Films/DVD Asylum

• Tarkovsky, The One and Only - jweiss 21:35:48 05/22/03 (0)
  In Reply to: What Russian movies have you seen and liked/disliked? posted by Dmitry on April 17, 2003 at 10:21:13:

  Bergman referred to him as, The Master.

  Beyond a doubt, the greatest filmaker ever.

  Now, that depends on the speed of your digestive system. Which, most people seem to not understand, includes your brain. Tarkovsky only made seven films (feature length.) All are great, and even for myself, the top 3 or 4 shift around depending on where I am at in my life. But here is the point, these are films not for entertainment, but for understanding what it means to be alive, to be a human being. This is the rarest thing in the most debased form of culture (film) and yet the most powerful cultural product (again, film) the 20th Century created.

  If you want entertainment, try my friend's film, Brat (Brother.) Nice piece of mafia junk, very popular in Russia. If you want to confront the fact that spirituality has "left the house," along with Elvis and god knows what else, watch Tarkovsky's movies.

  Jonathan
  
  

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• Alexander Nevsky, Battleship Potamkin. Liked both, even though they are propaganda flicks -t - The Killer Piglet 09:26:40 04/18/03 (0)
  In Reply to: What Russian movies have you seen and liked/disliked? posted by Dmitry on April 17, 2003 at 10:21:13:

  KP
  
  

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• ALEXANDER NEVSKY needs to be remade......... - j.l.guillebeau@att.net 05:26:23 04/18/03 (0)
  In Reply to: What Russian movies have you seen and liked/disliked? posted by Dmitry on April 17, 2003 at 10:21:13:

  by someone with an acute sense of film aesthetics on the par with Eisenstein or either the film needs to be restored. Imagine a 6 track stereo digital soundtrack of Prokovief's cantata, 70mm Ultra Panavision anD a reconstruction of the battle on the ice sequence a la Eisenstein's storyboard. And of course more blood and guts flying a la LORD OF THE RINGS. Then, it wouldn't be bad to have a remake of IVAN THE TERRIBLE. James
  
  

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• That's Ok, Victor, you can play too. - Dmitry 21:31:41 04/17/03 (0)
  In Reply to: What Russian movies have you seen and liked/disliked? posted by Dmitry on April 17, 2003 at 10:21:13:

  .
  
  

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• Dr. Zhivago was good . . . . - albee33 19:20:40 04/17/03 (0)
  In Reply to: What Russian movies have you seen and liked/disliked? posted by Dmitry on April 17, 2003 at 10:21:13:

  relax, monocle wearers, I'm pulling your Dom flutes . . .
  
  

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• I thought Tarkovsky's - tinear 17:28:31 04/17/03 (0)
  In Reply to: What Russian movies have you seen and liked/disliked? posted by Dmitry on April 17, 2003 at 10:21:13:

  "Solaris" was a great movie when I was in college and ran it several times for the film club (it was fairly popular: it was marketed as the "thinking person's '2001...'"). I was stoned quite a lot then, however, and now find it insufferably slow: the director, like many French ones, can't seem to realize the difference between film and literature, i.e. when a book starts to bog down, the reader can "speed it up" by reading faster. During a movie, you're helpless.
  Back to your question: HIGHEST recommendations for "The Thief," and "Burnt by the Sun."
  
  

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• Russian movies- where are the bad ones? - Bambi B 14:52:59 04/17/03 (8)
  In Reply to: What Russian movies have you seen and liked/disliked? posted by Dmitry on April 17, 2003 at 10:21:13:

  Dmitry,

  Russian movies have a very good record with me- posibly because only those with more international appeal reach the UK and US, but I like the kind of "solidity" of vision that I see in Russian film. There is a an absence of frivolity in technique and un-self-conscious direction that focusses on the story and image. I think of it as a kind of general "quietness." Of course, there is never the commercial pandering that a higher and higher proportion of American studio movies are forced to include.

  Memorable: any of Eisenstein, most all- "The Battleship Potemkin", which is visually so stunning. The baby carriage buming down the Odessa steps is so famous, it was imitated in "The Untouchables" and parodied in "The Simpson's" cartoon. Of couse, "Ivan the Terrible" with the incredible battles- on ice even- and music by Prokofiev. The very strange use of colour for a few scenes within the black and white is better than "the Wizard of Oz". Tarkovsky: "Solaris"- which has a quiet, poetic intensity not approached by the recent new adapation, and "Andrei Rublev"- which is a wonderful study of the relationship of art to life.

  We had a very nice 7-8 film Tarkovsky festival at an art cinema about two months ago, so there is a freshened exposure.

  Recommendations are of course, very welcome! Actually, I have long been interested in the possibility of Russian comedies- do these exist and could English subtitles communicate it? I really have no concept of Russian humour.

  My aunt lived in Leningrad 1985-89 and did not have many humourous stories to communicate.

  Also, what do think is the best movie about Rasputin?

  Cheers,

  Bambi B
  
  

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  • Re: Russian movies- where are the bad ones? - Dmitry 16:53:36 04/17/03 (7)
    In Reply to: Russian movies- where are the bad ones? posted by Bambi B on April 17, 2003 at 14:52:59:

    --Also, what do think is the best movie about Rasputin?

    Well, for me no other movie beats the AGONY aka RASPUTIN, a 1970s flick. I have it on tape, w/out the subtitles, but I've seen the subtitled version in the rental places.

    --I have long been interested in the possibility of Russian comedies- do these exist and could English subtitles communicate it?

    There really are no Russian comedies. Russians are grim, humorless people.
    Try these for size.

    http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000714AY/ref=ase_bridgebooks/104-3779990-404555

    http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0000714AX/ref=pd_bxgy_img_2/104-3779990-4045553?v=glance&s=dvd

    http://www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0000714AZ/ref=cm_custrec_gl_acc/104-3779990-4045553
    
    

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    • Re: Russian movies- where are the bad ones? - Victor Khomenko 07:01:59 04/20/03 (0)
      In Reply to: Re: Russian movies- where are the bad ones? posted by Dmitry on April 17, 2003 at 16:53:36:

      Hi Dima,

      Your recommdations are of course on the lighter side - good films though. I am also not sure how well the Gentlemen will translate - too colloquial perhaps. But I would most definitely add such gems as Zigzag Udachi and Beregis' Avtomobilia - both incredibly deep in addition to being gut-wrenchingly funny.
      

      
      
      
      

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    • Russian movies- thanks! - Bambi B 22:34:37 04/18/03 (1)
      In Reply to: Re: Russian movies- where are the bad ones? posted by Dmitry on April 17, 2003 at 16:53:36:

      Dmitry,

      I appreciate the recommendations of all. Thanks.

      Dmitry, I didn't mean to be sacrcastic or denigrating regarding Russian humour as my Russian friends here in Los Angeles are as funny and fun-loving as anyone I've ever known- and absolutely devesating chess palyers, but after seeing so many Russian movies over many years, I realized I had never seen a filmed Russian comedy.

      This is true of Swedish film too.

      I think that movies from certain regions become known in a certain genre and become so very strongly associated that only the expected ones are widely distributed in cinemas. We wouldn't expect kung-fu movies from India, Danish terrorists taking over the Vatican, or Italian space adventures, but they are probably still made.

      Cheers,

      Bambi B
      
      

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      • Re: Russian movies- thanks! - Dmitry 08:26:02 04/19/03 (0)
        In Reply to: Russian movies- thanks! posted by Bambi B on April 18, 2003 at 22:34:37:

        Get the ones I suggested. They're heirlooms of comedy.
        
        

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    • Black and White road movie... - gware 21:18:36 04/17/03 (3)
      In Reply to: Re: Russian movies- where are the bad ones? posted by Dmitry on April 17, 2003 at 16:53:36:

      set in WW2 where a young soldier gets a pass for leave by knocking out a Nazi Panzer; he hitchhikes home to see his mother and has some adventures on the way... don't remember the title or the film (possibly 1950's) but some of the imagery was just great, nicely paced and a good story
      Does anyone on the forum know this one?
      Eric
      Tokyo
      
      

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      • THE BALLAD OF A SOLDIER - Dmitry 21:30:11 04/17/03 (2)
        In Reply to: Black and White road movie... posted by gware on April 17, 2003 at 21:18:36:

        An excellent, epic film indeed!
        
        

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        • Thanks Dmitry! - gware 23:10:23 04/17/03 (1)
          In Reply to: THE BALLAD OF A SOLDIER posted by Dmitry on April 17, 2003 at 21:30:11:

          might see if I can find this on video or laser disc
          Eric
          
          

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          • It is available on Criterion DVD - DA 09:35:40 04/18/03 (0)
            In Reply to: Thanks Dmitry! posted by gware on April 17, 2003 at 23:10:23:

            nt
            

            • Ballad of a Soldier

            
            

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