Plenty to Like, Plenty to Dislike

Pretty good movie overall. First half was nothing special but it got better as it went along.

Fanciful, disturbing, and wildly original, it announces the arrival of a fresh, bold voice in American cinema.

I enjoyed watching this film and would recommend other to give it a try , (as I am) but this movie, although enjoyable to watch due to the better than average acting fails to add anything new to its storyline that is all too familiar to these types of movies.

There's so much in the Pushkin tale that doesn't make it into the movie, but what does get in is glorious. The young hero's soul is in his face, and the figure of Pugachev is magnificent. There are gaps in the storytelling, but the visual imagery flows through: the rebellion, when it comes, seems as natural as the unlocking of the seasons. And when the following winter ends in defeat, there's tragic weight to the breaking ice and the muddy roads. (A historical reflection: the film assiduously portrays the nobility and beauty in the different nationalities, all those who were to become members of "soviet republics".) For all the real heroism, there's a tinge of Shandy Hall about the army residence - Pushkin knew of Sterne's novel, though I've never heard that it was an influence; but the association is surprisingly apt for this adaptation.

I wish I could see a newer version of that adaptation. It must be really hard to the war-scenes of Pugachov riot in 1950s.Pushkin did a great job to reflect the inner-world of a riotous man in Tzar Russia but I couldn't see clearly the traces of inner-world analyses in the movie.The Captain's Daughter is not just as sympathetic as in the book.Let's say it is a very adaptation and we do not need to waste our time with an older version. A newer version will do.But this is Pushkin right so it is not easy to reflect his works in a cinematic fashion.If Hollywood believed it could be done and it could attract the adaptation lovers it would do it I guess.