Thread: Films & TV: Russian & Non - Q&As/Reviews/Links all in here!

Thanks for your correction( typo..)
I'm Ann ( I think. you'll understand my sex)

ok..a little switch for a moment.

CNN came out today with the "Top 10 movie car chase scenes"
http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/wayof...ses/index.html

Now, I must admit, I LOVE car chase scenes that are WELL done. Too many retakes that leave tire tread marks and it spoils it for me. I also am one of the few females I know who can drive a stick shift car (I know overseas almost everyone drives stick, yet over here, almost no one does (male or female)... in major cities it is a pain with all the stop and go traffic).

The number one car chase scene I HAD NOT seen the movie or the clip, yet I found it on You Tube. I must say, I would not have wanted to drive the streets of San Francisco like that, nor would I EVER want to drive them with a stick! I would be too afraid of popping the clutch or rolling down the hill backwards trying to start after stopping at a light!!!

So here without further ado, is Steve McQueen in "Bullitt" (196

[video:2krhp4rv]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMc2RdFuOxI[/video:2krhp4rv]

What a wonderful thread, rockzmom! I want to watch some Russian movies, and here are lots of them!

Какая прекрасная тема, rockzmom! Я хочу посмотреть какие-нибудь русские фильмы, и тут их много!!

And, just a wonderful review of Vanity Fair, Leof. Wonderful.

И очень замечательная рецензия о Vanity Fair, Лeоф. Замечательнo.

Originally Posted by Winifred

What a wonderful thread, rockzmom! I want to watch some Russian movies, and here are lots of them!

[s:3nipjt1h]Какой удивительный "thread,"[/s:3nipjt1h] rockzmom!
Какая прекрасная тема, rockzmom!

Я хочу [s:3nipjt1h]смотреть кино русские, и вот много кино!![/s:3nipjt1h]
Я хочу посмотреть какие-нибудь русские фильмы, и(а) тут их много!

(Someone please tell me how to say "thread" in Russian, thanks! I cannot find it anywhere. Unless it's "нитка?")
Нитка is bad.

And, just a wonderful review of Vanity Fair, Leof. Wonderful.

[s:3nipjt1h]N[/s:3nipjt1h] И [s:3nipjt1h]очень[/s:3nipjt1h] замечательная рецензия о Vanity Fair, Леоф. Замечательнo.

Do you say "very wonderful" in English? We don't say "очень замечательный".

Speaking of chases.
Once, I read a short story. It was about one peculiar chase, kind of. It truly impressed me.
Many years later I came across a movie based on this story. It wasn't just as good but it was still engaging enough.
Guess if you can. The director is a pillar of American moviemaking.

[video:17vunn0t]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0LzUL8sloI[/video:17vunn0t]

Originally Posted by E-learner

Speaking of chases.
Once, I read a short story. It was about one peculiar chase, kind of. It truly impressed me.
Many years later I came across a movie based on this story. It wasn't just as good but it was still engaging enough.
Guess if you can. The director is a pillar of American moviemaking.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0LzUL8sloI

Yes! E-Learner, another one I knew from the first frame of the clip. Well sort of knew, I knew it was Dennis Weaver and Steven Spielberg was the director. It took me a little longer to remember the title which I felt stupid taking sooooo long to remember considering what the entire film is about! duh... a DUEL!

Did you ever hear of or see a 1971 film that has become sort of a cult film (I actually own a copy) called Two-Lane Blacktop?

The Driver: James Taylor (yes, the singer)
The Mechanic: Dennis Wilson (yes, of the Beach Boys - young and cute still)
G.T.O: Warren Oates

Because it's the purest American road movie ever.
Because it's like a drive-in movie directed by a French New Wave director.
Because the only thing that can get between a boy and his car obsession is a girl, and Laurie Bird perfectly messes up the oneness between the Driver, the Mechanic, and their car.
Because Dennis Wilson gives the greatest performance ever by a driver.
Because James Taylor seems like a refugee from a Robert Bresson movie.
Because there was once a god who walked the Earth named Warren Oates.
Because there's a continuing controversy over who is the actual lead in this movie. There are different camps. Some say it's the '55 Chevy, some say it's the GTO.

Here is the trailer from the movie
[video:2u65vr4m]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKcIGPQST9s[/video:2u65vr4m]

Originally Posted by Winifred

What a wonderful thread, rockzmom! I want to watch some Russian movies, and here are lots of them!

Why thank you, Winifred!

This thread would NOT be what it is without all of the help and responses from all of the participants. I am VERY behind on my Russian movie watching and must get back to it pronto! Until then, E-learner and CoffeeCup have been helping out. So this is a GROUP effort.

So, if you have the chance to watch any... please, please, please feel free to post a review or two!

I LOVE films/movies, TV, books and so forth... so this thread has morphed into the place to post any sort of comments or questions about not just Russian but American or other art as well.

I have been "blessed" to have the members of this forum answer my questions, make suggestions and even post their own reviews and questions to me.

So welcome to the thread Winifred!

a very sappy (slang excessively sentimental), rockzmom.

I'll allow myself a quick reply in just English. I'm trying hard to stick to Russian responses, which limits me quite a bit so far - and, probably for several years to come: a race between old age brain cells and determination, which will win? Will I actually learn to write real Russian? Stay tuned for a very long time and see! (Olya, ask for an old age pension from this forum, in advance , and in writing!)

I've read through the whole thread to the best of my ability, and garnered many ideas for future use. I'm intrigued by your movie background, rockzmom, thanks for sharing your enthusiasm! And, I agree with you, many, many thanks to all who have shared their enthusiams, too.

Movies discussed which I've seen:

Mimino(Мимино) - loved it: we have an expression in English, "when pigs fly," meaning that it is not very likely to happen. Mimino is the movie where cows fly, and it does happen!

The Return (Возвращение): Slow moving, but a poem of a movie. Many layers of meaning, terrifically balanced, dreamlike in its intensity and discomfort. Watch it more than once to appreciate the crafty refrains (I'd be interested in other people's take on this).

Burnt by the Sun (Утомлённые солнцем ): Just so beautiful and tragic. My Mom arrived in the USA from Russia with nothing but memories, and she spoke to me of dachas, and loss.

The Cuckoo (Кукушка): Really nice allegory about the stupidity of war and prejudice. Two soldiers from opposing sides find refuge with a Finnish woman whose man is also off to war. Despite the fact that none of them speaks the others' language, they discover their common humanity, after all is said (but not necessarily understood) and done.

Not reviewed here: I loved Eisenstein and Vasiliev's 1938 film Alexander Nevsky (Александр Невский), for its pomp and style. I remain frustrated because the soundtrack of my copy is too muddy for me to understand.

I'd also like to learn more about Russian animation. I found a collection (Volume 3) of Masters of Russian Animation, and it's wonderful! How famous are these artists in Russia?

Originally Posted by Winifred

Two soldiers from opposing sides find refuge with a Finnish woman

More precisely, she is Sami, although she lives in Finnland. That's why she doesn't speak Finnish. ...Mmmm, I really love this movie.

By the way, Ville Haapasalo, the Finnich actor who played in this movie, speaks soooooo good Russian, as if he was a native! When he gives an interview, you almost never hear the accent. I admire his Russian! And still, when he was about 20 and came to SPt, he could not speak a word of Russian.

Originally Posted by Winifred

I loved Eisenstein and Vasiliev's 1938 filmAlexander Nevsky

This reminded me of another old fim, which is loved by many: "Chapaev".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chapaev_(film)

the line in 'golden calf' where Ostap Bender says 'you howl like a polar bear in warm weather'

Originally Posted by Оля

Originally Posted by Winifred

Two soldiers from opposing sides find refuge with a Finnish woman

More precisely, she is Sami, although she lives in Fin_land. That's why she doesn't speak Finnish. ...Mmmm, I really love this movie.

By the way, Ville Haapasalo, the Finnish actor who played in this movie, speaks such good Russian, as if he were a native! When he gives an interview, you almost never hear the accent. I admire his Russian! And yet, when he was about 20 and came to SPt, he could not speak a word of Russian.

***Winifred goes off to Google Sami****

Oля, I thought "прекрасная" meant beautiful. What is an appropriate use of "удивительный?"

I must admit that I used "кино" because I wouldn't have to conjugate it!

Originally Posted by Winifred

Oля, I thought "прекрасная" meant beautiful. What is an appropriate use of "удивительный?"

Thank you so much for your corrections, Winifred!

Прекрасный means beautiful and wonderful. It doesn't have only literal meaning, but also figurative.
Удивительный rather means surprising and doesn't fit well this context.

Originally Posted by gRomoZeka

And I'd like to recommend a few more films. I don't have time for whys now, but I'll write later why I think they are worth watching, and add some links.

1) Brother (Брат/Brat, 1997) - a cult movie in Russia (and do not mistake it with "Brother-2" which differs in atmosphere).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brother_(1997_film)
2) Thief (Вор/Vor, 1997) - nominated for Oscar, another 13 wins & 9 nominations
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0124207/
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1084815-thief/
3) Burnt by the Sun (Утомленные солнцем/Utomlyonnye solntsem, 1994)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0111579/

What a useful thread! Can anyone tell me: is it necessary to watch Брат before watching Брат 2? Our library only has the sequel, which I might borrow and watch tonight, but only if it will make sense having not seen the first movie.

Otherwise we'll watch Вор or Утомленные солнцем instead.

Thanks!

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.

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.

Спасибо большое! Вместо мы посмотрели советскую комедию, "Иван Васильевич меняет профессию." Нам понравилась она, потому что актеры говорили не слишком быстро. Я надеюсь найти "Брат" скоро. (I hope that wasn't too mangled, and please feel free to correct as necessary!)

Спасибо большое! Вместо этого фильма( всегда нужно говорить вместо чего, вы что-то сделали) мы посмотрели советскую комедию, "Иван Васильевич меняет профессию." Нам понравилась она, потому что актеры говорили не слишком быстро. Я надеюсь найти (фильм 'Брат" или "Брата") "Брат" скоро(вскоре). (I hope that wasn't too mangled, and please feel free to correct as necessary!)

Hi, All the funs of Russian movies.

There were a lot of movie recommendations. One can think that all the Russian movies were mentioned here. But I have found one more which is really valuable to see. It was filmed in 1972 (the year of the "Godfather" ).

Solyaris ("Солярис", 1972, directed by Andrei Tarkovsky)

I tried to make a review in some manner to tempt you to see it.

Very impressive psychological movie turning the viewer to pass from thinking as a human to thinking of the human mind being under the microscope.
What if the extraterrestrial mind exists? May be It even doesn't need to be shaped in some form of life. Would we, being so primitive, be interesting to It? What It can take from us? What we can show to It? The all knowledge of the mankind or we can only expose our spacemen personality? Would the personality of the encounter be interesting to It?
The personality would be interesting to be acquainted or to be played on?

There is another version of the Stanislaw Lem novel which I have not seen: Solaris (2002, directed by Steven Soderbergh). It is interesting to note, that according to comments on imdb and wiki, Stanislaw Lem did not like any of these versions. Tarkovsky version showed the space as ugly and introduced some erotic aspects. Soderbergh version putted accents to human-to-human relation instead of encounter to extraterrestrial mind.

Originally Posted by azure

Спасибо большое! Вместо этого фильма( всегда нужно говорить вместо чего, вы что-то сделали) мы посмотрели советскую комедию, "Иван Васильевич меняет профессию." Нам понравилась она, потому что актеры говорили не слишком быстро. Я надеюсь найти (фильм 'Брат" или "Брата") "Брат" скоро(вскоре). (I hope that wasn't too mangled, and please feel free to correct as necessary!)

Thanks, azure, very helpful! I wasn't sure if "Брат" should decline as a brother (animate) or a movie (not animate). Good to know.

Originally Posted by CoffeeCup

Hi, All the funs of Russian movies.

There were a lot of movie recommendations. One can think that all the Russian movies were mentioned here. But I have found one more which is really valuable to see. It was filmed in 1972 (the year of the "Godfather" ).

Solyaris ("Солярис", 1972, directed by Andrei Tarkovsky)

I tried to make a review in some manner to tempt you to see it.

Very impressive psychological movie turning the viewer to pass from thinking as a human to thinking of the human mind being under the microscope.
What if the extraterrestrial mind exists? [s:3dnb4wsb]May be[/s:3dnb4wsb]MaybeIt even doesn't need to be shaped into some form of life? Would we, being so primitive, to even be interested[s:3dnb4wsb]ing[/s:3dnb4wsb] in (learning about?)[s:3dnb4wsb]to[/s:3dnb4wsb] it? What [s:3dnb4wsb]It[/s:3dnb4wsb] can it take (learn?) from us? What can we [s:3dnb4wsb]can[/s:3dnb4wsb] show to It? [s:3dnb4wsb]The[/s:3dnb4wsb] All the knowledge of [s:3dnb4wsb]the[/s:3dnb4wsb] mankind or we can only expose our spacemen (to our ?) personality? Would the personality of the encounter be interesting to It?
Would the personality [s:3dnb4wsb]would[/s:3dnb4wsb] being interesting [s:3dnb4wsb]to[/s:3dnb4wsb] in be acquainted or want to be played [s:3dnb4wsb]on[/s:3dnb4wsb] with?

There is another version of the Stanislaw Lem's novel which I have not seen: Solaris (2002, directed by Steven Soderbergh). It is interesting to note, that according to comments on imdb and wiki, Stanislaw Lem did not like [s:3dnb4wsb]any[/s:3dnb4wsb] either of these versions. Tarkovsky version showed the space as ugly and introduced some erotic aspects. Soderbergh version put[s:3dnb4wsb]ted[/s:3dnb4wsb] accents to human-to-human relation instead of on the encounter [s:3dnb4wsb]to[/s:3dnb4wsb] with the extraterrestrial mind.

CoffeCup....

Thank you so much for not only suggesting this movie but also reviewing and comparing it to another version!

Your review was tempting and I did a few minutes of searching online and found a copy of the film that even has English subtitles... NOW... this version is a bit on the fuzzy side... but you don't need to download or match up subtitles or anything and it is free, so I will not complain!

If someone (cough, cough, Olya) can find a better quality copy that you can just "watch" online and not need to download, please let us all know!!

I watched just the opening of it to make certain the subtitles worked.. OH.... I want to live where the opening scene takes place. Give me that place, horse, meadow, house (I would like to be able to swim in the lake though and you can keep the mosquitoes). It looks absolutely lovely. Does anyone know where that scene was shot? Please tell me it was not some studio backlot in Russia or the Ukraine!

Here is the link and direct to video link:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...q=solaris+1972
[video:3dnb4wsb]http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3370449932379913979&ei=AG65SbaxNJH EqQL51en1BQ&q=solaris+1972[/video:3dnb4wsb]

p.s. I was not certain in your review if you were using "IT" as the name of the "extraterrestrial mind" or not so I was conflicted as to if I should be correcting it to a lower case or not. Also where I was unclear or suggesting I put comments in ( ). Please let me know if i misunderstood anything.