eksellentz

Overall Cronenberg delivers a good package, with quite OK story-line, good acting (as you would expect from likes of Mortensen, Cassel, Watts and others). But once again - what can you expect from a western director making a movie about Russians - huge misses and misinterpretations, not to say once again they fail to cast SOME RUSSIANS to play Russians. I don't say that main characters must be Russians, but at least second line characters could be played by Russians, right? It's not like it's a problem to find credible Russian speaking people in UK or US or Canada, right? Hire some actors from Russia, for Christ sake!

Besides that - right away I've noticed some terrible misinterpretations in the film:

1) "Вор в законе" (Vor v zakone) - is probably closest translated as "legal thief", meaning that one is above the law and such. It's a status that can be achieved, when the criminal elite recognizes one's ... let's say "achievements" in the criminal world. "Vory v zakone" is NOT a gang nor a criminal organization!!! It's merely s STATUS, similar to status of a "Family member" in the Cosa Nostra in US or other criminal organizations worldwide...

2) No self respecting Russian - especially the one in the position of Semyon, the head of the criminal family - he would NEVER let his children nor his grandchildren to play violin for the amusement of his guests! That would be presenting him as a jerk, a laughable figure. Violin is played at parties by hired gypsy entertainers. Violin is also played at Jewish parties, Russians on the other hand traditionally use harmonica! Considering this fact, that makes me wonder - if the criminal family, portrayed in the movie is in fact a criminal family of Russian Jews?..

These two misses were HUGE! Because of them the movie is less believable, and that's sad, this movie really had potential for being more or less accurate.

Not an easy piece of cinema to swallow, but still a great movie!

Being a sort of a documentary-like this movie is not easy to watch. The bloody scenes aren't easy to swallow, they are filmed in a very realistic way.

But still - this movie does not hold out anything. It shows the war the way it really is - a very horrible event...

Many didn't like this movie. Many have judged this one based on their political believes. But argue or not this one shows what really happened. Without withholding anything at all.

It wouldn't be easy to find a copy of this one around these days. But still if you get your hands on a copy of this movie - be sure not to miss it!

10 points out of 10.

After seeing Night Watch & Day Watch, Volkodav and others masterpieces of modern Russian action oriented cinema I was quite disappointed with this flick. Movie was very well presented with a brilliant PR over the net and other news medias, but the movie was a total disaster.

Part 1 didn't offer anything. But a promise of more and better action story was given for the film 2.

After watching the second one the disappointment was complete. Acting wasn't good, storyline non-existent. Good filmed fighting scenes, but that's it....

The movie didn't have anything to offer and watching is a total waste of time...

Best movie to be seen in cinema's today!

Nothing else currently shown anywhere in the world could even match this one!!!!

Russian cinema at it best!

Forget Tarkovsky - Pavel Lungin is the new master if modern philosophical cinema of the world!

Ten plus and even more for this one!!!!

Jist a note for the unaware - Petja Mamonov - playing the main part of Father Anatoli - is THE rock music figure in Russia. He is truly the most interesting rock figure of the the entire world today and maybe ever! Get a hold of some of his music, early albums to be preferred!

The movie achieved it's goal, at least if you've looked over some of the comments here! The Yanks are furious, they call it a lie and propaganda. They are so brainwashed by they're so called "free media" (read - owned by the rich moguls close to the federal government) that seeing a different aspect of "The Great US Iraq crusade" is making them angry. But - at least - it plants a seed of doubt of their own government's intentions and actions abroad. So the movie has already achieved it's goal - made the people think and doubt the official propaganda that Bush's administration feeds to them.

To say a few words about the movie itself - well, it's definitely NOT a masterpiece of the cinema. But it's provocative and brave - that is more than enough.

Way to go, Turks! 10 points to you!

This is actually one of the few western movies about Russia and Russians that is not following official propaganda lines like "Russians-are-bad-people" or "bears-walking-in-the-streets-of-Moscow". More modern are for sure something like "no-freedom-of-speech" or "Putin-killed-that-London-spy" :)

Anyway, this flick is NOT anything of that mentioned above. This is a story about crime, that's sure, but the movie is very objective with quite OK script and even not that bad acting. And it's actually filmed in Russia, not Prague or other places that would "look-like-Russia" for western viewers. :) There is just one major miss - once again Hollywood failed to find some Russians to play the parts of Russians :) - but hiring Bulgarians is still better that just having Americans pronouncing something completely ridiculous that should sound like "Russian" :)

Funny, once more "The Big Swedish" - Dolph - is playing a Russian guy. :) :) Only this time a good one :)

Jadesoturi is a truly great movie. Wonderful story, great filming, superb acting - the movie catches you and does not let go! :)

This is actually the first ever Finnish movie I truly enjoyed watching to from the beginning to the end and once it was over I instantly wanted to watch it again!

Real masterpiece! What is most amazing - the movie is done mostly by beginners in the movie business.

Hope the Finnish "big-time producers" will learn some lessons out of the success of this movie and will finally start to invest in the quality films, instead of usual crap they throw at as year after year...