Antikiller (2002) User Reviews

Interesting

[derirre357 · 7/10 · 23 October 2006]

A decent movie about the Russian crime structures and gang wars to come in power and take control. It could have been better. What I didn't like was some poorly executed action sequences. Others were quite good though. The music during the fights wasn't very suitable IMO - lack of music would be better... What I like was the acting - over the top for some characters as it should have been as they obviously had some issues) and subtle for others ( considered their positions and need to be in control and carefully reconsider every move they make). The presence of Viktor Sukhorukov (Brat 1 and 2) and Aleksandr Baluyev (Oligarkh) was a pleasant surprise. Vyacheslav Razbegayev is also very good as Metis. I liked how the story was telling itself - no needless explanations offending the audience... I was quite confused myself the first half an hour but later everything came clear. It is a macho film, definitely, each one of the characters is pretty tough and wouldn't bend for anybody. By the way - a very strong beginning - it may be rose up my expectations a bit. Overall pretty good, could have been better though.

Solid piece of russian surprise.

[robert-190 · 7/10 · 31 December 2003]

One comment to "nightingale": You saw 30min of a two hour movie and judge it as "script is terrible" ? I say, see the whole movie and your "comment will change"!

I found this movie to be a real fresh piece of work. I found some similaritys with Dobermann but all and all, this feels very different from anything i've seen so far.

And as far as terrible script goes i have to say that this is one of the few movies in the last 3-4 months that actually kept me interested throughout the movie. And the ending was one of the better in years.

One thing that is very annoying though is that when i rented it today the cover said "1:a på biotoppen" (number one at the boxoffice (which almost maid me NOT rent it)) which is funny as the movie has only 86 votes here. That makes me wonder; WHAT boxoffice :)

Summary: This is definitely a movie that i recommend you spend a few bucks on renting (that is if you looking for something different from the mainstream hollywood tv dinner).

PS: Any speling errors can be blamed on the fact that im not english or american.

Nicely done russian action film

[aanselmo-1 · 7/10 · 3 November 2002]

I must say, that I liked this movie. Of course, there are some flaws, but they are minor, so I don`t even want to mention them. But Antikiller rocks! I liked the book, and the screenplay was also a very fine job. Fast paced, with good performances all around. Honest and breathtaking action sequences. If you do want to see a good russian action movie, see Antikiller. My vote: 7 from 10.

Movie disappoints with stylish cover...

[jmalmsten · 1/10 · 22 November 2006]

I've been seeing this movie around the local DVD-stores and thought, what the heck... I'll try it.

The cover and DVD-menu promises a slick and stylish crime-triller. What I saw in the actual movie was something completely different.

Only plus was the Valhalla-gang that made me think a little on the tracks of Guy Ritchie. Rest of the movie just felt sloppy and I had trouble even knowing WHY they where shooting at each other... What's Lis' motivation? The major downside was the actual action... horribly mish-mach-cut and often at the point of unwatchable... never seen a action-flick where the action was the tiresome parts...

I have no problem with foreign films, subs I consider as the only thing remotely workable... dubbing is a sin... but if this is the highpoint of Russian action, well... I'll skip it...

My advice? don't spend more than the couple of bucks for renting it...

Nothing new

[shusei · 3/10 · 14 October 2006]

This type of criminal(or gang-star)films have been made from 1920s, at first,probably in America, then everywhere in the world. There are some classics(as "God Father"),excellent postmodern variations(as "Pulp fiction")and also good Russian films in this genre("Assa" and "Brother").

Egor Konchalovsky added nothing new to this genre because of inconsistency of style and lack of orientation in dramaturgy.

As for style,plenty of video-effects simply make the film like serial of music clips with no serious contents, or some kind of parody of gangster films.If one wants to show drama,tell some story,then he must select only minimum needed effects which will not irritate viewers.The first half of the film is especially bad,the second half is better(less effects), but even this fact is only an another evidence of inconsistency.

Then dramaturgy itself is inconsistent. I can't understand who represents what kind of world views or who has what kind of credo, and the meanings of all killing and shooting,including the revenge of Lis. Story is told, but it doesn't make me feel or think something. This same story could be told in another way, so that the viewers will begin to think something,to feel compassion for some character even they have little in common with him. Apparently director didn't care about it.

Real horrorshow!

[sub_mish · 9/10 · 10 June 2006]

What's not to like? A gritty crime movie with lashings of the old ultraviolence all round! I like the way the film makers portray the desperation of life on Moscow's streets, i.e the Granny that steals food from a corpse, the banker who has to hire maniacs to protect him from gangsters.

It seems the Russians love their action movies too - but in many ways it's more like a Japanese anime film with it's convoluted intra-gang politics and cartoon violence.

True, they could have done with more money - but what the hell, CGI looks crap anyway compared to real stunts. Another gripe is the way things would explode for no reason - like that visual gag in The Simpsons where even if a pram crashes it blows up. But these shouldn't bother anyone who really likes their gangster movies. Korolev is like the Man With No Name, he bludgeons his way through Moscow lowlife until the job is over.

This film r0x0rs! (oh and apparently there is a PC game of it too)

truth about Russian Mob

[glaikh · 20 September 2002]

***SLIGHT SPOILERS*** The movie is based on the famous in Russia novel of Daniil Koretskiy, who is trustworthy in everything that concerns Russian mob, as he worked in Police. I'd like to recommend this movie to non-Russian watchers as they could see the realities of modern Russia and almost real Russian criminals(it would be hard to translate Russian slang of convicted in English or other language), who don't sing songs about Mother-Russia, don't play chess a lot and aren't so fool as foreign movie-makers try to show. Still movie depicts Russian temper, people who act fast and don't talk much, hard choice between revenge and law - "is punishment equal to crime?" and how close are they? - these dilemmas has the main character Fox. And in the end he's waiting for the death or life,he's standing by the window and knows that there the sniper's waiting for him and boss of mob, Krest, drops the coin to define Fox's end.

AWESOME!!!

[morfeus · 10/10 · 12 March 2003]

This movie is DA MAD ONE!!!!!!!! The best russian crime-ralate flick since Banditskij Piter! of course, Lis is not as stylish as Celishev, and Otec ist as good as villain as Antibiotik was, but movie has a piece of our mysterious soul:) And the "power-to-the-beats" or "valhalla" scene? No comments, folks, just watch it yourself!

Must to see!

[Conquer · 10/10 · 16 February 2004]

The russian movie about russian policeman which struggles againist racketeers. Very cool movie! Must to see, IMO

You need to read the book before watching this movie...

[[e-mail] · 5 January 2003]

I didnt read a book, so the movie is uninteresting. The script is terrible and trick effects amateur. Thus, i've watched just 30 min. Maybe once upon a time i'll read the book and my comment will change.