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Saturday Evening Movie Thread - 3/15/2025

Sergei Eisenstein


I've gone through the work of one other Russian filmmaker, Andrei Tarkovsky, who was more of a religious dissident than a loyal propagandist for the Soviet regime. However, there's one Soviet filmmaker that stands above them all: Sergei Eisenstein.

Born in Tsarist Russia in 1898 (technically, the Governorate of Livonia), Eisenstein entered film through the theater. Working experimentally on stage, he had the perfect mindset for a nascent Soviet film industry looking for ways to break from Western traditions in art but also to keep costs low. His first film, Strike made in 1925, told the story of a workers' strike in 1905, part of an ambitious plan to make six films detailing the workers' revolution from 1905, the first Russian Revolution (which failed), through 1917 and the October Revolution that saw the Bolsheviks overthrow the Provisional Government. Strike wasn't a huge success, but the second film Eisenstein made, came out less than a year later.

Battleship Potemkin is one of the most influential movies ever made. It goes well beyond the well-known Odessa Steps sequence (directly inspiring things like The Untouchables) and into how to create coherent sequences through non-linear editing. The dominant mode of editing in film had been much more influenced by Melies and, mostly, D.W. Griffith: editing shots in sequence that logically cut together to convey a string of events. Eisenstein, instead, built sequences, in particular the final sequence of two naval vessels steaming towards each other, out of disparate parts (engine pistons moving, earnest looks from sailors, deck guns with flags waving above them) which put the effects that he had first attempted in Strike in a much more popular film.

And yet, both those two first films, and the next five completed films, are 100%, unquestionably propaganda for the Soviet Union. Eisenstein's career lasted from 1925 to 1945 with the screening for Ivan the Terrible Part II: The Boyar's Plot for Joseph Stalin (Stalin hated the film, refused to allow its release, Eisenstein never completed a film again and died three years later). That creates two main themes to me when discussing his work: the revolutionary aspect of his approach to storytelling and the changing needs of propaganda.

Editing


When the Soviet Union was new, the country was poor. Its film industry extended to the Tsarist era, including even the first animated film in history, but Lenin, new leader of a minority party in total control of the government through a violent overthrow of the temporary order, saw cinema as a key building tool for establishing his party's dominance on the culture. Putting his wife in charge of the national film industry, he established a film school in Moscow where taught Lev Kuleshov, the father of the idea of montage. Eisenstein was his student.

With Lenin's directive for cinema's importance, Kuleshov's influence, and the expense of film stock, the stage was set for Eisenstein to carve a new way forward for narrative filmmaking (alongside fellow student Vsevolod Pudovkin).

Speaking of the expense, it's necessary to talk about how much film stock simply gets wasted during a typical production. Extremely efficient productions use about a third of the film that they shot (pre-digital, of course), but those productions were rare. What I've read is that an average production would shoot for a 1:12 ratio of usable film against "wasted" film, film shoot or trimmed that doesn't make it into a final film. So, for a two hour film, you expect to have twenty-four hours' worth of film shot. Each frame of film costs money, so if you're a poor production (or a poor industry), you look for ways to cut that cost more than usual (even MGM at its height tried to cut film stock cost).

Imagine for a minute that you are filming a shot that lasts for 30-seconds. The average says that you'll end up shooting 360-seconds to get that 30-seconds (Kubrick would shoot a lot more, Hitchcock would shoot a lot less, it's an average). That's a lot of film, and a 30-second shot will include people hitting marks, saying lines, lights getting in place, a whole host of things. The 30-second shot is probably going to be on the high end range of getting retakes.

Now, imagine that you've gone into the production with the idea of creating the whole thing through montage. You just need quick, 1-3 second long shots of people looking this way or that, turning around, establishing shots, etc. Do you need to do those twelve times on average? Most likely not. You're designing your production to be more efficient with its precious film stock. And that's exactly what Eisenstein did. The average shot length for Strike is 2.5 seconds. The average shot length for Battleship Potemkin is right around 2 seconds. As a comparison, Michael Bay's Transformers has an average shot length of...just over 3 seconds.

In addition to the limited shot length due to poverty, there were limits to what Eisenstein could do with physical production. I mentioned the battleships at the end of Potemkin barreling towards each other, and we hardly see any long shots of either of them. We don't see both in the same shot until the chase is over. Eisenstein apparently didn't have the money or resources to show two battleships running at each other (I was reminded of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger's The Battle of the River Plate where the pair were given nearly unfettered access to Royal Navy ships to make grand sequences of naval vessels maneuvering around the open sea), so he had to build it through editing. And he did that through shots of random things with a strong focus on them all feeding the same core idea at the heart of the sequence.

Really, it's kind of amazing how well that sequence works. And I focus on Battleship Potemkin because it's the most famous, but he kept on this tract for several more years through October: Ten Days that Shook the World, the recreation of the revolution through 1917 ending with the storming of the Winter Palace, and The General Line, Eisenstein's first film with a main character about a young woman who fights to create a kolkhoz and modern farm in the earliest days of the death of the old order and the birth of the new.

Early Needs


And that brings me to the needs of propaganda.

Eisenstein's first three films are the story of masses of people. There are hardly any individuals, and the only ones who make serious impressions are victims of the previous regime (a factory worker in Strike, the sailor Grigory Vakulinchuk in Battleship Potemkin, Lenin as a supporting character in October: Ten Days that Shook the World, though reportedly Trotsky was effectively the main character before Eisenstein was forced to remove him almost completely, he appears in a single shot). Those first three films feel decidedly revolutionary in spirit with the ideas of the communist takeover of the nation: the eradication of the individual in favor of classes, the proletariat as the only important character with victims/leaders being the only important individuals to highlight at all.

The General Line breaks from that, focusing on the female farmer Martha as she struggles against kulaks and with a Communist Party representative to introduce a dairy separator, convince the people to give up their wages for the collective pot to buy a bull, and to get a new tractor fresh off the communist factory lines, to work well for the first time (the irony of a brand new, Russian-made tractor immediately breaking down in the field was seemingly lost on everyone involved).

With that done, Eisenstein made the greatest mistake he could make in his career as a propagandist for the Soviet Union: He went to Hollywood. What follows is a nine-year period where he never completed a film, mostly spending time in Mexico with money supplied by people like Upton Sinclair to make a film about Mexico. He ran out of money, the stock was impounded, and the film didn't get back to the Soviet Union until a couple of decades after his death. Eisenstein's directing partner on October and The General Line, Grigori Aleksandrov, assembled a 90-minute long film that approximated, according to him, what Eisenstein had been trying to do.

The Meadow


That brings us to one of those fascinating things in the annals of film history: the completed film that was intentionally lost. Returning to the Soviet Union after the failure to even complete something in support of socialist upheaval in Mexico, Eisenstein took on the project of Bezhin Meadow. He apparently filmed two completely different versions, neither of which appealed to Soviet censors who ordered the film destroyed once they decided that it was unsalvageable. All that survives are individual frames that Eisenstein himself saved which an editor has put into order to roughly tell the story (it's borderline incomprehensible but available on The Criterion Channel for those really interested).

It's not often that completed films get actively destroyed. Films got lost all the time back in the day. Little films forgotten, left to decay in a vault, or even famous films lost in a fire, but a person or organization taking a film and literally burning it because they don't want it seen? That's unusual.

A lost film, though, wouldn't be that noteworthy if it weren't for this: "[I will] rid myself of the last anarchistic traits of individualism in my outlook and creative method." It's part of Eisenstein's apology he had to publish in Pravda for even trying to make the film in an essay called "The Mistakes of Bezhin Meadow." It's a piece of self-criticism where he admonishes himself for focusing on a real event (the murder of a child by his father) that was atypical of life in the Soviet Union, not exemplative, and his emphasis on formalistic tendencies rather than social realism. Think of the montage itself. It's not real. It's created reality, formalistic, and distanced from the real world that we see day to day.

The needs of the revolution had changed because the revolution was over. It was the late 30s. Lenin had been dead for more than a decade. Stalin had cemented power, and the calls for revolution couldn't be quite that overt or didactic anymore. Revolution against the established order now mean revolution against Stalin, so propaganda had to change with the time.

Heroes


The fallout from Bezhin Meadow was...much worse than you realize. It seems to have been part of a series of domino falls (Domino Theory! Ha!) that led to the execution of Boris Shumyatsky, the head of the Soviet GUK, the film division of the government. It looked like Eisenstein would never get the chance to film a movie again, but his reputation for Battleship Potemkin was strong enough to get him to make a film about the Russian war hero, Alexander Nevsky in 1938.

Alexander Nevsky was Eisenstein's return to prominence, and it was obvious that he had an official over his shoulder the whole movie. Quite literally. There's a credit for Dmitri Vasilyev called "with the collaboration of Dmitri Vasilyev". Vasilyev did not have many directing credits (nine total), and all but two of them are some variation of that collaborative one he shares with Eisenstein. The Criterion Collection's essay in the DVD release calls him the "studio-appointed watchdog". It also says that the writer on the film, Pyotr Pavlenko, was most likely secret police, Pavlenko having never worked with Eisenstein before or after.

But, it worked. Nevsky is one of two films Eisenstein made that average cinephiles can name (the other being Potemkin), and it was hugely successful in the Soviet Union. Eisenstein even made efforts to draw explicit parallels between the Russia hero and the Soviet Union's leader in an essay for Izvestia, a Russian newspaper. And it holds up really well. It's straight propaganda, pro-Russian and anti-German in that awkward period between Hitler's rise in Germany and before the signing of the Non-Aggression Pact when the two nations were antagonistic before WWII, but it's really entertaining and fun.

Villain


From all I have read and seen, being Russian is...complicated. Especially for its leaders. The history of Russia is long, bloody, and decidedly medieval, and the unification of the separate boyar fiefdoms into a singular Russian empire under a single tsar was not a peaceful process. However, that's exactly what Eisenstein decided to tackle: a trilogy of films detailing the life of Ivan the Terrible, the first Tsar of all the Russias. However, this wasn't The Lord of the Rings, and Eisenstein made one film at a time.

The first was a huge hit, especially with Stalin personally. The portrait of a firm-handed dictator violently bringing Russia under control in opposition to the boyars' desires for personal power, all done in the name of the people, was the exact kind of propaganda that Stalin wanted. Pro-Russian. Pro-him. Pro-unification under him. It was everything he wanted.

The second part is the stuff of legends, though. Thankfully, Stalin only had it suppressed instead of destroyed, but nevertheless, he reacted very poorly. In Part II, Ivan is shown as being deeply paranoid, cruel, and violent. Reportedly, Stalin objected to the lack of framing around Ivan's actions, especially the birth of his secret police called oprichniks. Ivan's violent rule was, seemingly, viewed in too much isolation without cause.

Another aspect that could have negatively affected the film was how Eisenstein filmed it. I should note that I've largely stopped talking about editing since Eisenstein got back from Mexico, and there's a reason for that: after the failure of Bezhin Meadow, Eisenstein had to leave that kind of experimental montage behind forever. Nevsky and Ivan and very traditionally assembled. Heck, Nevsky could have been made by Cecile B. DeMille it's so traditional.

Ivan, though, returns to formalism, but a different kind. The second is more out there than the first, but performances are arch and affected, people are positioned in frame unnaturally to create interesting angles. It's almost like Russian icons come to life. The second has an extended color sequence (the only bit of film in color in Eisenstein's entire filmography), though, that is almost Lynchian in its portrayal of a descent into madness. It's extreme, and I loved it completely. It's also a marked departure from the more realistic efforts at dramatizing cinema Eisenstein started (with authorities influencing every decision) in Alexander Nevsky).

Essentially, it was probably two major factors that led to the cancelling of Part III, which had already started filming and of which about five minutes survive.

Propaganda


There is no question that Eisenstein exclusively worked in literal propaganda. There could be some kind of exception for Strike since it seems to have been financed independently instead of by the literal government, but that's a distinction without a difference. All seven were propaganda. Que Viva Mexico was meant to be socialist propaganda for a socialist Mexico. Bezhin Meadow was destroyed because, officially, Eisenstein didn't portray the ideals of the government cleanly enough.

What interested me was how the needs of propaganda changed. Eisenstein's earliest films have no main characters. They are the story of the revolution told through the masses, a deeply socialist outlook on how there should be no individuals dramatized in cinematic form. However, when he returned to Russia after his Mexico experiment, and after the failure of Bezhin Meadow, he made propaganda of a very different sort: nationalistic hero worship. No longer were there stories of revolution. It was actually stories of established figures (Nevsky had already beaten the Swedish army when his film starts), consolidating power in Russia to more effectively face off against external threats (in Ivan those are more conceptual than literal, so much time spent on the boyars, but we do briefly see King Sigismund of Poland at the start of Part II).

I have no idea what kind of stories Eisenstein wanted to tell as an artist. The closest was probably Bezhin Meadow, but its incomplete form is very difficult to parse. What we got was how he wanted to tell stories: experimentally. He was going to bend rules visually no matter what the story was, at least. Even the early embrace of the masses as characters is an experiment, even if it dovetailed nicely with socialist narrative needs. Or, that idea of the masses as characters could have come from a deeply ingrained desire to advance the revolution through cinema.

I wouldn't trust a whole lot of Eisenstein's public remarks about intention, though. He was a party man in a party system using party organs whenever he needed to say anything publicly. Privately, he was seemingly gay in a system that sentenced gay people to long prison sentences and hard labor. He was on the wrong side of authorities because of his self-admitted "individuality". Maybe he was a dedicated idealogue. Maybe he was just someone caught in the system. Maybe he didn't hold strong political beliefs at all. I dunno. Based on his films, though, I see an artist straining against the limits of a totalitarian system, and doing it very well.

Eisenstein was one of the fathers of one of the major strains of editing. He made good films, even some great ones (seriously, Battleship Potemkin is just quality filmmaking, even if it is anti-Tsarist propaganda). Is he worth discovering? Yeah, very much so.

Just know what you're getting into.

Movies of Today

Opening in Theaters:

Novocaine

Black Bag

Movies I Saw This Fortnight:

Strike (Rating 3/4) Full Review "There's hardly any depth to it, and it's nakedly propaganda for the newly risen communist rule under Lenin. However, it's an interesting and, honestly, entertaining little film." [Personal Collection]

Battleship Potemkin (Rating 4/4) Full Review "It works, and it works really, really well." [Personal Collection]

October: Ten Days that Shook the World (Rating 3/4) Full Review "It's a good exercise in propaganda, but not much else." [YouTube]

The General Line (Rating 3/4) Full Review "In some ways, this is my favorite of Eisenstein's silent films, but it's also his least in some other ways." [YouTube]

Alexander Nevsky (Rating 4/4) Full Review "It's a high quality entertainment that just happens to be propaganda for the Soviet Union." [Personal Collection]

Ivan the Terrible: Part I (Rating 3/4) Full Review "And it's no surprise to think that Stalin loved the film. It justified and glorified him by implication. It was propaganda for his reign as the supreme and unquestioned ruler of Russia. That it's still a well-made film with something to latch onto is praise to Eisenstein, but approaching the story of Ivan as a drama rather than thin praise for Stalin would have made a better story." [Personal Collection]

Ivan the Terrible Part II: The Boyars' Plot (Rating 3/4) Full Review "It's part musical, part fever dream, and part nightmare. Its closest cinematic relation I can think of is the Powell and Pressburger film The Red Shoes." [Personal Collection]

Tower of London (Rating 3/4) Full Review This is far from high art. It's dragging Shakespeare a couple of levels lower than normal, but Corman attacks the material with verve and a sense of darkly humorous fun. Really, I had more fun with this than most of Corman's work." [YouTube]

Contact

Email any suggestions or questions to thejamesmadison.aos at symbol gmail dot com.
I've also archived all the old posts here, by request. I'll add new posts a week after they originally post at the HQ.

My next post will be on 4/5, and it will be about the directing career of Roger Corman.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison at 07:45 PM




Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Movie sign!

Posted by: Blutarski at March 15, 2025 07:47 PM (b294k)

2 Movie sign, Comrade.

Posted by: Blutarski at March 15, 2025 07:47 PM (b294k)

3 Battleship Potemkin, you say?

Was it an actual film, or just a cardboard facade?

Posted by: Dr. T at March 15, 2025 07:48 PM (jGGMD)

4 Movie sign, Comrade.
Posted by: Blutarski at March 15, 2025 07:47 PM (b294k)


One ping only, Comrade.

Posted by: Captain Ramius at March 15, 2025 07:49 PM (jGGMD)

5 Interesting that Sergei Prokofiev never gets mentioned.

Posted by: Scottish Mill Worker at March 15, 2025 07:52 PM (CHHv1)

6 Cool. I've seen both Ivans and Nevsky. Recently. Epic stuff.

Posted by: runner at March 15, 2025 07:52 PM (g47mK)

7 Good evening everyone

Posted by: Skip i at March 15, 2025 07:53 PM (fwDg9)

8 I will admit at the outset that I have little knowledge of Russian film history. However, I have read a few examples of Soviet journalism under Stalin, and they are....interesting, to say the least.

Posted by: Dr. T at March 15, 2025 07:53 PM (jGGMD)

9 I understand his epoch. A wrong word or move, and a person would have been erased completely.

Posted by: runner at March 15, 2025 07:54 PM (g47mK)

10 (Stalin hated the film, refused to allow its release, Eisenstein never completed a film again and died three years later).

Hmmm. I am finding myself having little sympathy. He was happy to feed the meat grinder- until it didn't like him. Hey, you supported and propagandized the system that had you die in disfavor and shame.

Bad luck, dude.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at March 15, 2025 07:55 PM (bss/y)

11 October: Ten Days that Shook the World, though reportedly Trotsky was effectively the main character before Eisenstein was forced to remove him almost completely, he appears in a single shot

There is almost no Trotsky in the Trotsky and Trotsky movie.

Posted by: rhennigantx at March 15, 2025 07:55 PM (gbOdA)

12 Battleship Potemkin was shot in a bathtub.

Posted by: rhennigantx at March 15, 2025 07:57 PM (gbOdA)

13 There are many ways of killing a poet.

Posted by: Alec Solzhenitsyn at March 15, 2025 07:57 PM (EXyHK)

14 There is almost no Trotsky in the Trotsky and Trotsky movie.
Posted by: rhennigantx at March 15, 2025 07:55 PM (gbOdA)

Bad luck. Lot of it going around.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at March 15, 2025 07:57 PM (bss/y)

15 The General Line breaks from that, focusing on the female farmer Martha as she struggles against kulaks

Kulaks were the old time equivalent of the HOA Board.

Posted by: rhennigantx at March 15, 2025 07:58 PM (gbOdA)

16 I understand his epoch. A wrong word or move, and a person would have been erased completely.
Posted by: runner at March 15, 2025 07:54 PM (g47mK)


That is untrue, Comrade. There is complete freedom of expression in the Soviet Union. You and your comment must now be deleted for shaking the confidence of the Soviet people.

Posted by: Moscow Commissars at March 15, 2025 07:58 PM (jGGMD)

17 Bad luck. Lot of it going around.
Posted by: Aetius451AD at March 15, 2025 07:57 PM (bss/y)

Being edited out of a Communist Russia movie was BAD.

Posted by: rhennigantx at March 15, 2025 07:59 PM (gbOdA)

18 15 The General Line breaks from that, focusing on the female farmer Martha as she struggles against kulaks

Kulaks were the old time equivalent of the HOA Board.
Posted by: rhennigantx at March 15, 2025 07:58 PM (gbOdA)

Well, we would all be kulaks. And the kulak must be destroyed.

Think white farmers in South Africa.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at March 15, 2025 07:59 PM (bss/y)

19 There is almost no Trotsky in the Trotsky and Trotsky movie.
Posted by: rhennigantx at March 15, 2025 07:55 PM (gbOdA)


There is no Leon Trotsky, there never was a Leon Trotsky, and we have always been at war with Eastasia.

Posted by: Moscow Commissars at March 15, 2025 08:00 PM (jGGMD)

20 No martha is the hoa board

Posted by: Miguel cervantes at March 15, 2025 08:00 PM (dJR17)

21 9 I understand his epoch. A wrong word or move, and a person would have been erased completely.
Posted by: runner at March 15, 2025 07:54 PM (g47mK)

Freedom of speech was a guarantee in the Manifesto.

Life however was a crap shoot.

Posted by: rhennigantx at March 15, 2025 08:00 PM (gbOdA)

22 Like aaronson trotsky and co

Posted by: Miguel cervantes at March 15, 2025 08:01 PM (dJR17)

23 This is a fascinating read. Thank you.

Posted by: Grump928(C) at March 15, 2025 08:01 PM (NwuoC)

24 There is no Leon Trotsky, there never was a Leon Trotsky, and we have always been at war with Eastasia.
Posted by: Moscow Commissars at March 15, 2025 08:00 PM (jGGMD)

Wait, WE are Eastasia!

*gunshot*

Pay no attention to what that guy said. He was a capitalist, kulak agent. Also probably Jewish.

Posted by: New NKVD Officer at March 15, 2025 08:01 PM (bss/y)

25 Well, we would all be kulaks. And the kulak must be destroyed.

Think white farmers in South Africa.
Posted by: Aetius451AD at March 15, 2025 07:59 PM (bss/y)

Profiteers

and

Black Marketers

and

Currency Traders

Oh My

Posted by: rhennigantx at March 15, 2025 08:02 PM (gbOdA)

26 > There is no Leon Trotsky, there never was a Leon Trotsky, and we have always been at war with Eastasia.

Non sequitur, comrade! That phrase is about the corporations, not Stalinist barbarism—which does not exist, except to keep the corporations in check!

Posted by: Erich Fromm at March 15, 2025 08:03 PM (EXyHK)

27 Rutherford and co

I think nevsky is very traditional in its style

Posted by: Miguel cervantes at March 15, 2025 08:03 PM (dJR17)

28 Hoarders and wreckers.

Posted by: Grump928(C) at March 15, 2025 08:03 PM (NwuoC)

29 Profiteers

and

Black Marketers

and

Currency Traders

Oh My
Posted by: rhennigantx at March 15, 2025 08:02 PM (gbOdA)

Owners of private property. Dissidents.

Posted by: New NKVD Officer at March 15, 2025 08:03 PM (bss/y)

30 Pay no attention to what that guy said. He was a capitalist, kulak agent. Also probably Jewish.
Posted by: New NKVD Officer at March 15, 2025 08:01 PM (bss/y)

Judges would have accepted Afrikaner Farmer.

Posted by: rhennigantx at March 15, 2025 08:03 PM (gbOdA)

31 Non sequitur, comrade! That phrase is about the corporations, not Stalinist barbarism—which does not exist, except to keep the corporations in check!
Posted by: Erich Fromm at March 15, 2025 08:03 PM (EXyHK)

If it exists- it is a good thing!

(ooc: nothing fucking new under the sun.)

Posted by: New NKVD Officer at March 15, 2025 08:04 PM (bss/y)

32 Bulgakov had similR issues with his work

Posted by: Miguel cervantes at March 15, 2025 08:04 PM (dJR17)

33 28 Hoarders and wreckers and kulaks. Oh My
Posted by: Grump928(C) at March 15, 2025 08:03 PM (NwuoC)

fixed it

Posted by: rhennigantx at March 15, 2025 08:05 PM (gbOdA)

34 See rhodesian farmers say 1985

Posted by: Miguel cervantes at March 15, 2025 08:05 PM (dJR17)

35 30
Judges would have accepted Afrikaner Farmer.

Posted by: rhennigantx at March 15, 2025 08:03 PM (gbOdA)
----
Afrikaner farmer would be a Boer.

Posted by: Ciampino - BELFRY was were I kept all my BAT files at March 15, 2025 08:05 PM (KjLnc)

36 I liked Nevsky, akshualy. The battle portrayed is a famous one , 13th century, Teutonic knights battling Alexander, Prince of Novgorod. The Prince won in a wondrous victory against a more advanced army, on a frozen lake. The movie was made in 1938. And, of course, german nazis were marching through Europe. Hint, hint.

Posted by: runner at March 15, 2025 08:05 PM (g47mK)

37 I just had a thought of the kind of power Stalin wielded. Not just complete temporal power but also could make or break any entertainment or social system he wished.

It is like the entire world being run by Jim Sterling. And worked about as well.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at March 15, 2025 08:06 PM (bss/y)

38 Dad taught a course on Journalism and spent a quarter on Propaganda way back in the 60's. He said he played Birth of a Nation and Battleship Potemkin for that quarter. When DVDs came out I found that Potemkin was issued and bought it for him. I am not sure he ever watched it though. He may have seen it enough times.

Dad had a soft spot for Russian film, though. He took me to watch Little Vera (Vasili Pichu) when it came out in the art houses. He was very disappointed by it, he thought he could see identical issues of dysfunctional families, alcoholism and unemployment in family court, where he practiced law. He wanted more heroic films.

Posted by: Kindltot at March 15, 2025 08:06 PM (D7oie)

39 Afrikaner farmer would be a Boer.
Posted by: Ciampino - BELFRY was were I kept all my BAT files at March 15, 2025 08:05 PM (KjLnc)

Boer Hunting

Posted by: rhennigantx at March 15, 2025 08:07 PM (gbOdA)

40 But i can see why de palma borrowed from potemkin for untouchables (even though the purpose is different)

Posted by: Miguel cervantes at March 15, 2025 08:07 PM (dJR17)

41 Freedom of speech was a guarantee in the Manifesto.

Life however was a crap shoot.
Posted by: rhennigantx at March 15, 2025 08:00 PM (gbOdA

USSR had the bestest most freest Constitution! Equality, and freedom, citizen !

Posted by: runner at March 15, 2025 08:07 PM (g47mK)

42 He wanted more heroic films.
Posted by: Kindltot at March 15, 2025 08:06 PM (D7oie)

He wanted escapism, not reality.

I find myself tending towards that as well.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at March 15, 2025 08:08 PM (bss/y)

43 Forgot about Movie Sign! Sorry! In my defense, I'm watching "Secret Nazi Ruins" from Discovery.

One of my favorite symphony memories is listening to "Alexander Nevsky" while the film played behind the orchestra.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at March 15, 2025 08:08 PM (kpS4V)

44 Wow, great essay TJM! I never imagined montage was born of poverty. I get a big kick out of the first couple decades of Soviet propaganda films and photography. I really like "Strike."

This is solid Gold: "[I will] rid myself of the last anarchistic traits of individualism in my outlook and creative method." Heh.

Posted by: gp's Movie Laffs at March 15, 2025 08:09 PM (3l52y)

45 39 Afrikaner farmer would be a Boer.
Posted by: Ciampino - BELFRY was were I kept all my BAT files at March 15, 2025 08:05 PM (KjLnc)

Boer Hunting
Posted by: rhennigantx at March 15, 2025 08:07 PM (gbOdA)

I don't think they have taken to shooting them from helicopters yet, but I figure that could be coming.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at March 15, 2025 08:09 PM (bss/y)

46 Read all the content

Posted by: Skip i at March 15, 2025 08:10 PM (fwDg9)

47 Sadly the first time time I heard of Eisenstein was through Tom Clancy's books.

Red Storm rising was a book that mentioned Nevsky prominently.

I think he referred to Battleship Potemkin in Red October.

Thanks for the deep dive TJM ...

Posted by: browndog spreading chalk dust everywhere at March 15, 2025 08:10 PM (TTAGa)

48 44 This is solid Gold: "[I will] rid myself of the last anarchistic traits of individualism in my outlook and creative method." Heh.
Posted by: gp's Movie Laffs at March 15, 2025 08:09 PM (3l52y)

====

I felt genuinely sad when I read that.

Posted by: TJM's phone at March 15, 2025 08:10 PM (GBKbO)

49 46 Read all the content
Posted by: Skip i at March 15, 2025 08:10 PM (fwDg9)

====

Sorry about that.

Posted by: TJM's phone at March 15, 2025 08:11 PM (GBKbO)

50 Eisenstein is easily worth watching and studying.
It makes for a really good movie watching experience. As long as I don't think about the Soviet Union more than I have to.

There are some films here I hadn't need and wouldn't watch if it wasn't for TJM, so thanks for that. The man knew how to make a movie.

I just wish it hadn't been in (apparently enthusiastic) service of one the most evil governments ever.

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, Buy ammo at March 15, 2025 08:13 PM (xcxpd)

51 Even TJM doesn't read the content. It's all stream-of-consciousness opium ramblings. He's as surprised as any of us when he hits "post".

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at March 15, 2025 08:14 PM (kpS4V)

52 I felt genuinely sad when I read that.
Posted by: TJM's phone at March 15, 2025 08:10 PM (GBKbO)

Why? I prefer people to be honest about who they are. He can be an asshole and have admirable traits or skills.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at March 15, 2025 08:15 PM (bss/y)

53 "The Line" (2024) Fraternity hazing drama. I like some of the acting in this one. However, lead actor attempts "Florida" accent, a mouthful of leadshot and sillyputty. He's actually easier to understand when he's talking while eating. Subtitles to the rescue!

Posted by: gp's Movie Laffs at March 15, 2025 08:15 PM (3l52y)

54 51 Even TJM doesn't read the content. It's all stream-of-consciousness opium ramblings. He's as surprised as any of us when he hits "post".
Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at March 15, 2025 08:14 PM (kpS4V

====

I bang on the keyboard until the red squiggles go away.

Posted by: TJM's phone at March 15, 2025 08:15 PM (GBKbO)

55 I liked Nevsky, akshualy. The battle portrayed is a famous one , 13th century, Teutonic knights battling Alexander, Prince of Novgorod. The Prince won in a wondrous victory against a more advanced army, on a frozen lake. The movie was made in 1938. And, of course, german nazis were marching through Europe. Hint, hint.
Posted by: runner at March 15, 2025 08:05 PM (g47mK)


The climactic scene in The Billion Dollar Brain was based in part on this as well.

Posted by: Kindltot at March 15, 2025 08:15 PM (D7oie)

56 Reportedly, Stalin objected to the lack of framing around Ivan's actions, especially the birth of his secret police called oprichniks. Ivan's violent rule was, seemingly, viewed in too much isolation without cause.


Or, more likely, Stalin saw himself as a parallel to the Czar. He saw it as a direct critique.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at March 15, 2025 08:17 PM (bss/y)

57 "I prefer people to be honest about who they are."

It can't possibly be in earnest. It's sad because it's a forced confession. It's funny because it's so evidently absurd.

Posted by: gp's Movie Laffs at March 15, 2025 08:17 PM (3l52y)

58 52 Why? I prefer people to be honest about who they are. He can be an asshole and have admirable traits or skills.
Posted by: Aetius451AD at March 15, 2025 08:15 PM (bss/y)

===

He had to apologize for thinking for himself.

Yes, he chose to return to the USSR after being in Mexico for several years. He chose to stay in that system of oppression.

I find it sad. Imagine if, instead, he had stayed in LA and never gone back.

Posted by: TJM's phone at March 15, 2025 08:18 PM (GBKbO)

59 Thx TJM. I saw Battleship Potemkin years ago but thought it was great. Never seen Alexander Nevsky or either Ivan film . Will have to check them out.
It must have been crazy to be a film maker in the Soviet Union even if you were a true believer

Posted by: Smell the Glove at March 15, 2025 08:18 PM (bVN1m)

60 58 52 Why? I prefer people to be honest about who they are. He can be an asshole and have admirable traits or skills.
Posted by: Aetius451AD at March 15, 2025 08:15 PM (bss/y)

===

He had to apologize for thinking for himself.

Yes, he chose to return to the USSR after being in Mexico for several years. He chose to stay in that system of oppression.

I find it sad. Imagine if, instead, he had stayed in LA and never gone back.
Posted by: TJM's phone at March 15, 2025 08:18 PM (GBKbO)

That's what I'm sayin'!

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, Buy ammo at March 15, 2025 08:18 PM (xcxpd)

61 The combination of Eisenstein's direction and Sergei Prokofiev's soundtrack on Alexander Nevsky was brilliant. The scene, "Battle on the Ice", alone, is worth the price of admission.

Posted by: Paco at March 15, 2025 08:18 PM (mADJX)

62 It can't possibly be in earnest. It's sad because it's a forced confession. It's funny because it's so evidently absurd.
Posted by: gp's Movie Laffs at March 15, 2025 08:17 PM (3l52y)

Why forced? People can be full of contradictions.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at March 15, 2025 08:19 PM (bss/y)

63 I find it sad. Imagine if, instead, he had stayed in LA and never gone back.
Posted by: TJM's phone at March 15, 2025 08:18 PM (GBKbO)
---

Soviet Realist monster movies!

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at March 15, 2025 08:21 PM (kpS4V)

64 Finally saw Nosferatu last night. We streamers it but I had to stop it halfway through because it was so dark I couldn't see a thing. I turned the brightness up and could finally figure out what was happening. I thought Orlok looked like Freddie Mercury, which was weird but Lilt Rose Depp was amazing. The story was OK, I wasn't impressed.

Posted by: Megthered at March 15, 2025 08:22 PM (wCr+o)

65 48 44 This is solid Gold: "[I will] rid myself of the last anarchistic traits of individualism in my outlook and creative method." Heh.
Posted by: gp's Movie Laffs at March 15, 2025 08:09 PM (3l52y)

====

I felt genuinely sad when I read that.
Posted by: TJM's phone at March 15, 2025 08:10 PM (GBKbO)

It's the sound of a man's spirit breaking. And yes, he chose poorly..

Posted by: Joe Kidd at March 15, 2025 08:22 PM (bA75n)

66 "Soviet Realist monster movies!"

I can't think of any, but there must have been some.

Posted by: gp's Movie Laffs at March 15, 2025 08:22 PM (3l52y)

67 Consider syme in 1984

Posted by: Miguel cervantes at March 15, 2025 08:22 PM (dJR17)

68
He had to apologize for thinking for himself.

Yes, he chose to return to the USSR after being in Mexico for several years. He chose to stay in that system of oppression.

I find it sad. Imagine if, instead, he had stayed in LA and never gone back.
Posted by: TJM's phone at March 15, 2025 08:18 PM (GBKbO)

There is a reason for the Red Guard. There is a reason for struggle sessions. It is a standard communist tactic to enforce conformity. Get the individual to enforce himself. Everyone is carrying around a political officer in their own head.

And yet. Again, little sympathy. If it had been about the art, he could have stayed in Mexico or gone anywhere. But he was an ardent propagandist for them. Would you give the same allowance for say a Goebbels?

Posted by: Aetius451AD at March 15, 2025 08:23 PM (bss/y)

69 60 That's what I'm sayin'!
Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, Buy ammo at March 15, 2025 08:18 PM (xcxpd)

====

I think I just empathize with him a bit more than you do.

As an aside...showing Junior Empire Strikes Back for the first time right now.

We finished Star Wars a few minutes ago, and he asked if we could watch something else after. "Like what?"

"The next episode?"

Posted by: TJM's phone at March 15, 2025 08:23 PM (GBKbO)

70 The Mexican Revolution could be the subject of several movies . About 2.6m Mexicans died. At any given moment you weren't sure whose side you were on

Posted by: Smell the Glove at March 15, 2025 08:23 PM (bVN1m)

71 47 Sadly the first time time I heard of Eisenstein was through Tom Clancy's books.

Red Storm rising was a book that mentioned Nevsky prominently.

I think he referred to Battleship Potemkin in Red October.

Thanks for the deep dive TJM ...
Posted by: browndog spreading chalk dust everywhere



Heh, me too.

Posted by: Puddleglum at work at March 15, 2025 08:23 PM (gcUgZ)

72 He was dutiful drone until he got liquidated

Posted by: Miguel cervantes at March 15, 2025 08:24 PM (dJR17)

73 "The next episode?"
Posted by: TJM's phone at March 15, 2025 08:23 PM (GBKbO)

LOL. Just stop him before you get to the prequels.

'Yes, too bad they never made any more movies. Probably better off. What story would you have told?'

Posted by: Aetius451AD at March 15, 2025 08:24 PM (bss/y)

74 Forgot about Movie Sign! Sorry! In my defense, I'm watching "Secret Nazi Ruins" from Discovery.

One of my favorite symphony memories is listening to "Alexander Nevsky" while the film played behind the orchestra.
Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at March 15, 2025 08:08 PM (kpS4V)

Have they shown the launch site for the rockets that established the secret Nazi Moon Base?

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at March 15, 2025 08:26 PM (MqtqS)

75 Rule 303.

Posted by: Eromero at March 15, 2025 08:26 PM (LHPAg)

76 There were some folks at the purge trials who embellished their crimes

Posted by: Miguel cervantes at March 15, 2025 08:27 PM (dJR17)

77 70 The Mexican Revolution could be the subject of several movies . About 2.6m Mexicans died. At any given moment you weren't sure whose side you were on
Posted by: Smell the Glove at March 15, 2025 08:23 PM (bVN1m)

I have thought that about several world events. Taiping Rebellion for instance.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at March 15, 2025 08:27 PM (bss/y)

78 Stravinsky used to be the ballyhooed 20th Century composer, but Prokofiev seems to get more air time on my classical station these days.

Prokofiev is my fave.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at March 15, 2025 08:27 PM (kpS4V)

79 73 LOL. Just stop him before you get to the prequels.

'Yes, too bad they never made any more movies. Probably better off. What story would you have told?'
Posted by: Aetius451AD at March 15, 2025 08:24 PM (bss/y)

===

This is the week Dolley is gone, and I had a plan for a movie a night, a plan Junior loved.

So, I've shown him a bunch (The Fifth Element, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, MI Fallout, Edge of Tomorrow, er...Predator...dont tell his mother). Tonight was supposed to be Sleepy Hollow, but...I won't deny him his enthusiasm.

Posted by: TJM's phone at March 15, 2025 08:27 PM (GBKbO)

80 Have they shown the launch site for the rockets that established the secret Nazi Moon Base?
Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at March 15, 2025 08:26 PM (MqtqS)
---

Not yet! 🤞

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at March 15, 2025 08:29 PM (kpS4V)

81 TJM actually with all.my last few tears of Russian history saw Battleship Potemkin not that long ago.
Seen 10 days but long ago but wouldn't mind seeing it after all my reading lately.

Posted by: Skip i at March 15, 2025 08:29 PM (fwDg9)

82 76 There were some folks at the purge trials who embellished their crimes
Posted by: Miguel cervantes at March 15, 2025 08:27 PM (dJR17)

Often because their families were threatened. Wives and daughters raped in front of husbands. Tortured. etc.

The Soviet Union was NOT a good place. People who simp for it should be treated the same as those who simp for the Nazis.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at March 15, 2025 08:29 PM (bss/y)

83 So, I've shown him a bunch (The Fifth Element, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, MI Fallout, Edge of Tomorrow, er...Predator...dont tell his mother). Tonight was supposed to be Sleepy Hollow, but...I won't deny him his enthusiasm.
Posted by: TJM's phone at March 15, 2025 08:27 PM (GBKbO)

That is a darn good list. Airplane! or too young? Galaxy Quest?

Posted by: Aetius451AD at March 15, 2025 08:30 PM (bss/y)

84 Calling it a night, Australian Grand Prix is on a midnight but not setting a alarm.
Have a great evening everyone

Posted by: Skip i at March 15, 2025 08:31 PM (fwDg9)

85 It was an evil empire without a doubt but many have not apologized for supporting it among western intellectuals

Posted by: Miguel cervantes at March 15, 2025 08:33 PM (dJR17)

86 Heck an old style 80s mini series on the Antonine Dynasty would have everything:

Nerva- kind of a well meaning idiot, who made the best choice ever: his successor.
Trajan- WAR! But also letting all of the provinces a large degree of autonomy. Rome at it's greatest extent.
Hadrian- GAY! Micromanagement!
Antoninus Pius- This would be kind of the boring leg.
Marcus Aurelius- stoicism! Tragedy! Loss!Plagues!
Commodus- eh, just rerun Caligula (just slightly more insane.)

Posted by: Aetius451AD at March 15, 2025 08:35 PM (bss/y)

87 Night skip.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at March 15, 2025 08:35 PM (bss/y)

88 Have they shown the launch site for the rockets that established the secret Nazi Moon Base?
Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at March 15, 2025 08:26 PM (MqtqS)

Isn't that in Neue Schwabenland, in Antarctica?

Posted by: The Osprey at March 15, 2025 08:36 PM (MqtqS)

89 85 It was an evil empire without a doubt but many have not apologized for supporting it among western intellectuals
Posted by: Miguel cervantes at March 15, 2025 08:33 PM (dJR17)

And that support is a large reason why it is not viewed in the same way as the nazis.

By the same token 'if they had known' they probably would have still supported it anyway.

I remember in 'Russia at War' Prof Rabinowich was doing a short segement on collectivization and detailed some of the atrocities against the 'kulaks/dekulakization' (fucking hell, the browser recognizes that word) and one of the students said 'But they were Kulaks!' as if that made it ok. I wanted to shoot the fucker. Useful idiot.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at March 15, 2025 08:38 PM (bss/y)

90 78 - Prokofiev is my fave. - All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes

He's one of my favorite composers. And I'm no musical expert, but I have never failed to identify Prokofiev as the composer when I hear one of his pieces that is new to me; his music is just that distinctive.

Posted by: Paco at March 15, 2025 08:42 PM (mADJX)

91 83 That is a darn good list. Airplane! or too young? Galaxy Quest?
Posted by: Aetius451AD at March 15, 2025 08:30 PM (bss/y)

====

I've thought about Airplane, but that one naked breast shot. I never knew it was in the movie at all until a few years ago, having always seen the TV edit.

Posted by: TJM's phone at March 15, 2025 08:42 PM (GBKbO)

92 Commodus- eh, just rerun Caligula (just slightly more insane.)
Posted by: Aetius451AD at March 15, 2025 08:35 PM (bss/y)

Commodus...wasn't he the guy that invented the flush toilet?

Posted by: The Osprey at March 15, 2025 08:44 PM (MqtqS)

93 Galaxy Quest is like Tremors, a parody that is itself a terrific example of the genre.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at March 15, 2025 08:44 PM (kpS4V)

94 Dunno how you can watch so many Russian films

Posted by: vmom deport deport deporte at March 15, 2025 08:46 PM (rT96s)

95 37 I just had a thought of the kind of power Stalin wielded. Not just complete temporal power but also could make or break any entertainment or social system he wished.

It is like the entire world being run by Jim Sterling. And worked about as well.
Posted by: Aetius451AD at March 15, 2025 08:06 PM (bss/y)

----------

If Stalin's reign would have been limited to the Barbarossa invasion to the German surrender, it would have qualified him for true historical greatness.

It was all the before and after shit that stained him as a monster for all eternity.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at March 15, 2025 08:46 PM (hY4dx)

96 I've thought about Airplane, but that one naked breast shot. I never knew it was in the movie at all until a few years ago, having always seen the TV edit.
Posted by: TJM's phone at March 15, 2025 08:42 PM (GBKbO)

Kitten Natividad, btw (iirc.) Might be the first time I saw movie boobs, I think. I also think there are layers of complexity he might not get yet.

Galaxy Quest might also be over his head because it relies so much on Star Trek being such a phenomena.

Blazing Saddles is right out.

Young Frankenstein?

Posted by: Aetius451AD at March 15, 2025 08:46 PM (bss/y)

97 Recognizing the Ides, is the choice the first half of Cleopatra or the last half of "Rome"

Posted by: Ben Had at March 15, 2025 08:47 PM (j6NlC)

98 94 Dunno how you can watch so many Russian films
Posted by: vmom deport deport deporte at March 15, 2025 08:46 PM (rT96s)

===

It's not like they affected me in the least.

Now, who wants to rise up against the bourgeoisie?

Posted by: TJM's phone at March 15, 2025 08:47 PM (GBKbO)

99 If Stalin's reign would have been limited to the Barbarossa invasion to the German surrender, it would have qualified him for true historical greatness.

It was all the before and after shit that stained him as a monster for all eternity.
Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at March 15, 2025 08:46 PM (hY4dx)

His war conduct is not fantastic. Considering he liquidated a lot of the experienced army people down to even the sergeant level right before Barbarossa.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at March 15, 2025 08:47 PM (bss/y)

100 43 Forgot about Movie Sign! Sorry! In my defense, I'm watching "Secret Nazi Ruins" from Discovery.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at March 15, 2025 08:08 PM (kpS4V)

Do they go into the Mittelwerk? Or those mysterious underground complexes that were built in occupied Poland, where the Poles claim the Nazis were doing nuclear weapons research? I think it's called "Der Reise"...

Posted by: The Osprey at March 15, 2025 08:47 PM (MqtqS)

101 97 Recognizing the Ides, is the choice the first half of Cleopatra or the last half of "Rome"
Posted by: Ben Had at March 15, 2025 08:47 PM (j6NlC)

I'd go for first season of Rome generally.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at March 15, 2025 08:48 PM (bss/y)

102 And that support is a large reason why it is not viewed in the same way as the nazis.

By the same token 'if they had known' they probably would have still supported it anyway.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at March 15, 2025 08:38 PM (bss/y)

The left still views the Soviet Union as respectable. They will never apologize for it. They see communism as admirable and the only problem with the Soviet Union is that they went a little too fast and a little too far in some places.

(Interestingly, the Russian government has apologized for the crimes of the Soviet Union more than western leftists ever will.)

Posted by: Disinterested FDA Director at March 15, 2025 08:49 PM (l3YAf)

103 96 Galaxy Quest might also be over his head because it relies so much on Star Trek being such a phenomena.

Blazing Saddles is right out.

Young Frankenstein?
Posted by: Aetius451AD at March 15, 2025 08:46 PM (bss/y)

====

I think I did show him Galaxy Quest a couple of years ago.

I went through my collection picked out 43 films I thought he might like and hadn't seen, and I narrowed it down to 9.

He has since given up on Empire simply because he was too tired to go any further, but it's obvious he's having a very good time finally discovering Star Wars.

Posted by: TJM's phone at March 15, 2025 08:49 PM (GBKbO)

104 But he was an ardent propagandist for them. Would you give the same allowance for say a Goebbels?
Posted by: Aetius451AD at March 15, 2025 08:23 PM (bss/y)

Goebbels was most likely born with a broken spirit, certainly a withered soul. It was stated above, being Russian is..complicated..

Posted by: Joe Kidd at March 15, 2025 08:49 PM (bA75n)

105 His war conduct is not fantastic. Considering he liquidated a lot of the experienced army people down to even the sergeant level right before Barbarossa.
Posted by: Aetius451AD at March 15, 2025 08:47 PM (bss/y)

---------

Yes, but he showed a great ability to learn from his mistakes. As Hitler incrementally reduced his field officers' freedom of initiative, Stalin incrementally increased his trust of the field officers that had proved themselves worthy of it.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at March 15, 2025 08:50 PM (hY4dx)

106 89 I remember in 'Russia at War' Prof Rabinowich was doing a short segment on collectivization and detailed some of the atrocities against the 'kulaks/dekulakization' (fucking hell, the browser recognizes that word) and one of the students said 'But they were Kulaks!' as if that made it ok. I wanted to shoot the fucker. Useful idiot. - Aetius451AD

I recall a modern European history textbook I had when I was in college, in which the author - I have forgotten the name of this...historian - wrapped up a section on Stalin's man-made famines in Ukraine by saying something along the lines of, however brutal these famines may have been, the Soviet government was able to feed the people who made up the country's industrial base, and, anyway, no such famines ever occurred again.

So, basically, you've got to break a few eggs...

Utterly disgusting. I think I may have dropped the course out of contempt for the author of that book.

Posted by: Paco at March 15, 2025 08:51 PM (mADJX)

107 Do they go into the Mittelwerk? Or those mysterious underground complexes that were built in occupied Poland, where the Poles claim the Nazis were doing nuclear weapons research? I think it's called "Der Reise"...
Posted by: The Osprey at March 15, 2025 08:47
----

The one in Poland was a secret explosives manufacturing facility hidden in the forest.

I liked the episode on the Maisy Battery, behind Point du Hoc, which I hadn't heard about (not that my knowledge isn't full of YUGE gaps).

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at March 15, 2025 08:51 PM (kpS4V)

108 He has since given up on Empire simply because he was too tired to go any further, but it's obvious he's having a very good time finally discovering Star Wars.
Posted by: TJM's phone at March 15, 2025 08:49 PM (GBKbO)
----

You're a good movie daddy 🫶

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at March 15, 2025 08:53 PM (kpS4V)

109 So, basically, you've got to break a few eggs...

Utterly disgusting. I think I may have dropped the course out of contempt for the author of that book.
Posted by: Paco at March 15, 2025 08:51 PM (mADJX)

That was the good thing about Rabinowich and Ekloff- neither pulled a single punch on how utterly fucked up and evil the Soviets were.

In Bloomington! I shudder to think who is teaching there now. IUB has gone off the cliff in the woke direction.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at March 15, 2025 08:54 PM (bss/y)

110 Great cartoon I've seen and lost.

And that's the Star Wars trilogy. What did you think son?

That was awesome! Did they make any more?

...

Nope.

Posted by: Captain Comic at March 15, 2025 08:54 PM (osHg6)

111 Has Warren Beatty ever apologized for Reds?

Posted by: Anna Puma at March 15, 2025 08:55 PM (S2nsm)

112 104 But he was an ardent propagandist for them. Would you give the same allowance for say a Goebbels?
Posted by: Aetius451AD at March 15, 2025 08:23 PM (bss/y)

===

I've been thinking about this since you posted it, and I have decided...I need to watch some Nazi propaganda.

I saw Jud Sus in college, but that's it.

It'll be an unfair comparison (13 years vs 70, no one of Eisenstein's stature), but I need to see for myself what I would consider of Nazi propaganda wrapped up in the form of 1930s popular entertainment.

Posted by: TJM's phone at March 15, 2025 08:55 PM (GBKbO)

113 Posted by: TJM's phone at March 15, 2025 08:55 PM (GBKbO)

You’ve never seen Triumph of the Will?

Posted by: Disinterested FDA Director at March 15, 2025 08:56 PM (l3YAf)

114 You’ve never seen Triumph of the Will?
Posted by: Disinterested FDA Director at March 15, 2025 08:56 PM (l3YAf)

===

Oh, yes. I've seen that one too. Very long time ago, though.

Posted by: TJM's phone at March 15, 2025 08:57 PM (GBKbO)

115 Kulaks, wreckers, hoarders.. or the 'eternal Jew'

All dehumanize people and reduce them to a thing that needs removing.

Posted by: Anna Puma at March 15, 2025 08:59 PM (S2nsm)

116 I've thought about Airplane, but that one naked breast shot. I never knew it was in the movie at all until a few years ago, having always seen the TV edit.
Posted by: TJM's phone at March 15, 2025 08:42 PM (GBKbO)

I think Little enjoyed Airplane when we watched it. I had to explain the naked breast joke being a reference to Mad Magazine's movie parodies always including nudity as a comic device. Then I had to explain what magazines were...

Posted by: Joe Kidd at March 15, 2025 08:59 PM (bA75n)

117 If Roger Corman had filmed Battleship Potemkin, Pam Grier would have been working in the boiler room, topless.

Posted by: Tom Servo at March 15, 2025 09:00 PM (T+ixL)

118 Sort of related, I’m reading the purported diary of a Heinrich Müller, a head of the gestapo, who supposedly wasn’t killed during the fall of Berlin, but rather smuggled to the USA and part of the Cold War apparatus. Not sure if it is authentic or not. It is an interesting read, about the spooks and machinations during the immediate post war climate, Korea, and Hoover, Truman, Angelton, and other British fairies in the diplomatic corps.

Posted by: Common Tater at March 15, 2025 09:00 PM (vE9dg)

119 It'll be an unfair comparison (13 years vs 70, no one of Eisenstein's stature), but I need to see for myself what I would consider of Nazi propaganda wrapped up in the form of 1930s popular entertainment.
Posted by: TJM's phone at March 15, 2025 08:55 PM (GBKbO)

Aside from Leni Riefenstahl, I cannot think of any Nazi film makers. They were there. I just never found any inclination to watch anything they did. I am not saying there is not probably not useful info in there, idea that could be gleaned, just not something I was ever interested in.

'Propaganda' is an interesting term anyway. We think of propaganda as the stuff that clangs. It hits off and you can see it for what it is. The best propaganda, you call a 'good movie' or 'art.'

Posted by: Aetius451AD at March 15, 2025 09:00 PM (bss/y)

120 117 If Roger Corman had filmed Battleship Potemkin, Pam Grier would have been working in the boiler room, topless.
Posted by: Tom Servo at March 15, 2025 09:00 PM (T+ixL)

Roger Corman knew how to make an entertaining movie.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at March 15, 2025 09:01 PM (bss/y)

121 You’ve never seen Triumph of the Will?
Posted by: Disinterested FDA Director at March 15, 2025 08:56 PM (l3YAf)

If you’ve seen the ending of Star Wars - ANH, you’ve seen Triumph of the Will.

Posted by: Tom Servo at March 15, 2025 09:02 PM (T+ixL)

122 Sort of related, I’m reading the purported diary of a Heinrich Müller, a head of the gestapo, who supposedly wasn’t killed during the fall of Berlin, but rather smuggled to the USA and part of the Cold War apparatus. Not sure if it is authentic or not. It is an interesting read, about the spooks and machinations during the immediate post war climate, Korea, and Hoover, Truman, Angelton, and other British fairies in the diplomatic corps. The author, whoever it was, spends a lot of time talking about the strategy in Korea, what will Stalin do, etc. McCarthy and Macarthur. Interesting time in US history for certain.

Posted by: Common Tater at March 15, 2025 09:02 PM (u+/Fy)

123 117 If Roger Corman had filmed Battleship Potemkin, Pam Grier would have been working in the boiler room, topless.
Posted by: Tom Servo at March 15, 2025 09:00 PM (T+ixL)

----------

You have to respect the man's artistic vision.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at March 15, 2025 09:02 PM (hY4dx)

124 Regarding TJM's mentions of the expense and shortage of film stock-

I somewhat recall a case from the 20s when some New York guys agreed to sell a large amount of film stock to the USSR.

Cash up front.

They got the money, but supplied nothing. The Soviets attempted to sue in court in NY. The case was rejected because the US did not recognize the USSR (that only happened in 1933).

Posted by: Miklos, vaguely recalling at March 15, 2025 09:03 PM (I8gAO)

125 I'm about to hate-watch "Electric State" on Netflix. It got bad reviews.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at March 15, 2025 09:04 PM (kpS4V)

126 I keep forgetting the name of this one Nazi propaganda film, but it was fully Aktion T4.

Central casting Herr Doktor in lecgture hall is espousing the concept of Lebensunwertes Leben to just two students, one male and one female both the epitome of the Aryan ideal.

Posted by: Anna Puma at March 15, 2025 09:05 PM (S2nsm)

127 78 Stravinsky used to be the ballyhooed 20th Century composer, but Prokofiev seems to get more air time on my classical station these days.

Prokofiev is my fave.
Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at March 15, 2025 08:27 PM (kpS4V)

Well, how could a She-Wolf not like the guy who composed "Peter and the Wolf"? Which is now stuck in my head.

Posted by: The Osprey at March 15, 2025 09:05 PM (MqtqS)

128 If you’ve seen the ending of Star Wars - ANH, you’ve seen Triumph of the Will.
Posted by: Tom Servo at March 15, 2025 09:02 PM (T+ixL)

I need to rewatch it. It was a pretty well put together film from what I recall. Saw it in History of the Holocaust (again at IU.) I almost wish I could view it in isolation (without knowing what it is about) and see if it clanged.

Here is an interesting question. Our social studies teacher (Mr Halter- who was Navy) showed us 'Night and Fog'. Is that propaganda- just anti-Nazi propaganda?

It begs the question whether all propaganda (meant to emotionally motivate the viewer for or against a certain thing) is bad.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at March 15, 2025 09:06 PM (bss/y)

129 What does TJM think of Women of the Prehistoric Planet?

Posted by: Anna Puma at March 15, 2025 09:08 PM (S2nsm)

130 >> The case was rejected because the US did not recognize the USSR (that only happened in 1933).

Thanks to FDR, that commie.

Posted by: Disinterested FDA Director at March 15, 2025 09:09 PM (l3YAf)

131 Central casting Herr Doktor in lecgture hall is espousing the concept of Lebensunwertes Leben to just two students, one male and one female both the epitome of the Aryan ideal.
Posted by: Anna Puma at March 15, 2025 09:05 PM (S2nsm)

Heh. There is a wiki page with a helpful list of Nazi propaganda films. (I probably just got an asterisk beside my name somewhere for looking it up.)

https://tinyurl.com/572me59z

Posted by: Aetius451AD at March 15, 2025 09:09 PM (bss/y)

132 Attack of the Killer Tomatoes is vegetable propaganda.

Posted by: Archer at March 15, 2025 09:09 PM (IDphi)

133 Aetius

Bugs Bunny nips the Nips.

Propaganda or entertainment?

Posted by: Anna Puma at March 15, 2025 09:09 PM (S2nsm)

134
He's one of my favorite composers. And I'm no musical expert, but I have never failed to identify Prokofiev as the composer when I hear one of his pieces that is new to me; his music is just that distinctive.
Posted by: Paco at March 15, 2025 08:42 PM (mADJX)

One of the genius moves in Love and Death is that Woody Allen used mostly Prokofiev throughout. The scores for his movies are always surprisingly good.

Posted by: Tom Servo at March 15, 2025 09:09 PM (T+ixL)

135 It begs the question whether all propaganda (meant to emotionally motivate the viewer for or against a certain thing) is bad.
Posted by: Aetius451AD at March 15, 2025 09:06 PM (bss/y)

--------

In 1930s Germany, "propaganda" was more accurately translated as "public relations" rather that the "lies the evil government tells you" that we understand today.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at March 15, 2025 09:10 PM (hY4dx)

136 Protozanov. Another great filmmaker.

Posted by: runner at March 15, 2025 09:10 PM (g47mK)

137 TJM, you should tackle him next!

Posted by: runner at March 15, 2025 09:10 PM (g47mK)

138 133 Aetius

Bugs Bunny nips the Nips.

Propaganda or entertainment?
Posted by: Anna Puma at March 15, 2025 09:09 PM (S2nsm)

Both.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at March 15, 2025 09:11 PM (bss/y)

139 Protozanov

A protozoan directed a film?

Posted by: Anna Puma at March 15, 2025 09:11 PM (S2nsm)

140 "Women of the Prehistoric Planet" was not directed by Roger Corman, though he paid for the footage.

Posted by: BeckoningChasm at March 15, 2025 09:11 PM (CHHv1)

141 Popeye

Scrap Mr. Jap

Posted by: Archer at March 15, 2025 09:11 PM (IDphi)

142 133 Aetius

Bugs Bunny nips the Nips.

Propaganda or entertainment?
Posted by: Anna Puma at March 15, 2025 09:09 PM (S2nsm)

Dr. Suess and Walt Disney have entered the chat...

Posted by: Joe Kidd at March 15, 2025 09:11 PM (bA75n)

143 Dunno how you can watch so many Russian films
Posted by: vmom


Russian film is like bread.

Not everyone gets it.

Posted by: mikeski at March 15, 2025 09:12 PM (DgGvY)

144 Do we think of 'propaganda' as having an element of dishonesty for it to BE propaganda? Certainly that is the implication. How my gut reacts to it, at least.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at March 15, 2025 09:12 PM (bss/y)

145

I hate every chef I see from Boyar A to Boyardee.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at March 15, 2025 09:12 PM (63Dwl)

146 Anna, "Aelita, the Queen of Mars", 1924!

Posted by: runner at March 15, 2025 09:12 PM (g47mK)

147 TJM, it would be great if you would do a retrospective on the works of Alan Smithee. His body of work is extensive (albeit spotty in quality in places), and he has a star in the Hollywood sidewalk. He's a director you could have a lot of fun with.

Posted by: Duncanthrax at March 15, 2025 09:12 PM (a3Q+t)

148 143 Dunno how you can watch so many Russian films
Posted by: vmom

Russian film is like bread.

Not everyone gets it.
Posted by: mikeski at March 15, 2025 09:12 PM (DgGvY)

*golfclap*

Posted by: Aetius451AD at March 15, 2025 09:13 PM (bss/y)

149 145

I hate every chef I see from Boyar A to Boyardee.
Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at March 15, 2025 09:12 PM (63Dwl)

*groaning golfclap*

Posted by: Aetius451AD at March 15, 2025 09:13 PM (bss/y)

150 "Aelita, the Queen of Mars"

That is one strange Soviet film.

So Japan gives us Battle Angel Alita which James Cameron proceeded to do a Robotech to.

Posted by: Anna Puma at March 15, 2025 09:14 PM (S2nsm)

151 There is a little bit of propaganda, but as TJM said, it did not do nothing to me!

Posted by: runner at March 15, 2025 09:14 PM (g47mK)

152 >> Do we think of 'propaganda' as having an element of dishonesty for it to BE propaganda?

Everything done by humans has an element of dishonesty. (Except this comment.)

Posted by: Disinterested FDA Director at March 15, 2025 09:16 PM (l3YAf)

153 Soviet propaganda. I forget what it was specifically, probably something mocking the bourgeois or capitalism, or something.

Posted by: runner at March 15, 2025 09:18 PM (g47mK)

154 That is one strange Soviet film.

So Japan gives us Battle Angel Alita which James Cameron proceeded to do a Robotech to.
Posted by: Anna Puma at March 15, 2025 09:14 PM (S2nsm)

You really do not like Robotech, do you? From what I can tell, they did butcher some stuff.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at March 15, 2025 09:19 PM (bss/y)

155 I should say that I went to the movies today. My mother (who is visiting) insisted.

Saw Novocaine.

Pretty good. Won me over on charm.

Posted by: TJM's phone at March 15, 2025 09:19 PM (GBKbO)

156 For the record, I did not open up my house to the proletariat after watching it. So - unaffected !

Posted by: runner at March 15, 2025 09:19 PM (g47mK)

157 Well Harmony Gold did censor from Mospeada the nude scene of Dana Sterling.

Posted by: Anna Puma at March 15, 2025 09:19 PM (S2nsm)

158 ack!

Not Mospeada but Southern Cross

Posted by: Anna Puma at March 15, 2025 09:20 PM (S2nsm)

159 But the relationship between Lunk and Annie was questionable.

Posted by: Anna Puma at March 15, 2025 09:21 PM (S2nsm)

160 Contrast to Aelita; Zsa Zsa Gabor as the Queen of Outer Space. My favorite part of the movie is when they finally get to the control console for her Ultimate Weapon, and it looks like a High School Homecoming queen’s float.

Posted by: Tom Servo at March 15, 2025 09:22 PM (T+ixL)

161 Could that be a book title?

From Aelita to Queen of Outer Space to Barbarella?

Posted by: Anna Puma at March 15, 2025 09:23 PM (S2nsm)

162 I'll probably see "Novocaine". I like Jack Qusid.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at March 15, 2025 09:24 PM (kpS4V)

163 From Aelita to Queen of Outer Space to Barbarella?
Posted by: Anna Puma at March 15, 2025 09:23 PM (S2nsm)

That could work!

When you saw Southern Cross for the first time, did you understand just why you went that way?

Posted by: Tom Servo at March 15, 2025 09:25 PM (T+ixL)

164 I don't think they have taken to shooting them from helicopters yet, but I figure that could be coming.
Posted by: Aetius451AD
---

Trump told them they are welcome here.
You got to know when to hold 'em
Know when to walk away
Know when to run

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at March 15, 2025 09:25 PM (KV6ve)

165 162 I'll probably see "Novocaine". I like Jack Qusid.
Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at March 15, 2025 09:24 PM (kpS4V)

===

It was pretty good.

Logical jumps that bugged me, but charming and Jack Quaid is a good lead.

Posted by: TJM's phone at March 15, 2025 09:26 PM (GBKbO)

166 56
'Or, more likely, Stalin saw himself as a parallel to the Czar. He saw it as a direct critique.'

I've read that Stalin's objection was the movie didn't why Ivan HAD to kill the people he killed.
Proof positive that Stalin wanted justification from the film.

Posted by: Dr. Claw at March 15, 2025 09:27 PM (3wi/L)

167 Wow you people are reading way too much into a comment.

I was making a comparison on the way Macek had to get creative to weave together a story from three different series to Cameron cribbing various bits of Battle Angel Alita to make his movie.

Posted by: Anna Puma at March 15, 2025 09:27 PM (S2nsm)

168 Well, I am really tired. Too much logging for a 29 year old, I guess. Going to get an early one. Night, Horde.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at March 15, 2025 09:27 PM (MqtqS)

169 Is there a dub of Macross (the Japanese original?) Ok, answered my own question. A six disc bluray for $211 on amazon.

No thanks.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at March 15, 2025 09:27 PM (bss/y)

170 I liked everything about Alita except the ending, which I thought kinda sucked.

Posted by: Tom Servo at March 15, 2025 09:29 PM (T+ixL)

171 Night AOP.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at March 15, 2025 09:29 PM (bss/y)

172 Yeah the versions of Macross and Robotech out there are another rabbit hole.

And I will never ever order anything from the Crunchyroll store ever again after they first took my money to pre-order Macross Zero only to see them arbitrarily cancel my order because I paid via PayPal and not surrendered my credit card info to them.

Posted by: Anna Puma at March 15, 2025 09:32 PM (S2nsm)

173 I have never heard anything good about Crunchyroll.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at March 15, 2025 09:33 PM (bss/y)

174 If I wasn't still locked in paying $8/month I would probably quit their streaming service.

Posted by: Anna Puma at March 15, 2025 09:35 PM (S2nsm)

175 Tom

Aelita's ending in the movie? Or Alita's ending with the manga?

Posted by: Anna Puma at March 15, 2025 09:37 PM (S2nsm)

176 Hey qdp you’re not forgotten.

Posted by: Tom Servo at March 15, 2025 09:37 PM (T+ixL)

177 How interesting! Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

Posted by: H at March 15, 2025 09:38 PM (2gjbv)

178 Aetius

If you get the ADV release of Macross you will get Mari Iijima voicing Lynn Minmei in both the original Japanese and in the English dub.

Posted by: Anna Puma at March 15, 2025 09:39 PM (S2nsm)

179 Hey, qdp.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at March 15, 2025 09:39 PM (bss/y)

180 Hey steve.

Posted by: runner at March 15, 2025 09:40 PM (g47mK)

181 If you get the ADV release of Macross you will get Mari Iijima voicing Lynn Minmei in both the original Japanese and in the English dub.
Posted by: Anna Puma at March 15, 2025 09:39 PM (S2nsm)

I think that is the one I have. It is a lot of dvds. Bought from... Best Buy, iirc?

Posted by: Aetius451AD at March 15, 2025 09:40 PM (bss/y)

182 175 Hey everybody. Just dropping in to say hello, then I'll go away again.

Long time no chat.
Posted by: qdpsteve at March 15, 2025 09:36 PM (6

No one in management invited you back

Posted by: Misanthropic Humanitarian at March 15, 2025 09:40 PM (QXQ4l)

183 Long time no chat.
Posted by: qdpsteve at March 15, 2025 09:36 PM (6hbjy)


Hey! How's it going?

Posted by: Additional Blond Agent, STEM Guy at March 15, 2025 09:40 PM (/HDaX)

184 MisHum is like an implacable bounty hunter.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at March 15, 2025 09:41 PM (kpS4V)

185 Bobba Fett dreams of being like MisHum

Posted by: Anna Puma at March 15, 2025 09:42 PM (S2nsm)

186 184 MisHum is like an implacable bounty hunter.
Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at March 15, 2025 09:41 PM (kpS4V)

I hope his series is better than the one Boba Fett got.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at March 15, 2025 09:42 PM (bss/y)

187 No one in management invited you back
Posted by: Misanthropic Humanitarian at March 15, 2025 09:40 PM (QXQ4l)

Just sayin’, no one ever invited me here. I just showed up.

Posted by: Tom Servo at March 15, 2025 09:43 PM (T+ixL)

188 Aetius

That sounds like the one.

Posted by: Anna Puma at March 15, 2025 09:43 PM (S2nsm)

189 An alarm must have gone off.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at March 15, 2025 09:43 PM (63Dwl)

190 182 175 Hey everybody. Just dropping in to say hello, then I'll go away again.

Long time no chat.
Posted by: qdpsteve at March 15, 2025 09:36 PM (6

No one in management invited you back
Posted by: Misanthropic Humanitarian at March 15, 2025 09:40 PM (QXQ4l)

Dayyyyyyummmm ...

Posted by: browndog spreading chalk dust everywhere at March 15, 2025 09:43 PM (TTAGa)

191 oh....

Posted by: runner at March 15, 2025 09:43 PM (g47mK)

192 A disturbance in the space time continuum or Qdpsteve ate at Taco Bell.

Posted by: Anna Puma at March 15, 2025 09:44 PM (S2nsm)

193 Jill St. John's skin tight pink pants don't have a smudge on them, and she has been traipsing through the Lost World for days on Svengoolie.

Posted by: anchorbabe fashion cop at March 15, 2025 09:45 PM (ufFY8)

194 188 Aetius

That sounds like the one.
Posted by: Anna Puma at March 15, 2025 09:43 PM (S2nsm)

I should rewatch that. Part of the problem with old dvds is modern tvs make them look noisy as hell (or maybe they were always noisy.)

Posted by: Aetius451AD at March 15, 2025 09:45 PM (bss/y)

195 Is your TV smart enough to upscale?

Posted by: Anna Puma at March 15, 2025 09:45 PM (S2nsm)

196 Prokofiev is my fave.
Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes
----

Mixing musical metaphors - well, I thought it was Prokofiev but it's Stravinsky. Anyway -

https://tinyurl.com/mr2nud8m

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at March 15, 2025 09:47 PM (KV6ve)

197 195 Is your TV smart enough to upscale?
Posted by: Anna Puma at March 15, 2025 09:45 PM (S2nsm)

I use a PS4. I will have to check if I can switch something on.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at March 15, 2025 09:48 PM (bss/y)

198
Just sayin’, no one ever invited me here. I just showed up.
Posted by: Tom Servo

Stay in your lane
Or you to can be outside looking in

Posted by: Misanthropic Humanitarian at March 15, 2025 09:48 PM (QXQ4l)

199 Disregarding ass holes

====

I bang on the keyboard until the red squiggles go away.
Posted by: TJM's phone
----

You got a hit.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at March 15, 2025 09:49 PM (KV6ve)

200 Aelita's ending in the movie? Or Alita's ending with the manga?
Posted by: Anna Puma at March 15, 2025 09:37 PM (S2nsin)

In the movie. It was all unresolved. I’m not so sure how the manga ended.

Posted by: Tom Servo at March 15, 2025 09:49 PM (T+ixL)

201 Bring back 4:3 at 18 frames a second.

Posted by: mindful webworker - The way things are going... at March 15, 2025 09:50 PM (h7Ym/)

202 I'm beginning to think that John Wick movies might be fiction

Posted by: Smell the Glove at March 15, 2025 09:50 PM (bVN1m)

203 I think Kathleen Kennedy is Nosferatu.

Posted by: runner at March 15, 2025 09:50 PM (g47mK)

204 Sometimes the original is not better. Edge of Tomorrow, iirc had a much more downer ending in the manga.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at March 15, 2025 09:51 PM (bss/y)

205 and silent

Posted by: mindful webworker - The way things are going... at March 15, 2025 09:51 PM (h7Ym/)

206 I don't have all of Battle Angel Alita: Final Orders manga so no idea myself.

Posted by: Anna Puma at March 15, 2025 09:51 PM (S2nsm)

207 Ya know, you come here to watch a movie and there's always somebody pissing in the camp fire.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at March 15, 2025 09:52 PM (KV6ve)

208 Sometimes the original is not better. Edge of Tomorrow, iirc had a much more downer ending in the manga.
Posted by: Aetius451AD


That's just Japanese storytelling. The hero doesn't always win, and he doesn't always get the girl.

I think the standard ending is the hero goes on to do more heroing, and the girl says she'll wait for him.

Posted by: mikeski at March 15, 2025 09:55 PM (DgGvY)

209 Starring Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt, the film takes place in a future where most of Europe is occupied by an [Illegal] alien race.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at March 15, 2025 09:57 PM (KV6ve)

210 I didn't see Ivan the Terrible until 3 years ago. (YouTube is a treasure) I love it. Incredible movies (Parts I and II). I wish I had seen it many decades earlier.

There are many enjoyable Soviet films on the MosFilm utube channel. The war movies are predictable but are entertaining. If you want to see an unusual and compelling story, TV series, I highly recommend the series, "The Days Here Are Quiet." An example of Soviet film efforts to show Soviet women are strong and totally support the USSR and communism.

Posted by: Gref at March 15, 2025 09:57 PM (aBgBM)

211 208 Sometimes the original is not better. Edge of Tomorrow, iirc had a much more downer ending in the manga.
Posted by: Aetius451AD

That’s a shame, I thought the movie ending was perfect.


Posted by: Tom Servo at March 15, 2025 09:58 PM (T+ixL)

212 That’s a shame, I thought the movie ending was perfect.


Posted by: Tom Servo at March 15, 2025 09:58 PM (T+ixL)

I cannot recall and I only read the synopsis, but I think the two characters end up fighting each other at the end and he wins, but she dies? Something like that.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at March 15, 2025 10:00 PM (bss/y)

213 Thanks TJM

Posted by: San Franpsycho at March 15, 2025 10:00 PM (RIvkX)

214 It's probably the only thing I agree with Stalin about.

Ivan's promulgation of the Oprichnina was absolutely devastating for Russia. It disrupted everything. Political order outside Moscow was shattered, the economy suffered terribly from the depredations and expropriations, and it precipitated a Polish invasion due to the internal weaknesses it created.

But it was absolutely necessary. It was the only way to break the back of the treacherous boyar aristocracy once and for good. Without it, there would be no Russian nation, and if it had somehow survived, those boyars would have ploughed it under for good, and been displaced in turn by foreigners, anyway.

The Oprichnina was a critical, necessary step in building the Russian State. Stalin was right about that.

Posted by: Yudhishthira's Dice at March 15, 2025 10:01 PM (BI5O2)

215 I like time travel stories when they’re handled well, and Edge of Tomorrow did a delightful job of dealing with the paradoxes and possible alternate futures.

Posted by: Tom Servo at March 15, 2025 10:02 PM (T+ixL)

216 ONT is nood.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at March 15, 2025 10:04 PM (bss/y)

217 I hope that as you are exploring Corman, you’ll take a look at his Fantastic Four.

Posted by: Open Channel D at March 15, 2025 10:05 PM (C1yiO)

218 Here's hoping all of you in the path of this massive storm system in the Midwest and the South are weathering it okay. Hoping the worst of it has passed us in southeast Tennessee.

Looks like Missouri and Alabama did get tornadoes.

Re: Eisenstein -- I saw Battleship Potemkin in film class many years ago. Visually striking and dramatic, and the professor pointed out that Eisenstein made extensive use of stock shots (found film) and got the emotional effects with creative use of juxtapositioning and context.

Posted by: Beverly at March 15, 2025 10:29 PM (Epeb0)

219 After watching Alexander Nevsky, I made the mistake of signing on to the Czar's army to kill those Teutonic knights.
Did not turn out well. I am lousy with a sword. Should have been an archer, they don't have armor and can run away faster.

Posted by: jimmymcnulty at March 15, 2025 10:30 PM (DWpio)

220 217 I hope that as you are exploring Corman, you’ll take a look at his Fantastic Four.
Posted by: Open Channel D at March 15, 2025 10:05 PM (C1yiO)

He only produced that. Oley Sassone directed it.

Posted by: He learned almost too late that Moron is a feeling creature at March 15, 2025 10:40 PM (7kSOl)

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