Diabolik

As a lover of the original comics (I still have the first 690 numbers), I would say that this is a nice movie. The scenography, the locations, the actors, all have a good "noir" style. Whoever is expecting a more fast rhytm of the action and more special effects doesn't understand that this is an entire recostruction of a paper comics, of the 60s, and it seems that the movie itself has been filmed and produced in those years... We realize this when we see the plastic door of the refuge of Diabolik, the masks, and other details which seem rough and simple, when cinematography didn't have yet the CGI or advanced special effects. Then with a slow rhytm action our attention is more focused on the particulars of the scenes, the characters, the single details, as well as we do when we see the designs on paper. Genious. Ginko character vote 3 (actor Mastandrea is not as pretty as the paper character and has a wrong Roman accent..), Diabolik Marinelli vote 7 (just ok, and with the same eyes and height of the original character :), Eva Kant 10 perfect! (The beauty and the charm by Miriam Leone). Ok to find some defects in the movie, but the lovers of the comics will enjoy watching it.

To say I had a great Hype for "DIABOLIK" would be an understatement. Truth to be told, it was one of my most expected movies of the year.

Based on the premises, from the directors to the cast, from the settings to the various elements, I was pretty much sure to give my full trust to the whole project.

And I can say that my expectations were satisfied for the most part.

I sincerely can't understand what all those people who bailed this picture as a total failure, both professional critics and general audience, did actually watched.

This movie is veeeeery far from the disaster many declared (seriously, some folks almost put this on the same level as VENOM, what gives?!)

Of course, we're not talking about a perfect movie, but still a pretty decent one, and THAT should not make you think it's worthless.

As an avid reader of the original comic, I can say that for the most part its atmosphere was totally respected. Maybe a bit more, because one problem many will have is about the style.

The directors voluntarily reproduced the narrative and technical style of a '60s movie, and this won't suit well with modern audiences. But is it really a major flaw? I don't think so.

To prove my point, I'll say that I watched the movie with a friend who doesn't know ANYTHING about the original comics, or about those kind of movies ... and yet, he was never bored and truly enjoyed the picture.

There are several benefits, starting with the two protagonists, an always diligent Luca Marinelli as the dark thief, and a simply stunning Miriam Leone that shows both the incredible beauty and the solid competence of Eva Kant, way more than a mere "femme fatale".

And the technical side, from the cinematography to the production design, serves perfectly to put the audience in that period.

But still, there are some big flaws, like the way certain plot points are solved, and the most important, at least for me: Valerio Mastandrea is just not credible as Ginko, or as a policeman in general, like my friend said. Luckily he appears for the right time, without resulting too invasive in the plot, but still plays a very important role that he can't just give enough justice (quite ironically XD)

But all in all, THIS IS NOT A DISATER, but a pretty decent experiment that deserves a chance, and maybe a bit more of mental opening from audiences. Really, I assure you that it won't be a waste of time.

Long Live Giussani Sisters, and long live Diabolik!

I know about "Diabolik" as a character from a comic book, though I actually never read it. So as I sat down to watch this 2021 Italian movie from directors Antonio Manetti and Marco Manetti, I didn't really know what to expect.

Writers Antonio Manetti, Marco Manetti, Michelangelo La Neve and Mario Gomboli put together an entertaining storyline and script for the movie. Sure, it was a pretty straight forward crime heist mystery, but there was still something that worked about it. Perhaps it was a mixture of the storyline and character gallery.

With my very limited exposure to the Italian cinema, then I wasn't familiar with the cast ensemble at all. But they definitely had some good talents on the cast list, especially the leading actors Luca Marinelli (playing Diabolik) and Valerio Mastandrea (playing Ginko), as well as leading actress Miriam Leone (playing Lady Kant).

There is a good amount of mystery, action and character development throughout the course of the 133 minutes that the movie ran for. And I will say that I didn't find a single dull moment throughout the runtime of the movie. So thumbs up to directors Antonio Manetti and Marco Manetti on that accomplishment.

Visually then "Diabolik" was good. It wasn't a movie that made use of a whole lot of CGI. But the effects in the movie worked well in favor of the overall movie. And the wardrobe department definitely also did a good jobs.

If you haven't seen "Diabolik" yet, and enjoy a heist movie laced with mystery elements, then give this 2021 Italian movie a chance.

My rating of "Diabolik" lands on a six out of ten stars.

Amoral thief Diabolik is planning to steal a pink diamond from the wealthy Lady Eva Kant. An expanded adaptation of the third issue of the comic (L'arresto di Diabolik, 1963), where Kant's character is introduced.

The movie, set in "the late 1960s" in the fictional Clerville, is crafted like an Italian giallo of the time. Aside from the attention to scenography and costumes this stylistic choice is clear in cinematography, the use of editing, and the screenplay. The pace is much slower that what you would be used to in an action movie or thriller today, giving more of a vague vintage 'mystery' vibe, and sometimes relying too much on exposition. None of the camp of Mario Bava's "Danger: Diabolik", however: this is still a movie that takes itself seriously.

The main actors have good chemistry, with Eva Kant emerging as the real protagonist of the movie, but the cold and detached portrayal of the title character isn't inspiring and the actors beyond the main trio are forgettable.

Overall a charming and well-made work, although the style may not go well with all audiences.

Surely we are faced with a film with several defects, especially in the final part where the script goes too far and the photography is perhaps too like a TV movie, but the film is still fun and entertaining and has a nice retro 60's taste, the cast good expecially beautiful and talented Miriam Leone as Eva Kant, also excellent Mastandrea as Ginkgo, Marinelli, who was very good in They call me Jeeg, in this film he struggles a bit but still gives an appreciable performance as Diabolik. In conclusion a nice film but nothing more. My rating is 6/10.