That was an excellent one.
... View MorePerfect cast and a good story
... View MoreMost undeservingly overhyped movie of all time??
... View Moreeverything you have heard about this movie is true.
... View MoreEven though dated by today's standards, "Guests of the Future" tends to be a very memorable children's show. I've always consitered Pavel Arsenov to be Russia's "Leiji Matsumoto".Plot revolves around 11 year old Kolya Gerasimov who discovers a time machine in a basement of an old house in Moscow and gets transferred into the 21st century. Then he is allowed to look around, everything seems to be different! Accidentally, Kolya witnesses two space pirates who arrive from Saturn and later try to steal a device called a "Mielophone" (which can read thoughts) from Alisa Seleznyova - a young girl who could talk to animals and machinery. Kolya manages to save the device from the pirates and brings it back to the 20th century. But both pirates and Alisa get there too. Alisa knows where Kolya studies but doesn't know what he looks like. Pirates saw Kolya, however, they know nothing about him.Very deep plot, nice soundtrack and rather thought provoking, consitiering that the audience that is aimed for is children/pre-teen audience. It was availiable for a while (In Russian and Mandarin with Chinese subtitles), but I think they should re-release it again one day!
... View MoreThis film is an excellent example of how a touching and an exciting story could be told without the use of extravagant special effects. It is endearing in it's simplicity, full of humanity and wonder. This film, which I saw in the Soviet Union in 1984 (when it was first released)touched me very deeply. To this day, I remember watching it every time it was shown on television and when the last of the 5 series ended, I couldn't wait to see it again. It has been a great inspiration and is one of the reasons that I am pursuing a career in filmmaking. I wish that more of American films, especially those for children, were made with so much heart. In the U.S., it is available through Russian video stores, specifically in Brighton Beach in Brooklyn, NY. Unfortunately, they are not subtitled. The music in the film, particulary the theme song "Prekrasnoye Daleko" ("A Wonderful Far-Away")is equally as touching and beautiful as the film itself. It could be found on Napster.
... View MoreI recently acquired the three tapes to this five part TV series from Souvenir, a company in New York. It's based on Kir Bulychev's [note that for his books the name is transcribed with an 'e,' which you will understand if you know Russian and which doesn't matter if you don't. My reasons are that I have translated his novel 'Poselek [The Settlement]' into English and published it under the title 'Those Who Survive,' as an on-demand book from Xlibris, and 'Sto let tomy nazad' will be the 4th or 5th book in the series to come out in about two years. And yes, I have a contract with the author.The series original title means something like 'Back to the Future,' and it is deservedly a cult classic. Natasha Gromova became a star (with tons of fan mail, much of it addresed 'To Alice, Moscow', and stalkers!), appeared in three other films (two not listed in the data base) and left acting when they wanted her for nude roles. She is now married and a research biologist, and recently appeared at RusCon, a Russian SF con in Moscow, to award the prize for best children's work, called the 'Alice.' She is, as an adult, stunning.A second Alice film was made from 'The Lilac Ball,' another of Bulychev's novels, but was not as successful. I will have comments on that film in that topic. Also, the novel 'Alice's Travels' was turned into 'Secret of the Third Planet,' a very good animated cartoon. The English translation of that should be out by May.
... View MoreI think that Gost'ya Iz Buduschego is one of the best Russians minis for teens. I think i were near 6-8 parts of the movie. "One boy form 6th grade found a time machine in the old house where nobody lived. And he goes to the 21st century, just 100 years in future. In future he meat pirates, they tried to steal a "milafon" - machine to read minds and a story started..." Soundtrack for that movie was very popular in Soviet Union. Everybody loved that movie which was on TV every year.
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