Contraband The Smuggler The Naples Connection Lucio Fulci 1980 97 There are two things I hate about Italy. The first is the catholic church and the second is the mafia. Sometimes I am not even sure whether they are actually the same thing! The bad news is that Luca il Contrabbandiere (The Smuggler) glorifies the mafia. Shit. That is definitely not a good starting point for a movie, but if you can live with it, you will get an okay movie. Luca il Contrabbandiere is definitely not among Fulci's best works, though. The acting seems wooden, the plot is not that original, and the camerawork is also quite not up to the stardards. However, the soundtrack is very good. Curiously enough, the disco song around the middle of the movie has such a catchy main melody that I occasionally amuse myself by playing it on the electric guitar. However, I get the impression that Fulci's heart was not completely with this movie. His usual style and personal touch is missing. There is enough action here, all right, but even though Luca il Contrabbandiere is entertaining while it lasts, it is not a superb movie by any means. By the way, if you have seen Fulci's Paura Nella Citta dei Morti Viventi, you will probably get good laughs when watching the very beginning of this movie. Fabrizio Jovine, the priest in Paura Nella Citta dei Morti Viventi, plays the police chief here. Hah hah haa! It took me a while before I could take him seriously in this movie because of that connection. In conclusion, Luca il Contrabbandiere is an okay movie if you can stand to watch mafia related stuff. As a side note, have you ever thought about the american idea of morality? As of now, March 27th 2010, think about the Facebook. Imagine what would happen if somebody posted a couple of nude pictures in there. The nation would be outraged: "Oh no! Nudity in the Facebook! Our children will be ruined! Take the site down immediately!". Fine. But nobody gives a fuck about the fact that Facebook is hosting a fucking lame "social game" called Mafia Wars! I mean, come on, what the fuck? According to the Facebook idiots, it is perfectly okay and good to glorify the fucking mafia, and even personally take part in a fucking mafia simulation game. Right? That is so fucking DISGUSTING and SICK that it really beats me. How is shit like Mafia Wars possible? I really do not know. There is just so much delusion and ignorance that it is unbelievable! Kalevi Kolttonen kalevi@kolttonen.fi 2010