Review of 9th Company

I have very mixed feelings about that movie. It has a lot of Holliwoodish scenes which make me feel embarrassed, because it also have a lot of beautiful, deep and touching scenes, scenes that reflect something Russian, something deep thought. But then the good scenes turn again into Spielberg type Saving private Ryan patriotism blabbering and I get embarrassed again. But overall this movie has good directing, good visual effects. It is clearly a big-budget movie with beautiful shots, music, professional special effects. I see how Bondarchuk tried to show honestly the real army days with the hierarchy of soldiers, the drill sergeants beating rookies, the brutality of the system. I really felt touched by the play of some actors. I felt sorry for Vorobei, a young intelligent boy who has to die, and he dies fast and painful like in real life and you can't help feeling deep sorry about it. But then I get embarrassed again seeing the Rambo style scenes with guy shouting "No" and charging forwards into attack with the machine gun in hands. I can't help feeling embarrassed seeing the mujaheddin attacking Russians walking in line full height, totally defying all common sense and the way the soldiers would dash in the real war. I understand what Bondarchuk tried to deliver, I feel impressed by the beautiful shots of Afghanistan, helicopters, it has quality in it. The fight in a village was quite well shot but then again we see the holliwoodish style last battle, which doesn't make any sense. The same with the actors play. Some actors make you believe in them, feel their pain and joy, while others play just bad. So overall comparing to Hollywood, it is better. Americans would never make a movie like that. But it is still very commercial and you can see that it's made to be sold. You can see that the director adopts Hollywood's methods of spectator manipulation. And I can't help feeling that it could've been much better, that he could've done much more and different way as there is such a rich history of Soviet and Russian cinema with its own unique style.

So my verdict is, yeah, good attempt, but just an attempt.