NonRussian films (work in progress)

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Originally Posted by rockzmom

I have also posted the FIRST episode or pilot. It took me a while to find this one and I did so for my girls so they could understand how the whole series started

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It turns out I saw a couple of the episodes several years ago but I had no clue those four were aliens and so their behavior looked weird.
I wouldn’t mind seeing the whole thing but I doubt I can find a version not spoiled by the Russian only sound track.

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- This is a small office and you’re behaving like a big hose-monkey.
- You’re not so bad yourself, woman.

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Funny, but what is the hose-monkey here? There is one definition in the Urban Dictionary

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1. hose monkey
Generally applies to men.
To be in the habit of continually playing with one's "hose" like a monkey...
Also applies to most types of useless or ineffective behavior.
See "wanker"
That guy is such a useless hose monkey.

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but I doubt it fits in here. Or does it?
In the multilingual part the Dr. Solomon’s Russian is relatively good whereas the kid’s one barely discernable.

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Originally Posted by alexB

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Originally Posted by rockzmom

I have also posted the FIRST episode or pilot. It took me a while to find this one and I did so for my girls so they could understand how the whole series started

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It turns out I saw a couple of the episodes several years ago but I had no clue those four were aliens and so their behavior looked weird.
I wouldn’t mind seeing the whole thing but I doubt I can find a version not spoiled by the Russian only sound track.

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I download it from here, but as it's 23.92 GB (25680108136 Bytes) I stopped all files and download just 3-4 simultaneously:
http://s44.radikal.ru/i105/0904/4f/c18b250822c1.jpg

Coffee Cup, StudyR, E-learner and others...

I know I owe you some responses and I once again apologize for not keeping up to date on this thread.

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Solaris

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Coffee Cup and StudyR, I have successfully downloaded a nice copy of Solaris and subtitles (BTW, Studyr, the link you sent to me for the movie... I my security system would not let me open no matter how many hoops I went through telling it it was not a dangerous site :lol: ) and I hope to watch it soon.

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which obviously is a parody of the certain scene from the certain Russian film.
[quote:3nwumqvn]This is the parody I like more:

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[/quote:3nwumqvn]
E-learner, your clip and the other spoof clip from StudyR (with OJ Simpson, yet again) I don't recall this film, so you will have to educate me once again! Where did this first come from?

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Originally Posted by CoffeeCup

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Originally Posted by rockzmom

American movies and television portray Russians (almost always) as mobsters, spies or thugs? Why never as the heroes?
...
the same stereotypes as not "nice" people.

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There [s:h9tg2v67]is the[/s:h9tg2v67] was a movie shot in 1987[s:h9tg2v67].[/s:h9tg2v67] and I still can't understand how this movie was able to appear on [s:h9tg2v67]the[/s:h9tg2v67] this earth. [s:h9tg2v67]The[/s:h9tg2v67] It was an American movie, where the main character was a Russian spy who fought with Americans from the Pentagon and [s:h9tg2v67]won ( !!! :o )[/s:h9tg2v67] at the end of the movie, he won!!! [s:h9tg2v67]More over[/s:h9tg2v67] Even more amazing,the Russian character was [s:h9tg2v67]pictured[/s:h9tg2v67] portrayed as the hero[s:h9tg2v67]e[/s:h9tg2v67] ( !!! ).

Any guesses ... ?
...

"No way out" with Kevin Costner as the Russian spy in 1987.

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I mentioned earlier on this thread about how Russians are portrayed in American films and TV and some of you responded back. I also mentioned how one of my favorite TV shows right now “Life” and this season they have woven into the story line a Russian mob theme. Well… this past week the episode had some “interesting” little moments in it that I wanted to share with you.

I have three clips. You just need to click on the links to watch, no downloading or anything.

Clip one… your typical stereotype. Let me set it up for you. Roman Nevikov, (also note, this actor was born in California and raised in Washington State... how is his accent and mannerisms ?) is the “BAD” Russian Mob boss, yet, he always wears white. Detective, Charlie Crews (also note, in real life, this actor is from the UK and he is using an "American" accent for this role), is a police officer who was set up and went to prison for 12 years for a murder he did not commit, finally was proven innocent got a big settlement, yet went back to work so he could find out who the real killers were. Detective Dani Reese, is his partner.
http://s444.photobucket.com/albums/q...t=336db5af.flv

Clip two, they are going to try and rescue Detective Reese. In this one there is a nice Russian song playing over the scene. Does anyone know this song? Can anyone give me an idea what the song is about?
http://s444.photobucket.com/albums/q...t=4f4e0c0d.flv

Clip three, is a car scene also with Russian music, this time Rap. Is this a popular song? Anyone recognize it?
http://s444.photobucket.com/albums/q...t=5ee0d081.flv

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Originally Posted by rockzmom

Clip one… your typical stereotype. Let me set it up for you. ... how is his accent and mannerisms ?)

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He pronounces words more precisely and doesn't mess or mesh the words with his tongue - that is obviously correct for most of non native speakers. But in all other points his accent is really wrong: the rolling "r" in "for" - this word is one of the words which are learned as the basis vocabulary and all the Russians pronounce it without the rolling "r"; Sound "t" in "anything" - most Russians pronounce "th" as "s". His English is too fluent to make such mistakes. But I don't know the story line maybe the character was not grow in Russia. Mannerisms are also non Russian (I really begin to believe that the character grew somewhere out of Russia). The mannerisms are more like when in some Russian movies young people are shown as trying to behave like Tupac.

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Originally Posted by rockzmom

Clip two, they are going to try and rescue Detective Reese. In this one there is a nice Russian song playing over the scene.

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Тату - "Зачем я ..." (Tatu - "For what I ...") Tatu is the very recognizable Ruassian group which consists of two girls. Tatu reached top-lists not only in Russia but also in Europe and Japan (There are not so many Russian bands which have such records). The song is about two persons who are in love to each other and were involved in some criminal story with drugs and some mobs are chasing them so these two persons are about to be killed.

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Originally Posted by rockzmom

Clip three, is a car scene also with Russian music, this time Rap. Is this a popular song? Anyone recognize it?

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Серега - "King Ring" (Serega - "Король Ринга") I have not mix the languages the original song title is English (King [of boxing] ring). Serega is also a well known singer in Russia (but maybe not outside Russia). Some times ago there was a TV show "King of boxing ring" where singers and actors and other popular people tried to be boxers. This song was released by Serega after his participating in this show.

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Originally Posted by rockzmom

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which obviously is a parody of the certain scene from the certain Russian film.
[quote:1r9gdfa0]This is the parody I like more:

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E-learner, your clip and the other spoof clip from StudyR (with OJ Simpson, yet again) I don't recall this film, so you will have to educate me once again! Where did this first come from?[/quote:1r9gdfa0]
You must have missed the link to this scene from the original film.
Here is the whole film.
Here is a Wikipedia article.

It was mentioned often enough on Soviet TV that somebody somewhere named this film the greatest film of all time, but I don't remember the whole film ever being translated by TV. I haven't seen it, except for that particular scene, until now.

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Originally Posted by rockzmom

Clip one… your typical stereotype. Let me set it up for you. Roman Nevikov, (also note, this actor was born in California and raised in Washington State... how is his accent and mannerisms ?) is the “BAD” Russian Mob boss, yet, he always wears white.

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Yes, his accent is a little off (99,9% of Russians who have an accent pronounce "th" as "s" and "z" - NOT as "t" and "d"). The mannerisms are more or less ok, but the image as a whole seems wrong. He doesn't look like a Russian mobster (at least he doesn't fit the Russian stereotype for Russian mobster). He looks more like a Russian stereotype for a Latino druglord (slicked back black hair, white clothes, etc.). Real Russian thugs don't dress all in white. It's a bit girly to their taste. :D His appearance is also not typical (though. of course, it's not unbelievable)

And... just don't laugh.. :oops: Imho, the most non-Russian thing about his appearance is his nose.. Something in the bone structure. :no:

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Originally Posted by rockzmom

Clip one… your typical stereotype. ... Roman Nevikov,... how is his accent and mannerisms ?

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To kill all possibilities that this guy is Russian - He pronounces his own Russian name with tremendous accent. People can have any accent for a non native language but using their own names they are speaking automatically in the mother tongue.

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Originally Posted by CoffeeCup

The mannerisms are more like when in some Russian movies young people are shown as trying to behave like Tupac.

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Originally Posted by gRomoZeka

He looks more like a Russian stereotype for a Latino druglord

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Now I also vote for the "Latino druglord" stereotype as more convenient.

So what you all are saying is this guy can't even pronounce his own name correctly! :shock:

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Originally Posted by gRomoZeka

And... just don't laugh.. :oops: Imho, the most non-Russian thing about his appearance is his nose.. Something in the bone structure. :no:

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So, gRomoZeka, what type of nose should he have???

I just can't believe that in all of LA they could not find a REAL Russian actor for this role!!! But then again, they have a British actor playing an American for the lead! :spiteful:

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Originally Posted by rockzmom

Heart of a Dog", (Собачье сердце, Sobachye serdtse), 1988
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heart_of_a_Dog

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Here it's in English: http://lib.ru/BULGAKOW/dogheart_engl.txt

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The other things that surprised me were the use of names and how instead of Dr. Philipovich, he is always referred to as Philip Philipovich...

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"Phillipovich" is his patronymic, so combination Dr. Philiipovich is absolutely impossible. :) If anyone would like to use a honorific it should be Dr. Preobrazhensky (Dr. + his last name). But it would sound way too formal and it's not always appropriate (honorifics in Russian used more rarely than in English). First name + Patronymic is the most common respectful form of address (to your superior, to a stranger, to an older person, etc.)

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...and the mention of Isadora Duncan.

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Yes, it's funny how things work. I didn't know much about her either. :friends: All I knew about Isadora Duncan for a long long time was that she was a wife of a very famous Russian poet Sergei Yesenin. I didn't even know she was American, I thought she was French or something (like all dancers, you know :D ).

Thank you for your long reviews. They are very interesting to read. :angel:

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Originally Posted by rockzmom

I must confess, watching these films with subtitles, does make me regret that I do not understand your language, history or culture, as I know I am missing so much more than what I am actually seeing and understanding. :cry:

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I think it is time for you to begin learning Russian! :D

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Originally Posted by Lynn

I think it is time for you to begin learning Russian! :D

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Wait… please… I have to catch my breath from laughing so hard! You are sooooooooo funny! :ROFL:

Let’s see, 17 years of marriage to a native Spanish speaker and I still don’t speak Spanish and you are suggesting that I start to learn Russian???? What you want WWIII to start in my household or just a divorce?

As I have mentioned before, I am language handicapped and have enough troubles at time with my native English!

God gave me one talent, a lovely speaking voice; however, that voice does not carry over to pronouncing any other languages besides English. That is why I have two daughters who are bi-lingual and I hope they will pick up other languages as well to help out their poor language challenged mom!

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Originally Posted by gRomoZeka

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Originally Posted by Lynn

Can anyone tell me: is it necessary to watch Брат before watching Брат 2?

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It's not absolutely necessary since the plot is not connected directly to the first part. The feeling of the movie is absolutely different too, as well as most of the characters.
But I think it still may be better to watch "Brat" at first because some important dynamics occur between brothers in the first part. And because it's better. :)

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I had a chance to watch Brat a few days ago and enjoyed it a lot. I have one question, though, because the language was sometimes too fast and idiomatic for me to follow (especially with the mob boss speaking in proverbs all the time), and I wonder if I missed something (or if it just got lost in cultural translation). Danila repeatedly says that he sat out the war as a clerk in headquarters, and yet is an impressive hit man on his first try. Was there something about the way that he said "I was just a clerk" that makes it clear that he's not telling the truth? After about half the movie I assumed he was lying about his combat experience, but should this have been clearer to me earlier? Or is it simply funny that he keeps insisting he wasn't in the war? (I thought it was a nice touch at the end when he said it rather humbly to the truck driver, shortly after killing a dozen people.)

I had to like Danila, especially after he kept his promise not to hurt the hostage movie director, and he seemed like the one "moral" figure among all the characters. (Though as my roommate pointed out, Robin Hood didn't shoot people with a sawed-off shotgun.) All in all, it made me just a little apprehensive about traveling to St. Petersburg in the future, but I guess my home city of New York seems just as dangerous in movies... :)

I had seen "South Park" yesterday
http://s48.radikal.ru/i122/0904/8e/5f734e84201c.gif
Alas, poor Finland :cry:

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Originally Posted by rockzmom

Aesthetically, visually, I thought the film was very well shot and the character development well done. It seemed that there was a hierarchy within the film and everyone needed to stay within their station and the actors did a marvelous job of creating this division with mannerisms and expressions (remember for me, as I don’t understand Russian, verbal cues are harder for me. Yes I can hear the different tonal qualities; however as I am also trying to keep up with the subtitles, which I know are sometimes lacking in translation so I look to the actors motions to fill me in and I tend to tune out the voices) so an actor must really be at the top of their game to make it work for me.

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Rockzmom! Thanks a lot for the http://www.gifburst.com/gifs/stars/581_Stars_035.gif :wink:
Yes, it's a pity you cannot understand Russian language as the actors are really at their top in this movie.

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Originally Posted by rockzmom

... How did a dog think and what did this dog think? I found his thoughts intriguing. The line, “And the cinema is a woman's one consolation in life.” hit home with me. This was not some; Disney type film with stupid comical lines, this film was going to have a message of sorts and I wanted to try to find out what it was.
The idea that Sharik’s own personality did not overpower that of the human’s or that there was not more inner conflict between the two was also interesting and yet disappointing to me at the same time. Sharik was smart and had a keen mind and observed things about humans. He seemed to almost understand us better than we do. Yet, when he became human, he lost that part of him as the human, the “third striker” so to speak, took over and had more influence over Sharik’s personality.

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There's much to say about this novel, but in a few words I'd say that here Bulgakov with a dog's eyes tries to let us understand the Soviet culture and its disastrous results. The doctor, his assitant and the servants are shown as the victims of the communism. Philipp Philippovich decides to make an experiment, he tries to create a new Soviet man. He even tries to teach some good manners to Sharik. Unfortunately, the experiment fails and the dog returns being a dog.

PS: would you correct my mistakes I made in English, please?

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Originally Posted by iriroma

Rockzmom! Thanks a lot for the http://www.gifburst.com/gifs/stars/581_Stars_035.gif :wink:
Yes, it's a pity you cannot understand Russian [s:1560r2k2]language[/s:1560r2k2] as the actors are really at their [s:1560r2k2]top[/s:1560r2k2] best (or: at the top of their game)in this movie.

There's much (more colloquial: a lot) to say about this novel, but in a few words I'd say that here Bulgakov [s:1560r2k2]with a[/s:1560r2k2] through the dog's eyes tries to [s:1560r2k2]let us understand the[/s:1560r2k2] show us Soviet culture and its disastrous results. The doctor, his assistant and the servants are shown as the victims of [s:1560r2k2]the[/s:1560r2k2] communism. Philipp Philippovich decides to [s:1560r2k2]make[/s:1560r2k2] run (or: try) an experiment[s:1560r2k2],[/s:1560r2k2]: he tries to create a new Soviet man. He even tries to teach some good manners to Sharik. Unfortunately, the experiment fails and the dog returns to being a dog.

PS: would you correct my (or: the) mistakes I made in English, please?

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Hope that's helpful. :) (I'm new to this, so I also hope I did the formatting correctly!)

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Originally Posted by Lynn

Danila repeatedly says that he sat out the war as a clerk in headquarters, and yet is an impressive hit man on his first try. Was there something about the way that he said "I was just a clerk" that makes it clear that he's not telling the truth? After about half the movie I assumed he was lying about his combat experience, but should this have been clearer to me earlier? Or is it simply funny that he keeps insisting he wasn't in the war? (I thought it was a nice touch at the end when he said it rather humbly to the truck driver, shortly after killing a dozen people.)

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There was really nothing about the way that Danila said "I was just a clerk". Even more I suppose that there was not the attempt to hide his experience. The character had been involved in the war which broke the soul totally. The solders who have just finished a school were just put into the situation without any purposes, any support, just for living on their own. Later, talking about the war may recall these very hurting memories. So, telling that he was just a clerk allows him to keep some mental distance with those memories and stops further discussion about the war.

But the way he said it in the last scene is really different. At the begin of the movie Danila was just a self-missed person while at the end he become a successful hit man. As closer to the end of the movie Danila found himself in being a hit man more comfortable than trying to find an ordinary way in the civil life. The hurting memories have gone back with respect to the current activity and the phrase "I was just a clerk" become just a mechanical answer.

American Films…

Remember, as Sharik said, “and the cinema is a woman's one consolation in life.”

There are many older movies, pre-1970, which I have always enjoyed and depending upon my mood, I can watch again and again and again. Each one has its own special or unique reason for me. I own most of these movies, that is how much I enjoy them and have “made” my children watch most of them as well. As you will note, a number of them are musicals.

:arrow: I would like to know from this group (the ones who have been here from the start in December, the newbies, and the ones who just surf but never comment):

1. Have you seen any of these films and if so, which ones and what did you think about them (surfers can just give thumbs up or thumbs down)? [/*:m:1d6eo6v8]
2. About how old were you when you saw the film?[/*:m:1d6eo6v8]
3. If you are not American (or if you are American, yet had no knowledge of the area or situation portrayed in the film, like in "To Kill A Mockingbird"), what perspective of American life did the film give to you, if any? [/*:m:1d6eo6v8]

:?: :?: :?:

I’ve added some clips of the films from YouTube and hopefully you will be able to access them!!

So here they are in Alphabetical Order (just a few mind you!):

Adam's Rib, 1949 (starring Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam's_Rib
watch trailer
This movie is on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/view_play_lis...14679A616DDFE2

An American in Paris, 1951 (Starring Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/An_Amer...n_Paris_(film)
watch clip

Brigadoon, 1954 (staring Gene Kelly, Van Johnson, and Cyd Charisse)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brigadoon_(film)
watch clip

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, 1969 (starring Paul Newman and played by Robert Redford)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butch_Cass ... ndance_Kid
watch clip

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, 1968 (starring Dick Van Dyke)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chitty_Chi ... Bang_(film)
watch clip

Desk Set, 1957 (starring Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desk_Set

Fantasia, 1940
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fantasia_(film)
watch clip

Hans Christian Anderson, 1952 (staring Danny Kaye)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_Ch...ndersen_(film)
watch clip

Harvey, 1950 (staring James (“Jimmy”) Stewart)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvey_(film)
watch trailer
(This one is on youtube http://www.youtube.com/view_play_lis...B3564BDB9D51CD

Lilies of the Field, 1962 (staring Sidney Poitier)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lilies_of_the_Field
watch clip

Mary Poppins, 1964 (starring Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Poppins_(film)

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, (starring James Stewart and Jean Arthur)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr._Smi..._to_Washington
watch clip

Patch of Blue, 1965 (staring Sidney Poitier)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Patch_of_Blue

Rear Window, 1954 (staring James Stewart and Grace Kelly)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rear_Window

Sabrina, 1954 (with Audrey Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart, not the remake with Harrison Ford)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sabrina_(1954_film)
(any guesses why my daughter is named Sabrina?)

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, 1954
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_B...rothers_(film)
watch clip
This movie is on youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQ2h9...x=0&playnext=1

Singin' in the Rain, 1952 (starring Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor, and Debbie Reynolds)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singin'_in_the_Rain_(film)
watch clip

The Sound of Music, 1965 (staring Julie Andrews)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sound_of_Music_(film)
(I first saw this on a large movie screen as a school class field trip when I was in 6th grade!)

Splendor in the Grass, 1961 (starring Natalie Wood and Warren Beatty)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Splendor_in_the_Grass
The film's title is taken from a line of William Wordsworth's poem "Ode on Intimations of Immortality from Recollections of Early Childhood":

What though the radiance which was once so bright
Be now for ever taken from my sight,
Though nothing can bring back the hour
Of splendour in the grass, of glory in the flower;
We will grieve not, rather find
Strength in what remains behind..

To Kill a Mockingbird, 1962 (starring Gregory Peck)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/To_Kill...ingbird_(film)

rockzmom
1. I've seen only Rear Window.
I wasn't much impressed with it. Admittedly, it might be because I had already seen Russian version of it, which wasn't bad at all, and read the story itself.
2. I saw it a couple of years ago, so you can guess.
3. I don't remember anything particularly interesting about this movie.


By the way, we have our own Mary Poppins. Here's some songs from it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JW3xBTuvVA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZWatePU ... re=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZ79KQdwNjk

I must admit I have not seen many "old" American classics. I need to fix it! Your list is a good place to start. :)

Telling the truth I have not even seen "Casablanca". Being raised on Soviet war movies I'm used to think that a war (especially WW II) is blood, dirt, death, destruction, hunger and tears, not some foreigners prancing around in snow-white suits, eating in the restaurants and dreaming of some imaginary place (again, I haven't watched it, but that was an impression I've got from the extracts and snapshots I've seen :oops: ). So I feel a strange kind of aversion to it, though I fully intend to watch it... somewhen in the future.

What about your list I watched only two movies - "Rear Window" (like 10 or 15 years ago, and.. isn't it British?), and "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" (even earlier).
"Rear Window" I liked, maybe because I've read the original story, "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" left me mostly unmoved, I think. At least I hardly can remember anything from it. I'd like to rewatch it now.

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Originally Posted by gRomoZeka

"Rear Window" (like 10 or 15 years ago, and.. isn't it British?)

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Are you sure it wasn't the Soviet one? Was there a parrot in it?
I didn't know at the moment whose production it was but it felt like British :).
Later I saw it in Ukranian. The parrot sounded hilarious. :)

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Originally Posted by E-learner

Are you sure it wasn't the Soviet one?

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No, it was definitely a Hitchcock's film (but I checked imdb, it was filmed in the USA). Is there a Soviet version too?

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Originally Posted by gRomoZeka

Is there a Soviet version too?

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Yes, there is.
http://www.kino-teatr.ru/kino/movie/sov/5399/annot/
It seems it hasn't even been released on DVD.

Ah, 1991 is approximately when I stopped watching Russian movies for a good 5-7 years. Most of this post-Perestroyka films were horrible and almost painful to watch. ))

Where to start???

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Originally Posted by E-learner

rockzmom
1. I've seen only Rear Window.
I wasn't much impressed with it. Admittedly, it might be because I had already seen Russian version of it, which wasn't bad at all, and read the story itself.

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When I was in film school I actually had a class "Fantasies, Dreams, and Nightmares: The Psychology of Films" where all you did was watch a film once a week and then stay for the lecture about the film. That was it. Just show up and you pretty much got an "A." All of the films though were Alfred Hitchcock ones. I did not go to see The Birds or Psycho. Of all of his films, I enjoyed Rear Window and North by Northwest the most. Dial M for Murder was up there too.

Thanks for the Mary Poppins links too! :good:

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Originally Posted by gRomoZeka

I must admit I have not seen many "old" American classics. I need to fix it! Your list is a good place to start. :)

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YES!! I tried to vary it a little so you can select a “happy” musical, a mystery, romance or drama.

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Originally Posted by gRomoZeka

Telling the truth I have not even seen "Casablanca". …So I feel a strange kind of aversion to it, though I fully intend to watch it... somewhen (sometime) in the future.

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Ah… gRomoZeka… it is a LOVE story…http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/q...n/11060a26.gif. Yes, it is also a commentary about war, any war; however, it is more about people and it has major character development and fantastic acting! You feel for the people in this film. You care not only for Rick, Ilsa and Victor… but about all the minor small “featured” characters. The young married couple who need money and want to start a life (will she sell herself for one night?) and the signer in Rick’s café who belts out with an undeniable passion, "La Marseillaise."

It is also about the back dealings that go on in life in general… "Who do you trust in this world?"

Visually, I find the film stunning, especially in black and white. It would not be the same film in color. You should look for a remastered copy when you finally decide to take the plunge and watch this one.

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Originally Posted by gRomoZeka

"Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" left me mostly unmoved, I think. At least I hardly can remember anything from it. I'd like to rewatch it now.

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Butch is a fun movie. There is much humor (or humour) in it that “may” not translate well in Russian and depending upon your level of English when you watched it or if it was a dubbed or subtitled copy that you watched… that might have colored your enjoyment of the film.

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Originally Posted by Crocodile

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Originally Posted by rockzmom

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Originally Posted by Crocodile

However, read To Kill a Mockingbird book first [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/To_Kill_a_Mockingbird].

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Crocodile, I just put that movie up on my thread as one of my favorites!!! :good:

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Yeah.. first time I read that book in Russian long time ago... Just to let you know that book was (and probably still is) read and loved in Russia. :friends:

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Now, I must admit, Crocodile’s comment came as a big shock to me. :shock: I have so much to “relearn.”

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Originally Posted by rockzmom

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Adam's Rib, 1949 (starring Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn)

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I've never seen it.

[quote:22s4578v]An American in Paris, 1951 (Starring Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron)

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I've never seen it.

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Brigadoon, 1954 (staring Gene Kelly, Van Johnson, and Cyd Charisse)

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I've never seen it.

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Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, 1969 (starring Paul Newman and played by Robert Redford)

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7.5/10 Apart from the fact that it's a lot of fun to watch, those two actors are legendary.

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Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, 1968 (starring Dick Van Dyke)

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Um, I haven't seen it since I was 10. I liked it well enough then, but I'm not much interested in seeing it now.

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Desk Set, 1957 (starring Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn)

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I've never seen it.

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Fantasia, 1940

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I saw some of it when I was a kid. I was bored to tears.

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Hans Christian Anderson, 1952 (staring Danny Kaye)

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I don't recall having seen this one, but I like Danny Kaye a lot. I really enjoyed his version of 'Revizor'. (The Inspector General)

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Harvey, 1950 (staring James (“Jimmy”) Stewart)

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I can watch this movie over and over and never get tired of it. Love it -- a true classic. Plus, it has one of my favorite movie quotes.

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Lilies of the Field, 1962 (staring Sidney Poitier)

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I've never seen it. The only Sidney Poitier movie I know well is 'To Sir With Love", which really like.

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Mary Poppins, 1964 (starring Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke)

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Julie Andrews as Mary Poppins is the girl of my dreams. Dick Van Dyke's awful Cockney accent almost ruins it for me, though. Except for him, it's "practically perfect".

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Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, (starring James Stewart and Jean Arthur)

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Classic. A complete fantasy, of course, but a lovely film

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Patch of Blue, 1965 (staring Sidney Poitier)

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See above.

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Rear Window, 1954 (staring James Stewart and Grace Kelly)

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9.5/10 A brilliant film in just about every way. Jimmy Stewart is great, and I could spend a happy two hours watching Grace Kelly read a book. She's simply the most mesmerizingly beautiful woman ever filmed.

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Sabrina, 1954 (with Audrey Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart, not the remake with Harrison Ford)

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I've never seen it.

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Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, 1954

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I've never seen it.

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Singin' in the Rain, 1952 (starring Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor, and Debbie Reynolds)

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I think I've seen it, but I can't remember if I liked it or not.

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The Sound of Music, 1965 (staring Julie Andrews)

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No opinion.

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Splendor in the Grass, 1961 (starring Natalie Wood and Warren Beatty)

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I've never seen it.

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To Kill a Mockingbird, 1962 (starring Gregory Peck)

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One of the most brilliant adaptations ever. Gregory Peck was amazing.

[/quote:22s4578v]

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Originally Posted by Matroskin Kot

Harvey
I can watch this movie over and over and never get tired of it. Love it -- a true classic. Plus, it has one of my favorite movie quotes.

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Matroskin Kot, you cannot tease like that! What is the quote?????????

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Originally Posted by Matroskin Kot

The only Sidney Poitier movie I know well is 'To Sir With Love", which really like.

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I actually watched "To Sir" for the first time over the summer. It too was well done.

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Originally Posted by Matroskin Kot

Rear Window
9.5/10 A brilliant film in just about every way. Jimmy Stewart is great, and I could spend a happy two hours watching Grace Kelly read a book. She's simply the most mesmerizingly beautiful woman ever filmed.

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Yes, I know... and now you look at how girls and young woman walk, dress, act, speak today... and then you watch Grace and you know why the world is going to h#ll in a handbasket. (I'll pick on the guys with their pants hanging down to their thighs in another reply) :wink:
Besides, the wardrobe selection for Grace in this movie was fantastic! Bring back some of those clasic styles, PLEASE!!!

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Originally Posted by Matroskin Kot

The Sound of Music
No opinion.

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ORLY????

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Originally Posted by Matroskin Kot

To Kill a Mockingbird
One of the most brilliant adaptations ever. Gregory Peck was amazing.

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Oh, I am so pleased that you agree!
Now Matroskin Kot, have you read the book? If so, was it before or after you saw the movie?

OK... I thought I would swing this posting over here from the thread it came from because it is just too funny of a clip and goes along with our thread.

I hope that you all can watch it. If not, let me know and I will download the clip and repost as I have been.

Pcloadletter....thanks again! :yahoo:

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Originally Posted by Pcloadletter

How to kill a mockingbird:

[video:283zyhc2]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01CF6w9L754[/video:283zyhc2]

:-D

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Originally Posted by rockzmom

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Originally Posted by Matroskin Kot

Harvey
I can watch this movie over and over and never get tired of it. Love it -- a true classic. Plus, it has one of my favorite movie quotes.

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Matroskin Kot, you cannot tease like that! What is the quote?????????

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Well, it's hard to appreciate it without the context of the film, but here it is:
"Years ago my mother used to say to me, she'd say, "In this world, Elwood, you must be" - she always called me Elwood - "In this world, Elwood, you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant." Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant. --Elwood P. Dowd

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Now Matroskin Kot, have you read the book? If so, was it before or after you saw the movie?

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It was years ago, but I think I saw the film first.

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Originally Posted by Matroskin Kot

Well, it's hard to appreciate it without the context of the film, but here it is:
"Years ago my mother used to say to me, she'd say, "In this world, Elwood, you must be" - she always called me Elwood - "In this world, Elwood, you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant." Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant. --Elwood P. Dowd

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Excellent idea to live by...

Here is the scene...

[video:2kmrkhxu]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzOIhLJ1C-Y[/video:2kmrkhxu]

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Originally Posted by rockzmom

I hope that you all can watch it. If not, let me know and I will download the clip and repost as I have been.

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I watched it OK and I have downloaded the movie itself and watch it too. Ha ha, that was a pretty kettle of fish to kill that mockingbird :ROFL: :ROFL: :ROFL:

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Originally Posted by rockzmom

There are many older movies, pre-1970, which I have always enjoyed and depending upon my mood

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I haven't seen either of these movies while I've heard a lot about "Butch Cassidy ...".

I am interesting in your milestone marking "pre-1970". As for Russia I would certainly use two milestones 60's and 70's. The 1960 I would mark as the milestone where the characters stopped singing and dancing, and movies moved from being a window to a musicals stage and become a self-consistent art. Of course this is very rough division. Non-musicals were before and musicals were after but I think that the mainstream was changed somewhere about 1960. The 1970 probably can be the point when filming process stopped to be magic and become and instrument for artists.

So, what about American milestones?

I wonder how did you devise these "milestones"??? It looks like you bended the facts a little for the sake of your "magic" theory. :) Please give us examples of the movies you kept in mind, if I'm mistaken,

As for my opinion...
The most popular Soviet "musicles" (yes, everybody was singing and even dancing) were filmed in the late 70's. This decade was a "musical" era in the USSR.

Just to name the few:
Truffaldino from Bergamo (Труффальдино из Бергамо), 1976, filmed in 1972 - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0281303/
The Dog in the Manger (Собака на сене), 1977 - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0076732/
D'Artanyan and the Three Musketeers (Д’Артаньян и три мушкетёра), 1978 - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0076998/
An Ordinary Miracle (Обыкновенное чудо), 1978 - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0186408/
About the Little Red Riding Hood (Про Красную Шапочку), 1977 - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0076569/
Magicians (Чародеи), 1982 - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083730/ , http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charodey
... and others...

These films are "classics", I don't think they can fall under the category "musicals were after", because they ARE the main musical gems of Soviet cinema. I probably may agree that there were two waves of musicals (50's - "Mister X" and something else, and 70's - the films I listed).

I'm sure that Kin-dza-dza and White Sun of the Desert were already mentioned. The third one I'd recommend watching is Come and See by Klimov. It is brutal, but truly unique in its genre I believe. I read live ammo was used for some scenes, don't know if it's true.

Come and see. It's a playlist all parts are playing one by one.

Once again, sorry for my absence from this thread but I was having a few bad days. :cry: :bad:

My next question for this group… Besides our beloved MasterAdmin (who has an avatar of Totoro) is there anyone else who is a fan of Hayao Miyazaki? Have his films been translated into Russian? Are they popular in Russia? If so, is it only with children or do adults appreciate them as well?

My daughters are very much in love with his work and last year, their school even had a class grade field trip to see Spirited Away. This past weekend we again watched Castle in the Sky. In addition to Kiki and Castle, we also have:

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind
Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind - watch or download http://stagevu.com/video/boatvrbeszny

Princess Mononoke
Princess Mononoke - watch or download http://stagevu.com/video/szubrwyblidh

Howl's Moving Castle
Howl’s Moving Castle - watch or download http://stagevu.com/video/atvgrwaytvks

Spirited Away
Spirited Away - watch or download http://stagevu.com/video/ssasemyqhezc

Whisper of the Heart

The Cat Returns

The newest one, Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea, is slowly being released this year, August for U.S. and September for Russia. The English version voice over has a great line up including Cate Blanchett, Matt Damon, Tina Fey, Cloris Leachman, Liam Neeson, Lily Tomlin, and Betty White.

mm... Well Japaniese animation in general is not that popular here. Of course there are people who watch it (called animeshniki here =).
And I've actually even been at the Japaniese Animation Festival in Kiev about half a year ago.

The movies you've listed are also quite popular among non-anime viewers.
I tried to watch "Howl's Moving Castle" but didn't like it. And heard a lot about other movies.

Hmm... I (on the contrary) think that anime and Japanese animation in general is VERY popular here, maybe even more than it deserves, he-he. At least two of my friends are crazy about it (keep in mind that my friends are mostly ppl over 25, the persentage is much bigger among teenagers). One of them is watching anime series non-stop. Grrr.. :)

I'm not into anime myself. I really don't like the dominant anime drawing style (huge eyes, little sharp noses, feminine/unisex men, etc.), so I really can't watch it without getting irritated fast, but even I watched a few Miyazaki's films (Spirited Away, Howl's Moving Castle and one more, can't remember the title). Didn't like them too much (again, I'm not a not into anime), but Miyazaki is a true artist, that's for sure.

By the way, I did enjoy one Japanese animated film - "Tekkon Kinkreet" ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tekkon_Kinkreet ). I liked the animation and the plot and the feeling it gave me. Did you watch it? What do you think of it?

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Last year, their school even had a class grade field trip to see Spirited Away.

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Cool. :) We had the similar trip in my school when I was 7 or 8, they took us to watch "Barefoot Gen"/"Hadashi no Gen" (1983) ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barefoot_Gen ). It was a first anime I've seen in my life and I was VERY impressed. Also I was carefully watching for a stray planes for a while afterwards, in case they'll want to dump a nuclear bomb on us. :"":