War (2002)

it is finally so absorbing because it plays like a lyrical road odyssey that’s also a detective story.

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties.

Great story, amazing characters, superb action, enthralling cinematography. Yes, this is something I am glad I spent money on.

One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

Balabanov at his best saying things you would never hear in public. Naming things with their real names, what could be worse for our hypocritical world? And the conclusion: the war has no justice no matter what side you pick. Or values. The concept must hurt all military generals in all countries. As well as weapon selling guys )) The most "criminal" thought that comes to mind: there must be something really wrong with the society which requires wars to solve its problems.

The general ambiance of the film is acceptable - it's a 'boy's own' romp through the outback to rescue a fair maiden. The most outstanding quality belongs with the topography - the rugged terrain is almost a character in itself, providing a worthy obstacle and adversary, handled very well by the cinematographer, creating great vistas. The predominant colour here is green...which brings me to the acting ability of Ian Kelly. Rarely have I been so embarrassed with a compatriot's lack of skill. I sincerely wanted to curl up with shame. Whoever told this buffoon that he could act, needs speaking to. When we first encountered him and he uttered the opening of Hamlet's 'Quintessence of dust' soliloquy, I nearly fell off my chair, mouth agape. Surely this was a joke...and a pretty poor one too, considering the gravity of the subject matter. But no, Kelly was for real, he really did think that he was acting. Unbelievable! By the time he was hamming it up, (like no other could, even on a bad-stage day), near the end; wielding a gun and screaming like a banshee, the tears rolled down my cheeks. Absolutely fantastic - priceless. Think Alan Partridge playing Sylvester Stallone and you'll get the picture. All that money spent on the production and Kelly, a vortex of ineptitude, brings it crashing down. Wonderful.

I like some Balabanov's movies (Брат, Мне не больно). Can't bring myself to watch others (Брат 2). This one is somewhere in the middle. I like the depiction of life in the mountains. Small things, like Chechen kids always kicking passing prisoners, double-talk of Russian military officials, etc, made more impression on me than the main story line, which, I admit, I cannot buy. Come on: a geeky Russian private turning commando overnight? Seriously? Assuming this is no "Rambo", where everything goes, the expectation is that it has to be somewhat realistic, right? Then someone please explain to me, why Captain Medvedev did not make a call for air support immediately after the attack? How come nobody got hurt during the river escape (and I would not get into the whole premise of the river escape)? Depicting a Chechen commander, who does not understand that there is a difference in exchange rate between US Dollars and GB Pounds reminded me of the old Soviet war movies always depicting German soldiers with moronic expressions on their faces. What was the point of Margaret and Captain Medvedev's liaison? Acting (with exception of Ian Kelly, whom I just wanted to smack) is mostly good. Good camera work and soundtrack. Can't think of any woman who would like this movie, but some guys may.

WAR (or VOJNA) is a good movie, make no doubt about it. It has some excellent performances by the actors, and the script is quite strong. But here's the thing: the entire movie seems strangely muted, as if the writer/director was afraid of being TOO interesting. The action scenes, the part of the movie that should have been really loud and frightening, instead looks rather...dull and nonchalant. Thousands of rounds are going off, but the whole sequence is staged to look like a high school play -- i.e. they're not very exciting at all.But for a film about the troubles in Chechna, this is one of the few movies that've touched the subject. Worth it just to understand the politics of the area.6 out of 10(go to www.nixflix.com for a more detailed review of this movie as well as reviews of other films from around the world)