In the time of Counter-Reformation, a miller and his son come under investigation by a priest of the Inquisition, when rumors spread that their prosperity comes from working with the Devil.
The Devil's Trap is a film directed by František Vlá?il, based on a novel by Alfréd Technik, adapted by František A. Dvorák and Miloš Kratochvíl. It was the first of three historical dramas that Vlá?il made during the Czech New Wave (technically he isn't really a part of the New Wave, however these films were made during the same era of artistic freedom), preceding his more well known Marketa Lazarová (1967) and Valley of the Bees (1968).
Set in the late 16th Century during the Catholic Reformation, in the Moravian Karst, situated in what is now the Eastern Czech Republic, it tells the tale of a miller (Vítezslav Vejrazka), and his son Jan (Vít Olmer), who come under suspicion and are investigated by a Jesuit priest of the Inquisition (Miroslav Macháchek), when rumors of witchcraft are spread by the local regent (Cestmír Randa), who is jealous of the miller's prosperity and degree of respect among the local populace.
As expected from Vlá?il, this film is a stunning experience all the way through. From the opening shot, an ominous manipulation of perspective with a close up of a mangled figure of Christ dominating the foreground against a tiny figure in black walking along the horizon, to the breathtaking confrontational finale inside the vast stalactite filled Karst caverns, it is a wonderful display of visual mastery.
Maybe not quite as impressive as Marketa Lazarová, but still full of astonishing imagery. As seen from unique angles and distinct points of view which highlight the director's remarkable sense of awareness of framing, motion, and positioning on the emotional and dramatic tone of the scene. The most memorable being a repeated shot where the camera is suspended and launched with speed through the air towards the miller's door.
The story here is a simple one and I would say more accessible than his later works. With a conventional structure emphasized as much by its plot and characters, than by its expressionistic cinematography or authentic historical detail. The events play out without much surprise, and there is a strong underlying, almost supernatural, mysterious aspect that is left unresolved, in fact barely explored, which is slightly disappointing, but only because it's so fascinating that I wish there was more.
Acting is great all around. Particularly the villains: Miroslav Macháchek as the priest, casting a sinister and imposing shadow wherever he goes, and Cestmír Randa as the weasel like regent behind all the persecution. While Vít Olmer brings a charismatic leading man presence in his role as the miller's son Jan, in love with the lovely orphan girl Martina (Karla Chadimová), who becomes a dangerous object of rivalry between Jan and other young men of the village.
The film also features the evocative music of Zden?k Liška (perhaps the most prolific composer of the Czech New Wave). In this his second of eleven collaborations with Vlá?il, his compositions are used sparingly, but to great effect, complimenting but never overpowering a scene. The best example of which can be heard in an amazingly shot celebration and dance sequence at the end of the second act.
The Devil's Trap might not be a masterpiece, but it is still a strong effort, with a fascinating straightforward story and a glorious historical setting captured beautifully by Vlá?il's unmistakable visual prowess. A fine work that would also be the perfect starter plate to prepare yourself for the challenging feast of Marketa Lazarová or The Valley of the Bees. It even has an easy to digest running time. It's therefore puzzling why this gem remains largely overlooked and ignored.
我爱DC！4个小时超级满足，把所有前世今生全都讲清楚了，每个角色的来龙去脉和人物关系，6个英雄是如何聚集在一起的，全部都一清二楚了！再也没有当时在电影院看的一脸懵逼！最后蝙蝠侠的那个梦，请继续做！我想接着看！
别扯什么时间太长，某些电影原计划还不是拍一部，因为超时了又舍不得删就把一部拆成两部卖，隔一年上映赚你两份钱，你就屁颠屁颠上赶着去跪舔，人家一部给你放出来，你还逼逼赖赖嫌人家时间太长？
火星猎人，丧钟，最后莱托版小丑出场的不义联盟剧情，闪电侠两次逆转时间，绿灯侠正脸，罗宾……还有类似《斯巴达300》的镜头……
【6.0】首先我对扎剪活动以及扎导本人的述求表示尊敬，其次片子不算烂，只是毫无叙事技巧，只是单纯的镜头堆积，其中一半以上完全可以作为废戏减掉，再次作为粉丝，我无法接受其中一些人物的塑造，这点权是个人喜好，最后希望扎导在新的领域一帆风顺，放过dc，带着粉丝继续去惊（po）艳（hai）下一家吧。不过能和一群一样无聊的人一起看，反而没有那么无聊了呢。
堕落的哥谭，孤独的英雄，疯狂的反派。乱世里每个人的过往都是一首诗，这才是我心中dc该有的样子…亚马逊之战还有Barry踏破银河逆转时空那场戏多加一星吧。可得给闪电侠搞个运动鞋代言吧～
5.完成度非常高，四个小时的时间比以前看A Brighter Summer Day更有满足感，毕竟视效大片。
毫无疑问，相比院线版，这是一次全方位进化
去你码的吧，就这根本不值得我坐四个小时，扎克施耐德粉们都有点毛病
个人感觉，不亚于《复仇者联盟4》。对于一个美国所有超英电影的路人粉来说，不论是漫威，还是DC，能为观众带来精彩的，就是好猫。#8.3分#
仿佛曾经在影院观看的《正义联盟》是个加了蛮多非正片影像素材的超长预告片，时隔几年后，千呼万唤始出来的《扎克·施奈德版正义联盟》才终于让我见到了电影的庐山真面目。感觉自己挺久没在电脑前看到如此让我又嗨又爽的美国超级英雄电影了（音响音量全程开到最大），上一次可能得追溯到《复仇者联盟4：终局之战》上映前重温的《复仇者联盟3：无限战争》？尽管整体观感给力，但部分故事情节编排还是不甚满意。超人的战斗力犹如开挂般的存在（隔壁漫威的惊奇队长亦是如此），蝙蝠侠却没能足够发挥头脑/装备的优势而显得较弱（相较之下还是更喜欢诺兰版蝙蝠侠、以及动画《蝙蝠侠：黑暗骑士归来》里的蝙蝠侠，乃至「乐高蝙蝠侠」啦）。……如若是能像《神奇女侠》《海王》一样在IMAX影厅观影应该会看得更爽吧？！
说导剪版又有如何高的里程碑造诣倒也是不必，无非也仅是1.33:1的讨喜画幅，与古铜质感下扎式美学搭配超英题材后的奇妙化学反应，再有比巴卜泡泡糖般恶心反胃的院线版在前垫底，扎导的审美情趣与叙事能力便更加突出又惹人喜爱，而这场大戏最精彩的部分，必然是戏剧以外导演的艺术执着以及粉丝与大厂巨贾间博弈的故事，这或许能给华纳更或许能给全球各国电影厂商高层们上上一课
毫无疑问，相比院线版，这是一次全方位进化
但当今天再去看这部导剪版的时候，里面与其他DC电影发生的钩连，或者填上的其他DC电影中的那些故事线，都已经成了过去式。那些电影早就被拍出来，有的甚至都有了后话。
看啊，什么是真正的友谊，看啊，他们那么的威严持重。For Autumn, for Justice League, with love.
【6.0】首先我对扎剪活动以及扎导本人的述求表示尊敬，其次片子不算烂，只是毫无叙事技巧，只是单纯的镜头堆积，其中一半以上完全可以作为废戏减掉，再次作为粉丝，我无法接受其中一些人物的塑造，这点权是个人喜好，最后希望扎导在新的领域一帆风顺，放过dc，带着粉丝继续去惊（po）艳（hai）下一家吧。不过能和一群一样无聊的人一起看，反而没有那么无聊了呢。
几年前的《正义联盟》真是120分钟的无聊，这部《扎克·施耐德版正义联盟》就不一样了，它是242分钟的无聊……
7.我爱这部电影，满分是五分，我愿意为了自己的私心再多给一分。
说导剪版又有如何高的里程碑造诣倒也是不必，无非也仅是1.33:1的讨喜画幅，与古铜质感下扎式美学搭配超英题材后的奇妙化学反应，再有比巴卜泡泡糖般恶心反胃的院线版在前垫底，扎导的审美情趣与叙事能力便更加突出又惹人喜爱，而这场大戏最精彩的部分，必然是戏剧以外导演的艺术执着以及粉丝与大厂巨贾间博弈的故事，这或许能给华纳更或许能给全球各国电影厂商高层们上上一课
导剪版的《正义联盟》并没有把沙县小吃升级成米其林大餐，只是把红烧牛肉面做成了包装上的样子。4个小时的片长确实带来了更完整的人物塑造，更精彩的打斗和更合理的剧情走向，但扎克·施耐德本人一直存在的问题也暴露得更加明显。无法高效地用镜头语言讲故事，导致影片的前半段凌乱地在新老人物之前频繁切换，毫无章法。慢镜头加画外音的频繁使用更是有一种ppt式的质感。最关键的是这一版的《正义联盟》没有之前扎导黑暗深邃的气质，哲学宗教上的隐喻和对超级英雄存在的讨论也消失殆尽。它真的成为了一部普通俗气超级英雄电影，而那个三年来一种存在于想象中的导剪版可能真的只是一厢情愿。
共分了四次看完，每次都精准在一个小时左右睡着。同志们，不是想办法把人物和故事穿在一起就是史诗好吗，指环王是史诗，这是堆出来的工业糖精。
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