It's very hard to sum this movie up. If you think of cinema as a conscious process, then you'll find this movie quite bad: the green-screen effects suck, the acting is bad, the jokes are flat and unfunny, the story is nonexistent and could be retold in a single sentence, the musical segments are way too long. But, by trying to bring contemporary Russian culture into the Third Reich (for example, Schurenberg and Garik talking about money laundering schemes; all the office work jokes; Russian celebrities) the authors have unconsciously spawned something truly post-modern, an unaware auto-portrait of the nation.
... View MoreIf you are not familiar with Russian pop culture you will not get anything out of this movie besides grotesque scenes of action and bizarre dialog. In reality this movie pays a great homage to the old soviet spy movies. Especially the cult spy series "twelve moments of spring", from which it borrows most of the characters. It is also relentlessly pokes in the most satirical way at todays new Moscow corporate Russia, by presenting it in the form of the third Reich. This movie is comedy genius. Great selection of actors, with some Russian comedy heavy weights. I struggle to see how anyone non Russian would get what the movie is about. But if you watch it, don't judge it as it is not made for the Western audience.
... View MoreI haven't laughed so much in ages... the director is brilliant - daring - how about Buzz Luhrman meets Mel Brooks with a touch of Tarentino. Plot needs work, and yes, it is not structurally perfect, far from it, but it is so well done, and so funny, and so imaginative and original (key word) - that I can forgive much. This director has a serious future. I would recommend this to anyone who has not sworn allegiance to the politically correct and who loves a crazed romp. Certain scenes are to die for - such as the scene where Hitler uses potatoes to explain the how-to in the Russia/Germany conflict. I bet that the 3rd picture of this director will be a world blockbuster. Makes Borat look flat.
... View MoreLooking for Western analogies to "Gitler Kaput!" won't lead you further than to the latest silly parodies of "Meet the Spartans" sort. But in this case a parody ("Semnadtsat mgnoveniy vesny" (1973)) is just a skeleton, and the meat is Russian pop-culture, pop-music, popular jokes, all sorts of silly internet memes. So you don't have to be a cinephile to enjoy this movie like you do in Hollywood parodies' case. Just watch and listen like you do in circus. Busty beauties, special effects, acrobats in nazi uniform but incoherent in each and every detail - sorry if it's not your cup of tea. Don't expect too much from a trash comedy, which is a pretty new genre in Russia. One can only wonder if it matures in the years to come.
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