The World Champion

This is one of the few great chess game films that also gives a good outlook on what the soviet society was doing to people's behaviour. This movie is slow, smart and very, very intelligent. I really enjoyed it, but you have to be very patient and attentive to appreciate it.

One thing I found inappropriate was the disturbances created by Karpov opponent to affect Karpov's sleep which did not make much sense. Other than that, I think the plot was interesting enough to keep me interested for the entire 2 hours and 24 minutes.

Whoever likes chess and psychology of complex characters will be interested by this movie. People who like action movies, just skip this one, it is too slow for action seekers.

Good sport biopic, much better than "moving up" and others SB for last years. Excellent game of Khabensky and very neat to real events. So, don't miss.

Among other films or TV series shot on the wave of increased interest in the topic of chess, I think this is quite a good option.

For knowledgeable people, this will be a curious artistic interpretation of history. As an amateur in this matter, it was just interesting for me to watch what was happening and get lost with delight in words like "endgame", "debut" or the visual thought process of chess players.

I also quite liked the presented entourage of the Soviet era. Interiors, clothes, this sincere patriotism and team spirit ... the only thing that really disappointed was the disclosure (or rather complete absence) of the character of Konstantin Khobensky, grandmaster Korchnoi. I think he was not necessarily a good person, but definitely an interesting and creative person. And in the film we see only an angry man on the verge of madness.

The main character has principles, life problems, accompanying experiences, and so on, and so on. I would like the same from the picture of the "villain".

In general, a good film to broaden your horizons.

A superb movie based-on a real chess event, one of the best made, if not the best, on the 1978 Baguio City World Chess Championship between Anatoly Karpov and Victor Korchnoi.

• (+) Wonderful acting by almost all the cast, especially the two rivals who shone unequivocally.

• (+) Very believable atmosphere throughout, being chess-wise or depicting emotions.

• (+) Very true to the real events, from minute one (introduction) up to the last.

• (+) Masterful depiction and development.

• (+) Great VFX combined with classic camera work.

• (+) Loved Anatoly's father (Evgeniy) and love interest (Veronika) acting. Brought tears to my eyes.

• Nothing negative to my eyes, besides wanting it to have a longer runtime, as in a series!

Recommended of course to all people. Chess lovers and not!

• Screenplay/story: 8.5
• Development: 9
• Realism: 9
• Entertainment: 9.5
• Acting: 9
• Filming/cinematography: 8.5
• Visual/special effects: 9
• Music/score: 9
• Depth: 9
• Logic: 8.5
• Flow: 9
• Drama: 9
• Ending/closure: 9.

Chess!

Went to the cinema with big doubts!

Even without that, it was always clear to me that any film relating to the era of the USSR is an anti-Soviet craft with plasticine heroes and a far-fetched plot. Fortunately, this time a completely different case, although, of course, it could not have done without anti-Sovietism. Quote: "If the KGB finds out that we met, you will be sent to the Gulag!".

Firstly, few people in the modern generation probably know, but the GULAG is the Main Directorate of Camps, you can get into the camp, and not into the administration, and secondly, they really laid eyes on Karpov after this meeting, but no more, his meeting with the American did not remain unnoticed. In general, the film does not create an unnecessarily negative image of the USSR and its leaders, which pleases.

The picture tells, as it should - about chess and everything connected with them.

Probably there have never been films in the world cinema that so vividly destroy the myth that chess is not a sport. Nerves heated to the limit, undercover fighting, mental influence and exhausting the enemy by any means, all for the sake of victory, in war all means are good.

Special thanks and respect to K. Khabensky, who, I think, played one of his brightest roles in his entire long career, Yankovsky is also cool!

The only downside to this movie, in my opinion, is the length of time.

And so super!