MovieChat Forums > 1612: Khroniki smutnogo vremeni (2007) Discussion > Ok so its propaganda, but is it entertai...

Ok so its propaganda, but is it entertaining?

posted 16 years ago by Snakeprophet
12 replies | jump to latest

Ya,ya, I've heard all the critics denouce this movie as a Pro-Putin, anti-foriegner propaganda job. But you know what, I care little for the politcal slant of the movie if it can be entertianing. Hell Red Dawn is nothing but a propaganda piece against Soviets, but damn it that movie is a darn good action film for Patrick Swayze. So my question to Russians or anyone who has seen this movie is this: Was it enoyable? Was it entertaining? I know little of the history from this period, so I have no dog in this Polish-Russian grudge match.

[–] Radalan 16 years ago

Hmmmm... Weird, I didn't really use time to analyze the movie, but to me it was just a kind of historical fiction/fantasy movie and an entertaining one too.

[–] juan_palmero2010 15 years ago

Why this obsession with propaganda and historical accuracy? Aren't Russians entitled to deviate from historical truth (whatever that is) while everyone else is?

Then, how about Westerns? Do they reflect any kind of truth, with the good Yanks killing the Indians off? How about British and US films about World War II, and so on and so forth? Should we mark down all of John Ford's films because they are biased, propagandistic and do not reflect the historical truth?

Common, relax and enjoy the film, for what it is worth! OK, I personally could have done without the unicorn and a few other "fairy" things, but overall it is, as others have said, an enjoyable film, pretty beautifully filmed.

[–] keen-6 15 years ago

We have had enough of reds propoganda, already ! Stop this madness !

[–] Aendrzey 15 years ago

It's not only badly written and directed, it's also boring.(Polish background dialogues in this masterpiece are nothing but horrible - just a minor example of how bad it is) Anyone interested, look up wikipedia's article about 1612. It won't tell you how stupid it really is, though. You just have to see it for yourself.

[–] mumpymorte 15 years ago

Poles and Catholics, and anti-Putin Russians, are allowing their (understandable) pride to cloud their view. As film making it is fine, an entertaining if inaccurate historical epic competently made. Enjoyable by those of us who find such things enjoyable.

"Braveheart" was one of the most historically inaccurate films ever made, in every aspect from the costumes to the plot. It was propaganda with a definite anti- English bias, but it was well made and entertaining. As a historian I know the flaws of these kind of films better than most, but as someone who enjoys a good movie I can engage in a little suspension of belief now and then, and have some fun. I think of them as fantasy, historical myth, if you will.

Except for "The Patriot". That truly sucked. :)

[–] DurakSuka 9 years ago

You appear to be a dumb Polack *beep* It's Polack fools like you who give Poles a bad name. Go *beep* yourself sideways, you illiterate poof.

Hama cheez ba-Beer behtar meshawad!

[–] colby-14 15 years ago

As an American who has been recently studying the period I was just able to enjoy seeing some physical representation of the various players and troops. Wasn't expecting a lot of accuracy plot-wise. I did enjoy seeing the Hussars with their wings. Liked the special effects- the sound of the cannonball hitting the hussar and his horse made a metallic THONK! that made me go Ouch! Liked the proto-tank which I had read about, and the leather gun. Overall, a lot better than I expected.

How d'ya get outta this chicken outfit?

[–] Strazdamonas 15 years ago

well it was Lithuanians who attacked, unlike the movie tries to insist it was poles. it was entertaining if you watch it like a movie, not like a documentary. its not historically correct (like any Russian movie is.....) but its enjoyable.

----------
In this universe, there's only one absolute... everything freezes!

[–] arobein 14 years ago

Poland and Lithuania were united back in 17th century, so your comment didn't make sense.
The film is clearly not trying to be historically accurate (not 100% atleast) by showing us ghosts and unicorns. To me this film is more like "The Pirates of the Caribbean".
Awesomely made and great acting. No matter about Poles complaining polish was a bit crrap. Only people who speak fluent Polish can tell, so no harm done to any other viewer.

[–] pninson 13 years ago

I didn't see the movie as propaganda. Most films have heroes and villains. Almost every Hollywood movie I saw growing up had Americans or Englishmen as heroes and almost anyone else as villains.

This movie is a bit too slow for my taste but it does have some great moments. So, overall I'd say it's entertaining, but you'll need some patience to get through it.

As for historical accuracy, well you know how some films say "inspired by true events?"

We report, you decide; but we decide what to report.

[–] MJohnathen 13 years ago

Take it from me, It's a movie based on true historical events, While it's not 100% accurate but what movies are? Whois alive that can say? Did I get a overly anti-poland feeling about the movie? No.

Facts are that Poland did try to usurp the throne during the early 1600's, does that mean any russian rechanting of history is automatically propaganda? No.

It's a enjoyable movie, if your tired of the hollywood trash that seems to be filling the theaters now adays, this this a good alternative to spend some time on.

-Flick from the States.

[–] aniesa-56-775280 13 years ago

U know guys u'r not the only foreigners enjoying russian movies. Am living in South Africa for about 2 yrs and subscribed to some satellite tv service. But no single channel except for RT brings you any true news about RF or its cultural life. For me its easier to judge what is what cause i believe i know much more about my own country than any over-payed and arrogant reporter from BBC, Al Jazeera whatever. But its not a point of my comment... Just wanted to tell i brought some movies with me (1612 including) so my husband and all our buds were able to watch that stuff. Am sure it will take me till tomorrow morning to describe all their impressions. In short words they did enjoy it big time. What about the movie itself... well in my very young years i was interested in history, i know a lot about this particularly period played in the picture so it limps - a lot of events as well as characters portrayed in it is absolutely fictitious. But what other movie is perfect from historical point? So just watch enjoy and let the politicians fight with each other over some doubtful aspects.