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List Price: $14.98 | | Label: Lions Gate
Salesrank: 85596
Released: August 5, 2008 |
| Our Price: $7.18 |
| Used Price: $2.59 |
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MPAA Rating: Unrated
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
When the sinister ghost of an Egyptian mummy takes over a beautiful woman (SOPHIE MARCEAU) the Louvre becomes a killing ground for the phantom spreading terror in France's most famous museum.System Requirements:Running Time: 97 minutesFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: ACTION/ADVENTURE/THRILLERS UPC: 012236100003 Manufacturer No: 16424
Belphegor: Phantom of the Louvre Reviews:
Not scary, but not meant to be... 
2009-01-06 - In numerous other reviews, both professional and otherwise, I've read about this movie not really being "scary" as some think it should be. The fact is, like it or not, that this movie is not meant to be scary in any serious way. It reminds me of another in the vein of the more recent Mummy films Hollywood has pumped out--those with more than the usual amount of CGI effects and more humorous than scary. Even the dialogue and other situations rather quickly give this movie an intentional and rather comedic tone, as well. Very often opportunities to heighten potential scare are purposely undercut by a humorous situation occuring simultaneoulsy. (i.e. the bedroom scene with the inspector and the curator coinciding with the appearance of the phantom elsewhere in the museum). Yes, too many people, I think, critique this movie on what they want it to be, rather than what it is and what it is meant to be. If you take it for what it is, it's really a pretty entertaining and well-acted movie, with a sizeable amount of effective humor, and, oh yes, a mummy/phantom, as well.
Speaking of acting, that is one of the things which keeps this movie together, depsite whatever else. The acting by all main characters (specifically the beautiful Sophie Marceau) is top-notch and better than what one typically sees in such films. The excellent soundtrack also keeps the movie from being less than it would be otherwise. The soundtrack is very Egyptian, with a hint of foreboding doom about it. That keeps the viewer from getting too convinced that the phantom is less than dangerous. It also keeps reminding the viewer, very subtley and subconsciously, that the movie really is a horror movie after all.
Others have criticized the phantom in this movie for moving too much like a human and not like a phantom. Some have said that such movement for a phantom is "ridiculous" and a sign of a low budget. Well, let's not forget that this is a human being used by a phantom to accomplish its mission on earth. So, on the basis of that fact alone (the rules which the movie creates for itself), let's not expect more than we should--or more than is realistic under the circumstances. To the contrary, I would actually consider it "ridiculous" to have a human, as it is, moving like a phantom.
All in all, I enjoyed this movie quite well. I don't necessarily recommend it to anyone, only because I know that some will still be compelled to judge it on the basis of how "scary" it is. Again, if you do that, then you're certainly asking for disappointment. On the other hand, if you you watch it with an ability to see and enjoy the humor, then I think you'll be pleased.
"Between 'Bellamy' And 'Ben-Hur'" ~ A Dictionary Of Demons 
2008-10-03 - Synopsis: An Egyptain sarcopacus is found hidden away in the back of a large storage room at the Louvre. As the resident experts begin their examination of the remains within strange events begin to plague the museum and the surrounding neighborhood. Frequent electrical shortages soon escalate into more serious occurances such as the disappearance of ancient Egyptain artifacts and the deaths of several museum employees while stories of a Phantom stalking the premises at night abound.
Meanwhile across the street from the legendary landmark a beautiful young woman named Lisa (Sophie Marceau) begins to hear strange voices and hallucinate. Are the two events connected and if so what does any of this have to do with the unidentified corpse within the sacophacus?
Critique: Released in '01 'Belphegor' is a moderately entertaining film offering surprisingly quirky and original dialogue, above average special effects and some nice atmospheric sequences of the mysterious Phantom cloaked in black gliding around the musuem. Add to the mix the charming Sophie Marceau who is always a plus to any film and you have the makings of a pretty enjoyable evening. On the negative side, the movie is a little overlong and there are some uneven spots that make it difficult to maintain your undivided interest.
My Rating: -3 1/2 Stars-.
