Kahpe Bizans

Kahpe Bizans is the second film of the director Gani Müjde. It is basically a 'ZAZ team' type movie. It makes fun of the old Turkish films about national heroes like Karaoglan. And it simply excels in this. Good acting, lots of ingenuously written dialogues, best editing since the Eskiya and tons of clever jokes make Kahpe Bizans another milestone in Turkish film industry. I said another because Gani Müjde's other film Arabesk was also a masterpiece of the same kind. So I recommend you Kahpe Bizans as a good example of Turkish humor.

Kahpe Bizans tells us the story of Yetis Bey(Cem Davran)and his struggle with Byzantian Emperor(Illetyus)in a humorous way. Illetyus dreams of his death and he is also told that a baby boy who is born will be killing him at the same day he wakes up from his dream. Illetyus orders his army to kill all baby boys born within a few days. At the same time, in another place in Anatolia, Super Gazi tells his wife to hide his children to a safe place to protect them from Emperor Illetyus' soldiers. She puts her baby in a basket and lets it flow with the river's water nearby. However, nobody nows the consequences of what is going to happen in the future in the palace. It has been promoted like a Hollywood movie in Turkey at the time with its trailer and famous ensemble. I felt so worried to miss the films premier as I had to move to the UK because that meant I wouldn't be able to see it in cinemas. Well, after watching it later on DVD, I must say I didn't miss much. It is not hilarious like it seemed in the trailer. Jokes are out-dated, actors are not matching perfectly together and scenario is messy. At some point it looks like a comedy soup. But salt and pepper is missing to make it tasty. Well, thats the expectation, isn't it? ** out of *****

Another bomb of laughter from the director Gani Mujde - a black comedy in the style of Hot Shots. Kahpe Bizans is full of ironic references to old Turkish films. The dialogues are clever and good examples of Turkish humour, but they will sound "Greek" to those who arent Turk. Why Turkish directors cannot overcome "locality"? Think of Asterix and Obelix versus Sezar: it is French, but still has something to say to all. Anyway if you have time to waste laughing continously, I recommend you Kahpe Bizans. 5/10.

It is an absurd comedy of Turkish history. It is written very clevery. For foreigners , it can be hard to understand some of the inside jokes about turkish culture. But I think lots of people loves this movie and watched it many times. I hope rating of it gets higher .

I thank god I didn't go to cinema for this film. I would be very sorry for the money I gave. I saw it on tv and I couldn't beleive my eyes. I wonder if any film could be worse than this one. they spent millions of dollars to this film for nothing. awful acting and awful scenario. I think the other people who wrote comments are the man working from that film company ;) it's very big fiasco! in year 2000 can they still laugh at this kind of film? embarassing...