The Stendhal Syndrome

Rating:
Summary: Some good, some bad
Review: The five stars I give this DVD are for the film itself, not it's presentation which needs to be improved greatly. The grainy, flickery image presented by Troma is a big disappointment. Hopefully Anchor Bay or Image will get ahold of this film in the future and give it a cleaner digital transfer. The film itself is quite good, a mysterious departure from the Argento of old, although it has elements of both Deep Red and Tenebre. The extras provided are quite funny, the Troma Intelligence Test is an absolute hoot as is the Tour of Troma's home base. It's worth it all in all, but just remember that the picture quality is not the best. If you want to see Stendahl Syndrome, this is your only bet for now.

Rating:
Summary: Stendhal Syndrome is not Just About Gore and Violence
Review: Well, I'm the only female reviewing this film. Figures.

That's why nobody else seems to have caught on to what this film is really about.;)

In all seriousness, this film is NOT a highly "visual" treat like Dario's other spectacles. This film is about how rape and violence against women can change their entire world.

If you take care to pay attention to details, the truth is evident. Asia, playing Anna, is SUPERB in her role, and shows great flexibility. The only complaint is that they DUBBED her voice (shame shame) because her voice is gorgeous (they replaced it with a rather boring one too).

The movie is basically about how it is to live in a man's world. Like I said, the details. Pay attention to them fellows. She is oppressed not just by the rapes but by men, in general.

And another thing, not many understand this part either, but the psychiatrist was not exactly who you thought he was either. Why doesn't anybody else see it?

My sister saw this film and understood it perfectly. But men look at it and all they say is "where's the gore and special effects."

Aghhhh... ::throws up her hands::

At any rate, anyone who enjoys a really taut thriller with a deeper meaning to it should watch this. But be forewarned, it is rather disturbing. And it should be, because rape is not something to be taken lightly.

Rating:
Summary: One of Argento's best efforts as of late
Review: The Stendhal Syndrome is an excellent piece. Well written and directed, alot can be said about the performance of his gorgeous daughter. The film has an interesting story line and a shock ending, a bit sluggish, but worth the wait. The film should be seen for Asia Argento alone. If you liked OPERA or TRAUMA, both films I thought were top notch, you will most certainly like this shocking piece by Italy's best suspense director.

Rating:
Summary: Very underrated, but not perfect
Review: Make no mistake, this really is a cruel film, and more emotionally involving than usually is the case with a Dario Argento film. It is "giallo" in style, however the plot points more to a psychological study, both of victim and of the psycho himself. Almost universally panned on it's release, it's a film that grows on you from each viewing. There are quite a few rapescenes in here that are truly harrowing, and they are to be commended for showing how degrading and brutal a rape can be. Also on the bonus side are some ravishing scenes from the Uffici-gallery, a nice (though not top) Morriconescore and an interesting character study from Kretschmann as the psycho. Asias performance is more of a mixed bag. Gritty and determined, yet vulnerable and on the verge of a nervous breakdown, she is sometimes impressive. However, she seldom convinces entirely, especially at being masculin. Other minuspoints are also: slow middlesection (the therapy sessions really go on forever), some embarrassing performances (could be the dubbing) and a few akward plot-turns. But judge for yourself!

Rating:
Summary: Really, really bad
Review: Argento used to be one of Italy's best film makers, unfortunately with "Trauma", this and "Phantom of the Opera" it looks as if the old boy has completely lost it. This film holds none of the magic and mystery of his other films and is competely lacking in style. Asia Argento is very pretty but totally unbelievable in the part of the policewoman. She is years to young and whoever decided on her for the part must have been blind. There are moments in this film where I'm sure I must of blushed in embarassment for Argento the acting is so incredibly BAD. Unfortunately the film is completely lacking in style as well and Argento seems to have become interested in CGI and treats us to some of the most pointless CGI visuals I have ever seen. My advice is give this film a wide berth... but then it's all a matter of taste and Argento fans will have to see it... Just make sure you rent before buying

Rating:
Summary: Very Bad transfer...
Review: The DVD Transfer of this movie is an absolute fiasco, and I am surprised there isn't more noise about it in the reviews. Very close to unwatchable...and I have an ugly feeling the hideously unprofessional and cheezy Troma studios is will be doing more "transfers" of Argento's work. It truly looks as if Troma "studios" ran a bad copy of a VHS tape on a television set, pointed a camcorder at the screen and then made a transfer from that tape. Disgusting. How's the movie? Who knows...you can barely see it. If Troma gets its hands on the great "Suspiria" there is no God.

Rating:
Summary: Argento's thriller starts well, but then turns predictable.
Review: The first half of Dario Argento's hypnotic thriller is on a par with some of his early giallo classics, but then it slips a notch, becoming a rather routine slasher/revenge movie that borrows heavily from Ms. 45 and Psycho. The viewer is forced to wait for the film to ackowledge what the genre savy will, no doubt, already know in its remaining hour. The ending is atypically gentle for an Argento outing, perhaps he's getting mellow in his old age. Ennio Morricone's score is suitably chilling, the soundtrack is worth seeking out.

Rating:
Summary: Still better than any American Thrillers I've seen this year
Review: Dario Argento has somehow escaped the american audience for over 30 years, that is until this recent wave of affordable well distributed re-releases. Stendahl Syndrome is more akin to his "Deep Red", "Bird With Crystal Plumage" and "Tenebre" than say "Suspiria", "Inferno" or "Phenomena". In that it is a fantasy based crime thriller as opposed to a supernatural/occult horror. Starring Dario's beautiful daughter Asia Argento who plays a police officer on the trail of a serial rapist when the tables are turned and she becomes the rapist's latest victim (while any scene involving such violence towards women is certainly disturbing, the film is however nowhere near as brutal as the critics claim). On top of all this Asia's character also suffers from a rare disorder in which great artwork causes powerful hallucinations and blackouts to the viewer. This is apparently known as the Stendahl Syndrome. While not as brillant as most of Dario's work it is far better then his recent adaptation of "Phantom of the Opera" or his other film starring Asia "Trauma".

Rating:
Summary: Film-three stars, DVD presentation-one, Total = two stars
Review: Detective Anni Manni suffers from two things, she can't look at some works of art without fainting into an unconscious fantasy, and there is a homicidal, rapist-killer toying with her. After being brutalized by the madman and having her emotions and memory jumbled, she returns home to try and piece her fragile self back together. Stendhal Syndrome is haphazard mess, struggling to work, yet ultimately failing. Dario Argento presents a bleak film, negative because it lacks the Argento flourish, the stylized touch that made him famous. Aside from the occasional shot here and there, the film is outright flat, brutal, and clumsy. Truly, it is only the outright brutality that makes it interesting. Without that ugly touch to prod at and thicken the skin of the viewer, it is just a dud.

What this film reminded me of, in terms of a director slightly shifting in style, was Hitchcock's Frenzy. With Frenzy, Hitchcock directed more violent scenes, nudity, and stronger elements in general, and it is the same with Dario and the overt cruelties in present in Stendhal Syndrome. Gone are the expressionistic tones and otherworldliness that made his violence slick and dreamlike. Instead, Stendhal is just a mean debacle, bookended by a flawed beginning and end, but a good, entertaining middle.

The DVD itself is unforgivable. Troma delayed this for quite sometime, witch would lead one to believe they were taking great care with the film. It is perfectly obvious that they probably delayed the DVD only because of all the self-gratifying promos tacked onto it. The transfer is hideous, barely better than video, washed out color, grainy, and horrible contrast. The extra interviews (two with Dario, one with Sergio Stivaletti, and one, for some reason, with Ruggero Deodato?) are done on bad video with bad microphones, and cameramen, who neither know how to sit still, frame, or focus very well. There is a third interview with Dario that is quite good, fine sound and thank god, a cameraman who uses a tripod. If Troma is going to acquire more serious titles by genre filmmakers, they should treat the material with some respect and not do such an inexcusable hack job.

Rating:
Summary: Late masterpiece by a brilliant director
Review: The Stendhal Syndrome is definetely one of the finest entries to the oeuvre of Dario Argento and refers strongly to the likes of Alfred Hitchcock. On the one hand it offers you all you ever liked about Argento's flicks: beautiful images, a brilliant soundtrack (this time by Ennio Morricone), ingenious camera working, bloody killings and breathtaking locations. Added to that you get fine performances by Dario's daughter Asia and Thomas Kretschmann. But moreover the movie doesn't lack a good story and shows not one narrative weakness throughout it's complete running time. The stringent plot makes it somehow different from almost every Argento flick since. The movie is highly recommended to all fans of the horror-/thriller-genre - you won't be disappointed. And all the earlier aficionados, that didn't waste to much thought about the story, will get their kicks too. After all we're talking about the maestro...