I'm curious to know why you think G.W. Pabst's Pandora's Box is overrated? I've always felt that the film was simply a tour de force of cinematic eroticism and one of the great films about the mysterious allure of the female form and the destructive power of the male gaze that's inflicted upon it. Pabst was most certainly a psychologically astute filmmaker and Louise Brooks is undeniably shockingly sensual and charismatic, truly offering a brilliantly guileless performance. Therefore, I'd still give films like leading German filmmaker Joe May's Asphalt, which was filmed by cinematographer Günther Rittau (Die Nibelungen, Metropolis, Der blaue Engel) and Ewald Andre Dupont's Variété a look even though both films focus on similar themes, men seduced and humiliated by femme fatale, yet startling achievements.
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odysseydave
16 years ago
In my opinion, Pandora's Box is just not at all cinematic. It is a very theatrical movie. I agree that Louise Brooks is phenomenal in that role and its view on sexuality is very modern but in its cinematic terms it is lacking. I mean I felt, my opinion, the movie was very flat, it was a so-so film there wasn't particularly interesting about how Pabst style was infused to the erotic charged story and I am sorry to say it felt a very bit boring because Pandora's was very conventional in its period (the silent age where you got Soviet Montage, Expressionism, Surrealsim and Vidor's The Crowd) and Pandora's Box falls into the ordinary.
But again, I might need a second viewing.
"Charlie don't surf"
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mmmarjory
16 years ago
...I'm a bit the same as odessydave..I taped Pandora's Box off of the BRAVO station back in the 80s..and while I like it....I just don't see what all the hoopla is about!!??!THe thing what I liked most..and what is a deteriming factor in why I'd get the Criterion version..is ..if it had the wonderful brooding piano score that the old Janus films version had..It keeps repeating the same theme over and over again in a most mesmerizing way!
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klasekfilmfan
16 years ago
Don't let the fact that the piano score from Janus FIlms isn't included. There are FOUR different scores to choose from and one in particular that is fantastic. The print looks considerably better and has more footage (and runs closest to the correct fps) than anything shown on television or old VHS releases. Don't hesitate to buy the Criterion of PANDORA'S BOX, as it is a must have!
"When an alibi is full of bourbon, sir, it can't stand up."
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