Movie Tickets Wanted
Go see Wanted [Особо Опасен in Russian] which opened on June 27th in the US and on June 26th in Kazakhstan. Why am I talking about this film and why did it open in Kazakhstan before it opened in the US? Because the director, Timur Bekmambetov is a native son of Kazakhstan, born in Atyrau. He moved to Moscow presumably because of the better developed film industry there and is most famous for making Night Watch and Day Watch which came out in the US as well as Russia. How did Bekmambetov get to make his first Hollywood movie with stars like Angelina Jolie and Morgan Freeman? His own genius. Universal Pictures was looking for a fresh look for the movie adaptation of Wanted, originally a graphic novel, it picked Bekmambetov.
Producer Mark Platt comments: The cinematic experience of Timur’s work and the visual language employed by him are so unique, eye-popping and extraordinary, I knew his was a voice that had to be heard. I had never experienced visual images in that way.”
From the Official site of the film
I don’t want to spoil the film by reviewing it in too much detail but it’s a fun action movie with awesome special effects and a great plot. It is very bloody and graphic in showing violence, but there’s also a lot of humor and character depth. As for Bekmambetov’s work, the movie has a unique and beautiful visual style. He has a great sense of tempo–one long action sequence is filmed as a single moving shot, but the pace speeds up and slows down elegantly to show every movement at its best. He definitely has a unique voice as an action director.
So hopefully the next ad we see on CNN promoting Kazakhstan will feature Bekmambetov and his films instead of the same old shot of Bayterek! Maybe they’ll invite Angelina Jolie to come to Kazakhstan. I’m happy to show her around if she does come!
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Just saw Wanted. I’ve been looking forward to this movie ever since I learned that Bekmembetov was the director. And I REALLY wanted to see it after hearing that Konstantin Khabensky was going to have a role in it.
Kostya did not disappoint! I liked the movie, and I especially like every second Khabensky was on screen. Still, for me the most shocking part was hearing a Russian, in the movies, actually say “Fuck your mother” in Russian. I was expecting the standard Russian movie “swearing”, like Chort vozmi, Koshmar!, Idi na hui… But, seriously, yob tvayu mat was more than I expected.
I would love to see it in Russian, since I know that the language is going to be toned down.
Any ideas how Kazakhstani and Russian viewers feel about seeing Khabensky in an American movie?
Comment by Michael Hancock — 13 July 2008 @ 8:28 am
It`s very interesting to read what foreigners think about russian matershina. Unfortunatelly, you doesn`t very often make a new note. >_
Comment by Fre — 15 July 2008 @ 12:13 pm
My english limps… Excuse!
Comment by Fre — 15 July 2008 @ 12:19 pm
Micheal: In Russian he definitely didn’t use mat. I don’t know what he said because I don’t know which scene you’re talking about but there was no mat. By the way, idi na hui is pretty bad too–I wouldn’t expect to hear that on TV or in a movie.
I’m glad someone else likes Khabensky. I think he’s a great actor too. I want to hear him in English! Even though the role called for a Russian accent, I’ll bet he’s pretty good.
Comment by KZBlog — 16 July 2008 @ 8:22 am
Fre: Glad you like the blog! I don’t post as often as I’d like to, but especially recently I was in Mongolia and had no Internet access. Hope you keep reading though and commenting.
“My English limps’ is probably the most poetic way I’ve ever heard anyone phrase it!
Comment by KZBlog — 19 July 2008 @ 1:51 pm