Well Deserved Praise

An unexpected masterpiece

Great example of an old-fashioned, pure-at-heart escapist event movie that doesn't pretend to be anything that it's not and has boat loads of fun being its own ludicrous self.

It's a movie as timely as it is provocative and amazingly, for much of its running time, it is weirdly funny.

the characters, the story, the animation. parts from the tradition of a great artistic school. interesting, seductive, amusing and a form of propaganda which, in East, reminds interesting images about childhood of few generations. inspiration's source - tradition. in new clothes, using inspired forms of humor, using the words about bogatyrs for create for each of them a new life. Dobrynya Nikitich is the same like in legends. but the Zmey becomes more ...seductive. wise, powerful, victim of a kind of crisis, it seems be one of the bad characters from American child films who discover his noble heart. and the old war has new dimensions. more than nice, an useful film. about an old world. in new splendid colors.

Sure the ending is on the predictable side, but other than that Dobrynya Nikitich I Zmey Gorynych is really splendid. The animation is beautifully crafted, the drawing was clearly done with care and the colours and backgrounds has a look that is not too simple and not too flashy. The music has a great deal of charm and excitement, perfect for conveying both fantasy and adventure and distinctively Russian. What there is of the dancing on screen is fluidly done and very authentic. Also much to like is the wonderfully ironic humour and the witty visual jokes, the dialogue is humorous and doesn't resort to being undeveloped or distasteful. Of course the story is not much new, but the humour helps to make it fresh, it is well-paced and it is a charming story that has touches of irony as well as that Russian fairy-tale feel at its most classic. The characters are very engaging and bring the story forward, not feeling superfluous to it in any way. The voice acting is very good, noble with a touch of theatricality(though not in overload). All in all, a splendid Russian animated film and well worth looking out for. 9/10 Bethany Cox

its virtue - nothing new. the characters, the events, the adventures, animation and the end are same. but film remains fresh. not only for nationalist drops or for beauty princess but for the ideal art of Russian art in this industry. sure,word of bogatyrs is large. but the mixture of irony, childhood memories and lines of classic fairy tale are pieces of expected success. the old recipes is strict used. and the flavor of warm space, nice and protective is remarkable. a form of propaganda ? of course ! but , in same time, proof of courage. because tradition is root of a touching animation. and the story is created as lovely gift for each age. trip in the rooms of childhood, it is a lesson about national values. and a great work.

It's a typical Russian fairytale in a typical quite good Russian animation way. Characters created like Russian characters always - some pretty and some really ugly. Dobrynya Nikitich goes to save duke's cousin Zabava from a three-head dragon Gorynych. It's not an easy job for him and his young student Jelissei. But Dobrynya doesn't know that duke himself stands in a difficult position and is not interested in saving his cousin. Even the famous Russian witch Baba-Jaga comes in to the story. It's an adventurous story with some good laughs (for example when Khans teeth fly out; Jelissei with a blue eye - his facial expression is really good; Russian working ladies singing a very well performed song and also dancing along with it (they are almost like Russian version of Finnish band Värttinä) & when Dobrynya handles the betrayal). It's still a good animation to watch, although the ending is more than predictable. Overall 6/10