Ostrov Sokrovishch

Most of us are familiar with American animation and Japanese animation. There's still something to be said for Russian animation which most people know little about, including myself. It was just great to see something so bright and colorful from a foreign country not known for cartoons! I managed to watch a subtitled version of this. This is mostly a retelling of "Treasure Island". I've seen most versions and even read the original book. While it's technically less faithful than other versions, I really do think this is the best movie adaptation ever! It's mostly because of how beautiful the animation is.

Every country really does have their own unique animation style. This stood out as being wonderfully cartoonish. This was released the same year as "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" and it features animation and live-action! It's only briefly near the beginning that they're both on screen at the same time. The live-action bits are mostly just sprinkled throughout the film as short segments. It doesn't make them any less good! I thought that these actors were wearing masks because their makeup seemed too goofy to be real. Now that shows dedication! There's tons of great comedy in this version too.

The funniest bit might be when the one guy breaks the wall of the house down. We get to see all the classic characters just the way they should be represented. This is probably the most awesome version of Jim Hawkins I've ever seen. It's great how he's such a strong fighter in this. While the movie is still very goofy, Long John Silver is as good as ever. I just love the strong voices (the original Russian version) used and how they suit the characters so well. There's so much movement going on too. Please try to check out this great under-appreciated film! It should be on the Top 250 as it has over a thousand votes. ***1/2

This picture uses animation mixed with several video clips featuring live actors. "Ostrov" is a spectacular and unique piece of animation, using progressive imagery and comics-like style. Movie is packed with intense music and is half-parody/comedy, half-screening of the R.L. Stevenson's "Treasure Island", also with parts of musical. It's also completely unforgettable thanks to voices of Armen Dzhigarkhanyan and Viktor Andriyenko. If you know Russian, you got to see this movie to know the mock style of it, because you can't see anything similar to "Ostrov" anywhere. If you are Russian and haven't seen it, I only wonder. 10/10

This is very good full length animation movie. Action, music, humor, and so on and so forth. It will be interesting as for young people (5-7 years), and also for older ones ( 20+ ). I had seen it first time in 1988, and still it's one of my favorites. I suppose, "Treasure Island" was never filmed in such unforgettable manner. Characters, jokes, songs had become classical in Russia and former Soviet Union. Voices of characters are Armen Gigarhanian, Yury Yakovlev, V. Andrienko, Victor Kostetskiy ..

Don't miss it, especially if you know Russian language or interested in Russia culture.

To avoid repeating the previous reviewer's, I will tell you my personal story about this movie. In the final song there is a verse line that goes like : "that's why the spectator loves this wonderful genre, our soul healer and balm for wounds". When I watched this movie at 15, although it became one of my favourite cartoons, I considered this line too pretentious. Because I treated this movie as low genre: all kind of fights, an unstopping succession of gags, known however to every schoolboy, hilarious music, lot's of humour and parody... Now it happened so, that I'm a 37 years old man have re-watched it, and, oh, really, it acted on me really like "balm for wounds". I watched the first scenes with bitter scepticism, but, very soon I discovered that I can not stop. What's the secret of this movie ? Don't know. But what I can say for sure, there is no another such movie. 10 of 10.

I was immediately impressed with the drawings. Talented artists gave a certain style to the Pirates, people, & animals that catches your eye & holds your attention. Very cool, fresh, & modern! But unfortunately the brilliant animation is wasted with poor dialog & a dull story. I could almost watch this with the sound off because the characters are so funny looking! The problem is there's so much dumb stuff that isn't funny. For example the main Pirate can't say one sentence without sneezing these ridiculous sneezes that blow people up in the air, turning somersaults, & flying across the room. He keeps sneezing & blowing holes in walls & it's just not funny. It's annoying to hear him keep interrupting himself with the same dumb sneezing routine. It got old fast. This could've been a 10 with a better story.