Taras Bulba

this is a good and hard movie for humans who know Russian history.5.5 is the IQ of the stupid who don't know noting.you must read to know something .if this movie is made by Americans his note will be 10,but is not,is made by Russian.i read the novel and all Russian history and this movie is an great example for the MAN who don't know nothing.the main character is the example of old school hero and patriot not some pussy whit a gun,a father and men .the Russian history is made whit blood and steal not oil wars.my apologize if i was to rude but not all the great movies are made by Americans.i am from Romania and we to make great movie like:MICHAEL THE BRAVE,VLAD THE IMPAILER,MIRCEA,OSANDA

I mostly agree with comments posted previously by other viewers, about the permanent propaganda-style used in longish and unrealistic patriotic speeches. I translated the movie into French and English subtitles to add on divx (they will be available soon on OS) and I got quickly bored by the seeming repetitiveness of several speeches. Beingmarried to a Ukrainian lady, I'm also very much aware that Bortko had to kinda "steal" the true story and replace it by Russian propaganda. Just have a look at who's at the steering wheel in Russia, now ! My feeling is that this movie was sponsored by Russian public funds for the "nashy" and their followers.

.... And I guess that's the problem. Unabashed patriotism is OK for some, not for others. The Zaporozhians' battles in defence of Orthodoxy, when it was being attacked on two fronts, is a story that must not be forgotten. The film is impressive in its historical detail, costumes, etc.... the music (and some of the acting) is a little melodramatic, but I think it's a fitting thing for a rousing film. The scene of cossacks writing a letter to the Ottoman Sultan (an actual event from 1675) is reminiscent of the famous Repin painting depicting it. A grittier, less glam/swashbuckling version than the Yul Brynner classic, but that's what this story needs. It will never get wide theatrical release in North America because it is too honest, and not politically correct enough. Who cares. It's in my video collection, and it is becoming a favourite quickly.

Unfortunately, this version of the great classic does not do it great justice. Bohdan Stupka's great performance does not elicit much response in either Vladimir Vdovichenkov as the brave Ostap or Igor Petrenko as the tragically star-struck Andrii. Partly, this looks like a poor script as the lines follow just too closely the original text of Gogol. Partly, this goes to the director's focus which was far more on the settings than dialogues, except when delivering propaganda one-liners a la Eisenstein or Dovzhenko.

Overall, this version of Taras Bulba seems just too much of an agitprop forthe new Cossack village creed of militant Russian patriotism and pride in martial traditions of the legendary steppe marauders which finds its natural outlet in heavy drinking and voting loyalty to Yedinaya Rossija.

Bogdan Stupka. in fight to create a credible Taras. a literary gem. who becomes a political tool. that is all. the film has a lot of sins but the basic problem is the ambition to create a Hollywood blockbuster as support for the Kremlin 's interest. the fragile beauty of the book is lost. the Kozaks becomes Russian puppets. the Pole society is victim of a Manicheism who not convince and not impress. the entire story becomes an aggressive political speech. sure, many historical films from the East Europe are illustrations of the same recipes. but under the Communism regime. and the delicate problem is to transform Ukraine in a part of Russia, to use special effects for ignore the senses of book, to destroy a noble idea for a not real decent result. short, a Russian story. full of nationalism. and not convincing . useful for a kind of public . and not more that.