Uneven, clunky, copnfusing and occasionally vivid and startling.
This film is finally available in restored form and that's the version I'm reviewing. I've not seen the original release which was recut and revoiced, though I sense that version may be better in some ways. An impressive production that's not particularly interesting as far as the way it's directed.
The original version feels very long and often makes very little sense, characters come and go and it's hard to keep track amid the many beautiful travelogue footage of a mythically perfect Russia--no doubt a selling point and reason the film was made by the Communist Government of the time.
The pacing is ponderous and also features slow fade to blacks, on that level it's all pretty primitive filmmaking even for when it was made. Acting is all shouting and posing though broken up by many songs. The male charcters pose and yell like Soviet heroes but interesting most of the women's roles are mostly songs.
All this being said, the photograhy is mostly beautiful and though the special effects are uneven there are some well done painted shots that you can't really tell if they are real or painted. Big heavy costumes must slow the actors movements too. Optical effects are mostly excellent after a weak opening sceen involving a giant.
Some startling images and impressive scope of ships and forces mostly come later in the film, as does the one giant monster in the film. So if you come only for those elements you might as well start watching 20 minutes before the ending.
This is a story that could./would make more sense if you already know Russian folk tales and yes, it's epic is size, but few scenes feature lots of creatures or fantasy elements.
There are some vivid moments and images, a few recall Kurosawa who was a major international influence on films of the time, though could just be coincidence. Frankly this needed a better filmmaker and much better script to really hold together.
This film is finally available in restored form and that's the version I'm reviewing. I've not seen the original release which was recut and revoiced, though I sense that version may be better in some ways. An impressive production that's not particularly interesting as far as the way it's directed.
The original version feels very long and often makes very little sense, characters come and go and it's hard to keep track amid the many beautiful travelogue footage of a mythically perfect Russia--no doubt a selling point and reason the film was made by the Communist Government of the time.
The pacing is ponderous and also features slow fade to blacks, on that level it's all pretty primitive filmmaking even for when it was made. Acting is all shouting and posing though broken up by many songs. The male charcters pose and yell like Soviet heroes but interesting most of the women's roles are mostly songs.
All this being said, the photograhy is mostly beautiful and though the special effects are uneven there are some well done painted shots that you can't really tell if they are real or painted. Big heavy costumes must slow the actors movements too. Optical effects are mostly excellent after a weak opening sceen involving a giant.
Some startling images and impressive scope of ships and forces mostly come later in the film, as does the one giant monster in the film. So if you come only for those elements you might as well start watching 20 minutes before the ending.
This is a story that could./would make more sense if you already know Russian folk tales and yes, it's epic is size, but few scenes feature lots of creatures or fantasy elements.
There are some vivid moments and images, a few recall Kurosawa who was a major international influence on films of the time, though could just be coincidence. Frankly this needed a better filmmaker and much better script to really hold together.