A brilliant film that helped define a genre

Clever and entertaining enough to recommend even to members of the 1%

Not sure how, but this is easily one of the best movies all summer. Multiple levels of funny, never takes itself seriously, super colorful, and creative.

The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

Every nation has their sacred topics, for Russians, this is Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945, and as a result, more than 27 000 000 people were killed, and thus it is almost not possible to touch this topic with almost a slighter hint of doubt or criticism. The war caused a huge array of war movies made in the former USSR, as well as modern Russia. Many were great, many were just banal, mediocre efforts. The Brest Fortress is a 2010 work, and it introduces many famous contemporary Russian actors, and the budget is very big. As a result, a very tragic, deep, heavy, dark and merciless film was made. It depicts first week of the war in June 1941, and it shows deeply tragic fates of Fortress defenders. Apart from obvious inaccuracies or goofs, there are huge and impressive battle scenes with many great moments. But the feeling of deja vu and seeing an old Soviet propaganda film does not leave us here. Well done, but with very obvious touches of pro-Soviet sentiments

I've expected a bit more from Brestskaya krepost. Thanks to the rating, I was looking forward to experience a different (Russian) view on Eastern front and was awaiting accuracy on battlefield which I am pretty sensitive about. Everything went good till German attack.POSITIVES first: -All visuals are good and so are the uniforms, vehicles etc. -Film managed really good to build "calm before the storm" atmosphere. I could feel the tension in the air and it made me to continue watching. -The film covers everything important in my opinion. Some reviewers have written about a feeling that Russians act in Brestskay krepost like it is theirs for ages and that Russians have committed many crimes in Poland which should have been shown in the movie too. I had this feeling also but I disagree with these reviewers about a matter of showing the background of Russian occupation in 1939-1941. I don't think it would add anything important to the story. NEGATIVES:-Overall battle performance and tactics of both sides were at least strange. As the Germans were advancing in extended order towards the Russians first time, the Russians have counter-attacked into the close combat instead of ambush and relatively safe shooting from the building. There was absolutely no reason to do that. This scene would be much more typical for Napoleonic wars than for 1941. Furthermore, attacking in urban areas in extended orders is nonsense. In reality, it was about quick moves, searching for cover, covering comrades etc. German infantry could have used some armored vehicles and move with them while hiding themselves behind them.-Waves of Germans trying to get closer to the Russians, who were defending buildings and fortress, while running without cover or covering fire and therefore dying instantly. Although close quarter combat was not yet developed in these days, since 19th century there was a common practice in military of dividing infantrymen into at least two units or "platoons" where one covers the second during its advance and then they change roles. It would be more believable if one German unit would provide massive fire on Russian positions and the second unit would quickly advance and take some good positions, ready to cover the others. -One of the German objectives was saving lives of their soldiers which makes the scene with captives quite unbelievable. I don't think they could have exposed their soldiers to potential fire because of some doubtful intent, probably to make Russians negotiate or what.-Many times, Germans shout without a reason just ... to make them look more German? This is at least the Hollywood's idea of Germans but I didn't expect this in a Russian film. For example, they shout at each other: "Be aware of windows, fire at will, fire..." which are pretty "empty" useless phrases, while they are already fighting. When they are yelling this during taking a building, it becomes a problem because they tend to reveal their position to the enemy.In spite of the negatives, it was a solid movie. If you are not as sensitive about the battles as I am, you will definitely enjoy.

There can be no doubt that The Fortress is a cinematic masterpiece with grade one photography, acting, special effects, screenplay, pace and emotional depth. None of this is questioned and all readers are recommended to view it. Basing the story from the viewpoint of a child trainee soldier was particularly effective and the film effortlessly holds viewer attention throughout the generous 138 minutes.Moreover the film was well researched in many aspects. Not only were the sets extremely accurate in their portrayal of the fortress but even the ruins were perfectly reconstructed from post war photographs. The officers really existed and their heroism was deservedly depicted.But it is without question a work of huge political propaganda. And it completely failed to illustrate the true horror of war as it really happened.In every battle the wounded always outnumber the dead. Indeed many die subsequent to the injuries of combat and the percentage of soldiers killed outright is normally rather low. War is not a computer game in which the fallen just drop dead on the spot with a little groan. It is a sea of suffering and screaming and agony in which the able are caught in a quandary whether to aid the victims or run for safety.But this was not at all captured in the film. The victims just die instantly and lie there in huge peaceful heaps. Even their faces appear as if they just went to sleep. Of course this is rubbish.The film depicts those Russians that fought on as heroes whilst any soldiers that left are slurred with the implication of cowardice. The Germans are portrayed as inhuman killing machines without compassion and slurred with the entirely untrue concoction of using civilians as human shields in their attack. Russian attacks are shown as courageous head on charges across open ground as if they were led by 19th.century heroes whilst in fact the leadership was inept and too inexperienced to coordinate effective counter attacks. The film did not portray the brutal use of boy soldiers by the Russians as ammunition feeders to machine gun posts and ID tag collectors from the fallen. And Commissar Fomin is shown to have given himself up for execution as a Jew whilst in fact he was betrayed by his own men as a hated Bolshevic. Such details suggest a very different reality inside the stubborn pockets of resistance than the film portrays. And it takes little imagination to understand the motive.'Stalingrad', the notable 1993 epic of that engagement remains supreme in the honest depiction of war and this film cannot reach it. Ultimately heroism and barbarism are individual aspects of battle and not national psychologies. But this film attempts to show good and evil as if there can be a good side to war. And it never suggests that Russian preparations to attack Germany in 1942 were well under way in 1941 and that Hitler only attacked first before Stalin did the same to him.Sorry readers but this film must be taken with a large pinch of salt. Nevertheless I did shed a tear with the old man at the end and my heart went out to the young musician boy as it was meant to.

Great movie! Once again, I was convinced that the really high quality movies we have shot, filmed and will be removed in the future. The patriotic content, acting, thought-out developments - the upper class. This is good news, because from the first seconds of the film you become attached to him, his view can not refuse. Unable to allocate a certain actor - they all played like a great orchestra, a single mechanism, with great dedication and skill of the game paying tribute to those who gave their lives for our great country, for our freedom, for the clear sky above our heads. There are some movies that are dearer to me than any foreign high-budget "action games." "Brest Fortress", as well as several other military and patriotic films made in different parts of our fatherland, will remind us of the Great Victory, which is extracted in the glow of the battles our ancestors, people who are not sparing himself, rushed to defend the country from the very first hours of war, World War II. Our tribute to this great feat - my memory of them, which also includes the creation of patriotic films like "Brest Fortress".Again, the film affects the magnitude of the explosions and accuracy of events. Not for nothing, when you create a movie, documentary evidence used to reconstruct as accurately as possible the situation that arose in the fortress at that difficult time.As the fighting scenes were filmed - it is generally impossible to comment on. High level production of hostilities simply indescribable - before he delivered quality.It is significant that at the beginning and end of the film sounded wonderful song "On the Hills of Manchuria", which was originally devoted to another heroic feat of our soldiers, but that it is the best fit in this movie.I am infinitely grateful to the creators for the idea to remove this film and the actors who performed their roles very well, gave it to the max. Thank you for this wonderful picture! Eternal memory to all those who fought for the freedom of our motherland. Let's not forget about the difficult victory, which extracted a high price for us, our ancestors! Their courage, endurance, boundless will to win and a great desire not to give up, there is a great example for us! The town where I was born and lived, Odessa, is the proud title of "Hero City". The Brest Fortress is the only castle to be awarded such a high calling, earning him, as all city-heroes, the blood of its defenders, and their courage! About the great feat of strength, character and other cities-heroes do not forget ever!