I'll put money on it now. Fedor Bondarchuk's Stalingrad will re-write all Russian box office records upon release. How can I feel so confident about a film still in pre-production? Simple.
First, Bondarchuk is a proven commodity, his films routinely topping the Russian box office chart. See hits like 9th Company and Inhabited Island for proof.
Second, this is poised to be Russia's first ever 3D film. Look what Avatar did. That's going to happen in Russia.
Third - and most importantly - Russian passions still run very high indeed on matters relating to WWII and the fight against Nazi Germany. And Stalingrad - a thirty million dollar action drama - will be spending buckets of money to bring what is considered the bloodiest battle in the history of warfare, a battle between Russia and Nazi Germany, to the screen in full detail. And while thirty million may not go that far in Hollywood, it's a huge figure in Russia, where Bondarchuk made his previous war picture - the stellar 9th Company - for a reported seven mil.
Details may be skimpy, but this is going to be huge.
First, Bondarchuk is a proven commodity, his films routinely topping the Russian box office chart. See hits like 9th Company and Inhabited Island for proof.
Second, this is poised to be Russia's first ever 3D film. Look what Avatar did. That's going to happen in Russia.
Third - and most importantly - Russian passions still run very high indeed on matters relating to WWII and the fight against Nazi Germany. And Stalingrad - a thirty million dollar action drama - will be spending buckets of money to bring what is considered the bloodiest battle in the history of warfare, a battle between Russia and Nazi Germany, to the screen in full detail. And while thirty million may not go that far in Hollywood, it's a huge figure in Russia, where Bondarchuk made his previous war picture - the stellar 9th Company - for a reported seven mil.
Details may be skimpy, but this is going to be huge.
Will we ever see Inhabited Island or 9th Company on DVD in the US? And speaking of movies never to be seen whatever happened to Viy? The trailer looked very promising.
It won't be the first 3D movie in Russia. Belka and Strelka (March 2010), Dark World (October 2010) and Viy (date is unknown) will overcome Stalingrad for the title "First Russian 3D movie". Plus there were stereoscopic Russian movies in Soviet times.
Inhabited Island failed miserably in Russia, not being able to cover its budget despite being released in two parts. Bondarchuk (a perfect example of what is wrong with nepotism and favoritism) became laughing stock everywhere and not only because of the money, but because of the poor quality of the film, bashed by critics and public as one, and the megalomaniac self promoting campaign he unleashed in the media at that time (the magazine edited by his wife publishing extended piece on him, basically saying what a genius with a vision he is, is just a single example).
If you ask me, this new film and the loads of money he receives from the government for promoting national heroism and patriotism, and at the same time shamelessly re-writing history, will have its success, but it will be far from breaking any records, especially those of Avatar in Russia. No mentioning how fast this movie will be forgotten.
My money is on how awful this movie will be, 3D or not.