Pandora's Box

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Hermione G May 5, 2018 Pandora's Box is the sort of film an actor would kill to have themselves immortalized in cinematic history in the way Louise Brooks' legendary, seductive (I might be a homosexual, but I'd be damned if I didn't find her transfixing and attractive), inimitable performance as Lulu. Her performance is often hailed as one of the greatest ever captured on film and needless to say, the rumors are true. Louise Brooks as Lulu is one of the greatest performances ever recorded. I'd been curious about silent films and had only seen a very select few before coming across this one. Pandora's Box is always listed as one of the all-time greats of silent cinema, but it certainly comes at a cost (I bought the out-of-print Criterion Collection edition from Amazon for over $90. Now the price is over $120 at the time of this review. I have no regrets about what I paid for it). The story follows a beautiful woman named Lulu whose beauty and actions send her along with others around her in a downward spiral resulting in death, running from the law, broken hearts, and then some as she inadvertently leaves a trail of destruction in her wake. It's a film about desires, the reckless abandon of human nature, otherworldly beauty (Which Brooks certainly exuded) and how others seek to obtain it, morals, and even more. There's a lot to chew on in this superb drama (It also features the first know example of a lesbian character to boot) and it is certainly not only one of the great silent films, but also one of the great classics of the medium as a whole. This is a rare, once in a lifetime sort of performance that lovers of cinema must see as Louise Brooks deserves to be hailed as one of the greatest actors of all time. Pandora's Box is a masterpiece of cinema that should not be missed. See more

Draco S Sep 25, 2017 Gorgeous, ultra-sexy and seductive, dark and complex German drama from the prolific era of the 20's directed by productive director G.W. Pabst and starring the irresistible beauty Louise Brooks. She plays a wretched hooker who, even if on the surface she seems to be joyful, is as unhappy as her admirers around her - ultimately she destroys every soul she lays her beautiful eyes on. Every man wants to own her but ultimately nobody wants to be committed to her. The film resembles earlier German instinct films of the early 20's which it actually is mixed with realism of the late period. The film is full of jealousy, uncontrollable lusts and other lewd instincts that drive immature society. The movie beautifully captures German society's confusion with brilliant scenes of debaucheries, killings, courts, abruptly changing one scene after another as well as the mood. The London sequence is fantastic with its foggy and soggy atmosphere (the Christmas parade looks like a funeral march) and the ultimate submission of Alwa, the only man who truly loved Lulu. See more

Anakin S Sep 16, 2017 It is hard to evaluate this film. I think it is visually stunning and I appreciate its role in silent film, but I found it slightly hard to follow and overly long. See more

Rey P Mar 6, 2017 Only a sadist could like this movies. It's incredibly long and boring. Just because it is old doesn't mean it is still good.

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Pandora's Box

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