No harm, no foul. :friends:Quote:
Originally Posted by BappaBa
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No harm, no foul. :friends:Quote:
Originally Posted by BappaBa
Do you mean "Обитаемый остров"? Why do you think it could be that bad? I haven't seen "Груз 200", but as for "Обитаемый остров", it's based on a perfect fantastic novel with a very interesting plot so I really wonder why you compare it with "Груз 200" which seems to be just some gory thing...Quote:
Originally Posted by Lt. Columbo
it's not about a gore comparison, gruz 200 had, aside from the stupid gore, a ridiculous plot. the whole thing was a mess, it wasnt like a fantasy horror, it wasnt serious horror. the whole premise was stupid.
just from the trailer, Обитаемый остров just looks like complete отстой. probably wont be worse than gruz 200, but that will only become clear later!
once ive seen it i shall look forward to a vicious debate :wink:
I see... Well, I don't like Ф.Бондарчук as a director (as an actor either), so I don't expect him do make a GREAT movie (although maybe fiction like that is exactly his genre?), but as for the plot (at least that of the Strugatsky's book), it is not ridiculous at all; it's a very good novel. The Strugatsky brothers are classical writers of XX century. I've read "Обитаемый остров" two times, and I very much enjoyed it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Lt. Columbo
I've watched Обитаемый остров and I didn't like it. The whole thing is aesthetically alien to me. In this, aesthetical, respect, it reminded me of Blade Runner, which I didn't get either.
I got mildly interested only halfway through the film, when I sensed something familiar and actually interesting, and that turned out to be the elements of Strugatskie's plot.
I don't think I'm going to watch the second part. Although I'm not a great fan of Strugatskie, I'd rather re-read the novel.
:-) And just in order to not give you the idea that when it comes to SF I am not a fan of anything at all, I will tell you that I consider myself a fan of, for example, Lem's The Invincible, or the film Brazil (1985).
Review
Day Watch (Дневной дозор, Dnevnoi dozor, a.k.a. Night Watch 2: The Chalk of Fate), 2006
(This film is the second of four movies, loosely based on the novels by Sergei Lukyanenko)
http://movie25.com/day-watch_669.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Day_Watch
Trivia
The film's estimated budget was USD $4.2 million
Film grossed over USD $31.9 million at the Russian box office alone and in U.S. grossed over USD $450,000 as of July 2007
Surpassed "9 rota"(2005) to become the highest-grossing movie in post-communist Russia.
U.S. Reviews
Variety http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117...id=31&cs=1&p=0
San Francisco Chronicle
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/articl...DGOJQ477Q1.DTL
Let me start by saying that I watched the U.S. unrated version of this film which is the same as the Russian version.
I have always been a sucker for movies or books about destiny, fate, and time travel. So when the opening lines of a move are, “Why does the wind blow? It wipes the tracks where we have passed. So that no one can tell, whether we still exist.” I really am hoping that it will be good and I want to enjoy. I suspend all disbelief and let the film/book take me where it wants to take me. I had a little trouble doing this for Night Watch as I did not understand the story line that well; however, for Day Watch, it was much easier as I now knew these characters and the premise for this part of the series was made very clear early on in the movie... Find an ancient piece of chalk, and you will have the power of changing your destiny.
So, I was all in for this movie and even though I know a number of you are going to bash me here on the forum :sorry:, I actually enjoyed this film. The ending I thought was a little too nice and neat; however, it was the entire point of the chalk, changing your destiny. I loved the special effects (especially the truck driving through the semi truck - very tight) and some of the dialogue/scenes made me laugh:
Tamerlane: I shall control the fate of the world...
[gets stabbed from behind]
Zoar: But you can't even control your own fate.
And some made me contemplate:
Zavulon: Imperfections are hidden in darkness, Yegor. And people always have their imperfections
Once again, as an outsider, I wanted to know if the places I was watching on the screen were real. Was the Cosmos Hotel mentioned in the first book and now the scene of a major battle, real? So, of course I Googled it and found it to be indeed a real place with a great Web site. http://www.hotelcosmos.ru/
So yes, this was not a great masterpiece of film; but it was an enjoyable movie to watch.
QUESTION????
Now, as I have not finished reading the first book, I do not know how this movie stands up to the novel and I would be interested to hear from people who have read the series and seen the movies.
Please share your thoughts...
If you like to see Russian Sci-Fi film try Kin-Dza-Dza (1986) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091341/. It's very low budget (well, there is no way to overbudget Hollywood) but smart and fancy and with good acting. Though for someone may be a bit depressive.Quote:
Originally Posted by E-learner
I've seen it.Quote:
Originally Posted by it-ogo
Just in case - I'm Russian. :-)
Oops!Quote:
Originally Posted by E-learner
I want just say about "9 rota" - I think this movie is terrible!
"This film is based on real events" - its lie. In real life all events was not like in this movie
Bondarchuk maked worse movie about this war.
IMHO
Shurick,Quote:
Originally Posted by Shurick
I know absolutely nothing about this film... Please let me know ... Why do you believe the film did so well at the box office (highest-grossing movie in post-communist Russia)?
Anyone else want to voice their opinion on this one?
It's "The 9th Company". Rota means "company" in Russian.Quote:
Originally Posted by rockzmom
The link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_9th_Company
P.S. I think Shurick meant "the worst movie".
Yes, good catch on this one.... I missed it! :good: (However, your punctuation should be inside the quotation marks.)Quote:
Originally Posted by Оля
Use 'worse' if you're comparing two things: "I think eggplant is worse than squash, but that's just my opinion."
Use 'worst' if you're comparing multiple things: "I disagree. Eggplant and boiled cabbage are both vile, but squash is the worst!"
http://www.wikihow.com/Use-Worse-and-Worst
Periods and commas always go inside quotation marks, even inside single quotes.
http://www.grammarbook.com/punctuation/quotes.asp
Quote:
Originally Posted by rockzmom
My answer - becouse of moneyQuote:
9th Company was the first attempt by Russian filmmakers to create a big-screen, big-budget movie about that war, comparable to the American Vietnam War movies of the 1980s (Platoon, Full Metal Jacket, Born on the Fourth of July). The film was released in September 2005 and became a Russian box office hit, generating $7.7 million in its first five days of release alone, a new domestic record.
ps. thank for your corrections, i meant "worst" of course.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Shurick
Since this thread is not only about movies, but also about books, I'd like to ask if anyone on this forum read the famous(?) classical English novel "Vanity Fair". (I suppose at least in England it should be famous; although an Englishman who I asked about it told me that he only knew the title).
And if you did, what do you think about it? :-)
Hey, I have read it, does it count? Are you curious to hear what I think?
To piggyback on Olya's book question...
As she pointed out that it is probably too soon for any of the non-native English speakers to have seen the movie "The Reader" ...
I am wondering if any of you have read "The Reader" as it was first published in German in 1995 and then translated into English in 1997???
According to Wikipedia, it has been translated into 37 languages, so I am guessing that it was translated into Russian at some point. :unknown:
Leof!!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by Leof
I am speaking up out of turn here and I hope that Olya does not mind when I say.... OF COURSE!!!
Everyone counts here! Please, please, please... tell us your thoughts. :wink:
Ah, then!
I loved it! A lot. Though, my for all time favorite author is Dickens, I appreciated Thackeray's special bitter humor and his sharp look at life very much. So many times I have thought why do all these books end so happily, and smoothly, and logically (which according to real life is quite illogically and far from reality)? Many times I tрought why has there never existed a book where evil wins, where good is shown with all its drawbacks? So, The Vanity Fair (as a real piece of critical realism) was for ten steps closer to this my ideal: Nobody is perfect, but this makes us people. Both dark and bright colors; the way we love and betray; the way we show the generosity and then show cowardlyness, how we can actually be. People who are completely sunny or completely dull and stormy, windy and grey like rainy days are very rare. Most of us are changing, moody, like the day where clouds and wind close and then open again the sun constantly. None of Thackeray's heroes (I have read only one of his books) are perfect or однозначны, односторонни. Becky is sparking and beautiful, smart and witty, strong, she is a fruit, but she is a heartless mother and betraying wife. Amelia Sedley is sweet and tender, but, she is silly and simply a simpleton because she loves the wrong man and doesn't appreciate the love of the most generous man of her lifetime. And Dobbin is fair and generous and so loyal to all his principals of honor and love, but, even he understands (and too late) that he was stupid and lost his best years in vain in sake of the woman who does not deserve his love. Becky's husband is a natural fool, but he is a man of honor and bravery and he loves her truly and with endless loyalty.
But the more I see how fair and cynical the Life attends to the heroes in the book, then the more I felt how deeply I was attached to it's action. I feel how true is Thackeray. Life is the mixture of the salt and sugar and we are supposed to eat this blend until we die. When I think about wild animals which eat the flesh (wolves or lions) I think how much dull and similar is their daily meal without fire, salt and spices. But they have to eat it, tasteless, only tasting of blood. So are we. We have to eat what the life gives. Happiness and bitter of disappointments and grief, эйфория and pain of love, we have to feel the taste of our deeds. We betray our friends and make the new ones. We make our relatives feel beloved and unhappy. It's a life, it is the real taste of life. The man who is known as the most reasonable person of his gender makes the biggest stupidity. We are the причудливая mixture of virtues and sins (добродетелей и пороков). And we love it.
Nobody is perfect. Nobody is hopeless. We all are bad, we all are good. There is no winning without the loss and no good without bad. Our world - the human's world - is a vanity fair, colorful range of events. The greatest events which stood unseen and stupid events which turns on everyone's tongue.
He was very very true in his viewing of the life. Dickens can lie and hide the evident truth, he is an idealist. He is true but until some border where Thackeray stepped over this border. There are no more just good or just bad heroes. They all are good and bad.
Here is what I can tell in "English" (I would be more constructive talking in Russian though)
edited with help of the rockzmom. Thank you!
This only applies to American English. With British English the punctuation only goes within the quotation marks if it was present in the original quote.Quote:
Originally Posted by rockzmom
Лёва, thank you so much. :-)
You guys can't even imagine how much I *LOVE* that book, but unfortunally I am not eloquent like Лёва, so I even don't know what could I add... I only want to say that there are few people who read this novel, and that's sad. I read it at least three times, the latter time I did it recently, and everytime it was a great pleasure. Now I intend to read it in English... some time. :-)
I am very honoured hearing such words, Оль, from you, it was very kind of you.
Спасибо.
Leof,
I truly hated to correct or change any of your review as it was most eloquently written.:cry:
Your review makes me want to stop reading all the other things I have bookmarks in and stop watching all the movies I have waiting for me and put Vanity Fair on the top of my pile.
I hope that the liberties I took with my changes were correct. Please let me know if I misunderstood any of your meanings. Additionally, I did make spelling and grammatical changes to be "American" style and not British. Rockzmom
Quote:
Originally Posted by Leof
Arr! You did your best corrections while I was so intempering as to ask you about it!
Thank you for leaving the overlined words, it makes the correction more helpfull!
I am about to investigate what you kindly corrected.
...
Now if you let me I shall take your redaction almost without changings.
Thank you a lot for it!
Лёва, а ты не мог бы сказать на русском, что ты имел в виду вот здесь:
But as more I see how fair and cinycal is the Life to the heroes of the book then more I feel how deeply I am attached to it's action.
Особенно слово fair.
Может, ты имел в виду "But the more I see how nice(ly?) or cynical(ly?) Life treats the heroes of the book..." ?
О господи! Оля, пожалуйста, не разбирай меня при жизни!
Что же я хотел сказать-то. А то, что обстоятельства жизни героев Ярмарки складываются ни по какому-то всеблагостному закону провидения, ни по воле автора, склонного к морализаторству или самообману ради человеколюбия (как у Диккенса, за что я его всё-таки очень люблю). Я думаю, что герои и события книги подсказаны самой жизнью, тем, как нам возвращается при жизни. Здесь нет ни лишнего, ни недоокрашенного - хорошее или плохое настигает героев, мы чувствуем, что это справедливо, что так и должно быть, что так рассудила жизнь, а значит это верно, и нам становится спокойно. Даже зная о несчастье Доббина и позднем озарении Эмилии, зная о внутреннем противоречии Бекки, которая верит в свою правоту и _знает всё же, что она заслужила то, к чему пришла - зная о разочаровании героев, я чувствую, что оно кажется им справедливым. А справедливость произошедшего (даже наказания), соответсвтвие нашему внутреннему ощущению правды - это главное то, что даёт нам спокойствие и уверенность. Если я несправедливо счастлив, например, я не счастлив - происходящее не вкладывается в моё понимание правды. Если, допустим, я справедливо наказан, я пережив несчастье, всё же успокаиваюсь, так как понимаю, что всё это согласно с правдой (моей внутренней правдой в том числе). То есть всё в романе справедливо, и я ощущаю спокойствие, так как мне явлена справедливость в жизни этих людей. Я автоматически перекладываю события и чувства героев на свою жизнь и, чувствуя совпадения, испытываю приятнейшее сопереживание героям. То есть то, от чего мы любим или не любим какую-то книгу. Я больше и больше проникаюсь прочитанным, понимая (иногда сквозь выступающие слёзы), что написанное - правдиво, справедливо. То есть, я верю, что даже человек. осуждённый за преступления на смерть, может испытать удовлетворение от неминуемости казни. Так как глубоко в душе это действие соответсвует его подлинному пониманию правды. Если с ним поступят справедливо, а он исполнит то, что заслужил (умрёт), значит он правдивый человек, значит он получил право на мир со своей совестью.
Знаешь, Андрей Болконский плохо кончил, но те слова, что он сказал, мне близки как никакие - что счастье есть лишь то, когда мы свободны от болезней и угрызений совести. Вот я считаю высшим благом жить в мире с самим собой, соответсввовать той правде, в которую ты веришь самым искреним образом.
Так вот, возвращаясь к Ярмарке. Теккерей циник, но он честен, правдив, он не скрывает от себя и от нас (как Диккенс) то, что следут произнести по-совести. Если Диккенс спешит спасти наши чувства под сенью сентиментального переживания, сострадания, то Теккерей не выражает осстрадания. Он беспристрастен, как природа, и в этом его высшее милосердие. Так как он в высшей степени правдив и справедлив. По крайней мере в Ярмарке (а больше я пока ничего его не читал).
Вот, Оля.
А ещё ужасно неловко, когда мы с тобой при людях разговариваем по-английски, но тут уж ничего уж... :-)
corrected
Oh no, Лёёёёёёваааааа! :D I understand all your thoughts about Thackeray, I just wanted to make clear one phrase... Because I didn't understand it and especially the word "fair". Because judging by the whole structure of the sentence ("is the Life to the heroes of the book") it seemed to be "жизнь цинична/жестока и [что-то, что-то] к героям романа" in Russian. I just wondered about it since rockzmom corrected it in another way.
Well, I see now that my curiosity was a fatal error. :tease:
P.S. Тьфу, дошло. Fair - это "справедливый".
А! Да? Я последние годы начал подозревать, что словао справедливый пишется по-английски не совсем так, как я привык его писать...
:lol:
PS О господи! :|
( :lol: )
ski-ops,Quote:
Originally Posted by ski-ops
So you mean for ONCE, American English has an easier rule to remember???? This is truly amazing!!! :yahoo:
I would say that American English has simplified rules in general -). The Leof's review was a really touching thing! Great job!Quote:
Originally Posted by rockzmom
If you have not already located a copy online, here are some links to the English version of "Vanity Fair." This book is available without copywrite now.Quote:
Originally Posted by Оля
Vanity fair : a novel without a hero
Thackeray, William Makepeace, 1811-1863.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanity_Fair_(novel)
http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/599 - This site has it in Plucker (for Palm™ organizer or smartphone), HTML, and Plain Text formats.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/5092532/Vanity-Fair - This site allows you to read it online in a great format and even lets you adjust the font size (which is really nice). You can also download it in PDF or Plain Text. If you want to download it, you will need to establish a free account, if you do not have one already.
Thanks, rockzmom. I've seen it also on http://www.bartleby.com
But I actually mean that I'm going to buy a "paper" book in English. It's not that hard, but I just need to get rid of some problems and "tune up" myself for such hard but interesting reading. :)
Yes, yes, yes... I know I have been delinquent, a thousand apologizes. :thanks:Quote:
Originally Posted by Оля
I can tell you that the girls have been keeping me busy with Shakespeare (A Midsummer’s Night Dream and Romeo & Juliet), Cleopatra (Her lasting Legacy), Zheng He (China's most famous navigator) and The Ear, the Eye, the Arm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ear...ye_and_the_Arm.
Shakespeare’s Midsummer has been completed and R&J is just starting. The Ear... I have read before, so that should not be too time consuming. Within the next two weeks, Cleopatra and Zheng He should be completed as well! :arrow: If anyone studied these or has thoughts on these topics, I would be pleased to hear from you!!!
Also, I have learned that sadly, “Russia, the USSR and the Commonwealth of Independent States” (currently the main areas of study to be …. “Identify the major physical and cultural characteristics of the former Soviet Union” and “Describe the evolution of the Russian civilization from czarist Russia through the end of the Soviet Era”) will not be studied in 7th grade as the curriculum had indicated. :cry:
It has now been moved to 11th grade. Of course this means that you all will be stuck with me for a good three or four years because I am counting on EACH AND EVERY ONE of you to help me with this when the time comes. :good:
All this means, that I hope to get back to watching films within a week, two tops!
"You're gonna need a bigger boat."
Jaws, 1975
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0073195/quotes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkl3eXAHTRM&NR=1
I LOVE this movie, can quote to distraction. Russian connection? I invite some of the Russian kids I work with in summer to go fishing, then watch this movie on a slow night at the motel. They don't go swimming after work for a couple nights :ROFL:
"The Russians Are Coming the Russians Are Coming" 1966
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0060921/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_nGW7pWBDY
Russian connection? Every summer our peaceful New England community is invaded by Russians, I don't mind though.
While waiting for my next review (or anyone else’s review… thanks, capecoddah for yours) I would like to throw out a topic for discussion to the group here.
Why do you think, even now after many years have passed… American movies and television portray Russians (almost always) as mobsters, spies or thugs? Why never as the heroes? Now I must admit, in the examples below, “Life” did have one of the Russians, “the Architect” be a good guy, but overall, the rest were just the same stereotypes as not "nice" people.
And in Russian movies, how are Americans portrayed?
Here are two very recent examples:
Thick as Thieves (2009) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1112782/
Release: 17 April 2009, but out now here http://movie25.com/thick-as-thieves-2009_4065.html
Description: A veteran thief (Morgan Freeman) recruits a younger crook (Antonio Banderas) to help him pull off one final job in order to repay his debt to the Russian mob and save his god-daughter (Radha Mitchell).
Life (NBC TV Series) Dec 12, 2008 http://www.hulu.com/watch/49449/life-trapdoor
While investigating a triple execution-style homicide, Reese and Crews go up against an old nemesis, a Russian mob boss who has woven a deadly and wicked web.
Thanks!
Mostly, as big children, I think. Who speak very loudly and always smile. Never as "bad guys". But actually, you wouldn't find many Americans in Russian movies. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by rockzmom
I think I would say "big babies" instead of "big children."Quote:
Originally Posted by Оля
Oh, yeah, we speak loudly so that we can get a word in edgewise. Otherwise your thoughts/vote/idea will never be heard and you end up with the worst chores in the house or getting blamed for something you did not do!Quote:
Originally Posted by Оля
Of course, even when hula hopping, eating watermelon or just blow drying our hair!Quote:
Originally Posted by Оля
http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/q...rub_1183-4.jpg http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/q...rub_0561-3.jpg http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/q...rub_1009-4.jpg
we can't help it :ROFL: !!!!!
Unfortunately, hulu.com site allows to watch its video just to the users from USA. (Quote:
Originally Posted by rockzmom
I think I have found a site which will let you view a number of US TV shows and I have bookmarked it for the episode in question. Click the play button and then a pop up screen with an ad comes up that you simply need to click the "skip this ad" button and it will return you back to the first screen and then hit the play arrow again.Quote:
Originally Posted by Scrabus
Sorry, no subtitles for these programs. :cry: But they are very current and they also have back seasons as well.
http://www.ninjavideo.net/video/16148
Let me know if you have any other problems...