The SWORD and the DRAGON AKA: Ilya Muromets

[Shonokin]

"This was a time of Giants and Dragons..."

I guess "The Sword and the Dragon" was on MST3K though I haven't seen that particular episode. I just stumbled across this movie because I was looking for clips on youtube of another Aleksandr Ptushko epic called "Ruslan and Ludmila".

At least in its restored widescreen with very vivid cinematography and in it's original language, Ilya Muromets looks pretty spectacular to me.
Fighting the Dragon Does that dragon sorta look familiar to anyone? ;D
The Wind Demon

Russians folktales, demons, Vikings, dragons, invading Monguls... looks like a bucket full of awsome to me.

There's a very ratty PD version of it on google video, but I had to spring for the DVD. The colors and visuals in that dragon scene just totally won me over.

Anyway, I'll let ya know what I think once I get it in my hands.

[Xenorama ™]

i enjoyed it in it's dubbed form, and have the DVD of the Russian version. we'll watch and compare!

[Shonokin]

Ptushko's epics seem like they're really be something to see on the big screen. Which is why I'm happy to be seeing his Ruslan and Ludmila in a few weeks.

Stuff like VIY seem just fine on a TV since as fun as it is, there's not much fantastic scale to it.

[hman]

Can I download a version of this film somewhere? I've wanted to see it ever since I saw it on the 9.99 racks at Suncoast.

[Shonokin]

The original widescreen russian version, I don't know, but the PD U.S. version is on Google video. There is a download option for it at the google page.

I don't use peer to peer stuff like edonkey or kazaa, but it's possible you might find it on there.

[Xenorama ™]

dang, there's a lot of interesting stuff on google video, War of the Worlds adaptions (and the Tom Cruise version, sort of) and even a neat if ultimately disappointing "Iron Man" video (done to Black f'n Sabbath, mind you, not the hero).

[Xenorama ™]

i watched this movie the other day, and while it's an amazing looking movie and the scale is impressive, this is kind of boring overall, with all the goings on that detract from the main story. too MUCH story, maybe.

the end is fun, as are the locales.

[Shonokin]

Ruslan and Ludmila was 2 hours and 40 minutes and though a lot happens, I think it could have clocked in better at around 2 hours or less. It really plods along in places, but it does make Ilya Muromets seem to be a racy, quick movie in comparison.

I watched Alexandre Rou's Vasilisa the Beautiful and thought the pacing was much better, and it also has a life-sided 3 headed dragon at the finally, along with a nice appearance by Baba Yaga.