Thread: NonRussian films (work in progress)

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

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.

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

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

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.

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.

Originally Posted by alexB

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

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.

I download it from here, but as it's 23.92 GB (25680108136 Bytes) I stopped all files and download just 3-4 simultaneously:

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.

Solaris

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 ) and I hope to watch it soon.

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

[/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?

Originally Posted by CoffeeCup

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.

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 ( !!! )[/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.

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

Originally Posted by rockzmom

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

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

Originally Posted by rockzmom

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

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.

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.

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. His appearance is also not typical (though. of course, it's not unbelievable)

And... just don't laugh.. Imho, the most non-Russian thing about his appearance is his nose.. Something in the bone structure.

Originally Posted by rockzmom

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

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.

Originally Posted by CoffeeCup

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

Originally Posted by gRomoZeka

He looks more like a Russian stereotype for a Latino druglord

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!

Originally Posted by gRomoZeka

And... just don't laugh.. Imho, the most non-Russian thing about his appearance is his nose.. Something in the bone structure.

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!

Originally Posted by rockzmom

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

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

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...

"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.)

...and the mention of Isadora Duncan.

Yes, it's funny how things work. I didn't know much about her either. 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 ).

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

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.

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

Originally Posted by Lynn

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

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

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!

Originally Posted by gRomoZeka

Originally Posted by Lynn

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

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.

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

Alas, poor Finland

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.

Rockzmom! Thanks a lot for the
Yes, it's a pity you cannot understand Russian language as the actors are really at their top in this movie.

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.

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?

Originally Posted by iriroma

Rockzmom! Thanks a lot for the
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?

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

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.)

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.

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)