Reviews
Grey's Anatomy: I Walk the Line (2019)
Billy Boyd is very recocnizable
Actually it is about what I had written in the headline. I am from Russia and I cannot say that I know American movies very well. But it was like a persistent motive - where had I seen this face before? Until I recognized and checked within imdb. It was so nice to see him again in completely different sitiation. For me he will always be A class movies actor. In this episode he just proved it. Episode itself is just ordinary one within big show. I cannot believe that I have seen already 15 seasons of it. Main actors are like family for me already. And when I see someone so recovnizable and well known as Billy Boyd (by the way I had to check his name before writing it, I didnt know, only the name of character played by him), I understand that this ix really a SHOW!
Disco Dancer (1982)
It's one of best movies of my childhood
I gave this movie 10 out of 10 after strong and long consideration. The matter is - that I have seen it lately... again... I have laughed all my way through it, and the same time I felt very much nostalgic. I was about to give it 3 or 4 out of 10, but ... It was like I was laughing at my innocence or naiveness. By than, in 80-th, in USSR I watched this movie 12 times. I can not remember any other title I have seen so many times. I always cried. All the second part I was crying my heart out even when I watched it for 12-th time. Everything was so vivid, so alive... I believed in every word, every gesture, every move. And I was in love with the actor or it would be more precise to say with Jimmy. There is definitely something in that movie! And I feel so much pity that now I am too adolescent and cynic to see it any more.
Vysotskiy. Spasibo, chto zhivoy (2011)
very uneasy to vote
I am 38. In my childhood my parents had a tape with Vysotskiy songs and used it as lullaby for me. His unique voice always made me calm. When I grew older I began to understand his lyrics and was charmed. It was a life time love. I still have in my collection some of his records and listen sometimes. I have read a few books of Marina Vlady about him. I know that he has a lot of problems with alcohol And that is all I know about him. A few words about very neglect review of eugenep13 from USA. It's difficult to evaluate something you know nothing about. Vladimir Vysotskiy I suppose is one of those Russian singers who can be comprehended and fully evaluated only by Russians themselves, especially by those Russians who lived in times of Vysotskiy. What was Vysotskiy for them at those times? A voice of freedom and liberty, an ordinary man who lived their problems, who suffered their troubles and who had a courage to say it aloud. He was not convenient, ideologically right poet for authorities. He was a poet of people's heart. That's why he was equally gladly met in almost all societies of Soviet people and the same time was a pain in we-all-know-what-place for authorities. He was almost impossible to control. he was a free man in a not free country. That's why it is difficult for me to evaluate this specific movie. Make-up and effects are great. Vysotskiy on a screen is almost alive. But the same time I don't understand why the authors of the movie took especially that moment in biography of a great person. There was 3 director of that movie. Mitta was in the beginning as I remember, then the one in the middle and the movie was finished by the third one. What has come out is something not really good. It should have been nostalgic movie about era and times past. What we have is a movie about last outbreak of strong personality which is already slowly dying because of drugs. I don't understand for whom was that movie. If it is West oriented than it gives very wrong impression about Vysotskiy. Just because that is the first movie of such kind and Vladimir Vysotskiy not very popular abroad. If it was cut for Russians - then why is it so dark? I don't want to see one of my favorite poets in a such pathetic role. Especially when a question of Vysotskiy and drugs was never officially proved. It should have been nostalgic movie about a great personality! Instead we was shown a lot of faults in Vysotskiy's character. I wanted something which would make me proud to live in my country and nostalgic and which would make my eyes full of tears. Something like "Zvezda plenitelnogo schastya". I haven't received what I hoped for. May be with the end of Soviet era great Russian movie has really died. But nevertheless I give it 7 just because it was at least cut. I recommend anyone who knows nothing about Vysotskiy not to watch this movie. You will get wrong impression about him. Or at least read something else about him before watching.
Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol (2011)
very unrealistic should be considered as fairytale
I agree with some previous critics - MI4 is praised much above reasonable. I have noticed that immediately after release almost any high budget movie on IMDb is overrated. Later on the rate decreases slowly. I suppose it happens, when amount of real votes increases. So I believe that there are really some kind of unhealthy promotion of the title using IMDb's resources.
MI4 - is a typical Hollywood movie with it's strong and weak sides. Strong side means a lot of money in budget - so effects and possibilities of shooting is behind imagination.
And the main weakness of many Hollywood movies is presented in MI4 as well. That is a special craft of Hollywood in making almost any non-English speaking nation around the world aggravated, when Hollywood makes a movie about that specific nation. As a terrific example of that you can take "Anna and the King" which was prohibited for showing in movie theaters in Thailand for an assault of Royal Rama's dynasty. I have never been in Emirates, but I believe that such kind of sand storms in one of their main cities is impossible.
The movie is full of clichés - such as technically demented Russians, very dull and dark Moscow, Indian party with Indian dancers, unkempt main Russian investigator (for sure it is because every Russian is unkempt, untidy and always drunk). I am already tired of such kind of Hollywood movie. I hoped this one would be better. I was wrong.
So my vote is 5 out of 10. Only because the movie gives some adrenaline rush. But it is nothing if to compare with such 10 vote blockbuster as first "Die Hard" for example.
Rusalochka (1968)
probably the best script for Little Mermaid I have ever seen
This animation is quite unusual in my opinion. The graphic is not standard for Soyuzmultfilm of 1960-th. I think in those times it was innovation. It reminded me surrealism and cubism in art to some extend. The picture is painted by triangles, curls, squares mixed with traditional images animation. So when you watch it sometimes it looks like a big moving quilt application on cloth.
There is introduction into story and epilogue, which are painted in completely different manner. And I liked it from both sides: from the point of how it was made, and from the point of what it was about. Introduction from modern time into the times of Andersen is splendid. The phrase about absence of true love in the world is a masterpiece.
I agree with the previous comment from Armenia about closeness of this short animation to what Andersen really meant in his story. "The little mermaid" is the story of unbelievably true love and strikingly great sacrifice. So I was happy to see that original intentions and original text of Andersen was not amended to please children's audience with happy-end. I cried watching it.
Pervye radosti (1957)
I don't agree with summary as it's written
There are a few points I would like to correct in plot summery. Because it has some factual mistakes. "She does not respond to Kirill Izvekov, and her behavior is hurting his feelings." - She does respond. And it was not her behavior, or his feelings for her that pushed Kirill to the path of revolution. He was quite happy with his love as it is. Origin of his disillusions lays in other things.
"By an unfortunate chance he becomes falsely accused of participation in the popular uprising and spends a year in prison. After that he matures into a professional revolutionary." He was not falsely accused - he had really taken part in printing and spreading the proclamations. And there is nothing about passing sentence on him in the movie. I don't know where from Mr. Steve Shelokhonov took information about 1 year. The final is open to any kind of conclusions. May be he would become a mature professional revolutionary, may be not - because he would die of decease serving his sentence for example.
I liked this movie a lot. The characters are not just schema or propaganda. They look quite vivid. Actors are splendid. A touch of irony and humor highlighted a few scenes. The film doesn't give ready answers. It looks like it is even unfinished. And that is what I liked it for.
Zapreshchyonnaya realnost (2009)
Pathetic, foolish and boring
The only good thing about this movie is that it is quite short. All the time of watching it I have been hesitating - to stay or to leave. At last I decided to watch until the end just because I was too lazy to make any additional moves. It is the kind of movie which is possible to watch in three cases only - 1) you are underage; 2) you are drunk; 3) you are one of the cast or crew. I am nothing of above. I even didn't like how it was cut technically. It almost had no any bright color smears. Looked constantly grey - even not like made in black and white - that would be classic - but boring grey. And that terrible electronic set of sounds - I cannot call it music... And it is to say nothing of the plot. When a powerful organization instead of just sending a sniper to kill a lonely guy on the lake sends a moto boat full of stupid freaks with guns... Just because it would be more picturesque when you watch it on a big screen...
Alyy kamen (1987)
How many times do we love?
Young woman is traveling with her future husband on a boat. They had a shipwreck. She was rescued from water by another man. She was unconscious for a few days. And when she is finally able to seek for her boyfriend, time has already passed. She finds him neither dead nor alive. Nobody knows anyone who looks like him. Stepan – a man, who rescued her and assisted in her search, falls in love with the woman. After long period of friendship they got married. Nine years have passed. All that time she remembers her first love. Once Stepan sees a picture which was painted by his wife's former boyfriend. So may be he is still alive
I liked the story. It was rather simple. Nothing was too dramatic. It is not tear-maker. No any bad guys. Just an honest man who loves his wife too deep to let her be unhappy. Actors are quite convincing. I gave it 7 out of 10.
Opasnyy povorot (1972)
detective story too deep to be just ordinary one
I like detectives. I watched this one with pleasure. Acting is perfect. "Don't wake up sleeping dog". The dog is truth. While it is hidden, life of two connected families and 2 of their friends and companions can go it's routine way. As soon as they "wake up the dog", it changes everything. "The sleeping dog" is a suicide of one of the members of their friendly circle, which happened a few years ago. Began with discussing why had he done, what he did, they have found in his death more then they expected to find and more then they wanted to know... In some extend this story is more then just ordinary detective story, because it reveals complex and confused relations between close friends at first sight. But is it really so?
Geroite na Shipka (1955)
Historically correct but ideologically terrible
It is one of those movies which I was unable to watch without wincing. The main idea is taken from Marx: folk as moving force of every historical event. If you don't understand it immediately, don't worry you'll be explained it again and again! All the historical personalities look like sketches on themselves. Russian tsar Alexander the Third looks and talks like idiot. Heroes are divided into 2 main parts bad ones: those who do not think in categories of "folk" and "people", and good ones: those who understand that all the wars in history are won by folk. The good thing about that movie is that it reminds us about almost forgotten page of our history. It is true. It was exactly Russians (with a little help of Austria) who helped Bulgarians become independent of Turkish. Even if Russians followed their own interests in that case it doesn't make the event less important for Bulgarians. The most terrible thing about that movie is that it is just completely boring!
Gorodskoy romans (1971)
very touching love story
It is a story about Love. The main hero is a young doctor - somewhere between 20 and 30, who had never been in love. And once he meets her - lovely, naive and much much more younger then him. If I am not mistaken she should be about 18 approximately - she is still in college. They fell in love. But each of them have their own ideas about their life together... I liked it very much. The questions which heroes ask themselves are eternal. Why do we always think that something better is still ahead? Why don't we satisfied with what we have? How can we understand that that is it - Love of your Life? Why do we appreciate only when we loose? Dialogs are very clever. Nothing false at all. Acting is nice as well. Definitely you would not spoil the evening if you watch it.
Jariskatsis mama (1964)
just watch it!
I have never even thought about that movie as Georgian. For me - it is a movie of human heart (which is international and has nor borders). I remember when I first watched it - I was not able to fall asleep. The movie had already finished, but I was still crying my heart away. Since that I have seen it a few times and every time I cried (considering that usually I don't do it - for example - movies like Shindler's list can not make me cry). For me it is best movie I have ever seen about cruel essence of war. Movie, which is not declarative (like most soviet time movies about the war) or sentimental (like Spielberg's ones for example), but just so unbelievably touching. Just watch it, but have in mind - whether you want it or not - it will fill your heart with compassion and the process is sometimes quite painful.
Rasskaz neizvestnogo cheloveka (1980)
Don't follow me, I am lost too.
I liked it. The plot is following. It is the end of 19 century in Russia. A member of revolutionary terrorist group gets an assignment to kill an important government official. In order to approach to him he becomes a footman (a servant) in the house of this official's son. He has to hide his noble origin, his knowledge of French and, which is more important, his self-respect and dignity. His master has a love affair with married woman. One day she leaves her husband and unexpectedly moves to her lover's flat. She considers her lover to be outstanding person. She is full of different hysterical ideas and soon her lover becomes very tied of her. So our hero watches all their relations in progress and soon he begins to feel sympathy for a woman. He begins to reconsider his own intentions and thoughts, which makes him lost. The movie itself is quite serious one. It is not love story as you may expect from my summary. It is not a story about revolutionary struggle as well. It is philosophical introduction into human soul, nature of love or hate. It asks eternal question: Why do we live? What for? It is about lost generation, laughing on Turgenev's heroines, who at least were able to follow their fighting men anywhere. It is about degeneration of ideas (comparing with what was a beginning "dekabristy" in 1825 and their wives following them to Siberia) and impossibility to find your own place in life. Watch it! I strongly recommend. In spite of seriousness the film is not boring. It is nicely cut, acting is perfect. Simonova as always excited hysterical woman in love is just perfect. I gave this movie 8 out of 10.
Anton Ivanovich serditsya (1941)
it was quite boring to watch
It is the story about old professor of music (Anton Ivanovich), who is fond of Serious classic composers like Bach for example. His daughter got engaged in singing for operetta instead of becoming serious opera singer. That explains the title of the movie. A few lies, a few misunderstandings and nothing really funny. "Bliznetsy" - another comedy with Tselikovskaya - is more entertaining. Musical performances are quite dull (just my opinion). Sound was so bad that I, by the way native Russian speaker, was not able to comprehend what they were singing about. May be, if you watch it translated into English, it will appear better way. I don't know. The only good thing I can tell is that acting was really nice.
Zvonyat, otkroyte dver (1966)
I liked it, but sometimes I've got a feeling that movie is out of time
It is a story about 12 or 13 years old girl in the middle of 60-th in USSR. She is a pioneer. She is in love with her pioneer leader - 16-17 years old boy, who doesn't even notice her. In order to impress him she tries to find someone, who was a member of pioneer squad in 1923 - one of the first Soviet pioneers... All the time, when I watched the film, I was thinking - How simple was life during that period of time! Kind of nostalgia! It was possible to walk from door to door, entering flats of unknown people and just talk to them... and they never afraid of letting unknown person in. People were open to each other. On the other hand - all that pioneer stuff was just completely out of time... I gave it 7 out of 10. Mainly because the young actors were perfect and the story about first love and disappointment was very plausible and convincing!
Nas venchali ne v tserkvi (1983)
so romantic
In the middle of 1870-th in small provincial town young woman doesn't want to spend her life ordinary way. She is romantic and she wants to be involved in revolutionary process. (There used to take place a historical movement named "narodnichestvo" in 1870-th in Russia. Educated part of urban society (mainly students) left towns for villages and tried to explain peasants about their human rights and democracy). She tries to run away from home but the only way for her to escape is to get married. So her revolutionary friends from Petersburg decide to rescue her by sending a young man who must pretend to be her boyfriend and marry her. So when young man comes to her farther in order to make a proposal she sees him for the first time in her life but they both have to pretend to be deeply in love
So romantic, idealistic and so naive they were! I mean young men and women who wanted to change the world and make it better place! The movie is based on real historical facts. There was a revolutionary group in Petersburg named "chaikovtsy" in 1869-74. They taught students to lead propaganda among peasants, printed some revolutionary books. Nothing terrorist or too criminal (comparing to other Russian revolutionary organizations of those times). Almost all of them were arrested and prosecuted in famous "Process of 193" in 1878. It is just some historical reference. Don't get too scared! It is not movie about revolution. It is about love, which came unexpectedly and changed a great lie into something opposite and wonderful
A little bit ironic, a little bit blue I gave that movie 8 of 10!
Neveroyatnye priklyucheniya italyantsev v Rossii (1974)
nice Russian comedy about treasure hunt
It is not my favorite Ryasanov's movie, but nevertheless I recommend it for everybody who like comedies about treasure hunting. The plot is quite usual. Somewhere in very poor Italian hospital dies old Russian lady, who appears to be one of noble Russian aristocrats. She left Russia after revolution 1917, but she was not able to take with her all her treasures. So in the hospital, before she dies, she reveals to everybody, who is near her (her granddaughter, gangster, doctor, paramedics, patients) her secret. And treasure hunt begins! The movie is quite funny, but not the best example of Russian comedies. The good news is that unlike many Russian comedies which are fun only for native speakers, this one can be comprehended by any audience.
Danger Beneath the Sea (2001)
sexual hero by Casper Van Dien
One of the Holliwood movies, which copies one another. But I watched it mainly because of Casper Van Dien. I began to do it just because I had no any more interesting thing to do that evening, but finally I was caught by it. I clearly understood that the movie itself was rather poor - idea was not new, everything was predictable, but I was charmed by Casper van Dien, as I already said. I have seen a few of his films before, but never paid any attention to him. That is just the movie where he is on his right place. Probably I would not recommend any male over 13 years old to watch this movie, but I surely can recommend any woman to try it - sexual male in the role of hero... Very romantic!