Chyornaya Molniya (2009) Reviews

• Don't let the rating mislead you.

  m_momchil2010-01-31

  Granted, the movie does contain ideas and motives from other superhero movies, yet the Russian cast has managed to present the story in whole new light. One thing that makes this movie more interesting is the fact that the action takes place at a different location - Russia (Moscow), not the well-known USA (Manhattan). Other things that differs from the majority of the created movies nowadays are the ways that characters express their emotions and the believes / principles they have. On the negative side there are moments with poor computer graphic effects and impossible physics which has had a negative influence on my vote. Overall this movie managed to keep me watching till the end. I can't say the same for other movies that seem to have higher ratings.

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• Enjoyable if derivative

  TheLittleSongbird2013-08-13

  Black Lightning was a long way from perfect. The story is very derivative and does get rather predictable, while the ending is a little rushed and over-complicated(perhaps too much going on in the script and the action) and a lot of the special effects are rather hokey and more at home in the late 80s-early 90s. The script, while having some great ironic humour, can feel empty and awkward-sounding at times too. Black Lightning is slickly shot though, with a convincing setting. The Russian heavy-metal soundtrack pulsates through the film with great energy and is quite catchy as well, and the pacing is fine. The action is fun and exciting to watch if occasionally a little cheesy, and the ironic humour in the script is funny and endearing. The characters are derivative and clichéd like the story but still quite engaging, the hero and his love interest are likable and the villain(though his motivation does come across as rather silly) does give an aura of creepiness. The acting is good, especially from Grigory Dobrygin and Viktor Verzhbitsky, though Ekaterina Vilkova is visually gorgeous and at least adequate. All in all, derivative with some hokey effects and a rushed solution, but fun, slick and well played. Partially recommended but try not to over-think too much. 6/10 Bethany Cox

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• A Russian Black Lighting : mix Spiderman, Transformers, Batman.... and stir

  johnslegers2012-04-21

  Take the Spiderman movie, replace New York with Moscow, the spider suit with a flying GAZ-21 Volga, the green goblin by some billionaire in a flying Mercedes, throw in a bit of Iron Man, Batman as well as Transformers.... and you pretty much get "Chernaya Molniya". Say what you want, but this movie is just a Russian cocktail, throwing together several of the recent American superhero movies. Only, "Chernaya Molniya" is actually better, but I can't really pin down exactly why. Is it the Russian music, the Russian humor or just the overall exotic nature of a big budget comic style movie taking place in the heart of Moscow, with Russian actors and spoken in Russian? I don't know or care, really. All I can say is that I enjoyed this movie, in spite of its very cliché plot, its very cliché action scenes and its strangely familiar Hollywood style atmosphere. For those who're in the mood for some light entertainment but are tired of the same old Hollywood crap, this film is something like a subtle breath of fresh air. It has all the familiar plot twists, all the clichés and the same atmosphere of a comic style Hollywood blockbuster movie, but it's served by a Russian cast and a Russian director... that in some way makes it not just bearable but even enjoyable to a guy like me who's tired of the same old Hollywood crap. But maybe that's just me. Hate it or like it... but this is a movie I'm sure you'll remember.

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• Great Powers Bring Great Responsibilities

  claudio_carvalho2010-08-01

  In 2004 in Moscow, the wealthy entrepreneur Kuptsov (Viktor Verzhbitskiy) is drilling the underground of the city trying to reach a huge vein of diamonds that may destroy the city. However the power is insufficient and he needs the Nano-catalyst that had been developed years ago but its location is unknown. Meanwhile the low middle-class teenager Dima (Grigoriy Dobrygin) dreams on having a car and dating his gorgeous college mate Nastya (Ekaterina Vilkova). His wealthy friend Maks (Ivan Zhidkov) that has a Mercedes Benz is flirting with Nastya and Dima feels incapable to dispute her love due to his financial condition. On his birthday, Dima receives an old Volga as a gift of his parents but he is ashamed of the car. One day, Dima discovers that the Volga is capable to fly but he is unable to control the car. When his father is stabbed by a punk on the streets, Dima does not know who the victim is and does not help him. His father dies and Dima decides to bring the responsibility to help the Muscovites. But the greedy Kuptsov wants the Nano-catalyst at any price. "Chernaya Molniya" a.k.a. "Black Lighting" is a delightful adventure that recalls "Transformers". The hero is born in a similar situation of "Spider Man", when he realizes after the death of his father for lack of his sympathy that great powers bring great responsibilities and he ends the story with his beloved girl. The beauty of Ekaterina Vilkova is awesome; the special effects are excellent; and this film is a great entertainment. My vote is seven. Title (Brazil): "Trovão Negro" ("Black Thunder")

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• Black lightning vs Mercedes Benz :) Spoilers contained

  inevitabilio2010-01-26

  So I was waiting for this movie to appear for a long time. I saw the trailer and I had greater expectations. But apart from special effects and a touch of nostalgia for the Soviet times I think this movie is seriously flowed. Some spoilers here : The hero survived some transformations that did not seem very logical: Quick switch from being a normal person to someone obsessed with making money just to show off in front of a girl? A very fast transformation from someone who caused his fathers death with total luck of interest in people to being a super hero? Then some laws of the physics were crashed like stopping a van through hitting it from behind, being able to fly on a Mercedes in space without freezing, starting a Volga after it has been drowned, etc. Not to mention shameless advertising of apple cell phones who ring under water. At last I think I miss the feeling as a whole in the movie. They tried to tell a story and to touch some sensitive topics but they failed. On the whole its worth watching as it is fun but I think something is missing and the screenplay should have been rewritten with more attention to detail. Still my favorite is when the sign of Mercedes and Volga were opposed when flying to the stratosphere, its quite amusing :)

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