2 more reviews

1. ›'Major Grom: Plague Doctor' by Oleg Trofim Review: An interesting adaptation of a Russian comic@namiks710d

   

   I haven't really had the time to watch things recently, everything has been too fast-paced for me to find a moment to really sit down and allocate more than an hour into watching something. I just moved into an apartment and have been dealing with the basics of having to fill the space and obtain the essential items for living. I'm a bit behind on what to watch or what has even been released, usually I'd roam through Letterboxd in search of something to watch and just choose whatever seems a bit appealing to me, but instead Kinopoisk, a Russian streaming service that's actually pretty decent, was used. Now, I enjoy international cinema from every decade, and I don't think there's a single country I wouldn't watch a film from, so to see a film adapted from a Russian comic book series, this was something that piqued my curiosity. This isn't the same as the west's idea of a comic book film, not all that into the idea of a superhero, but still holding the idea of villains and masked individuals with agendas that roam the night. That is to say that there are some similarities here. It's interesting to see how this would be considered something more of a blockbuster, bigger budget and with the idea of being a franchise title. Really following the trends!

   Major Grom: Plague Doctor takes a look at the Russian society and its more ill nature, though it somehow manages to pull this off without ending up censored. The film was originally distributed by Netflix back in 2021, a year before the Russian invasion of Ukraine took place, so perhaps it just about managed to steer clear of the stronger control over media. Though this is a film that certainly criticises the system, calls out the rotten nature of its leaders and how greed is their main pursuit. It may seem a bit surprising, but such creations are quite common in Russia, they're just often done in a manner that isn't so on-the-nose. Such aspects of social commentary are often found within Russian television and cinema, but with less evident undertones, more relying on tropes to convey the idea of a villain, with more direct dialogue which details the corruption or manipulation from the elites. I think I prefer when such titles are done this way, when these aspects of social commentary respect the awareness of the viewer and don't need large sums of exposition to tell it, though in this case it's more a requirement than a creative pursuit, I must admit.

   Outside of the political aspects of the film, this is still quite an enjoyable experience. It's a film that holds the fun of comedy titles with elements of the superhero genre. Plenty of action, while holding a surprisingly good level of directing and cinematography to it. Especially for a niche film distributed by Netflix.

   Major Grom: Plague Doctor

   

   I had no idea as to what the Major Grom franchise was before watching this, but from my understanding it is a comic series that shows a police officer that is a bit of a loose canon, the typical idea of an officer that often goes a bit rogue, causes a lot of destruction and still somehow manages to save the day, much to the distain of those around him. This is a protagonist that we don't really have a reason to care for all that much, and to some interesting coincidence, I found myself more caring for the villain and his interests more than anything else. It felt more like our protagonist working for the police was more of a pawn in that ill system, shutting down any method of confrontation, stopping those that are seeking to cause justice in one way or another when the judiciary system refuses to do so. The film starts off with a child fighting to defend a dog, with a group of children around that are hunting it down and going to kill it. The result is that the three children are killed instead. A bit of a dark story, but one that sets up a character that we don't really know of just yet. From here the idea of justice is already questioned, and who can be the one to dish it out when cruelty is faced head-on. What is going too far? Is there such thing as going too far?

   The film is shot in the beautiful Saint Petersburg, a city known for its older architecture, and home to many creatives throughout the centuries. It's a city of artists, a city of thinkers. I think this location serves much better than the usual streets of an area like Moscow, where the development is rampant and the identity is a little lost. St Petersburg serves as this older, more atmospheric city in which things might go down in. And this really added to the film's tone. Opening with our protagonist running around causing havoc in the pursuit of catching bad guys; one directing choice shows how he imagines each scenario in advance, weighing the possibilities, though we don't always know this is what is happening, and in some instances it's as if we are watching him suddenly play out a heroic attempt only to get utterly broken and killed. This is how some of the comedy is served to us, in comedic moments that sort of trick the viewer. Mixed in with more fun characters that are lighthearted and serve as the typical trope sidekick to the supposed hero. To be honest, these characters didn't really have enough time to be all that interesting, I think this would've been a film that serves best as a series with more time into their characters and lives, but as it is still works, albeit feeling a little thin at times.

   

   It's really our antagonist that remains the most interesting character. A torn man that is seeking revenge after a killer manages to go free. This masked figure created runs through the city and hunts down those who have wronged. Sort of a little like the idea of Venom in a way, but instead is referred to as the Plague Doctor. Something that makes sense as he speaks of the disease that runs through the city, the sickness in people and the mass corporations that pursue greed at any cost, even if that cost is the human life. This character holds a lot of depth to him, he's given a lot of backstory and seems rather tormented as a person, even if at the same time he is one of those more elites. A tech genius type that seems to think he can cure the world. I liked the ways he was portrayed, how his character held a design that looked relatively broken, with some degree of evil to him. Though considered to the bad guy despite his more positive intent. It questions the idea of morals in a great way. Like I said before, in some parts I found myself really understanding his points and thinking he was the more good person compared to the other characters which seem to hold the status quo at the funding of those elites.

   Moving on to the directing, this is a very well made film, especially for being a Netflix title and adaptation of a comic book. But, let's not forget another major surprise: it is a Russian production. A film that holds a lot of quality to it, a great budget that utilises really beautiful cinematography and directing. I found myself really liking the interior lighting scenes, beautiful dimly-lit St Pete apartments, all old and rundown. The views of the streets and the city. It's a very beautiful film that puts a lot of western big budget productions to shame. I'd recommend it if you're into international films and perhaps enjoy some of the general superhero titles, though keep in mind that this is a shorter adaptation. I'm sure it skips over a lot to tell its story, and as mentioned can feel a bit thin in the narrative and character side of things.

   

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2. ›[ES-EN] Igor Grom Contra el Doctor Peste // Major Grom: Plague Doctor@joheredia211804d

   Igor Grom Contra el Doctor Peste

   [Versión En Español]

   Hola Hivers amantes de las películas y series, es un placer escribir para todos ustedes nuevamente, en esta oportunidad quiero comentar sobre una película que podemos disfrutar en la plataforma de Netflix, una película de acción y aventura con un pequeño toque de superhéroe, es una producción llamada Igor Grom contra el Doctor Peste.

   

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   Esta es una pelicula Rusa, incluso es basada en un Comic de una editorial de ese país, eso explicaría la trama con el toque de superhéroe que nos cuenta esta producción cinematográfica. El estreno de Igor Grom contra el Doctor Peste es fue el 1 de abril de 2021 y hace poco la encontré en el catálogo como una de las opciones populares de Netflix para mi región.

   Me agrada ver este tipo de producciones, es decir estamos muy acostumbrados a que solo las películas de Hollywood son de alta calidad y Netflix de cierto modo nos abre una ventana importante a otras regiones, su cultura y producciones memorables como el ejemplo de España y ahora una producción Rusa, simplemente luego de ver el tráiler no me la pensé dos veces para ver la película, tenía una enorme curiosidad para observar y analizar una película Rusa, sin dudas es la primera película de ese país que comentaré en Hive la cual espero que no sea la única y esperando a que buenas producciones de muchos países del mundo nos sorprendan gran pantalla o en plataformas como Netflix.

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   Igor Grom contra el Doctor

   Ahora sí, les comentare mi impresión sobre esta producción rusa la cual tengo indecisión al momento de clasificarla en un género, debido a que tiene acción aventura investigación policiaca y un toque de superhéroe sacado de comics, incluso al ver el tráiler podemos notar una trama rica y con bastante movimiento por lo cual atrae a los amantes de todos los géneros anteriormente especificados.

   

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   Fotografía, Juego de Cámaras y Calidad Visual En General

   Este aspecto me sorprendió gratamente, la verdad la producción tiene una muy buena fotografía combinando un excelente juego de cámaras que junto a los efectos especiales hacen que la experiencia desde el punto de vista visual sea de muy buena calidad así como en una película estadounidense.

   Con respecto a este aspecto especifico tenia mis dudas, igualar este tipo de calidad es algo que lleva mucho trabajo y un buen presupuesto para realizar todas las técnicas y edición necesarias para llegar a una excelente calidad visual, en este sentido la película no decepciona en lo absoluto a mi parecer.

   

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   Historia

   Comenzamos la historia con personajes típicos de las producciones policiacas, el típico policía rebelde el cual no cumple las reglas como policía, siendo justo pero con métodos un poco fuera de lo común para resolver sus casos, luego se añade el compañero intelectual que sigue las reglas dando un equilibrio a la trama lo cual me parece un poco trillado pero al mismo tiempo necesario para el desarrollo de la historia.

   Desde el tráiler podemos ver la aparición de un villano un tanto fuera de lo común, es decir un personaje que elimina a los corruptos que roban a las personas normales con sus empresas y corporaciones, aunque con un atuendo que esperamos en un comic la psicología o la forma de actuar del villano sale del molde del villano clásico que solo busca poder y gobernar el mundo con mano de hierro, en primera instancia este villano busca una especie de justicia pero con métodos terroríficos y que además notamos que hace sus ejecuciones de manera pública. Desde el tráiler podemos notar que el villano es el principal atractivo para ver esta producción cinematográfica y la verdad no me ha decepcionado.

   

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   Sociedad

   Siempre me ha gustado analizar las películas desde un punto de vista social y en esta producción podemos ver la reacción de las masas ante los hechos que comete el doctor peste. En el tráiler notamos la creación de una nueva red social sin censura con la bandera de la libertad de expresión, sin embargo, ¿hasta donde llega esa libertad si no existe la responsabilidad? El doctor peste utiliza este pulpito para mostrar a las masas su manera peculiar de ejercer justicia, todo esto ante acontecimientos de personas poderosas que juegan con el sistema a su antojo.

   Ahora bien, notamos que la red social es una plataforma que hace que las ejecuciones se vuelvan virales, ejecuciones con cierto olor a justicia por lo cual el espectador se preguntará como reaccionaran las masas ante esta forma de hacer justicia, un experimento social que de cierta manera me recuerda villanos como el Joker (solo por lo que causa en la sociedad). El doctor peste puede hacer que la sociedad se vuelque contra el sistema para castigar con el más alto costo a los corruptos y poderosos que dañan la ciudad.

   

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   Otra razón por la cual comparo este villano con una especie de Joker es debido a que debemos analizar las razones por la cual el doctor peste actúa de esa manera, siendo juez y verdugo al mismo tiempo en contra de los poderosos en dinero e influencia, esto es una análisis que hacemos por nuestra cuenta pero que la película nos mostrará con detalles.

   La Trama

   En cuanto a este aspecto siempre espero ver algo nuevo que me sorprenda, a pesar de que esta producción se guía en base a argumentos o estereotipos que ya hemos visto en otras películas si le otorgan personalidad a la historia, si hay aspectos que la diferencian y en lo particular pienso que es algo verdaderamente aplaudible para una película cuyo país de origen no es el más famoso con respecto a la producción de este tipo de arte.

   

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   En esta película tenemos de todo un poco, además de acción aventuras y el enfrentamiento con un psicópata notamos que hay algo de romance solo lo esencial y también podemos notar algo de comedia, me parece una trama bastante rica en situaciones y muy bien unida en un solo guion, como lo he dicho antes no es tampoco la película del año pero se nota el esfuerzo y la dedicación que le han otorgado a realizar Grom contra el Doctor Peste.

   Calificación:

   7.8 ⭐️

   Creo que es una película entretenida y me agradó el giro en la trama con las sorpresas que genera en un punto de la película, me agradó la calidad visual que le otorgaron y una banda sonora con un buen ritmo, buenas escenas de acción y algo de comedia, definitivamente una combinación que le agradará a muchos espectadores, por otra parte me agrada el aspecto psicológico y social que muestra la película para analizarse.

   

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   En esta calificación o puntuación que le otorgo a esta película cuenta mucho la sorpresa que de buena manera me propinó esta película ya que pensé que iba a ser una producción alejada de la calidad que estamos acostumbrados a ver.

   Así como lo he mencionado anteriormente esta película la puedes encontrar en Netfllix y puedes verla por ti mismo, espero este post haya sido de agrado para todos, un enorme placer escribir en esta comunidad, definitivamente no hay mejor lugar para escribir sobre estos temas que en Hive.

   

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   Gracias por tu lectura, hasta la próxima

   

   Major Grom: Plague Doctor

   [English Version]

   Hello Hivers movie and series lovers, it is a pleasure to write for all of you again, this time I want to comment on a movie that we can enjoy on the Netflix platform, a movie of action and adventure with a little touch of superhero, it is a production called Igor Grom against Doctor Plague.

   

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   This is a Russian movie, it is even based on a Comic from a publishing house of that country, that would explain the plot with the superhero touch that tells us this film production. The premiere of Igor Grom vs. Doctor Plague is April 1, 2021 and I recently found it in the catalog as one of the popular Netflix options for my region.

   It pleases me to see this kind of productions, I mean we are very used to that only Hollywood movies are of high quality and Netflix in a way opens us an important window to other regions, their culture and memorable productions as the example of Spain and now a Russian production, simply after seeing the trailer I didn't think twice to watch the movie, I had a huge curiosity to watch and analyze a Russian film, no doubt it is the first film from that country that I will comment on Hive which I hope will not be the only one and waiting for good productions from many countries in the world to surprise us big screen or on platforms like Netflix.

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   Igor Grom vs. the Doctor

   Now yes, I will tell you my impression about this Russian production which I have indecision when classifying it in a genre, because it has action adventure police investigation and a touch of superhero taken from comics, even seeing the trailer we can notice a rich plot and with enough movement so it attracts lovers of all genres previously specified.

   

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   Photography, Camera Play and Visual Quality In General

   I was pleasantly surprised by this aspect, the truth is that the production has a very good photography combining an excellent set of cameras that together with the special effects make the experience from the visual point of view is of very good quality as in an American film.

   With respect to this specific aspect I had my doubts, to match this kind of quality is something that takes a lot of work and a good budget to perform all the techniques and editing necessary to reach an excellent visual quality, in this sense the film does not disappoint at all in my opinion.

   

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   Story

   We start the story with typical characters of police productions, the typical rebel cop who does not follow the rules as a policeman, being fair but with methods a little out of the ordinary to solve their cases, then adds the intellectual partner who follows the rules giving a balance to the plot which seems to me a little trite but at the same time necessary for the development of the story.

   From the trailer we can see the appearance of a villain somewhat out of the ordinary, ie a character that eliminates the corrupt who steal from normal people with their companies and corporations, although with an outfit that we expect in a comic book the psychology or the way the villain acts out of the mold of the classic villain who only seeks power and rule the world with an iron fist, in the first instance this villain seeks a kind of justice but with terrifying methods and we also note that makes their executions in a public way. From the trailer we can notice that the villain is the main attraction to see this film production and the truth has not disappointed me.

   

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   Society

   I have always liked to analyze movies from a social point of view and in this production we can see the reaction of the masses to the deeds committed by Dr. Peste. In the trailer we notice the creation of a new uncensored social network with the flag of freedom of expression, however, how far does that freedom go if there is no responsibility? Doctor Peste uses this pulpit to show the masses his peculiar way of exercising justice, all this in the face of events of powerful people who play with the system as they please.

   Now, we notice that the social network is a platform that makes executions go viral, executions with a certain smell of justice so the viewer will wonder how the masses will react to this way of doing justice, a social experiment that somehow reminds me of villains like the Joker (only because of what it causes in society). Dr. Peste can make society turn against the system to punish with the highest cost the corrupt and powerful that harm the city.

   

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   Another reason why I compare this villain to a kind of Joker is because we must analyze the reasons why Dr. Peste acts that way, being judge and executioner at the same time against the powerful in money and influence, this is an analysis that we do on our own but that the film will show us in detail.

   The Plot

   As for this aspect I always expect to see something new that surprises me, although this production is guided based on arguments or stereotypes that we have already seen in other films if they give personality to the story, if there are aspects that differentiate it and in particular I think it is something truly applaudable for a film whose country of origin is not the most famous with respect to the production of this type of art.

   

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   In this movie we have a little bit of everything, besides action adventures and the confrontation with a psychopath we notice that there is some romance just the essential and we can also notice some comedy, it seems to me a plot quite rich in situations and very well united in a single script, as I said before it is not the movie of the year either but you can notice the effort and dedication that they have given to make Grom against Doctor Plague.

   Rating:

   7.8 ⭐️

   I think it is an entertaining movie and I liked the twist in the plot with the surprises that it generates in a point of the movie, I liked the visual quality that they gave it and a soundtrack with a good rhythm, good action scenes and some comedy, definitely a combination that will please many viewers, on the other hand I like the psychological and social aspect that shows the film to be analyzed.

   

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   In this qualification or score that I give to this film, it counts a lot the surprise that in a good way this film gave me since I thought that it was going to be a production far from the quality that we are used to see.

   As I mentioned before, you can find this movie in Netfllix and you can watch it by yourself, I hope this post has been of pleasure for everyone, a huge pleasure to write in this community, there is definitely no better place to write about these topics than in Hive.

   

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   Thank you for your reading, until next time

   

   Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator

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