Okhota na Piranyu

It's not the best of films, nor the worst of films: interesting premise, but highly Hollywood-derivative. Still, the taiga is a unique setting and it was amusing to see talented dramatic actors take on action hero roles (Mashkov more successfully than Mironov, methinks).

From a woman's standpoint, the best part of the film is admiring Vladimir Mashkov's buff body, especially from the back. My, my---let's see more of it someday! I realized this film was going to be trash when I started watching it, but sometimes trash can be amusing. The violent scenes were a turnoff, but grudgingly necessary to the plot.

Overall, a B film. If you have nothing better to do, it's not a total waste of nearly two hours. In my opinion, Mashkov and Mironov should stick to better roles which highlight their tremendous dramatic talents (IMO, The Idiot, a Russian TV mini-series starring both of them, ranks as one of the finest films I have seen, ever.)

For the last decade or so, one of the main "topics" in Russian cinema was "Let's make a real blockbuster action movie! Our answer to Hollywood! " Obviously, whenever a filmmaker is concerned with "our answer to whatever" the final product will be a farmer's friend, but no one else's. We've seen a few decent wannabe-Tarantino / Takeshi Kitano style "action films" ( I still claim that Kitano's Brother and the Russian Brother have plenty in common besides the moniker) but their tries at something Lethal Weaponish fell flatter than the Turkish analogues.

Well... no more.

We finally got an excellent Russian action movie blockbuster. Which... is cool and all. More quality = more money = more quantity = more money = possibly more quality.

The plot... is an action movie plot. The brave commando veteran (his former commando unit was called "The Piranha" and that's the only explanation for the movie's title you're going to get) and a lovely bio-chemist are sent to neutralize some bio-weapons left in an abandoned (flooded) military research center near the Chinese border before the land on which said research center is built is ceded to the Chinese. Things go wrong and they find themselves amongst the unwilling participants in the latest "Most Dangerous Game" remake - Taiga edition.

Right...

On the positive side - the movie takes itself as non-seriously as possible without turning into an outright spoof. Quotes, homages and outright "tributes" abound - all delivered lightly and ironically. Mashkov, who was wasting his unshaven charisma in a whole host of pointless films plays a hero at least as well as classic Bruce Willis on a good day. Mironov already acknowledged that he was channeling Garry Oldman in Leon and IMO he tops that performance. Good use of the an energetic soundtrack. The camera moves in a way Tony Scott can only have wet dreams about (not necessarily a good thing) Amazing energy and drive all around - the film just picks you and never let's you go.

So... check it out if it comes your way. I honestly don't think you'll be disappointed.

The only reason for me to have a look at this one was the presence of a very beautiful song - "Field Flowers". It's somewhere in the second half of the flick (when Mazur has a ridiculous and absolutely unrealistic off-screen battle in the bar). Anything else is of a very doubtful quality.

The camera is jerky and soon becomes nauseating. The happenings are chaotic and downright stupid (some characters just leave or change their stance and the others treat it as OK, the killers touch obvious traps and waste the ammo, etc.). The bad guy talks too much and is not frightening enough (Mr Evgeniy Mironov is a fine actor and, most likely, a very good person, but a lousy villain. The running about in the forest reminds of much, much better action movies. The ending is too sweet and is made NOT in the Russian way. And, to crown it all, the ending song is embarrassing.

Really nothing much to write here but the presence of "Field Flowers" scene pays off quite well. In general, for a reliable action flick it's too inconsistent to enjoy. For a parable it's too shallow. Try it for that very song and vivid colours if you have to, though.

Only a 3 out of 10, and mostly for that wonderful song in the crazy context, but better go and re-watch "Predator", "Commando", "Hard Boiled", "Hitman" or "Die Hard" for much deeper emotions and much groovier characters. Thanks for attention.

Piranha. Russian Rambo. A very good film about survival in the Russian taiga. All the main actors did a great job and I would love to see a possible new Mazur story.

If you want to waste 2 hours of your life while sitting with a long face like me, waiting for some glimmer of something interesting or meaningful to happen while digesting appalling script and senseless and disgusting violence porn, asking yourself "why the hell am I watching this?", then watch this film. This is everything cinema should not be. A tragic example of when Russian film makers imitate the worst of western movies and computer games. "The Beach" and "Moscow Zero" are close, but this is even worse, if that's possible. This film is not something either the actors or the director will remember proudly, and they are actually not bad judging by their other work. The feeling this film gives you is like you've drank too much, been throwing up and have this sick and stupid feeling. Yuk.