Piter FM was really cool. It had a feminine touch on it. By that, I guess I just mean it was sensitive and a little romantic. But it was really cool too! Maksim was mellow, not much to say, a guy to relate too. The modernization along with opening credits give it quite a technical aspect.
Probably my favorite part of the film was when Masha breaks off the wedding with her fiance. Strictly because I really, really, liked his reaction. Pause...click pen, click pen......then he wants to stab her for a second. I'm pretty sure that's the feeling for somebody who has had this happen to them. Confusion then RAGE, and finally just walks off. That's a realistic line to me, "I'm ok.....I'm ok....I'm ok..."
The ending could be seen in different ways. It's artsy the way it ends. You just don't quite know what happens. But thank God, there's hope after the call he makes to the radio station,
Those were really sweet scene wipes. It just flashes the buildings in strips. It was pretty sweet. But other than that, I don't really have much to say about this film.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
NightWatch
Didn't like it. There, I said it.
I can't stand this storyline strictly because I've seen it 100 times before. When I learned that the plot involved 'Darkness and Light,' I lost interest. Which is like two mintues into the film. Storyline wise, I hated it. I don't like vampire story lines at all.
I don't like the way Anton drink the blood from the cup. It's so damn cheezy. Because of the glasses he's wearing, and the discussion he has with the butcher. "It's pigs blood." My expression was not, "Oh, wow! That's so crazy! He...he's doin it...he's drinking pig blood! Ahhh so cool!" More like..."please tell me why you're hesitating on drinking the only things that feeds you."
BUT, something about the cinematography interested me. I enjoyed the way they would go through those quick montage sequences with simple things. For instance, the drink in the beginning being made. It keeps a sort of motion in the scene. It really reminds me of Hot Fuzz. That British comedy about the cop who moves out to the country.
I liked how the ending was different. I expected the light side to win. It always does. Maybe it will win in the next movies...
I also couldn't help but notice that one of the books this movie is based off of is called Twilight Watch. A book about vampire books with Twilight in it, that's not Twilight? MMM.
Please. Go ahead, tell me how wrong I am about this movie. Tell me that it actually interested me. Haha. This movie was just not for me. I guess I'm getting over the action movies. I'm getting old i______i
But I'm glad we watched the first big blockbuster in Russia. Sorta historical when you think about it.
I can't stand this storyline strictly because I've seen it 100 times before. When I learned that the plot involved 'Darkness and Light,' I lost interest. Which is like two mintues into the film. Storyline wise, I hated it. I don't like vampire story lines at all.
I don't like the way Anton drink the blood from the cup. It's so damn cheezy. Because of the glasses he's wearing, and the discussion he has with the butcher. "It's pigs blood." My expression was not, "Oh, wow! That's so crazy! He...he's doin it...he's drinking pig blood! Ahhh so cool!" More like..."please tell me why you're hesitating on drinking the only things that feeds you."
BUT, something about the cinematography interested me. I enjoyed the way they would go through those quick montage sequences with simple things. For instance, the drink in the beginning being made. It keeps a sort of motion in the scene. It really reminds me of Hot Fuzz. That British comedy about the cop who moves out to the country.
I liked how the ending was different. I expected the light side to win. It always does. Maybe it will win in the next movies...
I also couldn't help but notice that one of the books this movie is based off of is called Twilight Watch. A book about vampire books with Twilight in it, that's not Twilight? MMM.
Please. Go ahead, tell me how wrong I am about this movie. Tell me that it actually interested me. Haha. This movie was just not for me. I guess I'm getting over the action movies. I'm getting old i______i
But I'm glad we watched the first big blockbuster in Russia. Sorta historical when you think about it.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
The Return (of children possibly scarred for life) from a Wonderful Fishing Trip!
Great. Now I'd like to call my parents and tell them I appreciate them.
When I think of this movie, I think of blue and lots of it. There's blue hue that overs the whole screen for the entire film. Either a blue filter or it's just done digitally. I don't think St. Petersburg isn't that blue in real life. After all, it can be Sepia sometimes. Hahaha, it changes along to the mood. It's a magic town. But not really.
It could be possible that without the blue hue over it, I could still think blue because of the immense amount of water. Water, blue sky, rain, dark clouds, and storms. This movie is so nautical!
First off, I just need to get one thing out of the way. The Father is Jesus. Well, at least, he resemble an exact painting of Jesus Christ(at least I'm sure it's Jesus) I've seen. It's a painting where he's like lying on a bed in sheets. It's unique because of the perspective, which shows his feet in front and they look big because of the realistic perspective. That's just how the father looked when we first see him. THEN when he's lying in the boat, he looks just like it again! YOU CAN'T FOOL ME ZVYAGINTSEV.
This father is far from Jesus. So, so far. Arguing with the fathers intentions is....pointless. You see, to me, I see him being nice...and then...not, for obvious reasons. Sometimes I see the Father simply teaching the boys to be men, and grow. Examples of this include the caught thief, the rowing of the boat, and the stuck car. With this, he teaches the boys to capture the ones who have wronged them, using their muscles despite how weak they are, and how to get out of mud when stuck. Their failed attempts frustrate him as Ivan and Andrei are not what he expects and maybe...could blame himself for their weakness. He has been absent, so they have no male role model. Just themselves.
But the father is TOO frustrated, and is highly abusive and he's not getting the award for the father of the year. While Ivan is also at fault due to his complaining. Now I'm not saying that he deserves to get stranded in the rain, but it's not as if they haven't done anything. The Father is much, much too extreme.
With this film, I got much less excited when I heard of the Father. I feel like we've watched a lot of films with a terrible, parent or husband. Guardians who have left the main characters at times in their life or they are just awful and cause conflict or argument. Examples: Little Vera- Drunken, stabbing father, Moscow does not believe in Tears - Rudolph, Mirror - The Father, Brother - the husband to the older woman. And if that's true in Russian life, then I'll shut up.
The father on the trip is doing something that we are totally unsure of. For some reason, the object he took out of the chest looked like a battery, for like...the motor. I thought that was a really smart idea! But no, a battery like that wouldn't go into a motor.
The result of their Father's death makes them stronger. As they carry him into the boat. Few lines that they say are repeat from their fathers such as "little hands." It seems to me this words really stuck.
Also, I really liked those photographs at the end.
When I think of this movie, I think of blue and lots of it. There's blue hue that overs the whole screen for the entire film. Either a blue filter or it's just done digitally. I don't think St. Petersburg isn't that blue in real life. After all, it can be Sepia sometimes. Hahaha, it changes along to the mood. It's a magic town. But not really.
It could be possible that without the blue hue over it, I could still think blue because of the immense amount of water. Water, blue sky, rain, dark clouds, and storms. This movie is so nautical!
First off, I just need to get one thing out of the way. The Father is Jesus. Well, at least, he resemble an exact painting of Jesus Christ(at least I'm sure it's Jesus) I've seen. It's a painting where he's like lying on a bed in sheets. It's unique because of the perspective, which shows his feet in front and they look big because of the realistic perspective. That's just how the father looked when we first see him. THEN when he's lying in the boat, he looks just like it again! YOU CAN'T FOOL ME ZVYAGINTSEV.
This father is far from Jesus. So, so far. Arguing with the fathers intentions is....pointless. You see, to me, I see him being nice...and then...not, for obvious reasons. Sometimes I see the Father simply teaching the boys to be men, and grow. Examples of this include the caught thief, the rowing of the boat, and the stuck car. With this, he teaches the boys to capture the ones who have wronged them, using their muscles despite how weak they are, and how to get out of mud when stuck. Their failed attempts frustrate him as Ivan and Andrei are not what he expects and maybe...could blame himself for their weakness. He has been absent, so they have no male role model. Just themselves.
But the father is TOO frustrated, and is highly abusive and he's not getting the award for the father of the year. While Ivan is also at fault due to his complaining. Now I'm not saying that he deserves to get stranded in the rain, but it's not as if they haven't done anything. The Father is much, much too extreme.
With this film, I got much less excited when I heard of the Father. I feel like we've watched a lot of films with a terrible, parent or husband. Guardians who have left the main characters at times in their life or they are just awful and cause conflict or argument. Examples: Little Vera- Drunken, stabbing father, Moscow does not believe in Tears - Rudolph, Mirror - The Father, Brother - the husband to the older woman. And if that's true in Russian life, then I'll shut up.
The father on the trip is doing something that we are totally unsure of. For some reason, the object he took out of the chest looked like a battery, for like...the motor. I thought that was a really smart idea! But no, a battery like that wouldn't go into a motor.
The result of their Father's death makes them stronger. As they carry him into the boat. Few lines that they say are repeat from their fathers such as "little hands." It seems to me this words really stuck.
Also, I really liked those photographs at the end.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Sepia Tone and Blackouts (sounds like a band)
I would really describe Danilla as an Anti- Hero. He has good intentions and wants to help the good of humanity…he’s just murderous, and very, very violent. He really doesn’t have any Godly morels which would be: talking things out. He doesn’t wish to be violent, he really just wants to help people, like his brother Viktor, who needed to Danilla to do a hit to save his life.
A comic book relation? Yes, there is that. He does really seem like this anti hero hit man crazy sob that can do anything. The way he invents this silencer out of ordinary materials? GENIUS. I’d say he could be hiding something. With the skills like that, I wonder what it must have been like at ‘HQ.’ But that of course is the beauty of it. The director wanted to introduce us to a character that is highly skilled for a reason we don’t why.
The two woman that he becomes involved with are almost opposite. Cat is a free spirit, punk rock, drug user who pretty much lives on the streets. Then there’s Sveta who’s enslaved to a violent man she doesn’t love, lives in an apartment and doesn’t seem to like Danilla’s music. The two of them could serve as balance for Danilla. Instead of going to one, he is countered by the other.
The Music. Can’t quite explain that. I guess it could be like his source for the outside world. He’s new to Petersburg and just doesn’t seem to be experienced in traveling. Or maybe he uses it to keep cool and keep his mind of things.
Foreigners are portrayed as not very bright. The tourists, and the Frenchman don’t understand Russian which is subject to Danilla insulting American Music.
It had an old school feel. The sepia sets a warm tone and gives it a more fiction look to it. The black outs seem dramatic and seem to me to show that every scene is very important.
Great movie. Reminded me of No Country for Old Men.
A comic book relation? Yes, there is that. He does really seem like this anti hero hit man crazy sob that can do anything. The way he invents this silencer out of ordinary materials? GENIUS. I’d say he could be hiding something. With the skills like that, I wonder what it must have been like at ‘HQ.’ But that of course is the beauty of it. The director wanted to introduce us to a character that is highly skilled for a reason we don’t why.
The two woman that he becomes involved with are almost opposite. Cat is a free spirit, punk rock, drug user who pretty much lives on the streets. Then there’s Sveta who’s enslaved to a violent man she doesn’t love, lives in an apartment and doesn’t seem to like Danilla’s music. The two of them could serve as balance for Danilla. Instead of going to one, he is countered by the other.
The Music. Can’t quite explain that. I guess it could be like his source for the outside world. He’s new to Petersburg and just doesn’t seem to be experienced in traveling. Or maybe he uses it to keep cool and keep his mind of things.
Foreigners are portrayed as not very bright. The tourists, and the Frenchman don’t understand Russian which is subject to Danilla insulting American Music.
It had an old school feel. The sepia sets a warm tone and gives it a more fiction look to it. The black outs seem dramatic and seem to me to show that every scene is very important.
Great movie. Reminded me of No Country for Old Men.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Little Vera
First off: Wear something else when you go out hunny. That striped shirt is getting very annoying.
Gritty and dark. So, so gritty. This film has a dark look on Russian life. If it’s realistic, then I don’t want to live there. If the film was portrayed very brightly and colorful, it certainly wouldn’t give the same feel. It would be nice, but we would just hate the main character even more than how much we really do.
Every location seems tight. As in, the shots really offer a closed, almost suffocating look. The shots in the apartment provided us with a sort of claustrophobic feel. Since the apartments can be small to begin with, it couldn’t be that hard to shoot.
A shot where we’re given a generally good view of Russia is the shot where Vera and Andrei are by the docks at that shipyard. In America, the view of a large body of water is typically seen as beautiful and positive. Towards the end, the family goes to the beach and it’s very depressing. It’s cloudy, and it rains. Vera is practically a recluse and she goes missing. When the Father and Victor go for swim, it seems to me to be the last thing I’d want to do.
Vera is a character that I’d say I wouldn’t like, but I couldn’t blame her. Life seems terrible and her bad attitude is no wonder. Her Father, on the other hand, is a reason as to why she would hate her parents or just life in general. Her father, the alcoholic, is insane. He destroys everything and is quite…the bastard.
Best. Scene. Ever. You know the scene. “STAB.” Caught EVERYBODY off guard. Vera’s scream is wonderful and spine chilling. I like how it’s just so casual and the fall of Sergei looked so realistic. If he was really dead, then it would be even so much more terrifying. Also, not being able to say that your own father stabbed your fiancé is unspeakable and insane . HA! Get it? Unspeakable?! Ha!
Gritty and dark. So, so gritty. This film has a dark look on Russian life. If it’s realistic, then I don’t want to live there. If the film was portrayed very brightly and colorful, it certainly wouldn’t give the same feel. It would be nice, but we would just hate the main character even more than how much we really do.
Every location seems tight. As in, the shots really offer a closed, almost suffocating look. The shots in the apartment provided us with a sort of claustrophobic feel. Since the apartments can be small to begin with, it couldn’t be that hard to shoot.
A shot where we’re given a generally good view of Russia is the shot where Vera and Andrei are by the docks at that shipyard. In America, the view of a large body of water is typically seen as beautiful and positive. Towards the end, the family goes to the beach and it’s very depressing. It’s cloudy, and it rains. Vera is practically a recluse and she goes missing. When the Father and Victor go for swim, it seems to me to be the last thing I’d want to do.
Vera is a character that I’d say I wouldn’t like, but I couldn’t blame her. Life seems terrible and her bad attitude is no wonder. Her Father, on the other hand, is a reason as to why she would hate her parents or just life in general. Her father, the alcoholic, is insane. He destroys everything and is quite…the bastard.
Best. Scene. Ever. You know the scene. “STAB.” Caught EVERYBODY off guard. Vera’s scream is wonderful and spine chilling. I like how it’s just so casual and the fall of Sergei looked so realistic. If he was really dead, then it would be even so much more terrifying. Also, not being able to say that your own father stabbed your fiancé is unspeakable and insane . HA! Get it? Unspeakable?! Ha!
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Moscow Does Not Believe in FEARS(Tears)
Go right ahead. List the many genres in this movie. Or more like, list all the moods you received in the movie. For me? Laughter,happiness, deep sorrow, anger or fristration, and a little bit of some thrills were put in there.
I knew from the beginning that I would focus on Katya(mainly because I thought she would be the same character, and, if there could only be one, she is.
They way it started out made me miss Spring and Summer. Just the way she walked down the street without a coat. I guess I just usually picture Russia with a lot of snow.
Followed by the Katya and Lyudmila watching the apartment, I was thinking the whole movie would take place there. As in, the movie would have a time span of 1 month.
I was very wrong.
When the girls call the guys, I was lead to believe that the girls would maintain these relationships with these guys throughout the whole movie. They would all fall in love, and eventually there would be a problem towards the end of the film which would eventually be solved.
Wrong again. Dead wrong.
Antonia stays with Nikolai through the whole film. I...don't quite recall seeing her before they get married.
BAM. The movie switches right when Katya says she pregnant. The movie isn't cute all of sudden, but DAMNIT, I REALLY CARE ABOUT THESE CHARACTERS. IT'S GOING TO BE OKAY, GIRLS!! End of Part 1.
"Part 2. Okay, got my tea, and I'm ready to figure what's going to happen. OH. We're like...20 years later." When seeing everybody, it's very depressing to see what they have become. Characters seem lonely. Life isn't quite going the way everyone's wanted it to. But Katya has a stable job, which is up lifting. I enjoy how they are all still friends. Thank goodness they have each other.
I hated the part where she meets the ex boyfriend who has a family. It's kind of disturbing. At first I thought that it was the father of her child.
Wrong again.
But that part showed to me a change in Katya. I just feel that she wouldn't have done that when she was younger. Try and sleep with a married man. I'm glad she didn't go through with it.
Suddenly, out of nowhere, which I'm sure that most of were waiting for him to come, Gosha arrives. At first, just by looking at him, he didn't seem like the perfect guy. I thought he was just some guy hitting on her.
Nope. Wrong again.
This guy ends up reminding me of 'the dreamy right man' the girl protagonist finds in American romantic comedies. He's just really weird, but certainly brings hilarity. "I yell in my sleep." Best line throughout the movie. His dialogue with Katya reminds me of the writing in a Wes Anderson movie. WHICH HAS SOME DAMN GOOD WRITING. He can cook, and he's the nicest guy ever. He just not the type of guy the girls have been hating throughout the whole film. He's an excellent role model. And just leaves me to look at him and say, "I wanna be like that guy!"
The 'thrill' in this movie just meant the fight he has with the guys. 2 to 5. Or would it be 3? Well, it was just hilarious, and the most masculine part in all of the 2 hours and 30 minutes.
When Rudolph re enters, it's awkward and he gives guys a bad a name. Not being able to recognize the woman you've impregnated...is really hard to think about. Luckily, Gosha is there.
A great film with a great ending line. "I've been waiting for you."
I knew from the beginning that I would focus on Katya(mainly because I thought she would be the same character, and, if there could only be one, she is.
They way it started out made me miss Spring and Summer. Just the way she walked down the street without a coat. I guess I just usually picture Russia with a lot of snow.
Followed by the Katya and Lyudmila watching the apartment, I was thinking the whole movie would take place there. As in, the movie would have a time span of 1 month.
I was very wrong.
When the girls call the guys, I was lead to believe that the girls would maintain these relationships with these guys throughout the whole movie. They would all fall in love, and eventually there would be a problem towards the end of the film which would eventually be solved.
Wrong again. Dead wrong.
Antonia stays with Nikolai through the whole film. I...don't quite recall seeing her before they get married.
BAM. The movie switches right when Katya says she pregnant. The movie isn't cute all of sudden, but DAMNIT, I REALLY CARE ABOUT THESE CHARACTERS. IT'S GOING TO BE OKAY, GIRLS!! End of Part 1.
"Part 2. Okay, got my tea, and I'm ready to figure what's going to happen. OH. We're like...20 years later." When seeing everybody, it's very depressing to see what they have become. Characters seem lonely. Life isn't quite going the way everyone's wanted it to. But Katya has a stable job, which is up lifting. I enjoy how they are all still friends. Thank goodness they have each other.
I hated the part where she meets the ex boyfriend who has a family. It's kind of disturbing. At first I thought that it was the father of her child.
Wrong again.
But that part showed to me a change in Katya. I just feel that she wouldn't have done that when she was younger. Try and sleep with a married man. I'm glad she didn't go through with it.
Suddenly, out of nowhere, which I'm sure that most of were waiting for him to come, Gosha arrives. At first, just by looking at him, he didn't seem like the perfect guy. I thought he was just some guy hitting on her.
Nope. Wrong again.
This guy ends up reminding me of 'the dreamy right man' the girl protagonist finds in American romantic comedies. He's just really weird, but certainly brings hilarity. "I yell in my sleep." Best line throughout the movie. His dialogue with Katya reminds me of the writing in a Wes Anderson movie. WHICH HAS SOME DAMN GOOD WRITING. He can cook, and he's the nicest guy ever. He just not the type of guy the girls have been hating throughout the whole film. He's an excellent role model. And just leaves me to look at him and say, "I wanna be like that guy!"
The 'thrill' in this movie just meant the fight he has with the guys. 2 to 5. Or would it be 3? Well, it was just hilarious, and the most masculine part in all of the 2 hours and 30 minutes.
When Rudolph re enters, it's awkward and he gives guys a bad a name. Not being able to recognize the woman you've impregnated...is really hard to think about. Luckily, Gosha is there.
A great film with a great ending line. "I've been waiting for you."
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Ivan's Childhood
I’d say this was an alright movie. It holds a pretty cool story: A kid spy, but luckily, it isn’t Spy Kids…Geez I hate those movies.
What I liked about it was the acting of Ivan. That kid was a pretty good little actor. He really dictates anger pretty well. He has a lot of determination…for blood. Revenge is a motivation I’ve seen in a lot of movies. Sometimes, I get annoyed with it, but this didn’t bother me.
The movie really pulls you in. As in, “that kids floating in the sky, now we see his…mom? SCREEECH!! Then switch to him crawling across a swamp. Huh. Who IS this kid?” Now that I think about it, this is a plot that seems only existent in family comedies. Well, maybe not in WW2, but the idea can be the same. It’s really serious.
The ending is DARK. It’s scary to think about. The way they don’t really show Ivan dying is mysterious. When finding out about somebody who has just ‘disappeared,’ it gives chills. It's better to give the viewer imagination to use. Instead, if Tarkovsky showed a dramatic stab in Ivan's stomach and it sets off a dramatic crying scene, it give a TOTALLY different feel.
Also, that actress playing Masha was really cute! What was that actress's name anyway? And on that note, I take my leave.
What I liked about it was the acting of Ivan. That kid was a pretty good little actor. He really dictates anger pretty well. He has a lot of determination…for blood. Revenge is a motivation I’ve seen in a lot of movies. Sometimes, I get annoyed with it, but this didn’t bother me.
The movie really pulls you in. As in, “that kids floating in the sky, now we see his…mom? SCREEECH!! Then switch to him crawling across a swamp. Huh. Who IS this kid?” Now that I think about it, this is a plot that seems only existent in family comedies. Well, maybe not in WW2, but the idea can be the same. It’s really serious.
The ending is DARK. It’s scary to think about. The way they don’t really show Ivan dying is mysterious. When finding out about somebody who has just ‘disappeared,’ it gives chills. It's better to give the viewer imagination to use. Instead, if Tarkovsky showed a dramatic stab in Ivan's stomach and it sets off a dramatic crying scene, it give a TOTALLY different feel.
Also, that actress playing Masha was really cute! What was that actress's name anyway? And on that note, I take my leave.
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