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

Originally Posted by rockzmom

Originally Posted by Оля

I saw that film, even more than once.

More than once? You always amaze me Olya!

I didn't watch it intentionally, but it's just that this movie is sometime shown on TV (like many other Russian movies).

As for "Burnt by the Sun", I think I can't say anything about it, although probably I have seen it not once, too (the latter time it was long ago, anyway). Maybe it is a good movie, but it didn't touch me at all. I don't know why. I remember the last scene, and it is powerful - Mikhalkov plays how his character turns from a strong, confident man into a completely crushed person in some seconds, and I understand it is a good acting and a good scene. But I still... am not a fan of this film, and I remember the plot very bad. Also, I agree with CoffeeCup about Mikhalkov's former and later films. I especially love his "Five Evenings", and "At Home Among Strangers, Stranger at Home", too.

Originally Posted by rockzmom

Please, I beg of you, would you explain this film to me and why it was sooooo popular????

May I just answer that, as my ex boyfriend was pretty much obsessed with this movie Apparently, it was one of the first that sort of movies ever made, and its genius is, paradoxically, its kitsch (hence the name) and the fact that Tarantino was somehow inspired by class B, or even C movies (you can see some of the scenes intentionally looking as if taken from such - like the scene when they're driving a car and there's this picture on a picture - I know it sounds bizarre, but you'll understand once you see it, can't really explain it in a better way).
Also, the dialagoues were the movie's strong part and gave a kind of insight into American's pop-culture.
Did it have any message, or a lesson? Not entirely sure - some claim it's the way accidents can affect your life, then again I think that kind of message could be applied to any movie ever made.
To some extend, it's just a pastiche and it should be seen as such, I think. I wouldn't call the movie genius, I liked it, but don't try to read too much into it. To me, it's pretty much an action movie, somewhat different and fresh (well, it was back then), and perhaps that's what we owe its popularity to.

Well, about Chukhrai's "Thief", I.M.H.O. it's a qualitative piece of work, but nothing more. I saw it once, and it was enough for me. Same about Mikhalkov's "Burned by the Sun". The same odd piece of crafts made specially for film festivals and so. Rockmom, if you want to see a really good movie with the post-war background, I recommend you "A meeting place can't be changed" series by Stanislav Govorukhin. Vladimir Vysotsky, a cult figure of the late-Soviet period played one of the main roles there. I.M.H.O it's one of the best Vysotsky's cinema roles, so the series are worth seeing only for that reason.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImeK_EUu314

(birubir uploaded whole series on youtube, it's only a link to the first part of the first episode).

Originally Posted by Basil77

Well, about Chukhrai's "Thief", I.M.H.O. it's a qualitative piece of work, but nothing more

I agree.

Also, I second the recommendation to watch "A meeting place can't be changed". I've recommended it to Rokzmom in this thread already, and I wish to repeat that again!

Originally Posted by Оля

Originally Posted by Basil77

Well, about Chukhrai's "Thief", I.M.H.O. it's a qualitative piece of work, but nothing more

I agree.

Also, I second the recommendation to watch "A meeting place can't be changed". I've recommended it to Rokzmom in this thread already, and I wish to repeat that again!

I am in the process of downloading it from the Russian Yandex-server

For anyone else who may be interested in watching this movie, here is the information about the movie and intructions on how to download:

"The Meeting Place Cannot Be Changed" (Место встречи изменить нельзя, Mesto vstrechi izmenit nelzya), 1979
(Adventure, Crime, Mystery, Action)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mee...not_Be_Changed

You can download this video (avi-file with English subtitles, DivX or XViD, 25 fps) from Russian Yandex-server. It's very easy.

How to download a movie:
1. Enter the following links:
Part 1: http://narod.ru/disk/8035702000/Meet...art-1.avi.html
Part 2: http://narod.ru/disk/8036856000/Meet...art-2.avi.html
Part 3: http://narod.ru/disk/8037731000/Meet...art-3.avi.html
Part 4: http://narod.ru/disk/8038736000/Meet...art-4.avi.html
Part 5: http://narod.ru/disk/8034737000/Meet...art-5.avi.html

2. Enter the numbers placed in the window over the green button.
3. Press the green button "СКАЧАТЬ".
4. A page will open with the link starting with http//. Press the link.
Notes: If you don't want to install Yandex Bar, please remove the sign from the control box (into the yellow background). Yandex Bar performs a function for downloading without using control numbers, i.e. next time, if you want to download any file from Yandex-server, you’ll get the download link without entering control numbers.
5 A window will open. Choose "Save".
6. Download the movie.
7. Enjoy.
Part 1 file size 577 mb
Part 2 file size 661 mb
Part 3 file size 555 mb
Part 4 file size 572 mb
Part 5 file size 681 mb

Originally Posted by Basil77

The same odd piece of crafts made specially for film festivals and so.

Basil... Interesting choice of words or expression... "made specially for film festivals." I meet so many people who have no clue that there is a difference between films that are made for public consumption and those that are not. I guess it just shows how much you love films.

Have you heard about what is going on in Australia right now with their big film festival? Makes you sort of want to see "The 10 Conditions of Love," don't it?

Originally Posted by Hackers target Australian festival showing Uyghur film

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/0 ... index.html
By Saeed Ahmed

(CNN) -- Hackers repeatedly attacked the Web site of Australia's largest film festival Saturday, asking organizers to apologize to the Chinese people for planning to screen a documentary on an exiled Uyghur leader.

The attacks were carried out on the opening day of the Melbourne International Film Festival -- in what organizers are calling the third phase of a "concerted campaign" to withdraw the film "The 10 Conditions of Love."

The documentary examines the impact on the family of activist Rebiya Kadeer as she fights for greater autonomy of the ethnic minority group, the Uyghurs, in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in China's northwest.

Kadeer is the president of the World Uyghur Congress, made up of exiled Uyghurs. China accuses the group of inciting riots in the region this month that killed more than 200 people and wounded more than 1,000.

"The first stage was the local Chinese embassy asking us to withdraw the film," festival director Richard Moore said Sunday. "The second was to find a way for other Chinese films to withdraw from the festival -- five did so. We believe that this is probably not the end of it."

Organizers have also been "bombarded" with threatening e-mails, Moore said. Watch Moore discuss the harassment »

"I couldn't repeat the language even if I tried," he said. "Lots of f-words and c-words, calling us racists, haters of Chinese people."

The first attacks came soon after the festival opened Saturday. Several others followed throughout the day.

In one, visitors to the site were greeted with a pop-up message that said: "We like film but we hate Rebiya Kadeer."

The message was accompanied by a Chinese flag and ended with: "Please apologize to all the Chinese people."

That attack was traced to an IT professional in Shanghai, China, Moore said.

"He admitted hacking the site. He said he was acting as a private citizen and was protesting the film," he said.

Authorities are investigating the source of the other attacks, but they appeared to be from different sources.

"We're managing to plug leaks as fast as we can," Moore said.

The first screening of the documentary takes place Sunday night. The filmmakers have invited Kadeer to attend another screening, scheduled for early August.

"Every year, there's some level of controversy, from pro-life or anti-death (penalty) sort of position. We've never had an incident of an international scale before," Moore said. "The timing has absolutely been a critical one."

The rioting in the Xinjiang region earlier this month stemmed from a brawl between Uyghur and Han workers at a toy factory in another part of China. Han make up the majority population in China -- and many Uyghurs resent the presence of Han in Xinjiang, many of whom came looking for work.

Two Uyghurs reportedly died in the toy factory brawl.

To protest the deaths, Uyghurs took to the streets in Xinjiang's capital Urumqi -- and fighting broke out between the two sides, with deadly results.

So, what would YOU bid on??? The spaceship from "Twilight Zone" and "Men in Black 2"?? OR the giant champagne glass??

Hollywood slump puts famous props on the block

By Alan Duke
CNN
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Harvey Schwartz spent the past 40 years collecting antiques, art and odd items that he rented to TV and movie studios as props and set decorations.

During a tour of his huge North Hollywood, California, warehouse, Schwartz, owner of 20th Century Props, opened a morgue vault door, revealing the legs of a crusty corpse, built for the "X-Files" TV series.

"Fun piece," he said with a smile. "Love the sound effects."

Schwartz must now sell everything -- including a submarine, a fake nuclear warhead and Austin Powers' cryogenic chamber -- at auction because of a dramatic decline in Hollywood productions over the past year. Watch a tour of the prop warehouse »

"I guess it would be the end of Hollywood as I know it and for everyone, because there won't be any place to get all these products again," Schwartz said.

While 2009 has been a good year at the box office, more production is leaving Los Angeles for states that offer tax incentives unmatched by California.

"It's very, very tough," said Jack Kyser, economist for the Los Angeles Economic Development Commission. "If you are doing feature film production, you are probably going to go out of state because 44 other states have been offering incentives for feature film productions. California just started their incentive program."

With companies spending less on advertising in a down economy, broadcast TV is suffering and people who make commercials have less work, Kyser said.

The writers' strike last year and the stalled actors union contract talks added to the slowdown, and it's getting even tougher for struggling young actors and writers pursuing their Hollywood dreams, he said.

"We have a slang phrase: 'There's a lot of WAMs out there: waiters, actors, models'," Kyser said. "And if you go to restaurants you see the wait staff is looking better and better all the time, physically."

Stephon Fuller, an actor who moved to Los Angeles 11 years ago, said, "It's never been this quiet for me." Still, Fuller said he expected auditions for new roles to pick up later in the summer.

On-location film shoots dropped 25 percent overall in the first half of the year, including a 50 percent loss in feature film production in Los Angeles, according to a group that helps process filming permits.

"If you are doing a feature film you have to rent equipment, you have to rent props," Kyser said "If you go out on location you have to rent a truck to take you there, you have to have a location caterer, and all these people are feeling the pain."

Schwartz, 67, started suffering last year with a 40 percent drop in business, and it has gotten worse in recent months.

"I just can't hold on any longer," he said. "I've run out of money."

An auctioneer will begin the long process of selling everything Tuesday morning.

"I talk lightly that I have 93,752 pieces under this roof, but it doesn't really strike a note until you start putting a little auction lot number on each piece or a bunch of pieces."

Potential bidders have registered from dozens of countries, and hundreds are expected to show up at the warehouse, Schwartz said.

Visitors can be overwhelmed by what they see in Schwartz' warehouse.

The largest item on the block is a 162-foot-long submarine built for "Down Periscope," a 1996 comedy starring Kelsey Grammer. It's not seaworthy -- since it actually never left a movie sound stage -- and it will be an expensive job moving it.

Complete with torpedoes, it has been used in several TV productions in recent years, Schwartz said.

The nuclear warhead John Travolta used in his 1996 film "Broken Arrow" will also be sold, along with the cryogenic tube used to preserve the Mike Myers character in "Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery," an identical tube that housed a frozen Gary Coleman and Dr. Evil's escape egg. See photos of the items up for auction »

Fans of Beyonce can bid on the giant champagne glass the singer bathed in for her "Naughty Girl" music video in 2003. The inventory also includes a large drill used by Ben Affleck and Bruce Willis in the 1998 film "Armageddon."

A spaceship built in 1959 for a "Twilight Zone" episode and used in Will Smith's "Men in Black 2" hangs in the warehouse.

Schwartz is also selling the metal chair used to strap down a naked Natasha Henstridge in an unforgettable scene from the movie "Species."

Schwartz has also collected thousands of pieces of vintage furniture, including art deco bedroom sets and office desks that were used on movie sets.

Schwartz, who wrote a book about rattan furniture, points with pride to a set made famous by its weekly exposure on the "Golden Girl's." Nearby is a rattan chair seen with Marlon Brando in "The Godfather."

Schwartz has an endless selection of vintage lamps, scones and chandeliers -- including those made for "Titanic."

"Yeah, it's all going to be sold to collectors," he said. "This is the first time in 60 years that Hollywood has had a big sale like this, where they've dissipated Hollywood props to all parts of the planet."

Schwartz shakes his head, wondering how studios will find their props if and when production gears up again in Hollywood.

Originally Posted by rockzmom

So, what would YOU bid on??? The spaceship from "Twilight Zone" and "Men in Black 2"?? OR the giant champagne glass??
Hollywood slump puts famous props on the block

Hi, Rockzmom! Do they sell the Wonka vision equipment? We would cooperate with you to try to set it up working! I am still dreaming about the cream puffs.

In the thread about the music what we hear somebody mentioned the track "Belmondo rulez" which is a tribute to the famous French actor Jean-Paul Belmondo. The track is based on the sample from the soundtrack to the movie "Le Professionel" featuring Jean-Paul Belmondo. For many Russians Jean-Paul Belmondo is as lovely actor as the super best Russian actors are. He is adored by Russians as if he were Russian himself. Everything he does on the silver screen is believed to be magic. One more French actor of the same popularity in Russia is Pierre Richard.
Are these actors known in US, and if they are, how big their popularity is?

Originally Posted by CoffeeCup

Originally Posted by rockzmom

So, what would YOU bid on??? The spaceship from "Twilight Zone" and "Men in Black 2"?? OR the giant champagne glass??
Hollywood slump puts famous props on the block

Hi, Rockzmom! Do they sell the Wonka vision equipment? We would cooperate with you to try to set it up working! I am still dreaming about the cream puffs.

What a fantastic idea! Then I could try some of your foods as well! Or you could just send me boxes and boxes of chocolates and they would never melt

I've read "P.S., I love you" by Ahern Cecelia. It is very wonderful book. The book's subject is grievous, but it was described very witty and funny. I would say that this book about a hope and a life.
I like this quotation "Целься в луну! Даже если промахнешься - попадешь в звезды"/"Aim at the moon! Even if you miss, you will hit into the stars."

Originally Posted by ekaterinak

I've read "P.S., I love you" by Ahern Cecelia. It is very wonderful book. The book's subject is grievous, but it was described very witty and funny. I would say that this book about a hope and a life.
I like this quotation "Целься в луну! Даже если промахнешься - попадешь в звезды"/"Aim at the moon! Even if you miss, you will hit into the stars."

I don't read this book, but I saw that film. And I think it's no funny, but it's a stupid. Sorry.

Originally Posted by Fish without pantie

Originally Posted by ekaterinak

I've read "P.S. I love you" by Ahern, Cecelia. It is very wonderful book. The book's subject is [s:1ttkehto]grievous[/s:1ttkehto] about grief and losing someone; but, it was described as very witty and funny. I would say that this book is about [s:1ttkehto]a[/s:1ttkehto] hope and [s:1ttkehto]a[/s:1ttkehto] life.
I like this quotation "Целься в луну! Даже если промахнешься - попадешь в звезды"/"Aim at the moon! Even if you miss, you will hit into the stars."

I [s:1ttkehto]don't[/s:1ttkehto] didn't read this book[s:1ttkehto],[/s:1ttkehto]; but, I saw [s:1ttkehto]that[/s:1ttkehto] the film. And I think it[s:1ttkehto]'s no[/s:1ttkehto] wasn't funny[s:1ttkehto],[/s:1ttkehto]; but, it[s:1ttkehto]'s a[/s:1ttkehto] was actually stupid. Sorry.

Fish without pantie, welcome to MasterRussian and the thread!

We have had a number of "chats" about books and how well or not so well they do as movies. It is always difficult to turn a book into a film.

I have not had the opportunity to read "P.S. I Love You" or see the film. I see from IMDb that the "Plot line" for the movie is "A young widow discovers that her late husband has left her 10 messages intended to help ease her pain and start a new life." Additionally, the film won an Audience award for Best International Actress at the 2008 Irish Film and Television Awards and was nominated for the 2008 Teen Choice Award for "Chick Flick." This might give people a better idea about the film and the target audience of the film!

As for the book, it has recieved a number of good reviews for Ms. Ahern's debut novel. She has now written seven books.

BTW, for those of you who watch American TV, Ms. Ahern is the co-creator and producer for the comedy "Samantha Who?" which stars the very grown up Christina Applegate, who was Kelly Bundy on "Married... with Children."

Originally Posted by Fish without pantie

I don't read this book, but I saw that film. And I think it's no funny, but it's a stupid. Sorry.

First of all, do you know that film can show only director’s opinion and the books are very often better than movie? Second, read the book. Third, you should learn to read between lines. Fourth, if that book was stupid it would not be translated into 40 languages.
Sorry.

Да... и не забывай одевать pantie в людном месте, рыбка!!!

I know. I have been neglecting the Russian movies again. Bad me. I have several of them downloaded and just crying out to me to watch them and yet, like step children locked in a closet they go unattended yet not unnoticed. I will unlock them soon and set them free, I promise.

I will however let you all know what I have been watching lately and tell you all, that if you want to really learn and hear how American’s speak and get a quick lesson in American culture, this is the TV show for you… Gilmore Girls. I never watched this series while it was on the air for 7, yes 7, years. older daughter found it this summer while “we” were in the hospital as it was on twice a day and now she has three of the four women in this household hooked on it (the man in the household claimed it was too much talking). And as it is on every day, twice a day (the one at 11 a.m. is a repeat from the 5 p.m. of the day before. So, if you happen to miss one day, you can just watch it the next and be caught up), it makes it easy to watch and the series goes very quickly. We are already into season 3!

For those of you who have not heard of the series, it is about a single mom and her daughter (yet there are plenty of men folk as well). The two main characters along with their friends and family talk endlessly during the one hour show in run-on sentences with references to popular culture, specifically about music, literature, movies and TV (my favorite topics). The relationships between all of the characters are actually REAL. The fighting that goes on between the single mom and her parents is not watered down. The teenage girl and her troubles fitting in at the preppy school and the difficulties she has with her boyfriend who is not up to the standards of other people. The townsfolk and all their well-meaning comments that really aren’t well-meaning. The show is real life and real language, not the usual stupid scripts that you see on sitcoms. Yet, it has a great deal of warmth and humor. As I said, it is real life.

So, while it may be difficult to keep up with the fast paced 90 miles per hour dialogue in this series, I do highly recommend it if you want to practice your English listening skills, add to your English vocabulary and pick up on “real life” Americana.

Also, Time Magazine rated the series as one of the top 100 television shows of all time.

Here are some links where you can find episodes online:
http://www.yidio.com/show/gilmore-girls
http://www.thewb.com/shows/gilmore-girl ... 7d1ba1a922

Here is a link to scripts
http://www.twiztv.com/scripts/gilmoregirls/

I love Gilmore Girls! It's back on here in Belgium (rerun of season 4). I love the talking, the references (and the fact I seem to grasp most of those references) and, indeed, the real relationships between the characters. I see myself in Rory and would love to be a bit more like Lorelai. Are small towns really like that in the US? I mean the mentality, the town meetings, ...


Now back to Russian movies and books. Has anyone here seen the series Небо и земля (Sky and earth)? I got it from a friend because it's about flight attendants and pilots (I'm a flight attendant so he thought I'd like it) but I was wondering if this is a known or even popular series in Russia. I actually quite enjoy watching it.

And I mentioned books so: Anyone read anything by Liudmila Ulitskaya? I'm reading Казус Кукотского now. Just reached part 2. I like her style.

Originally Posted by devochka

I love Gilmore Girls! It's back on here in Belgium (rerun of season 4). I love the talking, the references (and the fact I seem to grasp most of those references) and, indeed, the real relationships between the characters. I see myself in Rory and would love to be a bit more like Lorelai. Are small towns really like that in the US? I mean the mentality, the town meetings, ...

I will tell you that older daughter and I also get a cheap thrill when we get the references too!
Small town meetings, well you don't even have to go small town to see meetings like that.. try ANY "PTA" (Parent Teacher Association) those meetings are vicious. Meow! Claws out! Picture a grown up version of Paris being the President of a parent run meeting for Chilton and trying to get anything you want done or suggesting anything else that she does not like! It is all backstabbing, who knows who and likes who! They all gang up on you like they did with Luke about Jess. They will change the time, the rules, anything to get their way!

Originally Posted by devochka

Now back to Russian movies and books. Has anyone here seen the series Небо и земля (Sky and earth)? I got it from a friend because it's about flight attendants and pilots (I'm a flight attendant so he thought I'd like it) but I was wondering if this is a known or even popular series in Russia. I actually quite enjoy watching it.

And I mentioned books so: Anyone read anything by Liudmila Ulitskaya? I'm reading Казус Кукотского now. Just reached part 2. I like her style

Wow! You're a flight attendant!!! How cool!! You should start a thread and post photos and maps of where you travel (make us all jealous hehehe). But seriously, I would love to see photos of places you get to go, so think about it! Being a flight attendant was on my list of things I wanted to be in life and got crossed off because back in the stone age when I was younger, they had those height restrictions and I was too tall! I think they have raised them or changed them now.

I don't know how many of you are old enough to remember, or might have seen the original 1980 movie "Fame." This September, a remake of that movie is coming out. I have very mixed feelings about the remake as I do remember seeing the original in the movie theater with my then best friend. While I know it can be easily remade, my fear is that they will have too much glitz and not enough talent in this version. The 1980 version, Irene Cara was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress.

I rewatched the 1980 version last weekend with my girls I had forgotten how much off color language and the topless scenes were in there! The film showed the REAL life of acting and performing arts school. The school was run down (just like my daughter's school is today - the girls got a kick out of that) yet had the passion of teachers to make it the "golden ticket" of schools. From the trailer of the new movie, there are over the top production numbers that just don't happen at these schools due to lack of money and the fact that it is not what the schools are about. Maybe they are just showing "those" scenes in the trailer to draw in the crowds and the overall movie will be more realistic.

With that said, I am certain the movie will do well in the box office because this type of movie is "in" right now and some of the kids are from Disney.

If you want to watch the 1980 version, here are the links to the one I watched:
http://www.zshare.net/video/637954323c1a6f50/ part 1
http://www.zshare.net/video/6379546125955a43/ part 2
http://www.zshare.net/video/6379546125955a43/ part 3

Below are the trailers from the 1980 movie and the new 2009 version:
[video:18hb7676]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51g-cS7nYUY[/video:18hb7676]

[video:18hb7676]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRPca0Lvp1w[/video:18hb7676]

Wow this thread is FANTASTIC for Russian film tips!
--------------
Haha, rockzmom -- I remember the Fame series!
It run for many years and I probably missed the first few years. All the episodes had a little "moral story" in true American style... Can't remember any of it at all though, apart from the cool black dancer who was always in trouble. "You want fame?? But fame costs..."

(I really don't think a lot of people in Russia have seen it though! )

The other great American series of the same time that I remember is "The Little House on the Praire."

Originally Posted by Johanna

Wow this thread is FANTASTIC for Russian film tips!

As I mentioned, this started as one thing and then turned into a fantastic resource and mix mash sort of free-for- all about movies/TV and books.

Originally Posted by Johanna

The other great American series of the same time that I remember is "The Little House on the Praire."

Little House on the Prairie, another series I did not watch . I know it was VERY good and I am now trying to remember why it was I never watched it. It ran from 1974 to 1983, so I am guessing that when it first came on that since my parents did not watch it, I did not as we only had the one main TV set in the house when I was a kid.