The Turkish actor Can Yaman brings the myth of Sandokan back to TV, in the remake of the historic series, now broadcast on Rai 1
Thunder comes down from the sky. It’s the ratings boost from Sandokan’s debut: 33 percent share, almost six million Italians remained glued to the long-awaited remake with the Turkish actor Can Yaman in the role of the myth, Kabir Bedi.
Powerful, the gaze that impregnates even through the screen, deep voice (I believe you, he is voiced by Adriano Giannini, the best there is). The blood flows in the veins, the underwear dances, the hormone splashes to the top. And Can Yaman, although he doesn’t shine with acting skills (he’s not Al Pacino yet, let’s face it) enchants us with his pecs and flowing hair.
In a world of men with nail polish, finally here is the man who knows what love is.
The social media people cry out for a miracle, after months of nothing, they have finally given us a proper series again: «I was screaming, singing the theme song, moved by the memories and I was fascinated by the new Sandokan», «Wonderful SandoCan», «Yaman wins and convinces, it makes no sense to make comparisons with fifty years ago».
However, comparisons are inevitable. And our hero knew that Kabir’s shadow would haunt him like the tiger. The first episode of 1976 directed by the immense Sollima (Stefano’s father, also director of The Monster) was seen by 26 million Italians. Filmed entirely in Malaysia, the Pearl of Labuan was the beautiful Carole André and the sexy Philippe Leroy was Yanez (Alessandro Preziosi makes a dirty impression here, let’s face it).
Those who miss the good old days do so because we were young then, we had long hair like Kabir and not the murderous porter. It’s true, it hurts to see the Mompracem Tiger from the sofa with his belly panty undone and his elastic sock pulled down. But the social people, like Salgari’s pirates, never give up: «Kabir is unsurpassable, irreplaceable, he will remain Sandokan forever», «The comparison doesn’t hold up: boring, confusing, sloppy acting».
Of course there were some slip-ups. The ride on the beach seems taken from a Harmony, the jungle is non-existent, even if the settings in Calabria are exceptional (next year everyone will be on holiday in Tropea). Salgari’s dream is missing, imagining a new, mysterious world, full of magical dangers.
But how could it be, we saw it all, unfortunately.
We anxiously wait for Sandokan to kidnap us again. You may have been a credible and good-as-nails pirate, but we still haven’t removed the poster of Kabir Bedi in a turban that we have behind the bedroom door (I know you have it).
