Piranha

I think the story is very interesting and emotional, good actors work, my recommendation.

It's not the best of films, nor the worst of films: interesting premise, but highly Hollywood-derivative. Still, the taiga is a unique setting and it was amusing to see talented dramatic actors take on action hero roles (Mashkov more successfully than Mironov, methinks).

From a woman's standpoint, the best part of the film is admiring Vladimir Mashkov's buff body, especially from the back. My, my---let's see more of it someday! I realized this film was going to be trash when I started watching it, but sometimes trash can be amusing. The violent scenes were a turnoff, but grudgingly necessary to the plot.

Overall, a B film. If you have nothing better to do, it's not a total waste of nearly two hours. In my opinion, Mashkov and Mironov should stick to better roles which highlight their tremendous dramatic talents (IMO, The Idiot, a Russian TV mini-series starring both of them, ranks as one of the finest films I have seen, ever.)

Well, Russians shot the movie Hollywood have a rest!!! The plot is simple and only the form for colorful adventure. Colonel Mazur, a charming brutal hero a la Bond, is ordered to explode secret laboratory in the deep Siberian forest. He was accompanied by a beautiful scientist girl. They executed the order,but trapped into the hands of native landlord Prohor,mad freak,cocaine's and a type of old Russian "barin". Mazur and his companion got into colorful 19 century style village. Soon they know they are part of great man-hunting Prohor's favorite game. Well, it must be seen!!! This movie is somewhere similar to a Bruce Willis action, like Die Hard or Fifth Element. The same energy, humor and non-stop action!!! Okhota is beautiful for its incredible atmosphere: action, comedy, social and national spirit. Mashkov is beautiful playing the role of cool ironic man and so Mironov in his comic and somewhere tragic role of Prohor. The director Andrey Cavun demonstrates a big talent not only in action but in a drama too. Respect!!!

Piranha. Russian Rambo. A very good film about survival in the Russian taiga. All the main actors did a great job and I would love to see a possible new Mazur story.

For the last decade or so, one of the main "topics" in Russian cinema was "Let's make a real blockbuster action movie! Our answer to Hollywood! " Obviously, whenever a filmmaker is concerned with "our answer to whatever" the final product will be a farmer's friend, but no one else's. We've seen a few decent wannabe-Tarantino / Takeshi Kitano style "action films" ( I still claim that Kitano's Brother and the Russian Brother have plenty in common besides the moniker) but their tries at something Lethal Weaponish fell flatter than the Turkish analogues.

Well... no more.

We finally got an excellent Russian action movie blockbuster. Which... is cool and all. More quality = more money = more quantity = more money = possibly more quality.

The plot... is an action movie plot. The brave commando veteran (his former commando unit was called "The Piranha" and that's the only explanation for the movie's title you're going to get) and a lovely bio-chemist are sent to neutralize some bio-weapons left in an abandoned (flooded) military research center near the Chinese border before the land on which said research center is built is ceded to the Chinese. Things go wrong and they find themselves amongst the unwilling participants in the latest "Most Dangerous Game" remake - Taiga edition.

Right...

On the positive side - the movie takes itself as non-seriously as possible without turning into an outright spoof. Quotes, homages and outright "tributes" abound - all delivered lightly and ironically. Mashkov, who was wasting his unshaven charisma in a whole host of pointless films plays a hero at least as well as classic Bruce Willis on a good day. Mironov already acknowledged that he was channeling Garry Oldman in Leon and IMO he tops that performance. Good use of the an energetic soundtrack. The camera moves in a way Tony Scott can only have wet dreams about (not necessarily a good thing) Amazing energy and drive all around - the film just picks you and never let's you go.

So... check it out if it comes your way. I honestly don't think you'll be disappointed.