Markova

Starring:Markova
Studio: Ariztical
Product Type: DVD

Average customer rating:

Mediocre movie based on a great novel
Lots of fun
Light vs. Dark?
great movie, if a little flawed
I don't want to wait for the next ones.

Night Watch
Starring: Konstantin Khabensky , Vladimir Menshov , Valeri Zolotukhin , Mariya Poroshina , and Galina Tyunina
Director: Timur Bekmambetov
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
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Night Watch: A Novel
Day Watch
V for Vendetta (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Underworld - Evolution (Widescreen Special Edition)
The Hills Have Eyes (Unrated Edition)

ASIN: B000FFJ81C
Release Date: 2006-06-20

Amazon.com

Night Watch is that rare film that--like The Matrix--is not only visually dazzling but creates an intriguing, seductive, and thrilling alternative world. A young man named Anton, after dabbling in black magic to bring back the wife who left him, discovers that the world is populated by fantastical Others (vampires, shape-shifters, witches, and more) who have chosen sides--Light or Dark--in an epic battle. A truce has been declared; both sides watch the other to ensure the truce is maintained. But a prophecy has predicted that a powerful Other will tilt the balance, and Anton--who is himself an Other--finds himself crucial to the prophecy's fulfillment. There's no question that Night Watch has weaknesses. Numerous plot holes get glossed over by pell-mell pacing, the visual conception of the apocalyptic battle between Light and Dark is curiously pedestrian (a bunch of knights fighting a bunch of guys in fur with swords--what happened to their various powers?), and more--but, much like similar problems with The Matrix, it doesn't matter.

The alternative world Night Watch presents is so rich with possibilities that it takes on a life of its own, both as an imaginative universe and as a vivid metaphor for the moral complexities of our own lives--for example, though the forces of Light claim to be good, their often brutal actions call their virtue into question, and the forces of Dark make some compelling moral arguments on the topic. The movie is so overstuffed with ideas that many don't get fleshed out, but that only contributes to the sense of vitality and unexplored dimensions. Even the subtitles are used creatively. The impending sequels (this is the first film of a trilogy) may--like The Matrix--take all the stimulating possibilities Night Watch raises and drag them into the toilet, but for the moment, this is the sort of electric excitement that blockbuster movies promise but so rarely deliver. --Bret Fetzer

Description

Among normal humans live the "Others" possessing various supernatural powers. They are divided up into the forces of light and the forces of the dark, who signed a truce several centuries ago to end a devastating battle. Ever since, the forces of light govern the day while the night belongs to their dark opponents. In modern day, the dark Others actually roam the night as vampires while a "Night Watch" of light forces, among them Anton, try to control them and limit their outrage.

Customer Reviews:

Mediocre movie based on a great novel.......2007-06-13

It is disappointing to see that Russian film makers are apparently as inept as their Hollywood counterparts when it comes to translating books to film. I realize that some changes are necessary due to the differences in medium but it seems odd that in this case one of the sacrifices are the great visuals described by Sergei Lukyanenko in his novels. Instead of the Twilight as described by Lukyanenko we get flies and people fading in and out. Its not just the Twilight either. Instead of a black vortex over Svetlana's head, we get her hair blowing all around her and then, later, a bunch of crows flying circles over her building.

Unfortunately its not just the visuals that change either. Lukyanenko's story ponders the difference between the Light and the Dark and how Good often does Evil in pursuit of what it sees as the greater good as Anton seeks to unravel the mystery of whats actually going on around him. Those complexities are pretty much gone in order to turn the movie into a more streamlined actioner that requires little thought to follow. For example, Zabulon's machiavellian manipulations are largely replaced with him repeatedly playing out the final confrontation with Anton in the form of a video game until things go the way he wants them.

In a reversal of the book, the more important Svetlana storyline is reduced to a minor subplot that is resolved in a singularly unsatisfying sequence and which seems to have little, if any, connection to the plot surrounding Egor.

The director makes some curious choices as well. Despite the movie's emphasis on action, the rooftop confrontation between Night and Day Watch is reduced to a brief fight between Anton and Zabulon. I suppose this allows for more shots of the Nightwatchmen, clad in matching jumpsuits and dark sunglasses, tooling around town in what can only be termed the Nightwatch-mobile. Also, because the story apparently isn't cliched enough, Egor is now Anton's son and he now chooses a side rather than balance between Light and Dark like he does in the novel.

My advice would be to read the novel and forget the movie. You'll get a better story that way.

Lots of fun.......2007-06-02

I liked this movie. You get the sense while watching it that the filmmakers really went for style over substance, but you won't mind so much because the style is handled so well and the substance, thin as it is, isn't botched like so many diasters we've seen before.

Watch it in Russian not just to hear the original actors, but also because the subs were done in a very creative way that makes them a joy to read.

Light vs. Dark?.......2007-06-01

I'll keep this brief; I wanted to point out some things as my perspective, my opinion of what I've seen so far.

This is NOT Light vs. Dark.
This is a deconstruction of Light and Dark.
This is an opportunity to understand the personality, methodology and mannerisms of those who favor feeding off the hopes or fears of humanity.
The abashment of those caught in what might be considered "the middle" and the utter ignorance of those that are unawares.

To quote "Olga" (adlib): "The difference between light others and dark others is the part of the human they feed on."
I find this concept quite intriguing.

This movie's "trance" comes more from relying on the strength of plot and good acting over the visual overload that bad movies have to rely on so heavily.
Don't get me wrong though, I will not speak badly of the visual affects, they were tantalizing and provocative; Eye candy without the sugar-shock. I really enjoyed how "The Gloom" was realized.
I look forward to the future installments of this movie.

great movie, if a little flawed.......2007-05-31

I have seen this twice now, and read the books to go with it. Yes, it does stray drastically from the books, but I must admit that I like what they have done. There was no way they could have made this movie and stayed honest to the books' stories. So instead they took ideas from the book and made it their own movie. Rarely do I like when directors do this (Peter Jackson), but it truly does work here.

As for the movie, it is stunning to watch. The only reason for the 4 star rating instead of 5 is that there is a clutter of information in the story that just gets confusing. It isn't an intellectual thing, rather it's just a bit of poor story telling. This is not the original cut of the movie though. The russian version is longer, and this one was "Americanized". I haven't seen the original (though I'm dying to), but it may resolve these issues. With that said, the movie flows very well and is just unbelievably shot. What great cinemetography and effects. And brilliant use of subtitles.

Watch this flick, you will not be disapointed.

I don't want to wait for the next ones........2007-05-21

I thought this movie was good because it is different than all the American movies that I am used to seeing. This trilogy was compaired to The Lord of Rings, and yes I can see that comparison but I think it's better. The one bad thing is that the the last movie (Dusk Watch I believe it is) has not been made yet or does not have a release date and Day watch just recently reached American movie theaters. Over all, awesome movie!

Average customer rating:

This DVD does a Gran Jete
The history of the companies calling themselves Ballet Russe after Diaghilev died in 1929
A Balletomane's Treasure
Ballets Russes
best ballet movie

Ballets Russes
Starring: Nini Theilade , Tatiana Stepanova , Marc Platt , Alan Howard (IV) , and Rochelle Zide
Director: Daniel Geller , and Dayna Goldfine
Manufacturer: Zeitgeist Films
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000G5SIBM
Release Date: 2006-09-12

Amazon.com

Part history, part love letter, Ballets Russes may be the most purely delightful documentary in years. The movie follows the birth of the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo in the early 1930s, an event that eventually led--after years of exhilarating experiments, bitter artistic battles, and exhausting tours--to the establishment of modern ballet around the world. Ballet Russes combines astonishing film footage of fantastical ballets (featuring extravagant sets designed by Salvador Dali and costumes by Henri Matisse) and interviews with surviving dancers in their 70s, 80s, and 90s (ranging from Dame Alicia Markova, who was a prima ballerina with the original Ballet Russe under impresario Sergei Diaghilev, to Yvonne Craig, who went on to become Batgirl in the '60s tv show Batman); the result is a breathtaking range of scholarship and depth of feeling. The heart of the film is the dancers themselves, who are sly, thoughtful, gossipy, and amazingly youthful in spirit--even the most difficult times are discussed with humor and honesty. Ballet fans will find this an essential document, while anyone who's never even thought of going to ballet will be completely caught up in these dancers' passion and wonder. A beautiful, entrancing movie. --Bret Fetzer

Customer Reviews:

This DVD does a Gran Jete.......2007-06-17

I don't generally take much interest in ballet, but I still found this DVD to be absorbing. A "jete" is a leap with one foot extended forward, and one foot extended back. And that's just the sort of spanning arc this movie makes. It starts with the formal founding of the Ballet Russe in Monte Carlo in the 1930's, goes through the period when two competing versions of the Ballet Russe existed (thus the plural of this documentary's title), and catches up with the current lives of a number of the Ballet's early dancers.

Some vintage footage of these early dancers is included, some of it even in color. But the fascination here is the dancers themselves, even more than the dance. We see them as young Russian émigrés, just children, recruited by Diaghilev in the 30's. Then we see them being interviewed in 2000-2003 for this documentary and we are given a sense of the texture of a lifetime devoted to the art of dance.

The DVD is very generous with its captioning. Everyone is labeled in each dance sequence, and then re-captioned for every current interview, so you can easily keep track of who's who, before-and-after.

It's all a very good advertisement for the practice of ballet and might inspire you to take lessons yourself, because you will see how a majority of the early Ballet Russe dancers are still around in good health, and are still active in ballet, mostly as teachers. One of the dancers was actually still performing "character" roles on stage at the time of the interviews.

However, one gets a sense that starring ballet dancers of the 30's and 40's might have been subject to fewer grueling demands than modern dancers. Back then, dancers were perhaps expected to be human perfections of grace, but not superhuman specimens. So there is no discussion here of crippling injuries, of arthritis in the wake of years of command contortion, of struggles to keep reed-thin, of any of the health problems that are whispered about among modern dancers. That's the only major flaw I found in this documentary. These dancers might have been in a unique position to compare training and practice regimens then-and-now, and to give any necessary critiques of modern expectation. But you won't find any such discussion on this DVD.

However the DVD extras do include a lot of behind-the-scenes gossip and do let us get better acquainted with all the featured players. One of the most memorable is Nathalie Krassovska, who unblinkingly, with a dreamy dramatization of each sentence, focuses off beyond the floodlights - still playing to the balconies.

The history of the companies calling themselves Ballet Russe after Diaghilev died in 1929.......2007-06-05

The Ballet Russe of Serge Diaghilev. Alexandre Benois, Leon Bakst, and many others is important to many lovers of the arts. For me, as a classical musician, it was vital because of the start it gave Igor Stravinsky, and the famous pieces from Debussy, Ravel, Satie, Poulenc, Prokofiev, and so many others. For designers, the sets and designs by Benois, Bakst, Picasso, Braque, Dali, and others are still studied and widely admired. For dancers, this legendary dance company had some of the greatest dancers: Nijinsky, Fokine, Ida Rubenstien, Pavlova, Karsavina, and many others. However, this film is NOT about this company. While it refers to this company, it does so only briefly and quite superficially. This movie is about those companies that were formed out of the original Ballets Russes when Diaghilev died at 57 in 1929.

In 1932, Renee Blum and Colonel Vassily de Basil picked up the sets and pieces of the Ballet Russe, which had stopped performing in 1929, and formed a new company they called the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. This movie is the story of the forming of this company, its choreographers, dancers, and its division into two competing companies.

When the new company was first formed, its dances were done by Balanchine, but after one year he was replaced by Leonid Massine who created a vast body of high quality works for the company. Blum quit the partnership with de Basil in 1936. In 1938. Massine wanted his own company and he and de Basil reached a compromise where Massine would keep the name Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo and de Basil's company would be called "The Original Ballet Russe" and kept Massine's dances. Massine's new backer was Serge Denham who kept the company going at various artistic levels until it stopped performing in 1962.

How all this is told in the movie is fascinating, especially with the vignettes told by of all the dancers. They are all amazing characters. While some of them began dancing in the troupe as 14 and 15 year olds, many are still staying involved with the stage in various ways.

What is also fascinating about this film is that so many of the original dancers are still alive in their eighties and nineties! There was a reunion of those living and healthy enough to make the trip in 2000 (several have since died) and they were interviewed about their work with the various incarnations of the Ballet Russe, the choreographers, impresarios, tours, their own careers, and what they remember about the other dancers.

Some of them even had careers in Hollywood during the 1940s, both companies fleeing to America during World War II. Sol Hurok was the impresario in North America during the war years and afterwards. He and de Basil had a falling out (de Basil was quite a difficult man) and his company ended up touring South and Central America and Australia while the Massine company became an American troupe and began hiring American dancers, even if they fancied up their names to sound Russian. "The Original Ballet Russe" of de Basil ended with his death in 1952.

A fascinating movie for those interested in this artistic form and its history. There is a great deal of archival footage and pictures that are all the more amazing when put into context by the dancers still living when the film was made.

One of the realities that will come to you as you see the lives these great dancers lived off stage is that artists usually have to draw their satisfactions from their art. They certainly didn't get rich from the stage and their lives afterwards weren't all that easy either. At least that is how it looks to me when I see how they live, the kinds of cars they drive, and so forth. I am sure some lived well, but certainly not all.

A Balletomane's Treasure.......2007-06-01

First saw this film at the Film Forum in NY. Was completely bowled over by the poignant (and informative) interviews with these former dancers with the Ballets Russes companies. The people and their stories are absolutely fascinating. Archival footage is amazing. You will see things here that you would have to search high and low for, if you were interested. However, the producing/directing team has done all this work for you.

Ballets Russes.......2007-05-25

This should be required viewing for anyone who cares about the ballet or wants to know more. Watch it again and again and you'll see new things each time without ever tiring of it. A wonderful DVD.

best ballet movie.......2007-05-18

For ballet lovers this is a most wonderful movie and it is so interesting to see what happens to old ballet dances and how they continue to dance.

Ballad of a Soldier - Criterion Collection

Average customer rating:

Ballad of a Soldier
Honest and pure
Ballad of a good soldier, friend, and son
Ballad Of a Soldier
Khrushchev "thaw" filmmaking

Ballad of a Soldier - Criterion Collection
Starring: Vladimir Ivashov , Zhanna Prokhorenko , Antonina Maksimova , Nikolai Kryuchkov , and Yevgeni Urbansky
Director: Grigori Chukhrai
Manufacturer: Criterion
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The Cranes are Flying - Criterion Collection
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Forbidden Games - Criterion Collection

ASIN: B0000633SB
Release Date: 2002-04-30

Amazon.com

Grigory Chukhraj's poetic odyssey of an accidental hero on a six-day pass is a sentimental journey through the ideals of the Soviet state in World War II. Vladimir Ivashov is the fresh-faced signalman whose trip from the Russian front to visit his white-haired mother becomes a series of detours as he stops to help the loyal comrades, fellow soldiers, and salt-of-the-earth civilians (as well as a few shirkers and scoundrels) he meets along the way. On a transport train he even falls in love with a pretty young stowaway, a feisty blond girl-next-door on her way to visit a wounded boyfriend. Delicately photographed and gently paced, this deliriously romantic road movie is undeniably Soviet in its celebration of patriotism and collectivism, but Chukhraj transcends politics with delightfully vivid characters and a deft mix of comedy, melodrama, and romance. --Sean Axmaker

Description

Russian soldier Alyosha Skvortsov is granted a visit with his mother after he singlehandedly fends off two enemy tanks. As he journeys home, Alyosha encounters the devastation of his war-torn country, witnesses glimmers of hope among the people, and falls in love. With its poetic visual imagery, Grigori Chukhrai's Ballad of a Soldier is an unconventional meditation on the effects of war, and a milestone in Russian cinema.

Customer Reviews:

Ballad of a Soldier.......2007-06-27

Chukhrai's intimate, small masterpiece contains a wrenching hope for life and humanity in the figure of the innocent, Alyosha, even as he traverses a homeland under siege to see his beloved mother, perhaps for the last time. The director's stark yet lyrical camerawork complement top-flight performances, notably Ivaslov in the central role and Zhanna Prokhorenko, adorable as love interest Shura. Don't miss that indelible ending sequence in this touching "Ballad".

Honest and pure.......2006-06-21

What Norman Rockwell was to Americana, it struck me that perhaps Grigori Chukhrai seemed to be to the Soviet Union. That was my first impression of "Ballad of a Soldier". Of course, I was not entirely correct, and some cinema-crats with and air of artsy "progressivism" about them might laugh aoud at the comparison. But to a degree, the idealism projected in the film seemed to be fitting of the period if one looked at this film with a Western point of view. This was a really good film, wholesome and virtuous. Its value as a tool in the hands of Soviet propagandists is clear, but the story itself is far above mere propaganda. It is a timeless love story, and it could have been set in any nation and at almost any time. What brought it to my interest is that it happened to be set in 1943 when Germans were driving tanks all over the western Sovet Union.

The story follows a well mannered young soldier named Alyosha Skvortsov as he embarks on a mission of devotion to his mother. During the only combat scene, immediately after the narrator sets up the ballad, Alyosha manages to perform an act of bravery that earns him a six day leave. What would any good boy do with six days leave? He'd go home to fix his mother's leaky roof, right? Of course! Alyosha sets off only to be delayed by his good nature, kindheartedness, and the rather heartbreaking fact that he falls in love with a young fellow traveller. The story is quite absorbing, simple as it may be, and I found it comfortably paced and beautifully composed. Rich scenery and careful composition made the view of Russia during WWII look quite beautiful, even the ugly parts. At the same time, there is an ominous undertone, for lack of a better word, in the form of the constant threat of war, allusions to corruption, and a nod toward challenging circumstances. There is a tension all throughout too, for the viewer knows Alyosha's fate from the beginning, casting an urgency upon his various exploits.

But the most important trait of this film, and plainly obvious, is the noble character of Alyosha. He's a model young man of selfless charm. His smile is infecting, his devotion to others is inspiring. He is the dutiful youth serving his country, honest in admitting fear, generous in time and effort, and loving to a degree rarely seen anymore. Alyosha is a picture of naiive goodness, which is ironically what causes him his greatest grief. His noble heart is a perfect example for a youngster, and I will certainly be showing this film to my young son.

Beyond Alyosha and the equally idyllic supporting character, Shura, I did find myself a bit surprised at the depiction of goodness and the kind-hearted nature of the average Soviet citizen. Perhaps my surprise comes from my cultural rearing as a child of the Cold War? I remember fully expecting to die by Soviet nuke, and I remember what a monstrous impression I had of a communist. In part, this was part of popular culture in the US, and it was encouraged formally. Teachers declared that Russians were cold and calculating, living in fetid squalor, drinking nothing but stagnant water from vending machines full of slime and common cups. Such was the depiction of "commies" to a cold war American sixth grader as late as 1980. Maturity and experience has erased much of that assumptive idea of how a Russian ought to be, but to see such a human and joyful depiction of Soviet society still caused a brief disconnect. If there ever was a film that beautifully displayed the old saying that "people are people, wherever", then this is it.

Military hardware buffs and gun nuts will find this film worthy of a watch, if you happen to be too troglodytic to enjoy a good love story. Historicity is preserved in a plethora of Mosin Nagant rifles in this film. Alyosha knocks out two German "Tiger" tanks with a Simonov 20mm rifle in the combat scene. There are numerous T-34s, both in Russian guise and disguised as German tanks. You'll see some fine footage of ZIS and GAZ trucks and a GAZ jeep, along with excellent railroad footage.

A truly great film, family-safe, historically set, clean and honest.

Ballad of a good soldier, friend, and son.......2005-12-14

Ballad of a Soldier is sometimes dismissed as overtly patriotic Soviet propaganda, and it's not too difficult to understand why. However, to dismiss the film as a whole and all that's good with it would be like throwing your beloved babooshka out onto the Siberian permafrost with her mineral oil bathwater.

Aloysha, the main character and soldier in question, chooses family and friendship over self-recognition, commitment despite personal setbacks, and ultimately country over all else. The film itself is a lesson in the virtues of altruism.

This really is a warm-hearted and gentle film with a heart as big as Lake Baikal is deep. Ballad is definitely G-rated and would make for good classroom and family discussion. Highly recommended.

Ballad Of a Soldier.......2005-10-02

This is a movie classic. The theme is so universal. There is no preaching in this movie but the massage is clear. People are basically the same- no matter what color, race or nationality they belong. The DVD print is OK. The story is a tear jerker.

M.Rahman

Khrushchev "thaw" filmmaking.......2005-03-24

Alexander Yakovlev, former head of the Russian archives & close Gorbachev advisor, states the following in his book "A Century of Violence in Soviet Russia": "the number of people sentenced between 1923 and 1953 total more than 41 million." 41 MILLION! "More than 994,000 Soviet servicemen were sentenced during the war by military tribunals alone, and of this number more than 157,000 were sentenced to be shot." That said, The Ballad of A SOLDIER is still a good fine (I'll explain the above shortly). It is extremely well shot; so much so that it has the feel of silent film, wherein emotion, drama, plot, etc. are conveyed through visual means. That it is subtitled (in English, from Russian dialogue) just adds to the effect. It's a simple story, but a timeless one---that of what those back home lose when a country's youth goes off to war. This film, thus, isn't particularly anti-war (or pro-war), or particularly political at all (notwithtanding other reviewers comments to the contrary). War is not a "good" in of itself, so people have to be provoked into desiring to be a part of it--easier when it's recognized as a just action, of course. Usually, many just do their duty to their country when called upon to do so; like the Russians did when called upon by their country to do so. But, unlike in the West, American/British security forces didn't need to shoot their own compatriots to instill disapline & keep forces from surrendering & deserting. So, let's not get caried away when speaking of "The Soviet soldier." First of all "The Soviet Man" was a figment of The Communist Party of The Soviet Union's warped mind. Russians, Ukrainians, Georgians, et al. fought out of duty yes, but also because they were attacked & also because the Othorodox Church appealed to its adherents (as Stalin went into seclusion, having almost a breakdown for upwards of 2 weeks) to resist the Nazi war machine (ignoring Soviet support for Hitler the months previous). A viewers particulars hasn't much relevence either, morever, as to whether this is a good film or not---ie., you don't have to be Russian to like this film. It is a fine film as I've indicated above (& contrary to others who think so mostly because they think it conforms to a political view they hold). In this film a boy goes off to war. We see a bit of action at the front, as a result from which this soldier is slated to be given a citation for valor. In lieu of such---this almost accidental hero---asks, however, for a pass to return home to see his mother who he didn't have time to say goodbye to when leaving for the army. The rest of the film chronicles his journey (mostly by train) east, across the war ravaged USSR; highlighting the importance of family, ties, a sense of place, missed opportunities, and such. Mishaps along the way expend most of his leave, however, resulting in his having to immediately reverse course as soon as he reaches his destination. So he gets to embrace his mother and make up for not having said goodbye previously, it is but a fleeting moment to savor during a time of extreme difficulty. Call that anti-war if you like, but that doesn't mean it wasn't worth fighting the Nazis---and no country suffered more than did the USSR from Hitler's war machine. By all regards give the Russians, Ukrainians, Uzbeks, etc. their due, but keep in mind---as the above figures indicate---that Stalin was almost as afraid (doubting the loyalty to him & Communism) of his own people as he was of Nazi Germany. By the way too, the monnicker of an "anti-war" film is a misnomer---Across the board, "war is never just" folk are not "anti-war," but simply pacifists. If other reviewers herein could ignore their heritage and political leanings & let this film stand on its own (commendable) efforts maybe others could more easily decide for themselves whether this film is worth seeing or not. (Do consider reading the book "Babi Yar" for more detail of the havoc the Nazis inflicted in the Ukraine.) Cheers!

Average customer rating:

Almost unknown fine WWII Soviet Film
A Masterwork...it should be viewed by all....
Beloved wartime story

The Dawns Here Are Quiet
Starring: Olga Ostroumova , Yuri Sorokin , Alexei Chernov , Irina Dolganova , and Yelena Drapeko
Director: Stanislav Rostotsky
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
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The White Sun of the Desert
Destiny of a Man
THE WINTER WAR (Talvisota)
Come and See
Ambush

ASIN: B00092ZL0S
Release Date: 2005-06-21

Description

During World War II, five anti-aircraft gunner women discover that a German subversive detachment has landed and must fight for their lives to get the news to headquarters.

Customer Reviews:

Almost unknown fine WWII Soviet Film.......2007-01-25

A zori zdes tikhie (1972) ...aka The Dawns Here Are Quiet - is an honest, realistic and very fine Soviet War film which is sadly un-known to the Western audiences. It was directed by a very talented director Stanislav Rostotsky who also made two of my favorite films, Belyy Bim - Chyornoe ukho (1970) ... aka White Bim Black Ear and Dozhivyom do ponedelnika (1969) aka We'll Live Till Monday .

Rostotsky chose perfect cast - the young and unknown performers who all shone in his movie. I also highly recommend the book by Boris Vasilyev of the same title - I still remember the day when I first read that rather short but unforgettable story about five young girls and their corporal Vaskov who was much older and who was not used to deal with the women-soldiers. What started as a comedy, soon became a compelling and gripping drama depicting an unequal fight of the group of five women and their leader against 16 Nazi paratroopers, specially trained and deadly dangerous that penetrated deep beyond the front-line.

A Masterwork...it should be viewed by all...........2006-07-19

I cannot top the above review for detail or passion. I can add to it by saying this filmed should be viewed and studied by all...especially old, corrupt men who send youngsters thousands of miles to do their bidding.
This film is one of defense, loyality, love of country and culture and is also a striking example of WWII Soviet womanhood. The characters are so rich and thoughful and the direction expands their emotions and fears, hopes and dreams. Absolutely first rate.
Russian cinema is not about happy endings...because war, even in victory, is tragic. Yet it is about hope and courage, two things sadly missing from todays society.
It is also a chance for others to see how advanced Soviet culture was concerning things as common as simple nudity. Here it's celebrated and cultivated, in Western cinema it would've been considered evil or base. By the same token the film chooses not to gush blood from wounds etc...something Western cinema relishes and finds 'acceptable.' One has to wonder who's culture is truly rich and natural...and non explotive.
I adored this film...one of my favorites now. Please give it a chance and I'm quite sure you'll learn something both rich and valuable. If I could give this film 10 stars I gladly would....

Beloved wartime story.......2005-05-31

This excellent and faithful rendition of Boris Vassilyev's "A zori zdes' tikhie..." is finally available on Amazon! The novella and film are beloved in Russia and count among my own personal favorites. The setting is May 1942, a remote artillery base somewhere north of besieged Leningrad and west of bombed-out Murmansk. Sergeant Major Fedot Vaskov is exasperated with the misbehavior of his gunners and demands replacements: "No drunks! No womanizers!" He gets his wish when his entire regiment is replaced with teenage girl gunners fresh out of artillery training. Confusion reigns when the very conservative Vaskov must deal with the decidedly unsoldierly girlish antics of his troops. And each girl comes to the Army with a personal history: a tragedy, a disgrace, a hardship, a vengeance, a purpose. Together, they defy their frazzled starshina (Vaskov) and bond with eachother. Then one morning two German paratroopers are sighted in the woods. Vaskov and a squad of five girls set out to capture the enemy: Beautiful, bold Zhenya, the only survivor of her massacred Army family. Rita, a young mother, already widowed by the war. Painfully shy Galya, raised in an orphanage. Liza, the sturdy but daydreaming daughter of a drunken forester. And the translator, Sonya, who fears for her Jewish family in Minsk. She had been studying in Moscow when Belorussia fell to the Fascists. Little do any of them realize, there are not two but sixteen Germans, not simply soldiers but highly trained, armed-to-the-teeth special forces! Vaskov and his untrained troops must distract the enemy, delay their mission, and alert headquarters of their presence. A matter of duty soon becomes a matter of life and death. Under fire the girls bond with their Sergeant Major and display individual ingenuity and valor. But this is a story about war and none of these Russians is a "Rambo." I've read the novella and watched the video a dozen times and always shed tears. Never-the-less, the story is inspiring, not depressing; and is considered one of the most realistic depictions of the War by a Soviet author. It has retained its popularity because of its endearing theme: the courage of ordinary Soviet people. I hope the DVD will have English subtitles so that non-Russian speakers will finally have a chance to experience this famous film.

Average customer rating:

CHOOCHOO DERAILS
This Movie Sucked!!!!
Worth While Seeing
New talent discovered
Brian Genesse is a fantastic B-movie action star

Death Train
Starring: Bryan Genesse , Bentley Mitchum , Michael Anthony Rosas , Jaime Anstead , and George Stanchev
Director: Yossi Wein
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Traitor's Heart
A Better Way to Die
The Defender
Silver Streak
Second in Command (2006)

ASIN: B00008WJDT
Release Date: 2003-06-03

Description

A band of armed, escaped convicts has taken over a passenger train in the Mexican countryside. Holding the passengers at gunpoint, the runaway train hurtles toward a deadly impact. Meanwhile, agent Ryan (Bryan Genesse) frantically engages in a game of cat-and-mouse with the hijackers, knowing that he is the only thing standing between the criminals and the loss of dozens of innocent people.

Customer Reviews:

CHOOCHOO DERAILS.......2005-08-23

Filled with every cliche imaginable, DEATH TRAIN is one of those films shot in Bulgaria that tries to emulate both the US and Mexico. Action star Bryan Genessee is starting to rival Stephen Baldwin in his low key, somewhat soporific performances. Bentley Mitchum fares somewhat better as the truly psychotic madman who is holding a trainload of caricatures hostage. We have the asthmatic priest; the pregnant lady; the crippled boy; the young newlyweds, etc. The henchmen are just as bad as Mitchum including the requisite female who is just as dangerous as her male counterparts. The action sequences are tired and unimaginative; and the director uses several of the same scenes over and over in trying to fill the movie's extended length. Few movies have ever made walking on top of a moving train look so easy. Avoid unless you have nothing else to watch.

This Movie Sucked!!!!.......2004-09-30

This was a dumb movie. All I remember was something about a "pit-bull puppy." This was a dumb movie. We watched it in San Jose Costa Rica and laughed the whole time. The director and the actors should be shot for filming this movie.

Worth While Seeing.......2004-06-09

Bryan Genesse from TV's Street Justice Stars in Grade B Actioner about a group of deranged criminals take over a train whith a renagade CIA Operative on Board. Usual action no big surprises but the viewer gets to see some great action sequences on and off the Train. The Only problem i have with the film is the ending was too incoherent It seemed like the director wanted the movie to end in a lame way. The film's strong point is Bentley Mitchum the villian of the film took great relish in portraying a psycho mouthy killer with a meanstreak who gets what he derserves. Not a bad film i have seen much worse in the past. At least this film can hold my attention.

New talent discovered.......2004-03-10

One of my favorite things to do is troll through B movies looking for first-time actors, would-be stars, and the kind of performances that confirm that "there is no such thing as small parts, just small actors." One performance stood out in Death Train, barely discernable amid the explosions, killings, profanity and bloodshed. Jordan Rollins, playing young Javier, jumped off the screen with his understated, sincere, and very likable portrayal of a crippled boy caught in the crossfire. I couldn't find Rollins in any other films, so I am assuming he is a first timer. I can only hope it is not his last. Also worthy of mention are the priest and the little sister - but for my money Jordan Rollins is my "Rookie of the Year" for 2003 for his turn as Javier, the brave boy from south of the border in Death Train.

Brian Genesse is a fantastic B-movie action star.......2003-10-01

This film is a great b-movie action flick; far superior than Van Damme's "Derailed" from a year earlier. The main character in this movie is also one of the stars from my favorite movie ever, Operation Delta Force 3. But in this movie, Brian Genesse is alone as he tackles the ruthless terrorists one at a time, in the tradition of Steven Seagal and Bruce Willis. It was also nice to see Genesse's natural fighting abilities when he was battling the bad guy boss at the end of the film. Without any obvious stuntman, Genesse handles himself quite well.
The final scene of the movie is awesome as his Mexican Federale friend hands him the Tequila bottle for the second time and poor Brian is still out of breath after his first swig. A wide eyed Brian mutters "My turn?", as he grabs the bottle from his friend, not quite ready to take another gulp of the potent liquor.
Nice action movie. After seeing it, I am going to buy it.

Average customer rating:

Mediocre movie based on a great novel
Lots of fun
Light vs. Dark?
great movie, if a little flawed
I don't want to wait for the next ones.

Nochnoy Dozor
Starring: Konstantin Khabensky , Vladimir Menshov , Valeri Zolotukhin , Mariya Poroshina , and Galina Tyunina
Director: Timur Bekmambetov
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Night Watch: A Novel
Day Watch
V for Vendetta (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Underworld - Evolution (Widescreen Special Edition)
The Hills Have Eyes (Unrated Edition)

ASIN: B00005JOYL

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

Mediocre movie based on a great novel.......2007-06-13

Lots of fun.......2007-06-02

Light vs. Dark?.......2007-06-01

great movie, if a little flawed.......2007-05-31

I don't want to wait for the next ones........2007-05-21

Average customer rating:

One of the Greatest Movies Ever

The Outskirts
Starring: Yuri Dubrovin , Nikolai Olyalin , Aleksei Pushkin , Aleksei Vanin , and Rimma Markova
Director: Pyotr Lutsik
Manufacturer: Facets
ProductGroup: DVD
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Dead Man's Bluff
Confession
An Inconvenient Truth

ASIN: B000244GX6
Release Date: 2004-07-13

Customer Reviews:

One of the Greatest Movies Ever.......2004-12-20

Some people claim that if you are not Russian then this movie is hard to understand, I couldn't disagree more. This movie gets straight to the point, then strangles that point in a macabre display of virtuosity. Director Lutsik manages to create an environment that looks like it could have been a dissident film in the 30s, but somehow manages to capture the attention of a modern audience. There is nothing wrong with this movie. It is sublime: subtle, yet as loud and audibly conspicuos as a sledgehammer, uprorious, yet at times somber and solemn.

The movie is about a group of Russian farmers living in the Ural mountains who find out that some know-it-all sold all of their land to the oil companies. The men gather their guns and their comrades to teach those punks a lesson. They take it all the way to the Soviet oil Ministry, and once there it is dubious that they will stop.

The movie changes pace constantly. It goes from being an action film, to surrealism, to mildly droll drama. Lutsik directs each different mode of this film with equal skill, while at the same time maintains consistency, never letting the actors be someone who they are not, or letting the story slip far from his fingers. The comedy is performed perfectly, often in a slapstick fashion. Yet even in the comedic scenes, the movie retains its seriousness, actually showing how much the characters bond with each other.

There is nothing wrong with this movie. It is perfectly paced, perfectly directed, and acted just as it should be. I found this movie completely by accident and what a fortunate accident that was. Watch this movie, love this movie. To be watched with: vodka and potatoes.

Average customer rating:

A First Class Movie About Yet Another Abberation Of War

Markova
Starring: Markova
Manufacturer: Ariztical Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Doubt
Broken Sky
Making Love
Brokeback Mountain (Widescreen Edition)
Dante's Cove

ASIN: B000244GNQ
Release Date: 2004-06-29

Product Description

Tagalog with English subtitles. Walter Dempsey Jr. a gay man in his twilight years, grew up in the war-torn Philippines during WWII, a time of great unrest and injustice. Watching a harrowing film on Filipino "comfort women," women forced into prostitution to satiate Japanese soldiers stirs deep memories in Walter, aka Markova, of his own days as a comfort gay . While talking to a reporter Markova flashes back to those hard years; from his short-lived freedom following the death of his homophobic, abusive brother to his capture, escape and revenge on Japanese soldiers for their carnal brutality, followed by the American Liberation and the start of a lifetime of healing. His intensely personal story traces the scars imprinted on a country struggling to come to terms with its past and a man struggling to survive in a society that refuses to accept him for who he is.

Customer Reviews:

A First Class Movie About Yet Another Abberation Of War.......2004-08-23

MARKOVA: COMFORT GAY is a finely wrought film based on a true story about one Walter Dempster, Jr. who 'served' as a gay equivalent to the Comfort Women for the Japanese during the occupation of the Philippines during WW II. Written by Clodualdo Del Mundo, Jr and Directed with great tenderness and skill by Gil M. Portes this 'biography' begins with the main character Walterina Markova (played with grace and delicacy by Dolphy - also known as Dolphy Quizon) living in a retirement home for gay men in Manila. He is elderly but still elegant. A TV program about the Japanese presence in Manila in WW II captures Walterina's attention when the use and abuse of Comfort Women (women who acted as prostitutes for survival) is shown. This strikes his memory of his hidden secret that he served in the same capacity - as a cross-dressed 'Comfort Gay' for the Japanese soldiers' use. He decides that telling his story will help old wounds heal and begins an interview with a TV reporter, an interview which amounts to his story from childhood to the present. Director Portes cleverly intermixes the childhood portion (Walter is played here by Jeffrey Quizon) with the present and finally concentrates on Walterina (now played by Eric Quizon) as he has developed into a cross-dressed member of a group of five friends who begin to appear at the parties the Japanese officers throw. At first the group is brutalized when it is discovered they are anatomical men, but soon their services as cross-dressed Comfort Gays allows them to be performers and a means of support during the war. By the time Walterina tells his story to the interviewer, most of his old friends are gone. By interweaving the various scenes with placing the elderly Walterina side by side with the remembered younger forms, the resulting story is mesmerizing.

The cast is excellent: of interest the director has chosen two sons of actor Dolphy Quizon to play his younger versions, Eric and Jeffrey! The camera work is adept and the lighting and musical score enhance what could be a depressing movie, instead making it a tenderly told bit of Philippine history. Recommended on many levels - as history, as gender studies, and as an empathetic moment of truth that is very touching indeed. In Tagalog and Englsh with subtitles.

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Welcome Maria
Starring: Maria Victoria
Director: Juan López Moctezuma
Manufacturer: Cinevilla
ProductGroup: DVD
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DVD:

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Pauline at the Beach (REGION 1) (NTSC)

DVD: The Mummy Returns/The Musketeer

Various Artists - Turn-On, Tune-In, Lookout!