entering the world of s/m. The willing victime is beautiful, the aesthetique of the film is good being explicit but never giving the impression of a porno film. It goes further examining the balance between tolerence and jealousy. It could be more insisting on the subject of human emotions through situations of that kind and then it could be a realy good film. Metzger is good but for sure is not Pasolini!
Rating:
Summary: Erotic and chilling
Review: Mostly out of curiousity, I bought this film and I was surprised at the extent of the graphic sex and violence, especially for 1975! All in all, a very well done film, the fitting room scene will keep you glued even if the bathroom scene or the dungeon doesn't.
Rating:
Summary: The Punishment of the Viewer
Review: Okay, so this guy meets an old female friend from long ago, who now has a female sex slave. So the woman does what any good friend does and assumes that they guy is into S&M and lets him borrow her slave. We are given no information about these people's pasts. Who is this guy? We are given the impression that he is just a normal upper-class guy. But then he's like "Yeah sure what the heck I'll whip this girl, the wifey won't care." The majority of people are not into S&M, and there is no indication that is man is otherwise. The lack of continuity is jarring. Has the woman always been into S&M? Or is it something she recently picked up? What about the slave; how long has she been a sex slave? Why does she act so strangely? How about giving the audience a little background? Enough time is wasted in the movie with other trivial developments that there is certainly room to include some background.
Due to the lack of substance, it is then obvious that this is just a porno. With characters and background music. No story though, just characters with no development. They just appear onscreen, put caviar up their genitals, then the movie's over.
The actors have no feeling; they rarely show expression or communicate any kind of emotion. This is not a gangster film! These people are in tense emotional situations, are not soldiers, and are not supposed to be emotionless.
It is apparent, then, that people who like this movie are not interested in viewing human feelings; they want an emotionless porno that they can pretend is sophisticated by calling it an "erotic film." They are probably as pretentious as the people in this movie.
Rating:
Summary: SM arthouse style
Review: Radley METZGER's THE IMAGE (also known under the more exploitative title THE PUNISHMENT OF ANNE) is without doubt not everybody's cup of tea. Based on an infamous French bestseller this movie is shocking in its relentless depiction of a weird triangle relationship between a mature woman, her submissive young girl friend and a curious author.
Please note: If you feel uneasy when you see graphic sex, humiliation, degradation, bondage, whipping and urination, then do not watch this film. On the other hand, this is no raincoat brigade movie. Instead it is a masterly crafted piece of art with outstanding cinematography, a beautiful score and fine actors (Yes, everybody here can act better than most mainstream academy award winners.)
Regrettably the rough SM scenes could easily distract from or obscure the motivation of the characters.
THE IMAGE has an unusual book-like structure with chapters (no, I'm not refering to the DVD chapters). According to the liner notes the film is very faithful to its literary source. I liked the social setting of the film - it takes places among educated, eloquent and wealthy jet set people. And the film makes good use of its nice Paris locations. I found THE IMAGE very compelling viewing. I just didn't like the fitting room scene too much, because it seemed like a rather cliche porn situation to me.
Some words about the DVD: SYNAPSE did a real great job with the transfer. One can't praise the picture quality high enough. The uncut film is presented widescreen.
Unfortunately there aren't too many extras: the director's filmography, an isolated score and five trailers of Radley METZGER movies: SCORE, THE LICKERISH QUARTET, CAMILLE 2000, THERESE AND ISABELLE and CARMEN BABY. Kudos to Stephen R. BISSETTE for his insightful liner notes. I recommend to read it before you watch the movie, because it really enhances your understanding of the film despite some spoilers.
Rating:
Summary: Incredible restoration job
Review: The difference between this DVD and the old VHS version I had is like night and day. The people who restored this film did an amazing job! On the tape, everything was a pale washed-out yellow. On the DVD, the colors are gorgeous and the Paris scenery is marvelous.Potential buyers should be warned that this is a pretty harsh and realistic version of BDSM. This ain't "Exit to Eden," and viewers should know that going in.
Rating:
Summary: One of a Kind
Review: THE IMAGE is a disturbing, erotic, scary, elegant movie that probably only Radley Metzger could have made. Most directors of 'erotica' concentrate on gynecological close-ups to the exclusion of all else; Metzger's hallmark has always been to tell a story and explain the characters and their situation without ever resorting to the patronizing smirk, relying as much on the actors' eyes as on the dialogue. The S&M scene is as alien to me as peanut-butter-and-pickle sandwiches (which I am also told some enjoy), but in THE IMAGE I can see the gamesmanship, the role-playing and the unspoken psychological leveraging that makes it all so compellingly complex. Would I show this film to Grandma? Uh-uh. But then, that's just MY grandma, yours may well have a side you never suspected. This film is hot, fascinating, and, in this gorgeous and UNCUT (thank you, thank you!) video transfer, stunningly beautiful as well.
Rating: 
Summary: I Don't Get It, But I Don't Hate It Either
Review: THE IMAGE is an interesting film about an S&M love triangle. It is beautifully shot and intriguing enough to watch, but I can't say that I'd ever want to watch it again.
I think it would have been more interesting without the narration.
I also would have liked to have understood the relationship between Claire and Ann a bit more.
I did not find it shocking as many people suggest that it is. Bizarre, yes. Not shocking.
I have never really been a fan or arty erotic movies or literature but this one really is quite well done.
Perhaps not knowing the motivation is part of the charm
|
