Dmitriy Kiselev’s overlooked Russian thriller is an exciting and inspirational true account of the first walk in space by a Soviet cosmonaut — a mission that nearly became a tragedy. It’s almost as emotional an experience as Apollo 13 — the worthy cosmonauts demonstrate ‘the right stuff’ under much more trying conditions. The beautifully produced and splendidly acted show makes it seem a crime that foreign movies this good are routinely denied theatrical exhibition here. The Blu-ray comes with an excellent pair of featurettes, with the participation of the original spacewalker Alexey Leonov.
Spacewalker
Blu-ray
Capelight
2017 / Color / 2:35 widescreen / 137 min. / Vremya pervykh (The First Time); Spacewalker / Street Date January 19, 2021 / Available from Amazon / (pretty cheap)
Starring: Evgeniy Mironov, Konstantin Khabenskiy, Vladimir Ilin, Anatoliy Kotenyov, Aleksandra Ursulyak, Elena Panova, Aleksandr Novin, Gennadiy Smirnov, Yuriy Nifontov, Sergey Batalov.
Cinematography: Vladimir Bashta
Visuyal Effects supervisors: Kirill Kulakov, Sergei Nevshupov, Pavel Perepyolkin
Film Editors: Anton Anisimov,...
Spacewalker
Blu-ray
Capelight
2017 / Color / 2:35 widescreen / 137 min. / Vremya pervykh (The First Time); Spacewalker / Street Date January 19, 2021 / Available from Amazon / (pretty cheap)
Starring: Evgeniy Mironov, Konstantin Khabenskiy, Vladimir Ilin, Anatoliy Kotenyov, Aleksandra Ursulyak, Elena Panova, Aleksandr Novin, Gennadiy Smirnov, Yuriy Nifontov, Sergey Batalov.
Cinematography: Vladimir Bashta
Visuyal Effects supervisors: Kirill Kulakov, Sergei Nevshupov, Pavel Perepyolkin
Film Editors: Anton Anisimov,...
- 4/17/2021
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
Durban — With world leaders arriving in Johannesburg this week, with an aim toward boosting trade ties and stimulating the economies of the five member states at the annual Brics summit, delegations from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa gathered in Durban to highlight the countries’ cultural output at the 3rd annual Brics Film Festival.
Running parallel to the Durban Film Festival, the Brics festival opened Sunday night with a splashy ceremony featuring live performances and short films from each of the member states. At the Durban FilmMart on Monday, a delegation of filmmakers and cultural representatives from each nation gathered to look at how the festival – still in its infant stages – can set the groundwork for greater collaboration in the years ahead.
“We do have a lot more in common with Brics countries than we have with our brothers and sisters in other parts of the world,” said South African filmmaker Xoliswa Sithole,...
Running parallel to the Durban Film Festival, the Brics festival opened Sunday night with a splashy ceremony featuring live performances and short films from each of the member states. At the Durban FilmMart on Monday, a delegation of filmmakers and cultural representatives from each nation gathered to look at how the festival – still in its infant stages – can set the groundwork for greater collaboration in the years ahead.
“We do have a lot more in common with Brics countries than we have with our brothers and sisters in other parts of the world,” said South African filmmaker Xoliswa Sithole,...
- 7/24/2018
- by Christopher Vourlias
- Variety Film + TV
Despite unprecedented government support, the Russian historic space epic Time of the First, produced by Timur Bekmambetov, had a disappointing opening weekend at the country's box office.
According to data from the national movie theater reporting system Eais, the movie, directed by Dmitry Kiselev, grossed 138.7 million rubles, or $2.4 million, over the Friday-Sunday period, falling far short of predictions of 250 million rubles-280 million rubles ($4.4 million-$4.9 million).
Time of the First still won the weekend, which turned out to be the weakest since October. However, its revenue amounted to less than 30 percent of the total box office...
According to data from the national movie theater reporting system Eais, the movie, directed by Dmitry Kiselev, grossed 138.7 million rubles, or $2.4 million, over the Friday-Sunday period, falling far short of predictions of 250 million rubles-280 million rubles ($4.4 million-$4.9 million).
Time of the First still won the weekend, which turned out to be the weakest since October. However, its revenue amounted to less than 30 percent of the total box office...
- 4/11/2017
- by Vladimir Kozlov
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Timur Bekmambetov’s Russian company, Bazelevs, is bringing two new titles to the European Film Market in Berlin, betting on international sales even following recent box-office disappointments at home.
Bazelevs' Efm titles are Dmitry Kiselev's space drama Vremya pervykh (Time of the First) and family animation Moy super papa (My Super Dad), directed by Viktor Glukhushin, Stanislav Shakhov and Olga Baulina.
The two movies are likely to attract substantial interest from international buyers, Valeria Dobrolyubovа, head of sales at Mirsand Ltd., an international distribution company that exclusively works with Bazelevs, told The Hollywood Reporter.
"My Super Dad is a family CGI...
Bazelevs' Efm titles are Dmitry Kiselev's space drama Vremya pervykh (Time of the First) and family animation Moy super papa (My Super Dad), directed by Viktor Glukhushin, Stanislav Shakhov and Olga Baulina.
The two movies are likely to attract substantial interest from international buyers, Valeria Dobrolyubovа, head of sales at Mirsand Ltd., an international distribution company that exclusively works with Bazelevs, told The Hollywood Reporter.
"My Super Dad is a family CGI...
- 2/10/2017
- by Vladimir Kozlov
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Final Update, Monday 4:49 Pm Pt: Across the Top 10 major studio releases internationally there’s reason for some holiday cheer. This weekend’s figures are up 19.4% over last frame with The Hobbit: The Battle Of The Five Armies leading the pack at $89M, plus strong perfs from Exodus: Gods And Kings in new key markets and the Night At The Museum finale. Still, that result is down from last year, largely due to the impact that Frozen was having on the season with a $50.5M take in the comparable frame. Five Armies in the estimates is also about 9.3% off from Smaug’s performance last year, but there are those nasty currency fluctuations to take into account.
Still, it a big weekend for local titles. Last frame’s Indian release Pk added Bollywood flair to the international box office with an offshore haul of $14.3M for a global cume of $61.46M.
Still, it a big weekend for local titles. Last frame’s Indian release Pk added Bollywood flair to the international box office with an offshore haul of $14.3M for a global cume of $61.46M.
- 12/29/2014
- by Nancy Tartaglione
- Deadline
Timur Bekmambetov’s first outing as a director since his Hollywood film Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter sees him going back in time again to the beginning of the First World War at the end of 1914.
Yolki 1914 is the fourth instalment of Bekmambetov’s New Year hit comedy franchise Yolki, which his production-distribution company Bazelevs launched in 2010.
Bekmambetov directed the first Yolki (aka The Six Degrees Of Celebration), which took $26m at the box office in the Cis territories in 2010/11.
Since then, Bekmambetov has only served as the producer on the following two Yolki films.
The first sequel Yolki 2012 – which posted $30m at the Cis box office in 2011/12 – took place on New Year’s Eve in 11 cities from small regional towns to Saint Petersburg and Moscow, and was directed by Dmitry Kiselev, Alexander Kott, Oksana Bychkova and others.
Kiselev, Kott, Alexander Karpilovsky and Olga Kharina directed the episodes of the third film Yolki 2014 which was released on Dec...
Yolki 1914 is the fourth instalment of Bekmambetov’s New Year hit comedy franchise Yolki, which his production-distribution company Bazelevs launched in 2010.
Bekmambetov directed the first Yolki (aka The Six Degrees Of Celebration), which took $26m at the box office in the Cis territories in 2010/11.
Since then, Bekmambetov has only served as the producer on the following two Yolki films.
The first sequel Yolki 2012 – which posted $30m at the Cis box office in 2011/12 – took place on New Year’s Eve in 11 cities from small regional towns to Saint Petersburg and Moscow, and was directed by Dmitry Kiselev, Alexander Kott, Oksana Bychkova and others.
Kiselev, Kott, Alexander Karpilovsky and Olga Kharina directed the episodes of the third film Yolki 2014 which was released on Dec...
- 3/11/2014
- by screen.berlin@googlemail.com (Martin Blaney)
- ScreenDaily
Bette Middler to star as Mae West, Blake Skjellerup fails to qualify for Sochi, Taylor Kitsch discusses what he learned on The Normal Heart
Adam Shankman, who just this Sunday was dashing around the Trevor Live! benefit has checked into rehab. “Adam Shankman is currently seeking treatment in a rehabilitation center. His friends and family support him and wish him well on his journey to recovery.” We wish him a speedy and complete recovery.
Dexter Fletcher, who recently directed Sunshine On Leith will direct the upcoming biopic on Queen and Freddie Mercury starring Ben Wishaw. The film is set to cover the rise of Queen and end with their epic Live Aid performance.
John Waters has some gift giving ideas for you as the Christmas season approaches. “I always give books. And I always ask for books. I think you should reward people sexually for getting you books. Don’t send a thank-you note,...
Adam Shankman, who just this Sunday was dashing around the Trevor Live! benefit has checked into rehab. “Adam Shankman is currently seeking treatment in a rehabilitation center. His friends and family support him and wish him well on his journey to recovery.” We wish him a speedy and complete recovery.
Dexter Fletcher, who recently directed Sunshine On Leith will direct the upcoming biopic on Queen and Freddie Mercury starring Ben Wishaw. The film is set to cover the rise of Queen and end with their epic Live Aid performance.
John Waters has some gift giving ideas for you as the Christmas season approaches. “I always give books. And I always ask for books. I think you should reward people sexually for getting you books. Don’t send a thank-you note,...
- 12/10/2013
- by Ed Kennedy
- The Backlot
A look at what's new on DVD today:
"Black Lightning" (2009)
Directed by Dmitriy Kiselev and Aleksandr Voytinskiy
Released by Universal Studios
"Wanted" director Timur Bekmambetov produced this Russian action flick about a man and his flying car, using the same effects team that worked on all of his previous films including "Night Watch." A Russian trailer is here since where we're going, we don't need to understand words.
"7th Hunt" (2010)
Directed by Jon Cohen
Released by Vanguard Cinema
A motley group of young adults are abducted and forced to fend for their survival at an abandoned military training center in the middle of nowhere in Jon Cohen's thriller.
"Alien Vs. Ninja" (2010)
Directed by Seiji Chiba
Released by Funimation
A selection of last year's New York Asian Film Festival, Seiji Chiba's crazy genre mashup may just be "the best and wittiest movie ever to air at 2am on the SyFy Channel" in the future,...
"Black Lightning" (2009)
Directed by Dmitriy Kiselev and Aleksandr Voytinskiy
Released by Universal Studios
"Wanted" director Timur Bekmambetov produced this Russian action flick about a man and his flying car, using the same effects team that worked on all of his previous films including "Night Watch." A Russian trailer is here since where we're going, we don't need to understand words.
"7th Hunt" (2010)
Directed by Jon Cohen
Released by Vanguard Cinema
A motley group of young adults are abducted and forced to fend for their survival at an abandoned military training center in the middle of nowhere in Jon Cohen's thriller.
"Alien Vs. Ninja" (2010)
Directed by Seiji Chiba
Released by Funimation
A selection of last year's New York Asian Film Festival, Seiji Chiba's crazy genre mashup may just be "the best and wittiest movie ever to air at 2am on the SyFy Channel" in the future,...
- 2/21/2011
- by Stephen Saito
- ifc.com
Ladies and gentlemen, say hello to Sitges 2010:
Exorcisms, Vampires, Zombies, Martial Arts And Liters Of Blood At Sitges 2010
The 43rd Sitges - International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia, that will take place from 7 to 17 October, presents its lineup, with some films still to be confirmed, for the following sections:
Sitges 43 Official FANTÀSTIC Selection - In Competition
The official selection par excellence will be offering a lineup emphasizing a variety of nationalities (Bulgaria, Japan, France, Swede, Uruguay,...), the impact of new South American cinema, the rebirth of oriental cinema and the mixture of supernatural horror movies with exorcisms, vampires and mutants and everyday horror with real extreme violence.
13 Assassins (Takashi Miike, Japan)
14 Days With Victor (Román Parrado, Spain)
A Woman, A Gun And A Noodle Shop (Zhang Yimou, China, Hong Kong)
Bedevilled (Jang Cheol-soo, South Korea)
Black Death (Christopher Smith, Germany)
La Casa Muda (Gustavo Hernández, Uruguay)
Confessions (Tetsuya Nakashima,...
Exorcisms, Vampires, Zombies, Martial Arts And Liters Of Blood At Sitges 2010
The 43rd Sitges - International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia, that will take place from 7 to 17 October, presents its lineup, with some films still to be confirmed, for the following sections:
Sitges 43 Official FANTÀSTIC Selection - In Competition
The official selection par excellence will be offering a lineup emphasizing a variety of nationalities (Bulgaria, Japan, France, Swede, Uruguay,...), the impact of new South American cinema, the rebirth of oriental cinema and the mixture of supernatural horror movies with exorcisms, vampires and mutants and everyday horror with real extreme violence.
13 Assassins (Takashi Miike, Japan)
14 Days With Victor (Román Parrado, Spain)
A Woman, A Gun And A Noodle Shop (Zhang Yimou, China, Hong Kong)
Bedevilled (Jang Cheol-soo, South Korea)
Black Death (Christopher Smith, Germany)
La Casa Muda (Gustavo Hernández, Uruguay)
Confessions (Tetsuya Nakashima,...
- 9/17/2010
- Screen Anarchy
If I had the holiday time left, I’d be booking a trip to España right about now. The 43rd annual Sitges kicks off on October 7th and their line up so far is impressive. Damned impressive.
In competition are Gregg Araki’s Kaboom (teaser, stills), Christopher Smith’s Black Death (review), Jalmari Helander’s Rare Exports (trailer), Quentin Dupieux’s Rubber (clip) and Takashi Miike’s 13 Assassins among many others. In competition in the Panorama section are another great set of films including Shion Sono’s Cold Fish (trailer), Takeshi Kitano’s Outrage (trailer), Jim Mickle’s Stake Land (trailer) and Srdjan Spasojevic’s A Serbian Film (review).
If those titles aren’t enough, there’s loads more including Rob Stefaniuk’s vampire musical road trip film Suck (review, trailer), James Wan’s Insidious (clip), Adam Green’s Frozen (trailer), Black Lightning (trailer), Super (clip), The Vanishing on 7th...
In competition are Gregg Araki’s Kaboom (teaser, stills), Christopher Smith’s Black Death (review), Jalmari Helander’s Rare Exports (trailer), Quentin Dupieux’s Rubber (clip) and Takashi Miike’s 13 Assassins among many others. In competition in the Panorama section are another great set of films including Shion Sono’s Cold Fish (trailer), Takeshi Kitano’s Outrage (trailer), Jim Mickle’s Stake Land (trailer) and Srdjan Spasojevic’s A Serbian Film (review).
If those titles aren’t enough, there’s loads more including Rob Stefaniuk’s vampire musical road trip film Suck (review, trailer), James Wan’s Insidious (clip), Adam Green’s Frozen (trailer), Black Lightning (trailer), Super (clip), The Vanishing on 7th...
- 9/17/2010
- QuietEarth.us
Black Lightning
Stars: Grigoriy Dobrygin, Ekaterina Vilkova, Viktor Verzhbitskiy | Written by Dmitriy Aleynikov & Aleksandr Talal | Directed by Dmitriy Kiselev & Aleksandr Voytinskiy
When student Dima (Dobrygin) is bought a car for his birthday he thinks the answer to all of his problems has finally arrived. But when the car turns out to be a beaten up old Volga his excitement turns into embarrassment until he discovers the car’s flighty secret. Armed with the car’s hidden technology that harks back to the Cold War, Dima revels in his new-found power of flight and reinvents himself as the mysterious Black Lightning, crime fighter, Moscow’s saviour and arch-nemesis of a corrupt industrialist with his eyes on domination at any cost…
Black Lightning is a film clearly influenced by the recent explosion in comic book movies, taking elements from two much bigger superhero franchises, Spider-Man and Iron Man, and blending them into something new,...
Stars: Grigoriy Dobrygin, Ekaterina Vilkova, Viktor Verzhbitskiy | Written by Dmitriy Aleynikov & Aleksandr Talal | Directed by Dmitriy Kiselev & Aleksandr Voytinskiy
When student Dima (Dobrygin) is bought a car for his birthday he thinks the answer to all of his problems has finally arrived. But when the car turns out to be a beaten up old Volga his excitement turns into embarrassment until he discovers the car’s flighty secret. Armed with the car’s hidden technology that harks back to the Cold War, Dima revels in his new-found power of flight and reinvents himself as the mysterious Black Lightning, crime fighter, Moscow’s saviour and arch-nemesis of a corrupt industrialist with his eyes on domination at any cost…
Black Lightning is a film clearly influenced by the recent explosion in comic book movies, taking elements from two much bigger superhero franchises, Spider-Man and Iron Man, and blending them into something new,...
- 9/6/2010
- by Phil
- Nerdly
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter is coming, and the latest news goes like this: Wanted helmer Timur Bekmambetov is set to direct it!
Ok, this project is definitely not a surprise, because, as you remember, we previously reported that Tim Burton is set to produce a live action feature based on the book of the same name.
But that’s not the only reason why we’re here today…
“Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter I’m prepping to direct myself. It is not a comedy at all, it is a very entertaining, epic history lesson for millions and millions of teenagers.
If you remember Nightwatch, it is maybe in the vein of that kind of movie. We are keeping the traditional look of Lincoln – the big hat and the beard. He has to be historically correct, but with a few special weapons.
There is only one book, but there will be many...
Ok, this project is definitely not a surprise, because, as you remember, we previously reported that Tim Burton is set to produce a live action feature based on the book of the same name.
But that’s not the only reason why we’re here today…
“Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter I’m prepping to direct myself. It is not a comedy at all, it is a very entertaining, epic history lesson for millions and millions of teenagers.
If you remember Nightwatch, it is maybe in the vein of that kind of movie. We are keeping the traditional look of Lincoln – the big hat and the beard. He has to be historically correct, but with a few special weapons.
There is only one book, but there will be many...
- 8/10/2010
- by Fiona
- Filmofilia
Apparently no one in Moscow looks up either. Or at least they don’t for a while. That is, until a series of heroic deeds around the city (rescuing children from burning buildings, depositing bank robbers in front of police stations, etc.) are performed by someone in a flying 1951 black Volga. Certainly it is the unlikeliest of cars for such bravery (the Volga being the “people’s car” of the Soviet era), but the hero and driver is Moscow’s version of Peter Parker, a young man from a working family just trying to earn some cash and win the heart of a beautiful girl, while maybe stopping some bad guys along the way. Black Lightning is a refreshing and fantastically executed action-adventure film.
Producer Timur Bekmambetov (Wanted, Night Watch) knows what makes superhero movies fun. A young man struggling with his identity, a decent badass enemy out to destroy for his own gain,...
Producer Timur Bekmambetov (Wanted, Night Watch) knows what makes superhero movies fun. A young man struggling with his identity, a decent badass enemy out to destroy for his own gain,...
- 7/20/2010
- by Shelagh
- DorkShelf.com
[Our thanks to Shelagh Rowan-Legg for the following review.]
Apparently no one in Moscow looks up either. Or at least they don't for a while. That is, until a series of heroic deeds around the city (rescuing children from burning buildings, depositing bank robbers in front of police stations, etc) are being performed by someone in a flying 1951 black Volga. Certainly it is the unlikeliest of cars for such bravery (the Volga being the "people's car" of the Soviet era), but the hero and driver is Moscow's version of Peter Parker, a young man from a working family just trying to earn some cash and win the heart of a beautiful girl, while maybe stopping some bad guys along the way. Black Lightning is a refreshing and fantastically executed action-adventure film.
Producer Timur Bekmambetov (Wanted, Night Watch) knows what makes superhero movies fun. A young man struggling with his identity, a decent badass enemy out to destroy for his own gain,...
Apparently no one in Moscow looks up either. Or at least they don't for a while. That is, until a series of heroic deeds around the city (rescuing children from burning buildings, depositing bank robbers in front of police stations, etc) are being performed by someone in a flying 1951 black Volga. Certainly it is the unlikeliest of cars for such bravery (the Volga being the "people's car" of the Soviet era), but the hero and driver is Moscow's version of Peter Parker, a young man from a working family just trying to earn some cash and win the heart of a beautiful girl, while maybe stopping some bad guys along the way. Black Lightning is a refreshing and fantastically executed action-adventure film.
Producer Timur Bekmambetov (Wanted, Night Watch) knows what makes superhero movies fun. A young man struggling with his identity, a decent badass enemy out to destroy for his own gain,...
- 7/20/2010
- Screen Anarchy
Timur Bekmambetov seems to never really have a moment's rest in this industry. He's always producing, writing or directing a random piece of property that tends to turn out great. Bekmambetov is back at it once more, negotiating with the powers at Universal Pictures to do a U.S. remake of "Chernaya Molniya" ("Black Lightning"). Climbing on board this project is "The Twilight Saga: New Moon" director Chris Weitz as producer.The Russian science fiction tale focuses on a student who fixes up an old sedan in all sorts of awesome robotic-like ways and takes on the criminals of his city. Directed by Dmitriy Kiselev and Aleksandr Voytinskiy, the film gained praise and around $20 million in box office revenue. Since the Americanized version of the tale is still in development, there is no specific word on when filming will take place.Bekmambetov is one of the producers on the wonderful...
- 7/1/2010
- LRMonline.com
Last year, Timur Bekmambetov (Night Watch, Wanted) produced Black Lightning in Russia. The movie was directed by Alexander Voytinskiy and Dmitriy Kiselev, the latter of whom edited Night Watch and Day Watch and pulled second-unit directorial duty on Wanted. The original Black Lightning looked like a slick, commercial adventure about a student whose fortunes turn around when he acquires a flying car. Bekmambetov called it "the Russian response to Transformers and Batman." Now Bekmambetov is talking to Universal (which co-financed Black Lightning in Russia) about a Us remake. Variety merely says that the director is talking with Universal about the remake, and at this point there's no indication that he would do more than produce. After working with so many possible future directorial projects in the last few months, to settle on a remake of a film like this would be crazy. Here are the not entirely kind words I...
- 7/1/2010
- by Russ Fischer
- Slash Film
Several press releases went out today featuring some huge news coming out of Canada's Fantasia Film Festival including the first batch of films that will be populating this massive three-week long event. Pull up your chair, kids! You're gonna be here for a while!
Dig on the wealth of information below from today's releases and look for more announcements and of course full coverage soon!
Spotlight: Between Death And The Devil
Recent times and crimes have seen extraordinary levels of disillusionment with organized religion, particularly with the Catholic Church, and genre cinema has mirrored this anger with startling impact. In the face of this, we’ve put together this troubling spotlight focused on the abuse of faith, the horrors of ideology and the corruption of Godliness. Several of these films will absolutely stagger you.
Black Death (UK) Dir: Christopher Smith – North American premiere. Hosted by Director Christopher Smith
With the Black Death sweeping across England,...
Dig on the wealth of information below from today's releases and look for more announcements and of course full coverage soon!
Spotlight: Between Death And The Devil
Recent times and crimes have seen extraordinary levels of disillusionment with organized religion, particularly with the Catholic Church, and genre cinema has mirrored this anger with startling impact. In the face of this, we’ve put together this troubling spotlight focused on the abuse of faith, the horrors of ideology and the corruption of Godliness. Several of these films will absolutely stagger you.
Black Death (UK) Dir: Christopher Smith – North American premiere. Hosted by Director Christopher Smith
With the Black Death sweeping across England,...
- 6/29/2010
- by Uncle Creepy
- DreadCentral.com
You want the best of genre film from Canada, the Us and around the globe? Fantasia is the place.
Montreal, June 29, 2010 - For its fourteenth edition, the Fantasia Film Festival is proud to present over 50 titles from Asia. Once again, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Hong Kong and the People's Republic of China are widely represented, demonstrating the great quality and diversity of their industries. And, as always, the programming team is also dedicated to exposing several hidden gems hailing from emerging national cinemas. Through these, audiences can discover new visions and new sensibilities. Therefore, the public will be privy to works hailing from Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia and - a first for the festival - Indonesia. The filmic multicultural feast prepared by the 2010 Fantasia Film Festival promises to satisfy film lovers of all kinds.
Fantasia's 2010 occidental lineup of World Cinema is once again on fire with an astounding kaleidoscope of styles and sensibilities.
Montreal, June 29, 2010 - For its fourteenth edition, the Fantasia Film Festival is proud to present over 50 titles from Asia. Once again, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Hong Kong and the People's Republic of China are widely represented, demonstrating the great quality and diversity of their industries. And, as always, the programming team is also dedicated to exposing several hidden gems hailing from emerging national cinemas. Through these, audiences can discover new visions and new sensibilities. Therefore, the public will be privy to works hailing from Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia and - a first for the festival - Indonesia. The filmic multicultural feast prepared by the 2010 Fantasia Film Festival promises to satisfy film lovers of all kinds.
Fantasia's 2010 occidental lineup of World Cinema is once again on fire with an astounding kaleidoscope of styles and sensibilities.
- 6/29/2010
- Screen Anarchy
Flying cars? Superheroes? Timur Bekmambetov? Color me tingly and excited. Dmitriy Kiselev and Aleksandr Voytinskiy’s kooky 2009 action flick “Black Lightning” — which was produced by Bekmambetov — is headed to Region 2, complete with handy English subtitles for those of us who are a little behind on our Russian language lessons. Although the film has been getting lukewarm reviews, it still has flying cars, which are always good when the picture itself is less than spectacular. September 6th is the scheduled release date, so make sure your life has been rearranged to accommodate the awesomeness. For the uninitiated, an awkward plot synopsis from FilmoFilia: One day workers on construction site for skyscrapers in Moscow discover Soviet underground bunker and old rusty Volga in it. One worker give it as a present to his son, an ordinary student of Moscow State University. Later he discovers that his rusty car is able to fly.
- 6/16/2010
- by Todd Rigney
- Beyond Hollywood
Today we got Russian premiere of trailer for Timur Bekmambetov produced “Black Lightning” (Чёрная Молния)
Plot summary: One day workers on construction site for skyscrapers in Moscow discover Soviet underground bunker and old rusty Volga in it. One worker give it as a present to his son, an ordinary student of Moscow State University. Later he discovers that his rusty car is able to fly. He will be able to not only avoid trafficjams, but he unexpectedly finds himself the city’s defender, mysterious fighter against evil.
Black Lightning Poster
“Black Lightning,” made for an impressively cheap $8 million dollars, is directed by Alexandr Voitinsky and and Dmitriy Kiselev, two guys who worked with Bekmambetov on “Night Watch” and “Day Watch and will be released in Russia on December 31st, 2009. [source: Filmz.ru]
Check out the trailer and let us know what you think.
Plot summary: One day workers on construction site for skyscrapers in Moscow discover Soviet underground bunker and old rusty Volga in it. One worker give it as a present to his son, an ordinary student of Moscow State University. Later he discovers that his rusty car is able to fly. He will be able to not only avoid trafficjams, but he unexpectedly finds himself the city’s defender, mysterious fighter against evil.
Black Lightning Poster
“Black Lightning,” made for an impressively cheap $8 million dollars, is directed by Alexandr Voitinsky and and Dmitriy Kiselev, two guys who worked with Bekmambetov on “Night Watch” and “Day Watch and will be released in Russia on December 31st, 2009. [source: Filmz.ru]
Check out the trailer and let us know what you think.
- 10/21/2009
- by Allan Ford
- Filmofilia
Producer Timur Bekmambetov, the Russian director behind Night Watch, Wanted, and 9, has released the trailer for his new film Black Lightning. While you probably won’t understand a word of the trailer unless you’re fluent in Russian, the visuals tell the story entirely: a boy gets a flying car and begins to fight crime and win the heart of his woman with it. Like Chitty Chitty Bang Bang with sleeker visuals and heightened violence!
I’m quite honestly not sure what to think of this quite yet. Bekmambetov has described the film as “the Russian response to Transformers and Batman.” I’m not sure it comes across as anything but insane at the moment. The film is directed by Alexandr Voitinsky and Dmitriy Kiselev. Check out the trailer below!
7 Minutes of WantedTransformers 3 date not in disguiseMirror/Mirror — “88 Miles Per Hour”9 Review...
I’m quite honestly not sure what to think of this quite yet. Bekmambetov has described the film as “the Russian response to Transformers and Batman.” I’m not sure it comes across as anything but insane at the moment. The film is directed by Alexandr Voitinsky and Dmitriy Kiselev. Check out the trailer below!
7 Minutes of WantedTransformers 3 date not in disguiseMirror/Mirror — “88 Miles Per Hour”9 Review...
- 10/20/2009
- by John Cooper
- Atomic Popcorn
Really don't know if this'll be something to watch out for or not, so I'm putting it out there to see what you guys make of it. And if anyone speaks Russian in here... The folks from Twitch pointed out the full trailer for sci-fi/action flick Black Lightning, produced by Russian sensation Timur Bekmambetov and directed by two of his usual collaborators Dmitriy Kiselev and Alexandr Voitinsky. That's probably why I can't get a word of what's being said in there. Release in Russia is set for...
- 10/19/2009
- by Tony Lang
- JoBlo.com
Cinema Bacon has found a new teaser trailer for the (first?) Russian super hero movie Black Lightning from director Alexander Voytinskiy & Dmitry Kiselev and producer Timur Bekmambetov (Day/Night Watch, Wanted).
It doesn’t show that much more than the first one, but at least we get a look at the young student (Georgy Dobrinin) that get’s turned into a crime fighting hero after he buys a second hand car than turns out to be something very special.
[See post to watch Flash video] Black Lightning is supposed to hit the screens across Russia at the end of 2009.
[via Cinema Beacon]
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It doesn’t show that much more than the first one, but at least we get a look at the young student (Georgy Dobrinin) that get’s turned into a crime fighting hero after he buys a second hand car than turns out to be something very special.
[See post to watch Flash video] Black Lightning is supposed to hit the screens across Russia at the end of 2009.
[via Cinema Beacon]
Share...
- 5/20/2009
- by Ulrik
- Affenheimtheater
Russian wunderkind Timur Bekmambetov (Nightwatch, Wanted) is attached to so many cool projects right now that I must say we were just a tad surprised to find that none of them are to be the next release with his name on it. His next is a mysterious Russian superhero flick called Black Lightning (Черная молния). Warning: bad translation ahead.
A usual student of Moscow Vuz (Institute of Higher Education) who is randomly becomes the possessor of a used domestic vehicle, which, as it is explained, can fly! Our main hero is converted from a simple person, into the super-hero, the defender of city, mysterious fighter against evil.
The film is directed by Alexander Voytinskiy and we've got the teaser for you after the break which points to a 2009 release date so yeah, just a little surprising no one has reported or seems to know much about it yet.
Update: Thanks to our friend nekrosoma,...
A usual student of Moscow Vuz (Institute of Higher Education) who is randomly becomes the possessor of a used domestic vehicle, which, as it is explained, can fly! Our main hero is converted from a simple person, into the super-hero, the defender of city, mysterious fighter against evil.
The film is directed by Alexander Voytinskiy and we've got the teaser for you after the break which points to a 2009 release date so yeah, just a little surprising no one has reported or seems to know much about it yet.
Update: Thanks to our friend nekrosoma,...
- 3/12/2009
- QuietEarth.us
BERLIN -- With a take of more than $16 million at the boxoffice last year, Night Watch became the highest-grossing film in Russian history. 20th Century Fox -- which has worldwide rights to the science fiction film and its currently shooting sequel, Day Watch, as well as an English-language third installment it plans to co-develop and co-finance -- means to turn the trilogy into a global blockbuster.
From the evidence of Night Watch, Fox has a clear shot. The movie possesses everything today's young audiences are conditioned to want: incessant noise, jumpy editing, torrential music, shallow, overblown characters and sheer emptiness at its core. Imagine yourself trapped inside a two-hour video game, and you've got the Night Watch experience.
The first film gets released in the domestic market, possibly in June, under the studio's Fox Searchlight label, an apparent sop to the need for subtitles. (Then again, why not dub the film into English? It's not as if you are ruining a foreign-language masterpiece.) Undoubtedly, Night Watch will draw young audiences and sci-fi/fantasy fans in sufficient profusion to justify the three-picture commitment.
The film by award-winning commercials director Timur Bekmambetov -- but you knew the film had to be made by a director of commercials -- stems from a series of sci-fi novels by Sergey Lukyanenko. These tell of a 1,000-year-old truce between the forces of Light and Darkness. The good guys patrol the night, protecting mankind from the dark ones -- vampires, witches, shape-shifters and sorcerers. Conversely, the Day Watch keeps tabs on the forces of Light. Then, as an ancient prophesy foretold, a powerful Other comes into the world that will be tempted by the Dark side and tip the balance of power, plunging the world into apocalypse.
The story permits crowd-pleasing chases, stunts, visual effects and otherworldly creatures. Bekmambetov's big trick is a sudden face or object flashed without warning onscreen in full close-up. Even the subtitles pick up this gimmick as they slam onto the lower half of the screen here and there like comic book dialogue balloons exploding out of nowhere.
Most scenes are bathed in blue -- our heroes are the Night Watch, after all. Music and sound hammer away as if a moment of silence would destroy the existence of these creatures of gloom. Basically, the film has only one note, and the director bangs on that note with ruthless aggression.
Technical credits are astonishing in light of the film's reported $4 million budget.
NIGHT WATCH
Fox Searchlight Pictures
A Channel One Russia and Tabbak/Bazelevs production
Credits: Director: Timur Bekmambetov; Screenwriter: Sergey Lukyanenko, Timur Bekmambetov; Based on the novels by: Sergey Lukyanenko; Producers: Anatoly Maximov, Konstantin Ernst; Director of photography: Sergey Trofimov; Production designers: Mukhtar Mirzakeyev, Valeri Viktorov; Music: Yury Poteyenko; Costume designer: Varvara Avdyuswhko; Editor: Dmitri Kiselyov. Cast: Anton: Konstantin Khabensky; Geser: Vladimir Menshov; Olga: Galina Tunina; Zavulon: Victor Verzbitsky; Svetlana: Maria Poroshina; Kostya: Alexey Chadov; Kostya's father: Valery Zolotunkhin; Alisa: Zhanna Friske.
No MPAA rating, running time 113 minutes.
From the evidence of Night Watch, Fox has a clear shot. The movie possesses everything today's young audiences are conditioned to want: incessant noise, jumpy editing, torrential music, shallow, overblown characters and sheer emptiness at its core. Imagine yourself trapped inside a two-hour video game, and you've got the Night Watch experience.
The first film gets released in the domestic market, possibly in June, under the studio's Fox Searchlight label, an apparent sop to the need for subtitles. (Then again, why not dub the film into English? It's not as if you are ruining a foreign-language masterpiece.) Undoubtedly, Night Watch will draw young audiences and sci-fi/fantasy fans in sufficient profusion to justify the three-picture commitment.
The film by award-winning commercials director Timur Bekmambetov -- but you knew the film had to be made by a director of commercials -- stems from a series of sci-fi novels by Sergey Lukyanenko. These tell of a 1,000-year-old truce between the forces of Light and Darkness. The good guys patrol the night, protecting mankind from the dark ones -- vampires, witches, shape-shifters and sorcerers. Conversely, the Day Watch keeps tabs on the forces of Light. Then, as an ancient prophesy foretold, a powerful Other comes into the world that will be tempted by the Dark side and tip the balance of power, plunging the world into apocalypse.
The story permits crowd-pleasing chases, stunts, visual effects and otherworldly creatures. Bekmambetov's big trick is a sudden face or object flashed without warning onscreen in full close-up. Even the subtitles pick up this gimmick as they slam onto the lower half of the screen here and there like comic book dialogue balloons exploding out of nowhere.
Most scenes are bathed in blue -- our heroes are the Night Watch, after all. Music and sound hammer away as if a moment of silence would destroy the existence of these creatures of gloom. Basically, the film has only one note, and the director bangs on that note with ruthless aggression.
Technical credits are astonishing in light of the film's reported $4 million budget.
NIGHT WATCH
Fox Searchlight Pictures
A Channel One Russia and Tabbak/Bazelevs production
Credits: Director: Timur Bekmambetov; Screenwriter: Sergey Lukyanenko, Timur Bekmambetov; Based on the novels by: Sergey Lukyanenko; Producers: Anatoly Maximov, Konstantin Ernst; Director of photography: Sergey Trofimov; Production designers: Mukhtar Mirzakeyev, Valeri Viktorov; Music: Yury Poteyenko; Costume designer: Varvara Avdyuswhko; Editor: Dmitri Kiselyov. Cast: Anton: Konstantin Khabensky; Geser: Vladimir Menshov; Olga: Galina Tunina; Zavulon: Victor Verzbitsky; Svetlana: Maria Poroshina; Kostya: Alexey Chadov; Kostya's father: Valery Zolotunkhin; Alisa: Zhanna Friske.
No MPAA rating, running time 113 minutes.
- 2/18/2005
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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