What_I_Think Reviews

Messo comunale praticamente spione (1982)

Not Worth the Effort

[3/10 · 17 October 2006]

First, let it be known that Laura Gemser's character isn't called Emanuelle in this film; it's Barbara.

Second, the film quality is extremely bad; grain and streaks throughout. The dubbing is atrocious; little effort was made to match the English soundtrack to the Italian actors' speech.

Third, the story is a throw-away about 2 rivals, the current and former mayors of a small Italian village. Gemser arrives at the film's beginning to be the village doctor.

The only reasons to sit through something this bad are the sexual scenes: 4 scenes of nudity; 2 involving fondling; 2 up-skirt; 1 simulated sex scene. Gemser is sickeningly skinny, but the other female lead is sufficiently attractive.

All-in-all, a film to be avoided; not even the cost of a rental or the time it takes to view.

Emmanuelle (1974)

Disturbing and Heinous

[1/10 · 18 November 2005]

I can't imagine anyone finding this film erotic. The two rape scenes are heinous. And the idea that Emmanuelle's husband entrusts her to some self-centered, egotistical idiot spouting pseudo-philosophical BS about love and such, only to have her humiliated by being sexually taken by the winner of a boxing match in front of others is absolutely disgusting. I couldn't feel empathy for any of the characters in this sleazy film. The husband is an absolute fool. Mario, the old man to whom Emmanuelle is entrusted, is disgusting. Emmanuelle herself is far too confused to know what she wants and so is at the whim of everyone around her. She doesn't become "a woman" by film's end, as she declares, but a soulless sex machine who engages in sex purely to satisfy animalistic passions. Nothing loving, sensual, or enticing about this film. If couples watched this, I could imagine the women beating the crap out of their male partners if they imagined they got off to the rape, abuse, powerlessness, and humiliation of women. Stay away from this one.