Just perfect...

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

Very good movie overall, highly recommended. Most of the negative reviews don't have any merit and are all pollitically based. Give this movie a chance at least, and it might give you a different perspective.

Before I watched this "masterpiece" I checked the budget vs box office rating. It's 25 (3.5 million) to 1 (138,000) respectively! After that I just couldn't resist...The movie is a good example of a cultural decadence in modern Russia. When Russian producers inspired by Hollywood movies (too much Spy Kids I guess) are trying to copy the style, this is exactly what we get. Pretty decent computer graphics/animation (now I know where these 3 and half million went) and absolutely awful script and acting. It's even worse considering the fact that it's a movie for kids. Constant teenager slang and brute humor won't make the younger generation better for sure.Recommend watching to those who just love slapdash in its pure form.

Do you really need it? Well, in fact I can really say that Russian film-making industry have some bright names of wonderful actors that were shining in soviet movies but because of the nature of USSR their name didn't go far away from USSR and world doesn't know them... now, the new generation of actors and directors are coming in Russia, but sadly, they just have nothing that will make their film really their... they have no signature at all... they try to make Hollywood films inspired by American actors and way the Americans shoot, but they forget that they just can't afford it... This film wants to be the sci-fi fantasy thing but in fact all it has are not talented actors, dumb directing, some more or less good soundtrack put in in a wrong places and little bit of story... well... the story is the only reason why I am giving it 3 out of 10, not 1

After the collapse of the Soviet Union Russian film industry was brought to its knees and during the following decade ( 1991-2001 ) there were made only few good films. Reason was obvious - not much money was spent on the industry. Anyway, at some point watching this film i felt myself being back in the times of 1995 and watching Russian movie - a newcomer...I'm not going to criticize the actors and their work ( acting ), because i realized after 15 minutes watching, that it wasn't any serious nor wanna-be-Hollywood film. I liked soundtracks, some of them were really nice ( but again didn't fit with the video, they should have worked more on synchronizing ). CG, well... Considering, that IT is so popular in everyday life, that even a teenager can make a better 5 minute film with his "awesome tuning programs". Now the story. Book was waaaay better... If the filmmakers had thought about making really serious film with some blood-spilling action, CG at its top ( god, aerodynamics and a lot of flaws connected to physics ) and putting better actors ( or make the ones act better ) and of course change scenery itself to more realistic ( ha ha, Ancient Egypt my a*s ), it would had been probably a very great sci-fi film from Russia ( with love ) for sure ( and not for kids anymore :P ).On the whole, story - quite good, but ruined by everything else. Again, more sedatness to the filmmakers and they could have pulled a Homer!