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

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)

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 ). 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.

Originally Posted by gRomoZeka

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

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.

Originally Posted by E-learner

Are you sure it wasn't the Soviet one?

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

Originally Posted by gRomoZeka

Is there a Soviet version too?

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???

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.

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!

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.

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

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.

Ah… gRomoZeka… it is a LOVE story…. 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.

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.

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.

Originally Posted by Crocodile

Originally Posted by rockzmom

Originally Posted by Crocodile

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

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

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.

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

Originally Posted by rockzmom

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

I've never seen it.

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

I've never seen it.

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

I've never seen it.

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

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

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

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.

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

I've never seen it.

Fantasia, 1940

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

Hans Christian Anderson, 1952 (staring Danny Kaye)

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)

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

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.

Lilies of the Field, 1962 (staring Sidney Poitier)

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

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

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".

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

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

Patch of Blue, 1965 (staring Sidney Poitier)

See above.

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

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.

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

I've never seen it.

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, 1954

I've never seen it.

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

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

The Sound of Music, 1965 (staring Julie Andrews)

No opinion.

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

I've never seen it.

To Kill a Mockingbird, 1962 (starring Gregory Peck)

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

[/quote:22s4578v]

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.

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

Originally Posted by Matroskin Kot

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

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

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.

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)
Besides, the wardrobe selection for Grace in this movie was fantastic! Bring back some of those clasic styles, PLEASE!!!

Originally Posted by Matroskin Kot

The Sound of Music
No opinion.

ORLY????

Originally Posted by Matroskin Kot

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

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!

Originally Posted by Pcloadletter

How to kill a mockingbird:

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

Originally Posted by rockzmom

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.

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

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

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

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

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

Excellent idea to live by...

Here is the scene...

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

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.

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