Terra Nova (2008)

Don't listen to the negative reviews

It's hard to see any effort in the film. There's no comedy to speak of, no real drama and, worst of all.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

I am impressed with the filmmakers for putting such a deep political meaning into the plot (at least the way I see it). The seemingly hypothetical story, which takes place in 2013, describes the world overflowing with "dangerous" criminals due to the official termination of death penalty. The UN "blue helmets" under the directive from the central authority (i.e., One World Government) decided to conduct a social "experiment" by forcibly dumping the outlaws on the deserted island to supposedly enable them to establish a functional living together thus creating a classic example of a Hobbesian "state of nature." Driven by fear of violent death and the instinct of self-preservation, the people succumb to the subhuman condition- murdering and eating each other. The authorities' true goal becomes apparent in the end when the people, with a hope of escape in sight and under the right leadership, manage to overpower the oppressors within their group, establish order, and retrieve their humanity only to fall victim of the UN's cruelty and to be gunned down by the UN forces. Below the surface, the movie focuses on the scary political trends of the present: the establishment of absolute power and control over peoples' lives and the fake humanitarian nature of international organizations like the UN. The movie makes you think and is very emotionally charged. Despite the pain, it leaves you with a sense of hope. Konstantin Lavronenko's performance is emotional and deeply touching. He is one of those rare actors capable of making a profound impact on the viewers. I have a collection of his movies and have not been disappointed.

At least Russian film companies stopped filming movies about "alcoholics in kitchen" and criminal-respected action-comedy. New century of Russian movies has began! This film contain beautiful scenes with nature, it showing experiments with human-factor and basic instincts. For me, it was pleasure to see good operator work and good actors. Also I was surprised to see one of the popular American actors at his favorite place - as prisoner! So everybody who was thinking that Russian movies suck - you must change your mind after watching this picture. In 2009 Russia will surprise us with a lot of good movies, but "Novaya Zemlya" have earned my 10 points without any questions!

I liked an idea of this film although I've seen a very similar American film but not that well made. Russians are pretty good at crime and prison movies and this one is no exception. The dialogs between prisoners were pretty realistic and sometimes even funny. What else did I like was a violent moments which were pretty shocking and there was a lot of them. That's also the main thing which I liked about this film. The bloody fights, cannibalism and sadism between prisoners made this film to be one of the most shocking films I've seen. I also liked a short appearance of Tommy Lister in this film, it was kinda surprising. The only thing that was bad about this movie was the ending which made no sense.

Well. The scenario of the given film has seemed to me original. When I on it went, I expected another, but my expectations have been exceeded. First of all I expected that it is very terrible film, but except for one scene, the film is simply rigid, thus with witty humor. The film has grasped since first minute, and did not let out to the end. As it is clear, the majority of prisoners did not have a choice as in case of their refusal, them threatened to kill in prison. Already by the ship we see that people were divided into two camps: Russian and to it sympathizing and Chechens and others at war against Russian. The given moment has intrigued even more. Having reached "the new earth", there was a scene with keys. Here Russian have made the rough miscalculation operating by a principle "everyone for itself". Thus that they the first have rushed behind keys, Chechens being in smaller quantity, but operating with the organized group could grasp ALL keys. The sense of this scene, is obviously actual for today's Russia! Whether further Chechens decided to kill all Russian and their sympathizing. Thus their main aged man was for utter annihilation of Russian. The head of Chechens wished to understand first of all with two "debtors". Here Russian with the help гравного the hero (Zhilin) have come round and having taken advantage of a principle "all for one" have snatched on Chechens, and having destroyed them, thus having lost some persons. Further understanding that despite destruction of Chechens, the further conflicts between Russian not to avoid, Zhilin leaves them, taking itself the part of meal put to it. Shortly Nikolay who has killed 22 persons joins it to measure length of their direct and short gut. Between them "symbiosis", despite incident with Nikolay's sexual satisfaction on Zhilin's close photo was obviously fastened. But by the winter after a case which could ruin both of them, to Zhilin it became clear that it is necessary to come back to other Russian "colonizers" At returning having lost many forces, they have been grasped by other prisoners. Here again they see to what all has come. And the society where there are people of the first and second category has been constructed. And how differently?! The second group plays FASCINATING game... Will suffice with retelling... Actually to characters. I consider that the actor's ensemble is picked up perfectly, except for several characters. I did not like, for example, Zhigunov. But leading roles are simply excellent played. He/she is Lavroneko (Zhilin), but се knew that he can perfectly play, at least having recollected a film "Returning". But the actor playing Nikolay has even more shaken. Its image is not homogeneous, thus with a strange ending for the person of the killed 22 persons. Dapkunaite again was up to standard, but to level which it has shown in film Interdevochka has not held on. To the minuses, the greased, unrealistic ending. Actually a film it is necessary to look, this film forces to think Russians about them "to Russian road to the light future..." Thanks for attention.