Danger: Diabolik [Blu-ray]

I loved this movie. Picture the 60's Batman movie if it was rated R. My only complaint is there was never a sequel.

Once upon a time films were made with low budgets and heaps of imagination, and this is one of them. Though given a whopping $3M by the ego-maniac Dino de Laurentis (King Kong the atrocious remake) the genius Mario Bava brought this 60s beauty in at $400K. Even converted into today's hard currency it would be hard to conceive of a modern day director either struggling out of bed for such a miniscule sum, or ever bringing a film in under budget. Instead Bava treats the eye and the mind to a dazzling psychedelic modernist fantasy.There seems to be a common notion that many directors of the past were somehow more stupid than the giant intellects of the cinema of today and that they had no comprehension of what they were doing. Bava knew exactly what he was making with this movie version of a popular European comic and that was to make a film that was fun.Pitted against a world of old stilted politics, bumbling police and chalk-stripe-suited Mafia villains Diabolik, a cool ultra-thief with an underground lair to be envied by Dr No and every other evil genius, outwits his pursuers time and time again with a manic laugh, a delicious girl-friend and his 'n' hers Jaguar E-Types.This film is a two-hour trip; the score is superb and the images have a vivid organic feel unachievable with today's over-processed CGI FX. If you love the visuals of Barbarella you'll love this. Bava, though, has a more cynical view of the world and in one scene presents us with a nightclub where villains ply the "innocent" hippies with drugs making them dance in hysterically funny ways that is just as an incisive critique of that era as it would be of some rave scenes today. Some things just don't change.Sure if you want to adopt the brave stance of the post-modernist and assume the sophisticated position of The One Who Laughs At Bad Old Films then you'll get some kind of kick out of this. But you won't get anything like the kick you will by just relaxing into the brilliantly-lit mad world of Mario Bava where nothing is quite what it appears and baddies win - almost.

This is a totally outrageous and totally silly spoof or send up of all of our favorite spy movies a la James Bond. We have John Philip Law as the ultra suede and sophisticated international man of mystery. But this man is a master thief. He goes for the big hauls and all of the European Police agencies and Interpol are all looking to capture him. The acting is what you would look for in this kind of movie, very campy and a bit over the top but it works so well. The story is a lot of fun and worth the look see. I love the scenery and the sets too. The direction is superb and perfect. John Philip Law was terrific a the lead character.

Diabolik(1967, alias Danger: Diabolik) is a film version of the Diabolik comic books created by Angela and Luciana Giusanni.Director Mario Bava only used up $500,000 of Dino De Laurentiis' budget making the film. Superman and Batman fight crime while Diabolik is an outlaw. John Phillip Law plays a flesh and blood version of Diabolik. Marisa Mell plays Eva Kant and Michel Piccoli plays Inspector Ginko. Terry Thomas also plays a stereotypical, European politician. Adolfo Celi(Thunderball) plays Valmont, a nasty crime boss. The funniest scene is where Diabolik unleashes laughing gas at a press conference! Diabolik was referenced in CQ(2002) and the Beastie Boys music video 'Body Movin'. It was also the last film shown on Mystery Science Theater 3000(1989-1999). Director Mario Bava gives a "comic book" feel to the film. A mob lackey stands in front of a bookshelf. The bookshelf looks like comic strip panels. Ennio Morricone's energetic, avant-garde, 1960's psychedelic music score still sounds awesome! The theme song Deep Deep Down sung by "Christie" is cool, but it's hard to find on LP's or CD's or any medium. Diabolik is still worthy of a PG-13 rating. There's drug use and mild violence. Diabolik and Eva takes showers and the nudity is barely covered up. Diabolik is a 20th Century Jesse James with Batman and Austin Powers style gadgets and sports cars. Diabolik is one of the best movies based on a comic book.

Like most Dino De Laurentis' productions, this lavish sci-fi thriller has John Phillip Law (Barbarella), as a sophisticated, latter-day Robin Hood of sorts who destroys Italy's tax records.Although the script tends to sag halfway through the picture, the sets, costumes and set pieces a la late 60's kitsch, manage to keep audiences interested for the duration of one of Bava's better and more inventive efforts. Like Bava's science fiction classic, "Planet of the Vampires," Bava's films were always strong on visual style. "Danger Diabolik" is no exception with Law attired in a variety of costumes inspired from Bava's earlier sci-fi offering.While the film has the ring of an exciting spycaper to it, most of it is played for laughs while the plot serves as background for the imaginative sets. The ending is particularly memorable and unexpected for a film of this type.Like Elio Petri's La Decima Vittima ("The 10th Victim") made two years earlier, Bava's film seems to have picked up many of the futuristic settings and convincing stylistic touches of Petri's memorable classic here.The film features a full commentary, trailers, and the Beastie Boys video "Body Movin'" obviously inspired by Bava's film.

It's really hard to pick a favorite Mario Bava film as he is one of my favorite directors and has so many great films, but if I have to choose I typically go with Diabolik it's just so much fun.

Instead of repeating well-known facts such as this film's background story or how excellent Morricone's musical soundtrack and director Mario Bava's direction are, I'd like to say just one or two things about the DVD itself.Picture quality is flawless, so is the sound quality.I emphasize and highly recommend the audio commentary (with optional subtitles in different languages, I chose English), spoken by the main actor and a film expert. Close to every scene, very informative, with lots of anecdotes and background information, presented always in an entertaining fashion, at the same time being serious. I appreciate it when makers of audio commentaries think about the listener and not only about their own fun. There are other audio commentaries out there giving the impression of drunken people being placed before the microphone and being busy just laughing about themselves all the time.

This movie was taken by Mario Bava from an Italian comic book, and turned into a fantastic late 60's explosion of colour, swinging music and speeded up car chases. The lead character - Diabolik - is a master criminal with an incredible underground hideout, which makes the bat cave look like a pot hole. John Philip Law, who plays our anti-hero, is incredible to watch. As Diabolik spends a lot of the time masked up in black PVC, with only his eyes and eyebrows on view, Philip Law brilliantly portrays a man on the edge by constantly moving and twitching. Always on the look out for the cops or other criminals. He's ably accompanied by the beautiful Melissa Mell as his partner in crime - and she certainly makes the most of the rather skimpy wardrobe she has. And then there's the groovy soundtrack by Ennio Morricone. Great stuff. The only drawback to the film is the lack of structure. It watches like 4 or 5 different issues from the comic it was taken from. There's a number of different heists that, on their own are great fun to watch, but as a whole don't lead anywhere. They're just the latest in his string of master crimes. But if you're willing to accept that as a whole, the film doesn't really have any beginning or end, then you should be ready to squeeze into that PVC cat-suit, jump into the nearest E-type, and speed off into the psychadelia horizon with a beautiful chick by your side. Italian crime caper at its best!

Purely escapist and infantile cult film of the late Sixties of the last century. I remember seeing it as a school boy and wowed the adventures in the film.You are a handsome young thief,robbing not just petty cash here and there but millions of dollars, you have a sexy girl friend oozing the eortic of a Barbie doll,who helps you escape in a sports Jaguar after robbing those millions. You have a futuristic house and you make love to your girl friend on a bed full of those robbed dollar bills. What more puerile fantasies you want to live out?British comedian Terry Thomas has two scenes appearance worth watching.A Saturday afternoon film when you have finished your shopping,come home,unpack your take away,seat with the family and enjoy the film.

Enjoyable nonsense with E-type Jaguars and an interesting sound track. The special effects and driving chase sequences show their age a bit in places but nonetheless its a 'watcheable' film about a cunning robber who lives a futuristic life style. One of my daughters also enjoyed the film so it's stood the test of time - just don't treat it like a James Bond film.

Wow, what a blast from the past. Danger: Diabolik is a typical 'fantasy comic strip' tilm of the 60s, but done in a good way, unlike Modesty Blaise. It is based on an Italian comic book character, and is done in such a way as to reflect this. The action sequences are well directed by Mario Baca and the soundtrack is, although of its time, brilliant. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys colourful far-fetch films from the 60s, such as Barbarella, Batman and Our Man Flint.