I'm surprised there isn't a thread for this one already.

I've been meaning to see it for quite awhile now, and finally did this week.  I was impressed overall and would add it to my list of movies I'd see again and again, when it plays on movie channels.

is it fantastic?  No, definitely not, but it not only works, it's got so many whacky, cool things in it, it's the kind of flcik that's made for multiple viewings.

I like most Dario Argento films for what they are and what he brings to them.  This is not exception.  Lots of gruesome violence and lots of it done quite well, in terms of FX work.  Lots of nudity, lots of crazy shit...and a cool-ass/bad-ass little monkey that steals every scene he's in.

I also like Asia Argento, and her performance here is pretty much like all her stuff...sometimes really good, sometimes really bad.  Why do i like her?  Not sure completely.  She's pretty, but has ugly features.  Her acting is all over the board, but she brings something to every one of her roles that stands out and I appreciate her for that.

IMo, there's just too much going on here for a single movie.  Too many plotlines, too many characters, to many locales and sets, yet not nearly enough of the total babe titular Mother of Tears.  I would have liked the finale to play out 2-3 times its length, and have the Mother be a much bigger character.  Oh well, it's Dario, so you never know.

I liked this film for sure and even though there are lots of things one could point out that are wrong with it, it works overall, it's well shot, looks great, has lots of atmosphere,a dn is a fun watch.

Check it out...

Eh... I think I might just let this one be. I don't think any Argento fan expected this to come within a lightyear of Suspiria or Inferno but even with realistic expectations, I'd rather not spoil either film out of curiosity for what seems to be a mediocre third film.

I don't follow what you're saying here, James.  Have you seen it?  Did yuo like it or dislike it?

I enjoyed it for what it was. I didn't go into with it any expectations as I think OPERA was Dario's last great work. It was nice to see him do this type of movie again, albeit with a lower budget.

If people compare it to it to the first two films in the trilogy, it's on a hiding to nothing. If they compare it to other DTV horror flics that have come out recently it fairs ok.

I always find something to like in Dario's work, even in his worse films.

Also, Udo Kier's in 'Mother' -- and he's never in any crap. ;)

Wow, I had no idea this was put together for only around $3.5 Million.  It looks damn good, IMO, and even better now that I know this.

Quoted from Dreamscale I don't follow what you're saying here, James.  Have you seen it?  Did yuo like it or dislike it?

Sorry. Too much fanboy-ism.

I haven't seen Mother of Tears. FYI, it's actually the third film in a trilogy which started with Suspiria and Inferno. Those were made back when Argento was in his prime. Suspiria is actually a perfect film and one of the best horror movies of all time. Fans had been waiting for a third "Mothers" film for years. But of course, when it finally got made, Argento was past his prime.

Mother of Tears, based on what I've seen and heard about it, including your review, just doesn't seem worth looking into. The trailer looked goofy. The whole thing just seems ripe with disappointment. Better for me not to see it.

Yeah, I'm aware of that, James.  I actually own Susperia, but haven't seen Inferno.

I am not a huge fan of Susperia, and actually had trouble even getting through it.

IMO, Mother of Tears is a much, MUCH different movie, with much more action and the like.

I don't know...is Dario way past his prime, or is it that things have changed so much since Susperia was made?

If I were you, I'd definitely see it but go in with small expectations.  I was personally much more impressed than I thought I'd be.

Quoted from Dreamscale Yeah, I'm aware of that, James.  I actually own Susperia, but haven't seen Inferno. I am not a huge fan of Susperia, and actually had trouble even getting through it.

That's too bad, man. Really.

In any case, I think you'd like Inferno better. It has the same psychedelic feel as Suspiria but is much more a straight slasher with a lot more kills and gore. Someone even gets mauled to death by cats.

Quoted from Dreamscale I don't know...is Dario way past his prime, or is it that things have changed so much since Susperia was made?

I don't think Suspiria is really where Argento fell off the map. On the contrary, he got a lot gorier and went through a phase where he had Motorhead and Iron Maiden playing while people were getting murdered. It completely did away with atmosphere but it was awesome! And people still think those were classics. I even have a bleach-stained Opera shirt with a girl's duck-taped face on the front that I wear to metal shows and get a lot of positive comments for.

Like Basket Case, I think most people would argue he lost it after Opera. I liked his Masters of Horror stuff but those were still as goofy as Mother of Tears looks. I think the problem with Argento isn't that he changed but rather has made pretty much the same movie his whole career. All his movies are pretty much slasher/murder mysteries with some kind of motif to set them apart. Over the years, those motifs have just gotten less interesting and/or hokier and the acting has gotten worse.

Plus, as much as I hate a lot of the horror out there nowadays, I think Argento has a lot more to compete with now and isn't doing a really good job keeping up.

Quoted from Dreamscale If I were you, I'd definitely see it but go in with small expectations.  I was personally much more impressed than I thought I'd be.

Meh. I suppose this isn't coming from somebody who likes everything; you can't trust those ones. If I run into a spot where I can't think of any new movies to check out, I might give it a spin. I'm kinda over watching movies I have to lower my expectations for though.

Understand completely, man.

When you mentioned Maiden playing ovder a kill, it reminded me of an old flick I rented some 24 or so years ago...may have been Dario, and I didn't even realize what I was watching.  It was a song from Powerslave, and if memory serves, some dude was like getting eaten by bugs or something?

Think the song was Flash of the Blade?  Am I close?

Yeah, one thing's for certain...I dislike most movies, so an overall  positive review from me has to be saying something.  There was just something that was well done here...alot of thought obviously went into this and based on that alone, I have to appreciate the effort.

Quoted from Dreamscale When you mentioned Maiden playing ovder a kill, it reminded me of an old flick I rented some 24 or so years ago...may have been Dario, and I didn't even realize what I was watching.  It was a song from Powerslave, and if memory serves, some dude was like getting eaten by bugs or something? Think the song was Flash of the Blade?  Am I close?

Phenomena. It was Dario. It was Flash of the Blade. Actually had some recognizable actors in it as well (I think it was Jennifer Connelly's first film). It was a fun flick, worth checking out, but definitely around the time where the plot devices were getting a little ridiculous.

Haven't listened to Maiden in a while. Think I'll do it right now.

Phenomena is my favourite Argento film from his 'gothic horror' period. I think Suspiria is technically better but I have a soft spot for Phenomena. It might be Donald Pleasance and his killer monkey.

It's a shame his last few films haven't been as good as his golden period. (He's making a version of Dracula at the moment. In 3D). I haven't see 'Giallo' yet because it didnt get a proper distribution, which is strange because it's got a mainstream star like Adrien Brody in it.

Anyway, despite the downturn in quality I would rather watch a new Argento than some of the stuff I put myself through.

And when all said and done, this is guy that wrote "Once Upon a Time in the West". He's had a brilliant if slightly erratic career!