This is my first time viewing the film, and I'm so saddened I had to see it on YouTube, instead of a DVD. It's almost impossible to find a copy anywhere.
This, of course, is based on Dante Alighieri's "Divine Comedy"-particularly on the first third of that epic poem, "The Inferno" (which is my favorite part of the series).
The film isn't as good as the book, I will say that for sure, but I feel as though it's the best adaptation we could ever get. It captures the fear that Dante feels in the story, as he ventures through Hell. The sights are scary, here-especially the birds in the "Suicide Forest" scenario (which isn't as scary as in the book, surprisingly). There's an atmosphere brooding, here. It works so well, to be so old, and I'm surprised more horror fans don't talk about this flick, or demand for a constant release of the flick in a twenty-movie collection box set from K-Mart.
The actor playing Virgil (I believe was his name), whom leads Dante through hell, is absolutely fantastic, in his performance, taking notes of how portraits of the epic poem by Dante have looked, in the past. The actor can point his finger, or stand a certain way, and it's like I'm seeing those pictures from my Barnes & Noble edition of the book all over again. I've never seen this done in older film, so I was majorly impressed.
The special effects are baffling, and I'm not sure how they did some of them, even though I'm a huge movie fan, who took film studies courses, in high school. Props to these folks on their hard work, which had to require creativity, all those years ago.
But no one ever talks about the set design for this flick. They're AMAZING! They make the film worth watching, honestly! This may very well be one of the first fantasy-style movies ever made in such a satisfying way. I couldn't get enough of it all. It's a mix between a stage play and a typical film, at that time, which was common in the silent era, but it feels more prominent (and realistic), here.
This is such a good flick. If you can find it on dvd or something, give it the attention it deserves. Find a home for it. Rescue it like you'd rescue a puppy. It's great stuff, for its time.
This, of course, is based on Dante Alighieri's "Divine Comedy"-particularly on the first third of that epic poem, "The Inferno" (which is my favorite part of the series).
The film isn't as good as the book, I will say that for sure, but I feel as though it's the best adaptation we could ever get. It captures the fear that Dante feels in the story, as he ventures through Hell. The sights are scary, here-especially the birds in the "Suicide Forest" scenario (which isn't as scary as in the book, surprisingly). There's an atmosphere brooding, here. It works so well, to be so old, and I'm surprised more horror fans don't talk about this flick, or demand for a constant release of the flick in a twenty-movie collection box set from K-Mart.
The actor playing Virgil (I believe was his name), whom leads Dante through hell, is absolutely fantastic, in his performance, taking notes of how portraits of the epic poem by Dante have looked, in the past. The actor can point his finger, or stand a certain way, and it's like I'm seeing those pictures from my Barnes & Noble edition of the book all over again. I've never seen this done in older film, so I was majorly impressed.
The special effects are baffling, and I'm not sure how they did some of them, even though I'm a huge movie fan, who took film studies courses, in high school. Props to these folks on their hard work, which had to require creativity, all those years ago.
But no one ever talks about the set design for this flick. They're AMAZING! They make the film worth watching, honestly! This may very well be one of the first fantasy-style movies ever made in such a satisfying way. I couldn't get enough of it all. It's a mix between a stage play and a typical film, at that time, which was common in the silent era, but it feels more prominent (and realistic), here.
This is such a good flick. If you can find it on dvd or something, give it the attention it deserves. Find a home for it. Rescue it like you'd rescue a puppy. It's great stuff, for its time.