Piter Resonse

This film reminded me of a general romantic film. Something like The Notebook. A couple scenes in this movie were very ironic, some were predictable, and a couple were totally confusing to me. Why everytime they passed eachother they didn't say anything?! The two would just simply stare at eachother for foreverrrr. I really, really enjoyed the scenes in this film as well, I felt like I was practically a foreigner visiting St. Petersburg! It was beautiful settings and scenery. I think both of the main character were very outgoing people, and both had characteristics and fit the category that every person would look for in an opposite spouse. When Maksim dropped his phone in the river I was a little concerned, and then ironically Masha was on the phone a couple feet away! I guess that was just a scene the producer threw in there to spark to audiences attention and make them sit up in their chairs a little more, becase I know thats what I did. I was hoping they would somehow by some miracle notice eachother in that scene, but that would make the movie boring of course. Although the ending was totally predictable, because that is how it ends in most love stories, I still really enjoyed this film. I loveee the whole romance theme =]

NIght Watch Response

This movie really, really confused me. I didn't understand half the time when people were getting hurt, and killed, and haunted. All I really knew was when everytime the fly would sound and fly around I knew the haunting would show up. I also did not understand the part where they were on the roof and the girl wanted to throw the little boy off the roof. I did not understand what blew up and the whole ardeal with the two men fighting towards the end. All together I really do not know what to write for this blog because I was totally confused the whole time.

The Return Response

This movie was very different. I thought at the begining of the movie that the boy would get killed after jumping off the large platform. Andrey seemed like a bully to me like he was part of the "bad" group. I was very, very suprised at the end when Ivan killed his father. It seemed as if they didn't even care that their father was killed, although he was a little psycho when he got mad. Ivan reminded me of a rebel little boy in a movie that would easily break down while at rough times. I did not understand why they dragged their father throughout the end of the movie.. to show their mother? In all this movie was a little confusing and a little creepy but I enjoyed it.

Brother Response

I could tell this film was very popular back when it first came out. I enjoy gangster movies because they constantly have you thinking about what and why these bad guys are going to do next. I like how this guy was so smooth with everything he did. I enjoyed how you could tell who he was going to kill and who he was going to let go. He always kept his word with everything and it is obvious that the producer stressed that very much throughout the film. I found it very hard to believe when he didn't kill his brother after what he had did to him. His brother practically turned him into the bad guys and set him up! Also it made me a little sad that he left his wife in the end and she told him to never come back; especially after he had gotten so much money for her and him to live a happy life together. Also, in the end of the movie, I think the producer led the audience to believe that he was going to kill the truck driver because he was messing with something in his coat pocket and lap, and things got a little fishy and silent in the truck. I also didn't understand in the end when they filmed the snowy roads and trees for quit a while, I think it may have meant that this man will start a new life in Moscow? Like I said though, I was a little confused, any ideas? But to wrap it up, I very much enjoyed this gangster film and I hope we get to watch more films similar to this!

Little Vera Response

The first thing I noticed when watching this film, was how this Russian style of movie was very different then the others we have watched. I noticed how alchohol in this movie was seen as something bad and as if the producer wanted to give the audience the point that alchohol has nothing but bad effects on people. While on the other hand, for example, Irony of Fate, alchohol is used as a style of humor to add to the movie. Also, in other Russian films, it is used as something to celebrate with one another and to socialize with other people. Although this movie was a little confusing, and I came a little late to it, I still mildly enjoyed this film.

Moscow Does Not Believe In Tears Response

I thought this film reminded me a lot of the first movie we watched in this class, "Irony of Fate, or Enjoy Your Bath". Just the scenes and enviroment and characters really brought back memories of this first film. I absolutely loved the humor in this movie as well. The three girl friends really cracked me up at some parts, they were so opposite opinionated and still brought their friendship together to create one. Rudolph as well cracked me up, he could not figure out the name to the woman he impregnated! All in all I enjoyed this film a lot and I would like to watch more humors and upbeat films as like this one!

Ivan's Childhood Response

Well this movie was pretty interesting. A little sad that a child was put as a spy, and then put through all these war scenerios. He saw things that no child should ever see at that age! I also thought this movie was a little creepy too at the same time. Especially when the spies would walk through the scary swamp that also was in black and white so it put the audience in suspense to what would come out of the water. In the end of this movie I was creeped out by the hanging and shot reports of all of the spies that had been killed. Then there was a flashback at the way end of the movie that I was a little confused about but from what I got out of it, I believe that when they show his "dead looking" face, this is the ending and this is when the boy is finally found and hung. I found it very sad also at the end when there was another flashback in the boys life and him and his girl as a friend are running through the water showing the last final days of his life before he is found. He was a happy young child and that is what saddens me because his life was ended over a pointless, and cruel thing called war.

Mirror Response

I enjoyed this film very much. I liked the horror side although it was very hard to follow. Some scenes I really enjoyed the creepy side of, especially the children because they reminded me of children from a horror movie that would really creep you out. One of my favorite scary scenes were when the man was walking across the room and passes a mirror and in the reflection you see the two little children with shaved heads standing on the porch, then at the flash of an eye, when he gets outside, the children are suddenly gone!

Although I really liked this film, I was definatly the most confused I have ever been with any other film. Even though I am almost confused with every film, this one was the worst out of all of them. I just could not match the scenes and was confused to the sequence of the scenes as well. Also, I was very confused to the part when the classical music was playing while the camera bully was being pulled through the forest, showing all of natures' beauties. Because I was not here to watch this film, I was even more confused watching it with Kelly then ever, but i still enjoyed the creepy scenes!

Ballad of a Soldier Response

I thought this film was a little confusing but fun to watch. It was a little bit different kind of war film but in general I enjoyed this film. The movie opened up with a scene of a soldier in the middle of a field looking like he is waiting for the opposing enemy behind a object that would block bullets for him. All the sudden you see tanks appearing out of no where and the soldier has a very scared and frightened look on his face. The tanks are chasing the man through the field. I was confused at this part because I didn't understand why the tanks did not just blow him into pieces. While running, it is made obvious that he was getting more and more exhausted as the time went by. Finally he turns around and finds a some sort of cannon and shoots it at the tanks, to discover that it would stop the tanks, so he keeps shooting every time a tank would appear over the hill. When Aloysha gets back to the head quarters, he is called a hero by his fellow soldiers, and many more soldiers respect him even more then before. Then when the general finally approaches him and congratulates him, he is about to receive a reward when Aloysha asks to see his mother at home to fix the leaking roof. The general agrees with his proposal and gives Aloysha six days to go home. I believe that was very nice of the general to do so for him and it showed that soldiers really did care a lot about one another in the war which I did not believe before watching this movie. 

I also believe that this film gives the audience a wonderful perspective of what World War II was really like. It was sad and a deathly war and this movie made it clear to what this war was all about. I thought it was extremely sad also when he had to say bye to his mother when leaving for the war. I tried to put myself in the mother's place and realize how heart breaking it could be for some families that had soldiers fighting in the war. In general I enjoyed this movie and although war movies are not the greatest, this movie proved they could still be interesting and can still keep you at the edge of your seat.

Ivan The Great Response

This film was extremely boring and hard to understand. In my opinion the characters in this movie were horrible actors and actresses and very creepy looking. I do not know why their eyes were constantly bulging out of their heads.. maybe to scare the audience? I think Ivan the Great was very brave and kept himself composed for the most part, until he threw the lamp when his wife died. Also, I don't understand why Ivan gave his wife that poisen when it was already fishy looking sitting on the table. In conclusion, I am very confused about this movie and am not so sure whats going on, hopefully I will catch on for Part II of this movie.

Burnt By the Sun

This film was a little lengthy but enjoyable. I was extremely confused by the ball of fire that would appear when singing the song. I think it could have meant that something bad was on the character's mind of something bad was going to happen when it appeared. I loved the relationship between the father and daughter, at times it was a little wierd how "close" they were getting. I did not like in the ending when Colonel K was beat up extremely badly towards the end. It made me sad thinking about his little daughter who would be at home waiting for her. I do not understand why he commited suicide as well at the end. I always thought there was something fishy going on between Uncle M and him throughout the whole movie and towards the end the Uncles true colors showed through. In all I thought the film was a little too lengthy but in general I enjoyed watching it.

Circus Response

I really, really enjoyed this Russian Film! I thought it was very entertaining and interesting. The parts are thought were the most interesting and entertaining were the circus scenes and how times have changed from the entertainment circus's had back then, and how they entertain their audience now. I was a little confused at why the women ran away in the first place when she was making so much money and although she had an African American baby I do not think that it was smart of her to run away. In general I very much enjoyed this film and enojoyed all of the circus acts and how the ending resulted in poeple on Marion's side defending her decision with the baby.

Chapaev Response

This movie was very difficult to understand. I think that in order to really understand this film you would need to have background information on the Russians. The whole war scenes always seem to mess with my brain and confuse me because I can never understand which side is the enemies and which side is the good guys! The one part I really didn't understand was when the opposite side was walking towards the Russians on the hill and would walk in a straight line and people would get taken out by the dozens. And even though all of these people were being taken out, their fellow soldiers would just keep walking towards the enemy. I never understand that kind of war tactic, it is pointless and does nothing good for the soldiers. I have never really enjoyed a war movie because it is all just kililng and violence, and especially this one because it was difficult to understand and very lengthy at the same time. I was also very suprised at how clear the sound was for being the first Russian Blockbuster film out! Technology always seems to amaze me! Lastly, I thought when Petka and Anka fall in love through the little machine gun was a great part of this movie as well. It set back all of the negative killing, and violence and calmed down the audience with a little romance! To wrap this movie up, I believe that for being the first sound movie in Russia, I can see why this film was such a great hit to the Russians!

Man with the Movie Camera Response

The silent film, Man with the Movie Camera was a very distinctive film. It was confusing and went at a very fast pace constantly. I didn't get too much out of this film because I was confused for the most part, but in my opinion it seemed to be very interesting at the same time. It seems as if the producer purposly decided to create this film at such a fast sequence and bombard the audience with many different scenes in the matter of a minute. The music also made this film much more upbeat and the audience stayin attentive and awake. Also, I thought that some of the scenes were extremely exciting and interesting because there were many different devices used that were antique and in my opinion it was very intersting to watch the way antique object were once used. To wrap it up, this was not one of my favorite silent films but it was enjoyable to watch.

Battleship Potemkin Response

When watching this film today in class, I had a lot of questions and thoughts in my mind. When the "rotted meat" scene came up, I was confused to why the head sailors would not allow them to have different food. When the man took off his glasses after examining the rotted, worm infested meat, he seemed to have a small smirk on his face which had really confused me. Also, when one of the sailors deceased, the co-workers just threw his body on the side of a street. Why would these head sailors not want the best for their fellow workers? I find these type of silent films very interesting because it keeps the audience in constant suspense and of wanting to know what and why at some scenes. Also, when the little boy got shot it made me very sad and to that time I had realized that these sailors had little morals and respect for one another. Towards the end of this silent film, when the music went on and on, getting louder and louder, I had looked around the room and saw eyes wide open, and everyone at the edge of their seats. The music and suspense that these producers added to this scene was amazing and put the audience in these sailors shoes it had seemed. Although I somewhat enjoyed this film, I would definatly have to say that I enjoyed The Dying Swan silent movie a lot better and in my opinion, a little easier to follow!

The Dying Swan Response

I find silent films very, very interesting. It really makes me look past the fuz and no color screen and think that one can still be entertained without sound! For some reason that really amazes me and I give the producers much credit for creating such an entertaining film (The Dying Swan) as we watched today in class. Also, in my opinion, this silent film was very different and not what I had expected at all when first hearing Proffesor Isham say we would be watching a silent film. Although it was an entertaining to watch, I found myself confused at many times, especially at to whom the characters' names were. I thought the producers did a great job at keeping the audiences attentive and intersted in the film.

When watching the Dying Swan dance, I did not think that this dance was so "graceful" as it was made out to be. But, I liked the point that the producers put out that although one could not talk, "her eyes would take place". I thought it was a very beautiful message that they announced to the audience in this film. The party I disliked most in this film would definatly have to be how obsessed the producer was with "death". It was a little disturbing! I was sad when he killed her at the end!

In conclusion, I find this film amazing that the producers did such a great job entertaining the audiences without sound, and the obsession with death was a little creepy as well, but in all I highly enjoyed this film!

Irony of Fate, or Enjoy Your Bath Response

As this being the first film we watched in class, I am very pleased with the outcome of this film and I very much enjoyed the comedy as well. It was very humerous, and in all, the producer created a strong theme and enviroment to the movie. Although I do not believe that this type of comedy would survive in an American cinema theatre, it is believable that this film was very popular among the Russians. Every character plays an important role in order to have the humor be present at all times as well. In conclusion, this film was extremely funny, and entertaining in which why the movie is such a hit in the Russian movie theatres!