iljavenissov Reviews

The Sixth Secret (2022)

WHO IS KILLING WHO?

[9/10 · 17 May 2022]

The story was very twisted and complicated and you really need to concentrate to keep up with the twists and turns of it. Nice actors and overall atmosphere. I think it was meant to be comedy first, because there are some hilarious moments, but also good jump scares.

Melchior: The Apothecary (2022)

So-so yarn with no surprises

[4/10 · 27 April 2022]

You get what you get in first 10 minutes or so; from then on it's just mediaeval locations and some lukewarm attempts at excitement or comedy. The story never really goes anywhere and doesn't involve the viewer. I found myself thinking other stuff during the screening.

The Vampire and the Ballerina (1960)

Vampire musical a notch above others.

[9/10 · 29 September 2021]

Renato Polselli tried similar formula of gothic lore mixed with sexy female dancers and somewhat silly musical showstoppers in Il mostro dell' opera a couple of years later. I like them both; the films have a great moody atmosphere and are well shot and even scripted. The actresses, goes without saying, are gorgeous and the sex factor is high. These early films make one wonder, why Polselli isn't up there in the par with the likes of Bava; but then some of his later work is really sloppy and that's probably the reason why. This one is definitely a very enjoyable piece of period horror, especially if you like modernist dance moves and beatnik music (don't be fooled, there's no classical ballet in this one).

The Black Pit of Dr. M (1959)

Keeps you watching sure enough

[8/10 · 29 September 2021]

Whenever you think the film doesn't really go anywhere, it manages to introduce something worth while and maintain the viewer's interest. There's a slimy love story that tends to play out very corny, but other than that it's quite captivating.

The Baader Meinhof Complex (2008)

Strong production

[9/10 · 18 September 2021]

This film is worthy of a higher score than it has, but it is a complex viewing experience and therefore probably difficult for some viewers to absorb. If you give it a chance, you won't regret it.

Young Goethe in Love (2010)

Nicely done

[8/10 · 18 September 2021]

It's well made but you can see it's made for a contemporary viewer and thus lacks the kind of historical reality atmoshphere you find in some productions. But still worth a watch.

Babylon Berlin (2017– )

Quite good

[8/10 · 18 September 2021]

It is well done, but there are strange musical numbers and some actors that don't seem to fit the era at all. Otherwise very exciting viewing.

Silenceless (2021)

Needs your full attention

[9/10 · 18 September 2021]

This is a very intersting film, because it is constructed in a very different way than the viewer would think. It's visually gorgeous and has this amazingly beautiful actress, but behind that glamorous facade there's a much deeper point which is rather difficult to discover if you don't watch the film very carefully.

The Kennedy Incident (2021)

Unbearably romantic

[8/10 · 20 February 2021]

This one is mostly a chick-flick, perfect as a Christmas or Valentine's Day tear-jerker. I was hoping to get more action, spies and bullets, but its above all a portrait of two young women, a prostitute and a spy, and Kennedy is a passing character in their lives, affecting them both. Beautiful girls and lush settings.

Eerie Fairy Tales (2019)

Anthology of mild horror and interesting stories in vintage key.

[10/10 · 2 December 2019]

It reminded me of classic anthologies like Alfred Hitchcock presents. Its an homage to the genre films but I think it also has a modern aspect. Its not really horror but there are some creepy moments. Overall it works quite well and is entertaining. Gothic dark atmosphere.

Night Swallows (2013)

Night Swallows

[4 February 2019]

"Night Witches" was a World War II German nickname for the female military aviators of the 588th Night Bomber Regiment, known later as the 46th "Taman" Guards Night Bomber Aviation Regiment, of the Soviet Air Forces. Though women were initially barred from combat, Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin issued an order on October 8, 1941 to deploy three women's air force units, including the 588th regiment. The regiment, formed by Major Marina Raskova and led by Major Yevdokiya Bershanskaya, was made up primarily of female volunteers in their late teens and early twenties. In this series, we try to see the war and the dangerous missions through the eyes of these women, who are forced to fight the war they hate. A very strong cast helps this series to become a classic.

Seventeen Moments of Spring (1973)

Probably the best Soviet war series

[10/10 · 4 February 2019]

Probably the best Soviet war series, it was the first to show the Germans as ordinary people leaving ordinary lives. Before that we had Nazis only as animals, killing and destroying. This time the result is very intelligent and shows a lot of empathy even when dealing with the enemy. True classic, that never grows old and can be viewed over and over again.

The Dawns Here Are Quiet... (2015)

War on personal level

[10/10 · 4 February 2019]

Very good remake of old classic Soviet film. This is very humane and shows women drawn into war, who just want to live normal lives. You fell the horrors of war on a personal level and so the war feels even more horrible than in the big action movies, with large mass scenes and special effects. Here there are just women trying to fight for their country and survive. Very beautiful actresses.

Madame K (2018– )

Russian viewer's thoughts

[10/10 · 4 February 2019]

This serial explains much about history. But you also need to know history. It's very anti communist, but you are wrong if you think it's anti Russian. There are several Russian characters in film, who suffer from communism and hate socialist regime. Stalin killed millions and millions Soviet citizens and you were still obliged to love him and the party. Then when the war begins, you're in between these tyrants, so you either have to love Hitler or love Stalin, even when you hate them both and want to be left in peace. I think more people in Russia should see this, because we were taught history differently in school and we think that small countries around us are very mean to us. We have countless films about nazi army occupying countries, but Soviet army did the same thing in Poland, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and other places. History can be very painful to accept, but this serial is very humane and you can feel empathy for most characters, regardless of their nation.