Another Martinophile here!
His first thrillers are fascinating. The rest is, unfortunately, not in the same league. It seems Martino's enthusiasm faded in the 80ies, like so many other Italian directors.
I have on DVD: All The Colors of the Dark, The Strange Vice of Mrs Wardh, Torso, Your Vice is the Longest Title I Have Ever Typed, and The Case of the Scorpion Tale. I adore the first 3, the 2 others left me cold. They are still interesting, though.
What impresses me about Martino is his ability to give an edge to any scene. There's rarely a dull or boring moment in his movies. It's very dynamic. This is something he shares with Dario Argento (the good one, not the impostor living in his body today). These are confident, assertive directors. In control.
I'm not a fan of his sci-fi and fantasy movies of the late 70ies, 80ies (2019: After the fall of New York, Atomic Cyborg, The Great Alligator, ...). They lack the sensuality and the visual style of the first ones. They are decent rip-off, nothing more.
Last edited by Zarith; 28th July 2008 at 12:30 PM.
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