Utomlennye solntsem 2: Tsitadel

After the massive disappointment of the second installment, Mikhalkov manages to give a decent conclusion for his ill-conceived project; still miles away from the engaging original but still more coherent than the previous one.

I'm quite sure that the overwhelming negative response to Predstoyanie's bizarre mixture of naturalism, pathos, slapstick and religious overtones forced some changes in the editing of Tsitadel and the film it's all the better for it.

In the end, I remain most intrigued by this strange, monumental movie, a Heaven's Gate-like fiasco that nevertheless has some memorable passages. In fact, I will certainly check Mikhalkov's longer cut (intended as TV series) when it gets available.

As for the mighty Nikita Mikhalkov, maybe he failed, but his body of work remains outstanding nevertheless!

Nikita has gone insane, and someone should have had the guts to tell him this was pure rubbish. Everything about this film is fake and indulgent. It annoys the audience and delivers nothing in terms of emotional or intellectual gratification. Those of us who enjoyed the original film are baffled. There is simply no story here, and nothing worth watching. I don't care for these characters, and I can't take anything in this film seriously.

The film is great, great special effects not so much the relationship of people on the screen. Continue and complete its series of three films, Mikhalkov is taking another step towards success, it is incredibly beautiful ending epic. I liked this movie, I thought, without any I put him to the highest score. I know that many claims there are those who, frankly, the movie did not like or simply ugly. Therefore I want to remind these esteemed ladies and gentlemen of the fact that each film is designed for its audience and if you want to see a replay of the foreign action-movie with lots of explosions and "the main words," that before his death, said one of the key characters, I have to disappoint you - this you will not see here. Everything you see here - it's a great game actors attached to each frame of film and the incredible interest in the developments taking place in the picture. Incredible to those who have lost faith in the national cinema, and himself without realizing it, bowing to a greater extent, to foreign cinema. I think it's never too late to admit to himself in this "love." Also like to remind everyone that this film is not historical, but based on the actions of the war, so do not look for it the historical realities, even though a large part horrific and seemingly impossible realities of war in its present.

It is worth noting that, without doubt, Mikhalkov as a director and as an actor, I think it got rather big experience. I will not try to assume how much time was spent shooting, but I will say that every shot, every scene has been perfected to the smallest detail, worked out at the highest level. Frankly, I do not expect such a plot twist that was in the movie and it surprised me that on the right only to me a pleasant feeling. I thank you for this wonderful Mikhalkov's epic! I watched the film with his father and cousin. They both liked it too, and my dad, after watching, I said a very wise phrase: "If you like the movie very much, then you should not pay attention to minor rankings." And, you know, I am now myself so I think that the rating is not important, more importantly, how you took this movie.

I loved the previous film of the trilogy, but not this one. Not film making speaking, butthe story itself. The fortress attack is laughable in the negative way. And this mine filed, where mines are not even undergroud but put down on the grass....Once more, as in so many Russian war movies, german soldiers are shown as idiots. Oh my God,keep away fromit.

I don't understand why Mikhalkov's own people are being so unfair with this "celovekh". They want to smash not only his fingers but also his lifetime work which is impossible.

This final chapter is brilliant. All the pieces are put together by a master painter. The light in the dacha contrasting with the light in the same "dacha" from the first movie, the torment suffered by the characters, the joy and the sadness of the people touched or mutilated by the war and finally the immense Russian light blue sky...all contribute to an amazing picture.

I don't judge this movie historically even if I have read over a hundred books about the terrible war on the Eastern Front. I love the very soul of this movie. Mikhalkov does not created another sequel, he managed to create another movie which cannot be measured in IMDb stars...

So ignore the rating and enjoy the ride...on the back of Kotov's horse.