Ashik Kerib: flat plot and hammy acting wreck ethnographic survey / travelogue of Azerbaijani culture
Sergei Parajanov and David Abashidze, “Ashik Kerib” (1988) The last completed film by Georgian /
The Third Man: excellent character study of people coping with a changed world where old certainties are subverted
Carol Reed, “The Third Man” (1949) Here’s an excellent movie character study about the testing
Viy: Gothic fairy-tale horror film of Cossacks and seminarians threatened by witches, vampires and demons
Georgiy Kropachyov and Konstantin Yershov, “Viy” (1967) A rare 1960s Soviet film in the horror
5 Days of War: as the movie admits, truth is the first casualty
Renny Harlin, “5 Days of War” aka “5 Days of August” (2011) Directed by Renny
Amphibian Man: hodge-podge of science fiction fantasy, action, doomed teen romance and anti-capitalist commentary
Vladimir Chebotaryov and Gennady Kazansky, “Chelovek-Amfibiya” aka “Amphibian Man” (1962) An unusual science fiction /
Rashomon: still a timely investigation into human nature and its need for approval, and how truth is lost
Akira Kurosawa, “Rashomon” (1950) For this film, director Kurosawa used a blend of two short
Momotaro’s Divine Sea Warriors: uneven animated movie with strident tone preaches a nationalistic message
Mitsuyo Seo, “Momotaro’s Divine Sea Warriors” (1945) Japan’s first full-length animated movie is a World
Characters and plot are as flat and blank as snowscapes in “Fargo”
Joel Coen, “Fargo” (1996) A kidnap plot cooked up to save a car salesman’s hide
Chinese and Chinese-language Films
Princess Iron Fan: first Asian full-length animated movie is an overstretched “short cartoon”
Wan Guchan and Wan Laiming, “Princess Iron Fan” / “Tian Shan Gong Zhu” (1941) This
The Andromeda Nebula: the Soviet Star Trek that was never to be in spite of impressive visual style
Yevgeny Sherstobitov, “The Andromeda Nebula” (1967) Based on a novel “Andromeda: a Space-Age Tale” by