volod Reviews

Welcome to Wrexham (2022– )

Fastastic show!

[10/10 · 16 September 2022]

To put it short: Ted Lasso, but a documentary - and starring Ryan Reynolds! (yeah, and that guy from TV)

It's summed in the first episode - 'a Canadian and an American buy one of the oldest football clubs in Britain', a Welsh one at that... and the idea behind it is to make life of all people in Wrexham town a bit brighter. Will they succeed? - at some level, they already have. But I can not wait to see this story through.

Hilariously funny at times, a bit of pathos here and there, human stories and emotions a plenty, very nicely shot and edited - and it is my firm belief it would appeal to both sides of the pond. Heartily recommended.

The Wheel of Time (2021– )

Awful. Cringe.

[2/10 · 19 November 2021]

Never read these books, so came to view with a clean sheet. Couldn't muster to go through first episode. It's simply... bad.

Costumes are bad (every shot looks like 'Three hipsters order a cabbage smoothie'). Acting is wooden. CGI (especially in the 'Fight' or 'Monsters' parts) is from 2000s and laughable. It actually has a potential for a cult trash classic - but nothing else. Forewarned is forearmed, and watch at your own risk.

Black Widow (2021)

Just... bad.

[2/10 · 17 July 2021]

Non-action. Non-smart. Just... generic 'girls-power' flick with horrid acting (aside from few cases), common in 2021, but it's not cinema. Don't waste your time.

Galavant (2015–2016)

Pieces of the fourth wall

[9/10 · 8 June 2016]

It's a flying circus meeting Plebs. Hilarious show which HAS to be renewed - because of the hurricane, not a whiff, of fresh air it brings to TV scene.

Basically, toying with a viewer in some medieval scenery is not new - think of a 'Knight's Tale' meeting Monty Python. Galavant touches the familiar strings, constantly breaking the fourth wall, and doing it so lightly and positively it always leaves you smiling after a short, but intense episode.

It'd be a shame if this one's canned after just to hilariously fun seasons.

Plebs (2013–2019)

Went OK to worse

[8/10 · 22 September 2014]

While first season was OK, first two episodes of the second season were as bad as one can imagine.

Don't change the narrator. Don't change the tone. It was fun with all the postmodern jokes first season; now it's just plain dumb. Shut it down for the sake of the effort two years ago.

I'd rarely enjoy one season wonder. This was no wonder, but one can enjoy the humour of the first year. Afterwards it's just broke in all possible places.

There're some comedy shows running for years. Heck, one can treat Doctor Who as one;

• plebs has just gone out.

Hard to Be a God (2013)

This isn't Earth. It's another planet.

[10/10 · 3 March 2014]

The movie starts with the quotation above, and that's probably worth remembering throughout its lengthy 3 hours run. Despite the description, 'imagine the Dark Ages where no Renaissance has come' from Strugatsky book which was the inspiration for the movie, it's not quite so. IT IS another planet. Dark Ages, Middle Ages were portrayed times and again, and when you see castles, mud, horseshit - it's all clear and understandable.

Not here. For at least a third of the film I had trouble to grasp what's going on, be it on first plan or backstage... it was captivating, with truly amazing, remarkable stage set, but... alien, of sorts. Hard to get what's inside these people heads, what are they doing. It forces you to put the tiny little grey cells to work - and it's great.

The picture is top-notch. It strangely reminded of graphic novels like Sin City and 300 - you can print the frame out and use it as a wallpaper. Black and white in this case, sure, but deep and artistic nonetheless.

Stunning performance from Leonid Yarmolnik as Rumata, his best role hands down in his long career. He's known mostly as a comedy actor, but here shines as a dramatic, almost tragic figure.

Great movie, and NOT an art house gem. Having said all that, I would NOT recommend it to any person: you have to decide to go through the catharsis by yourself, and that's the only way you'll get through it.

Rake (2014)

Pathetic attempt to remake Aussie gem

[1/10 · 31 January 2014]

...and I live in the northern hemisphere. The original is simply brilliant, filled with compelling performance and thought-through narrative; this ones takes wide strokes... as a child, trying to copy a masterpiece.

I like the cast, by the way! - Kinnear, the girl from late seasons of Boston Legal... but the acting and perverted script taking most flashy points, yet failing to grasp the major scheme. Rake (US) is still-born.

I honestly hope that this one will die out after season one. As it should.

Avoid. And YES, see the original Rake.

Vinnie Jones: Russia's Toughest (2013– )

Good camera work and not much else

[4/10 · 30 October 2013]

Being Russian myself, I could pretty easily estimate amount of 'cheesy' factor in that documentary. All in all - while the picture of actual WORK or its environment might be OK, the narrative and the tone of the story told is way off reality. The translation (both to and from Russian) is mediocre at best; I wonder how much of the faults of this flick are because of poor interpreter's work.

It's not too far from standard 'bears-balalaika-sputnik' cliché. Pity. If you want more accurate picture of what Russia actually is (and how tough it might get at times), I _highly_ recommend another documentary called Long Way Round (2004) with brilliant Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman.

Happy People: A Year in the Taiga (2010)

Honest life of honest people

[10/10 · 9 January 2013]

Saw this one a couple of years ago and was really stunned with the quality of this documentary.

Movie crew lived through a year in Bakhta, small simple village of huntsmen and fishermen in Siberia, and they have done an amazing job of showing how simple life, hard (you bet) labour and everlasting circle of life make people... pure. Happy.

There's not a hint of falseness, no pathos, no complaints. And that's probably what got to me the most: perfect documentary, no opinion imposed, just showing this life 'as is' - and the clarity of it strikes you, urban people, deep to the core.

Must see, really.

God Bless America (2011)

Too long, overrated, if not pretentious

[6/10 · 3 July 2012]

'We are bad'. Americans like to say that, and the funny thing is that the message is often a product (and a result) of the same culture it tries to defy.

As for a movie - it has it moments, really; and Tara Lynne Barr is nice to look at, but come on: the whole movie is too straight-forward and states _the one and only_ message through 105 minutes. I need something more to chew on for such a period of time; that's why, say, 'Fight Club' is great, while 'God Bless America' is not.

If it would just keep up with the pace of first couple of minutes... alas.

Source Code (2011)

Rather predictable, but still surprisingly good!

[8/10 · 4 August 2011]

It's not a high sci-fi, it's not a thriller, more of a drama, actually.

Like most people, I liked Jake Gyllenhaal from Donnie Darko and I've been following his career (as well as his talented sister's) since. Well, it's definitely way better than Prince of Persia blockbuster, I'd tell you.

The thing is, that despite quite predictable twists and turns of the plot and some pieces of bad acting (Michelle Monaghan was plain dull), there's a good camera work with carefully selected angles and lighting, JG and, of course, Vera Farmiga do their best and create great characters, music is OK and... all in all, it just leaves the right aftertaste.

Good flick, most probably because it is not grim. It was easy to go either to heroic stupidity of most Tom Cruise' movies or dark thriller like Pandorum. 'Source Code' stayed on the edge, balancing - and it was very good.

And no, don't you dare to spoil it with a sequel.

The Green Hornet (2011)

Dull popcorn flick with bits of brilliance

[5/10 · 8 April 2011]

Revival of superheroes goes on: from Scott Pilgrim to Green Hornet, and don't forget Marvel... some flicks are good (like Iron Man), some are terrible despite good actors involved (Edward Norton as Hulk, brrr).

This particular movie falls closer to second category: Seth Rogen just can't act, playing the same tune on and on, scenario is border to banality, if not stupidity, action scenes are dull and shot from strange angles.

However, there're bright sides as well: first and foremost, Christoph Waltz is brilliant yet again, his purring voice and acting is perfect (despite the fact he spells Chudnofsky's name incorrectly, heh), and his character is hilariously funny at the times.

Cameron Diaz is OK, but there wasn't much to play. This moves us to Kato's character played by Jay Chou. He struggles playing the character written by idiots, but is cool alright. Could use more polish, but I'd watch his next action movie.

Anyway, one-time popcorn flick - and bring a six-pack, otherwise just avoid it.

The Devil Wears Prada (2006)

Pretty good adaptation of pretty lousy book

[8/10 · 23 November 2008]

Yeah, I know - I'am a guy who actually read the book - fat lazy Russian who's even further from the fashion world than Anne Hathaway's character at the beginning. The only excuse - it was my wife's, and it was dull.

But as for the film - it has one thing book haven't got, one and only Miranda - Meryl Streep. Her performance boosts this otherwise walk- through movie from 5 to 8 stars in my opinion. If you want a flick on fashion - go see Altman's "Prêt-à-Porter", which is brilliant, actually. But if you want to see the Dragon Lady herself - look nowhere else. She's just like Al Pacino in "Devil's Advocate" - charismatic, stylish and... complete.

Iron Man (2008)

Raw fun

[9/10 · 8 September 2008]

Taking baby steps on my fourth decade of life I'm no longer a comic kid or comic adaptation fun - yeah, Sin City has it's moments, two latest Batman titles are OK in whole (with some drawbacks - and some sparks like Ledger, God rest his soul), but none of these films got at least 4 out of 5 on my scale.

Beautifully mastered by director and camera-men, it shines. Robert Downey Jr. and Ms. Paltrow are so much in place and their acting (with a lot of humorous touches) is great. Jeff Bridges looks cool despite shaved head and pepper'n'salt beard. And all in all, it's a bright story which you can safely let your kid watch, not worrying about excess of violence pouring from the screen. This movie, somehow, is not about action for me - it's like, as I said, raw fun.

Definitely recommended even if you got your degree already.

Daun Haus (2001)

Maybe the best making of 'Idiot'

[9/10 · 17 May 2007]

Being a big fan of Dostoyevsky, I'm very picky on any attempts to represent any of his writings, whether on stage or screen. Anyway, I've seen four movies based on 'Idiot'. First one is classical Soviet with Yakovlev as Count Myshkin, second - Russian TV series of early 2000s, starring E. Mironov, third - Akira Kurosawa's view. Last, but not the least - 'Down House'.

Funny thing is, this movie contains more of Dostoyevsky' spirit than any other. It's fun, it's more like 'Fear and Loathing' or 'Acid House', - but still it has an 'Idiot' inside. Great acting (don't expect any Hollywood style), hilarious plot twists and the very feeling of success transferring XIX century book to XXI century reality...