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Reviews
L'Inferno (1911)
Remarkable for its time; ghastly modern soundtrack
The sets are crude and the acting is over the top by almost any modern standard -- but, well, it's from 1911. This remains a remarkable film, particularly given its time.
It helps to have read Dante's "L'Inferno" before seeing it. Still, these images (derived from Gustav Dore's illustrations) remain powerful; any student of film should be acquainted with this one. There's plenty of nudity, true, but none of it is remotely titillating.
But what's up with the garbage from Tangerine Dream (whoever or whatever that is) and the horrible, anachronistic soundtrack that's been plastered onto the movie as the only audio alternative? Turn down the sound: your experience will only be negatively influenced if you listen to it. Try some Liszt or Berlioz instead.
The Ten Commandments (2007)
This one deserves at least a plague of locusts
This is a terrible film on every front: ghastly animation borrowed from a video game, boring music, paired with wretched acting from Christian Slater as Moses, Alfred Molina as Ramses, Elliott Gould (hideously miscast) as the voice of God, and a lot of people you've never heard of -- and it's just as well.
Are you a Bible scholar? You'll love the way they throw in the 16th century misreading of YHWH (Yahweh) as "Jehovah." Are you a Biblical literalist? Then enjoy the way the filmmakers have Moses abandon his wife and kiddies, let Aaron off the hook, and rewrite the punishment of the Israelites for that unfortunate Golden Calf affair. Are you a fan of Saturday morning cartoons? Stick with those; they have better acting and more wit.
The movie is also misnamed; the Big 10 occupy only a small part of it. It would have been better call it "Moses." Actually, it would have been best to leave it alone.