Ioan

First of all this movie is a piece of reality very well realized artistically. Some kind of combination between "American Beauty" and "As Good as it gets". And of course something specifically to all Russian movies ( of course the valuable one, no dirty propaganda !) : the problem of loneliness of man ... Especially recommended for the people which really want to see beyond all vomitive propaganda about communism ( both positive or negative propaganda ! ). A movie about common people, their problems, lack of satisfactions - especially for young ones, fear when touch the real and too dirty face of the society ... and about the fake "solutions" : alcohol and violence ... and probably the only real solution : true love ... Of course it's very well "located" in the space and time of "Russian perestroika" but it's valid for all the society ( except a perfect one, but don't worry - not possible to find this on our Earth !). For the last time - definitely recommended ...

Well I went to this movie, expecting myself to a eighteen century "Braveheart". Big mistake ! The special effects wasn't very "special", the atmosphere of epoch is just sketched and the story is just a little bit better than a south-american "telenovelas". Of course, the great Mel Gibson do everything he can to give to his character life & consistence, but he can't miss a fight scene one against twenty like in, I know ... "Mad Max". The screenplay ? If you expected to something really incendiary stay home ! A mediocre "political correct" screenplay show the earlier black people emancipation, but not a single word about native Americans. The British are all killers ( even they try to mask this ... ) and of course incapable to see what mean democracy... at least this is the opinion of producers. I wonder myself - how the French is among the "good guys" ? At last I must admit that some players perform remarkable, but... My opinion : keep distance from this movie or see just the fighting fragment.

I believe this is one of the greatest movies I ever seen. It is centrated on personality of El Chuncho. In the past he was a revolutionar soldier, fighting with Elias soldiers for great ideas: freedom and plenty for peasants. Now times are changed and he is just an outlaw who rob trains and lordly houses for money with a clique of man without other ideals. The old general Elias is now hiding in a far and poor village, fighting a desperated guerrilla war. During one action he capture an american passenger, Bill Tate.

Bill has a great influence on El Chuncho. Bill is tidy and educated, reject inutile violence, and for this El Chuncho, deep in his mind invidiates and admires him. Maybe when El Chuncho figth in revolution he dreamed a time when all the peasants look like Bill Tate. So he protected Bill. But the "boy" is in fact a killer, hired by Mexican Government and when he killed the general El Chuncho realised he was hoaxed by Bill Tate, so he want now to revenge. He find Bill Tate, but, surprising this want to share with El Chuncho the reward and together go in States and begin a new life. But in train station, looking to poor people, El Chuncho realised that his place isn't there, and in a romantical moment ( maybe not so real, but very touching ) kill Bill Tate, drop the money and run to freedom and to fight for his youthful ideas ...

Particullary I remember the last sentence of the movie, addressed to a poor mexican guy who take his money : " Man! Use that money not for buying bread, but for buying dynamite !"

The question in title is maybe a critical question when commenting on a historical movie. The director especially, sometimes wants to "tell" too much of his peoples history and the movie began too quickly. But I think this movie succeeded to mantain this frail equilibrium between historical information and artistic part.

Of course, comparing with Braveheart this movie isn't so realistic in images, has no such violence, but very real, battles, but it was filmed 27 years before and of course with some censorship involved. But it still is one of the great Romanian movies ever realised. The major critique, in my humble opinion, is a great king is a man too, and this aspect wasn't explored enough in this movie.

Maybe the myth was more important than the reality? But the performances were simply excellent and this critique can be minimised.