The English title is : STORMGATES It's a very suspenseful and dramatic miniseries, the action, acting and special effects can be compared with THE NINTH COMPANY (9 ya rota). Sharp edged characters from different walks of life try to survive in this godforsaken region of Chechnia. At the time of the hottest contest in this still ongoing campaign. The company of senior lieutenant Doronin is being dropped on a small squezzed mountainpass, controlling the only road for dozens of miles. All in all, the task seems to be simple: Defend this pass from the insurgents and deny them use. They believe in the "infinite" firepower of the Russian army and the intelligence of their superiors. Not knowing what "politics" are cooking up. Most of the days are being spend with daydreams about their loved ones. Some frustration with the slow and sometimes not forthcomming mail service is rampant. Nobody expects to die and has any idea of whats in stock for them. However, the group of insurgents amounting about 10 times the size of the company is approaching fast and unexpected. False reports and complacency will take their toll...... Four very actionpacked hours will pass by quickly.
7 Reviews
Well made
harryplinkett147 October 2017
It's a very enjoyable film to watch. It has good characters and an engaging story about a unit surrounded by a superior enemy force. It does get a bit too melodramatic at times, and a bit too manipulative in terms of pushing propaganda, but it never disrespects the audience. The plot is well written, and while the flashbacks do at times retard the narrative a bit too much, and come across as intrusive, the payoff is that these flashbacks really do provide a good backstory for the characters and make them relatable. The action scenes are quite impressive for a TV-film, and have a realistic feel to them. They are a real treat to watch. All in all, it's one of the better Russian war films. I actually enjoyed it more than the big budget feature 'The 9th Company'. I can warmly recommend it to anyone who has an interest in Russian and/or war films.
How a company of soldiers held back hordes of militants or The best movie about the Second Chechen War
lyubitelfilmov1 November 2023
Historical drama, action movie. The film adaptation of the novel by Russian writer Alexander Tamonnikov "The Company goes to Heaven", which is inspired by the feat of the sixth company of Pskov paratroopers who took an unequal battle with a two-thousandth detachment of Chechen (and not only) militants in the Argun gorge on February 29 - March 1, 2000. I have not read the original book source myself, so I will evaluate the series as an independent work. I can't remember the first time I watched this series for the first time, but I remember for sure that it was good and quite high-quality, and since then I have tried to revise it. It is impossible to count how many times it has been revised to date, and this review was an excellent reason for its next revision. And do you know what I can say about the incident almost fifteen years since the release? Yes, this series is simply gorgeous, and already against the background of the lion's share of modern domestic garbage - so it looks like a masterpiece in general. This was done in 2006 by order of Channel One. Just think, Channel One once cared about the quality of its digital products, both TV series and feature films. Yes, there were times. And here's my brief opinion for you - The best movie about the Second Chechen War. There were both pros and cons in the series. And this should be the end of such an emotional introduction, and get to the point.
So, the pros: 1. Scenario - Senior Lieutenant Doronin's motorized rifle company arrives in the Caucasus. The command orders its commander to occupy the height of the Thunder Gate, in order to prevent the breakthrough of large gangs of militants. The company is reinforced by a GRU special forces reconnaissance group under the command of Major Egorov. But, having arrived at the place, Doronin and Egorov understand that at the headquarters of the group they "slightly did not agree" about the real number of militants. Not small gangs are moving to his company, but a fairly large group of militants consisting of experienced mercenaries and fanatical Wahhabis, and there are more than a thousand of them. But an order is an order, because if the militants break through, then the bloody second Chechen war will last for a long time, and there will be many victims. The company must stand to the death without letting the enemy through the Thunder Gate. The ending here is tragic, although not quite. As in reality, the company completed the task, but it had to pay a very high price for it. Doronin, Egorov, Shah (the former general of the CHRI, who defected to our side) and a number of other officers must make every effort and complete the combat mission. There are no unnecessary scenes, unnecessary conversations, and in general unnecessary details in the script. Everything serves either to reveal the characters, or to show the fighting and the feat of Russian soldiers and officers. There are some minor comments, but we'll talk about them in the minuses.
2. Characters - Shah, Doronin, Egorov, Pankratov, Gorshkov, Vetrov, Goldin, Lanevsky, Galkin, and so on. It can be listed for a long time, and they are worthy of a separate mention. But if you do this, then the review will turn out in ten parts, so I'll just say that they are all well disclosed. Despite the fact that the main characters have been allocated separate memories, and there are no secondary parts, this does not prevent the viewer from understanding them and sincerely worrying about them. All of them are Russian soldiers and officers who are doing their duty here in the Caucasus. Yes, the personal relationships between them are different, but for the sake of a common cause, they discard differences and fight with militants like real warriors. Officers' wives, beloved girls are also not forgotten in this series. I have friends from this environment, so I have something to compare with - and it really feels like life.
3. Battle scenes - the budget for this is clearly not spared. Here you have extras, and a decent amount of pyrotechnics, and all sorts of weapons have been adjusted. Both brief skirmishes, sorties, and the final battle itself, which is the largest in the entire series, are well staged. Andrey Malyukov (director) had extensive experience in staging military films (he shot the Russian "Saboteur" and was the director of the legendary picture about Soviet paratroopers "In the zone of special attention"). And in "Thunder Gate" he also coped superbly with the staging of battle scenes.
4. Music - separately, I want to highlight the music of composer Ivan Burlyaev, which is good in the series itself, and in isolation from it, it listens perfectly. Both the title theme and the rest of the compositions are good. I was especially pleased with a small alteration of a song from a Soviet cartoon "Three from Prostokvashino." 5. Atmosphere - you watch this series and are literally transported to the beginning of the twenty-first century, to the Second Chechen War. And although we are not pampered with details, as soon as the company is in place, it becomes clear that there is a war here, and that we have arrived in its very inferno, which will soon also be the height of the Thunder Gate. Strange formulations of the command, obvious omissions, successful operations of our guys, in spite of everything, clear and competent orders of officers, rabid Wahhabis and mercenaries, pruschie to the Thunder Gates and so on. The series was filmed under a Helengik, and the scenery became a local tourist attraction.
So, the cons: 1. A strange final fight - with all its advantages (including entertainment), I can't help but cancel its strangeness. It is very intense, and the militants are prut on our as if they are not in themselves, then there is no one around, and you can walk around the positions without bending down at all. Cinema language and conventions are partly to blame for this, but not all of this can be explained in this way.
2. Minor absurdities - for example, in the first series in Pskov, policemen meet terrorists with kalash, although this is not their regular weapon. Why didn't ours suppress two enemy mortars, even though we have snipers, not counting the GRU special forces reconnaissance group? The battle on the trail is very fleeting. And about the assembly gluing in the fourth series, I must say. After all, there was clearly an important dialogue that was cut out of the final version.
3. The Shah's story about his grandfather - this one is inserted here only for the sake of anti-Soviet, no more. Then, as a child, I did not attach any importance to this, but now this dialogue causes only irritation. Of course, I understand that the Shah is sad after losing friends, but to say this, and even on Victory Day, is too much. Although I'm not surprised anymore. After all, whoever pays, orders the music.
4. How did Doronin survive? - after all, we were clearly shown footage where howitzer shells exploded next to him and there should have been no trace of him, even wounded at the same time. And in the finale of the series, he is alive, it turns out. The miracle is fucking unbelievable.
And only here the creators tried to understand the cause of the tragedy of the sixth company, and gave one of the most reasonable versions of what happened - the company was "live bait", which caught a group of terrorists who escaped from the clutches of the Russian group in the Shatoysky district. It turned out to be a kind of live chess, in which people were pawns.
A little about the main characters: 1. Privates Goshkov performed by Evgeny Potapenko and Winds performed by Ivan Zhidkov are two bosom army friends, and from different worlds (the first from the village, and the second major), who stand for each other like a mountain. They are living examples of the saying "The army changes people." Both are real Russian soldiers and heroes who have fulfilled their task with honor. Both actors coped well with their roles. Well done!
2. Senior Lieutenant Doronin performed by Anatoly Pashinin (voiced by Sergey Mokhovikov) is a company commander, an eternal starley who can't get any further, in the past there were problems with his personal life, which led to a passion for alcohol. Despite this, he was able to cope with this, and in the Caucasus he competently led the defense of the Thunder Gate. We are all aware of the tour of this agent and the outspoken enemy of Russia, although he played well in the series, I must admit, but it was a very long time ago.
3. Major Egorov, played by Mikhail Porechenkov, is the commander of the GRU special forces reconnaissance group, seconded to help Doronin's company. What kind of humorist to look for (and this despite the personal drama). A competent and experienced officer who has been here in the Caucasus for years. Mikhail is just pouring out quotes here that can be cast in granite right now. My favorite character here, definitely my favorite. Bravo Mikhail! Bravo!
The Shah (Vyacheslav Razbegaev), Colonel Galkin (Andrey Krasko) also played great here My rating is 10 out of 10 (despite any disadvantages) and a recommendation for viewing!
So, the pros: 1. Scenario - Senior Lieutenant Doronin's motorized rifle company arrives in the Caucasus. The command orders its commander to occupy the height of the Thunder Gate, in order to prevent the breakthrough of large gangs of militants. The company is reinforced by a GRU special forces reconnaissance group under the command of Major Egorov. But, having arrived at the place, Doronin and Egorov understand that at the headquarters of the group they "slightly did not agree" about the real number of militants. Not small gangs are moving to his company, but a fairly large group of militants consisting of experienced mercenaries and fanatical Wahhabis, and there are more than a thousand of them. But an order is an order, because if the militants break through, then the bloody second Chechen war will last for a long time, and there will be many victims. The company must stand to the death without letting the enemy through the Thunder Gate. The ending here is tragic, although not quite. As in reality, the company completed the task, but it had to pay a very high price for it. Doronin, Egorov, Shah (the former general of the CHRI, who defected to our side) and a number of other officers must make every effort and complete the combat mission. There are no unnecessary scenes, unnecessary conversations, and in general unnecessary details in the script. Everything serves either to reveal the characters, or to show the fighting and the feat of Russian soldiers and officers. There are some minor comments, but we'll talk about them in the minuses.
2. Characters - Shah, Doronin, Egorov, Pankratov, Gorshkov, Vetrov, Goldin, Lanevsky, Galkin, and so on. It can be listed for a long time, and they are worthy of a separate mention. But if you do this, then the review will turn out in ten parts, so I'll just say that they are all well disclosed. Despite the fact that the main characters have been allocated separate memories, and there are no secondary parts, this does not prevent the viewer from understanding them and sincerely worrying about them. All of them are Russian soldiers and officers who are doing their duty here in the Caucasus. Yes, the personal relationships between them are different, but for the sake of a common cause, they discard differences and fight with militants like real warriors. Officers' wives, beloved girls are also not forgotten in this series. I have friends from this environment, so I have something to compare with - and it really feels like life.
3. Battle scenes - the budget for this is clearly not spared. Here you have extras, and a decent amount of pyrotechnics, and all sorts of weapons have been adjusted. Both brief skirmishes, sorties, and the final battle itself, which is the largest in the entire series, are well staged. Andrey Malyukov (director) had extensive experience in staging military films (he shot the Russian "Saboteur" and was the director of the legendary picture about Soviet paratroopers "In the zone of special attention"). And in "Thunder Gate" he also coped superbly with the staging of battle scenes.
4. Music - separately, I want to highlight the music of composer Ivan Burlyaev, which is good in the series itself, and in isolation from it, it listens perfectly. Both the title theme and the rest of the compositions are good. I was especially pleased with a small alteration of a song from a Soviet cartoon "Three from Prostokvashino." 5. Atmosphere - you watch this series and are literally transported to the beginning of the twenty-first century, to the Second Chechen War. And although we are not pampered with details, as soon as the company is in place, it becomes clear that there is a war here, and that we have arrived in its very inferno, which will soon also be the height of the Thunder Gate. Strange formulations of the command, obvious omissions, successful operations of our guys, in spite of everything, clear and competent orders of officers, rabid Wahhabis and mercenaries, pruschie to the Thunder Gates and so on. The series was filmed under a Helengik, and the scenery became a local tourist attraction.
So, the cons: 1. A strange final fight - with all its advantages (including entertainment), I can't help but cancel its strangeness. It is very intense, and the militants are prut on our as if they are not in themselves, then there is no one around, and you can walk around the positions without bending down at all. Cinema language and conventions are partly to blame for this, but not all of this can be explained in this way.
2. Minor absurdities - for example, in the first series in Pskov, policemen meet terrorists with kalash, although this is not their regular weapon. Why didn't ours suppress two enemy mortars, even though we have snipers, not counting the GRU special forces reconnaissance group? The battle on the trail is very fleeting. And about the assembly gluing in the fourth series, I must say. After all, there was clearly an important dialogue that was cut out of the final version.
3. The Shah's story about his grandfather - this one is inserted here only for the sake of anti-Soviet, no more. Then, as a child, I did not attach any importance to this, but now this dialogue causes only irritation. Of course, I understand that the Shah is sad after losing friends, but to say this, and even on Victory Day, is too much. Although I'm not surprised anymore. After all, whoever pays, orders the music.
4. How did Doronin survive? - after all, we were clearly shown footage where howitzer shells exploded next to him and there should have been no trace of him, even wounded at the same time. And in the finale of the series, he is alive, it turns out. The miracle is fucking unbelievable.
And only here the creators tried to understand the cause of the tragedy of the sixth company, and gave one of the most reasonable versions of what happened - the company was "live bait", which caught a group of terrorists who escaped from the clutches of the Russian group in the Shatoysky district. It turned out to be a kind of live chess, in which people were pawns.
A little about the main characters: 1. Privates Goshkov performed by Evgeny Potapenko and Winds performed by Ivan Zhidkov are two bosom army friends, and from different worlds (the first from the village, and the second major), who stand for each other like a mountain. They are living examples of the saying "The army changes people." Both are real Russian soldiers and heroes who have fulfilled their task with honor. Both actors coped well with their roles. Well done!
2. Senior Lieutenant Doronin performed by Anatoly Pashinin (voiced by Sergey Mokhovikov) is a company commander, an eternal starley who can't get any further, in the past there were problems with his personal life, which led to a passion for alcohol. Despite this, he was able to cope with this, and in the Caucasus he competently led the defense of the Thunder Gate. We are all aware of the tour of this agent and the outspoken enemy of Russia, although he played well in the series, I must admit, but it was a very long time ago.
3. Major Egorov, played by Mikhail Porechenkov, is the commander of the GRU special forces reconnaissance group, seconded to help Doronin's company. What kind of humorist to look for (and this despite the personal drama). A competent and experienced officer who has been here in the Caucasus for years. Mikhail is just pouring out quotes here that can be cast in granite right now. My favorite character here, definitely my favorite. Bravo Mikhail! Bravo!
The Shah (Vyacheslav Razbegaev), Colonel Galkin (Andrey Krasko) also played great here My rating is 10 out of 10 (despite any disadvantages) and a recommendation for viewing!
Incredibly stupid,seriously
the_wolf_imdb25 November 2011
Warning: Spoilers
This TV series is advertised as "critically acclaimed". I simply wonder why because it fails both as a drama and also as the modern war movie. Its story is filled with unnecessary flashbacks and very lame propaganda - the Russian cigarettes are better than the foreign. The bad wife does not care about Russia, she wants her husband to be promoted. The bad politician does not care about Russia so his son wants to joint the army and his rebellious girlfriend hates the politician as well, because "he does not care about Russian people". The only positive Chechen character in the movie is the collaborator who had his own vendetta against the Arabs. The tone of the movie creates mix of false historicity, state subsidized patriotism and very cheap "heroism". In can be easily compared to the most pathetic Soviet Union war movies.
What is most interesting, the movie tries to show Russian soldiers in so heroic way that they actually look stupid and inept. Privates do argue with officers in an incredibly redneck way. The officers have to repeatedly instruct them to do very basic commands which should be done automatically. The commanding staff seems to be inept as well, as they would not teach from lessons in Afghanistan, so the Muslim partisans may simply repeat the old tricks again. The commanders invent the plan that the patrol force on the checkpoint should first lure "enough" insurgents, then the recovery force will come to help. This plan fails in the most predictable way possible: Two insurgents with one Stinger will down one of the two Hinds that should cover the recovery force tank column. Then the group of old insurgents blow the car filled with explosives so they block the only way for tanks that might help the stranded soldiers. The command staff seems to be surprised and seems not to have any plan "B"! So the guys on the checkpoint are destined to die heroically at that point. They then decide to use their armor force (four BMPs) in the most silly way imaginable - they will let them run into the partisans equipped with LAWs so they lose all of them in a few minutes! The checkpoint is lost then an the only solution for the Russian army is to basically level it with heavy artillery. Fortunately some of the heroes will survive so "heavily paid victory" is here for celebration as it is usual in every bad Russian war movie.
But come on - I can accept such lame military actions in WWII movies, because Russians really lost about 10 men for every single German. But who could possibly celebrate such losses today, especially in the army that was supposed to threaten even NATO? I mean, come on - modern army must be able to kick asses of lightly armed partisans in known positions easily. Why the artillery fire had not been directed to the advancing lines of enemy? (This is super old tactics mastered already in WWI!) Why there was no alternative plan what will happen if the single route to the checkpoint is blocked? Why the guys on checkpoint had not used their armor as "the mobile bunkers" to strengthen the defenses? Why the Hinds had no IR decoys against so old anti air missiles? Why the soldiers do behave as there would be no discipline whatsoever? Have the authors considered how lame the Russian army looks in the movie? The only guy who seem to be professional soldier there was the Chechen collaborator. You know one can understand movies like 9th Batallion which do happen in war already lost where such tactics were new and unexpected, but here and now it seems silly to use the same "twists". The Russians had great difficulty to stop lightly equipped partisans even with the help of tanks, artillery and helicopters. I really had the bad feeling that if these terrorists somehow managed to get a single tank then nothing would stop them from conquering the Moscow.
Seriously, Russian filmmakers should just drop these 50 years old tricks from Soviet Union, crazy nationalism, "down to regular village folks" approach and the idea that "suffering for the country is a sign of heroism". It is not. The movie is sad, ideologically outdated and one feels sorry for these naive poor soldiers that are driven not by reason but only by emotion. What about making movie about some modern military operation that is prepared by capable planners and professional soldiers? I think it would not hurt the image of Russia even without plenty of self sacrificing soldiers...
What is most interesting, the movie tries to show Russian soldiers in so heroic way that they actually look stupid and inept. Privates do argue with officers in an incredibly redneck way. The officers have to repeatedly instruct them to do very basic commands which should be done automatically. The commanding staff seems to be inept as well, as they would not teach from lessons in Afghanistan, so the Muslim partisans may simply repeat the old tricks again. The commanders invent the plan that the patrol force on the checkpoint should first lure "enough" insurgents, then the recovery force will come to help. This plan fails in the most predictable way possible: Two insurgents with one Stinger will down one of the two Hinds that should cover the recovery force tank column. Then the group of old insurgents blow the car filled with explosives so they block the only way for tanks that might help the stranded soldiers. The command staff seems to be surprised and seems not to have any plan "B"! So the guys on the checkpoint are destined to die heroically at that point. They then decide to use their armor force (four BMPs) in the most silly way imaginable - they will let them run into the partisans equipped with LAWs so they lose all of them in a few minutes! The checkpoint is lost then an the only solution for the Russian army is to basically level it with heavy artillery. Fortunately some of the heroes will survive so "heavily paid victory" is here for celebration as it is usual in every bad Russian war movie.
But come on - I can accept such lame military actions in WWII movies, because Russians really lost about 10 men for every single German. But who could possibly celebrate such losses today, especially in the army that was supposed to threaten even NATO? I mean, come on - modern army must be able to kick asses of lightly armed partisans in known positions easily. Why the artillery fire had not been directed to the advancing lines of enemy? (This is super old tactics mastered already in WWI!) Why there was no alternative plan what will happen if the single route to the checkpoint is blocked? Why the guys on checkpoint had not used their armor as "the mobile bunkers" to strengthen the defenses? Why the Hinds had no IR decoys against so old anti air missiles? Why the soldiers do behave as there would be no discipline whatsoever? Have the authors considered how lame the Russian army looks in the movie? The only guy who seem to be professional soldier there was the Chechen collaborator. You know one can understand movies like 9th Batallion which do happen in war already lost where such tactics were new and unexpected, but here and now it seems silly to use the same "twists". The Russians had great difficulty to stop lightly equipped partisans even with the help of tanks, artillery and helicopters. I really had the bad feeling that if these terrorists somehow managed to get a single tank then nothing would stop them from conquering the Moscow.
Seriously, Russian filmmakers should just drop these 50 years old tricks from Soviet Union, crazy nationalism, "down to regular village folks" approach and the idea that "suffering for the country is a sign of heroism". It is not. The movie is sad, ideologically outdated and one feels sorry for these naive poor soldiers that are driven not by reason but only by emotion. What about making movie about some modern military operation that is prepared by capable planners and professional soldiers? I think it would not hurt the image of Russia even without plenty of self sacrificing soldiers...
GUILTY PLEASURE
richkiel28 September 2021
This TV movie is part action film, part drama. It is consistently slightly cheesy, but it's lots of fun. Action scenes are mixed with flashbacks that provide background for the protagonists, and through these brief flashbacks we learn more and more about these people and their relationships. It all fits together very well, and I admit I find it quite enjoyable. The characters are likeable, the action scenes are good, the suspense is well maintained throughout the film, and the film never becomes boring, even for a brief moment.
'Overrated' would be understated
best8312 April 2008
Warning: Spoilers
The movie starts quite well, giving a sad, darken atmosphere when the separatists attack the "Ded Moroz-fair" trying to set the start for a typically "one man with nothing to loose"-concept, but the rest is just awful. The cuts seem to be random, a leitmotif doesn't really exists and the dialogs could be from a discounted "ACME: Simple War Dialogs -Iss.1" (1,99$). Some scenes as the "we-are-standing-around-just-two-shoot- dead-on-exposed-position-and-stating-that -there-must be-a-sniper--scene" or the "happy-recruits-dancing-to simple-techno-music-next-to-the-trench-scene" are more than just stupid. "less realism, maximum patriotism" should be the expression of choice for this movie. (even every chechnyan looks like to have spent more time in the gym than elsewhere) If you liked the film "Target (2004)" and its "realsitic and enthralling story", then you gonna love "War Fighter"
Avoid the 2-hour version "War Fighter"
pruepp21 September 2009
Not having seen the full-length miniseries I can not comment on the merits of the original version, but the 2-hour version sold under the title "War Fighter" on DVD is really not worth the money you might spend on it... even if it's sold out of the bargain bin...
The biggest flaw is the random editing - e.g. people who are in one place one second, all of a sudden show up in a completely different place the next moment; many scenes are non-coherent, with a little side-storyline being set up, then abandoned immediately.
Assuming that the acting and FX do not miraculously improve in the miniseries version, the characters' motivations do not make a lot more sense (Why do the "bad guys" stand cheering in a line to be gunned down by machine gun fire at one point of the movie?) and the mysterious lone soldier (Shah) continues to do a poor people's Steven Seagal-impersonation (wooden acting and spouting pseudo-philosophical platitudes), I think I'll pass on the long version.
The biggest flaw is the random editing - e.g. people who are in one place one second, all of a sudden show up in a completely different place the next moment; many scenes are non-coherent, with a little side-storyline being set up, then abandoned immediately.
Assuming that the acting and FX do not miraculously improve in the miniseries version, the characters' motivations do not make a lot more sense (Why do the "bad guys" stand cheering in a line to be gunned down by machine gun fire at one point of the movie?) and the mysterious lone soldier (Shah) continues to do a poor people's Steven Seagal-impersonation (wooden acting and spouting pseudo-philosophical platitudes), I think I'll pass on the long version.
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