Highly Overrated But Still Good

Excellent and certainly provocative... If nothing else, the film is a real conversation starter.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

This movie feels like it was made purely to piss off people who want good shows

Dear Viewers, such a movie asks for a pretty complex comment, and I apologize for the length in advance to all the readers for that reason. First of all, if made in Hollywood, this movie would become the absolute Oscar winner and total mocking at Russians. Since this movie is made in Russia, it is not mocking at Americans and of course - won't get any Oscar(s). American viewers are being taught that they are the only ones (important) but in reality there are other 6,7 billion people in this world, most of them are at least potential viewers and they all have different perspective, so do the Russians and it is of vital importance. This is why the US audience can't comprehend that this movie is not making fun of a nation or of a race. And this is not because US nation is stupid or narrow minded but studiously indoctrinated and controlled. I had an honor to study film in the US and a privilege to learn the media indoctrination on the US citizens in my classes. Even as a European, before that I had not been close to assume how planned and detailed that actually is. Americans are taught that they can make fun of anyone, but no one can't make fun of them. A person with that character is considered a very bad individual in society of any nation. Then, why the good people act that way? Because they are persuaded as a nation that they are the standard for goodness and archetype for kindness. People under the dictatorship regimes understand with fear that they are being lied and indoctrinated, but in 'democratic' countries - they don't. So, Movie is not racist at all: probably the most positive character in the movie is American. It is a truck driver Ben. He doesn't actually know Danila (like other seldom positive characters do) and has no reason to help him at all but he does and does it a lot. In return, at the end of the movie he gets the audio tapes of Danila's music and he is happy and touched incomparably more than a hockey player brother of his good friend who gets suitcase with million dollars from Danila. And that brother isRussian by the way who did not even want to give him $20 when he needed even though Danila was in the US just to help him. Russian movie that gives contrast on American with a heart big as Russia who was more Dania's brother than his real brother (who was late to help him because of girls and fun and a similar match to a hockey player) and a Russian hockey star who has no heart at all is not chauvinistic. The only girl he liked and cheated on his girlfriend was black. The Russian word for 'black' is similar to Spanish or Portuguese 'negro' which resembles to the offensive 'nigger' in the US which is leaving Danila puzzled as it would any other non-American citizen who doesn't know who Al Capone was. That way, on contrary, it actually mocks the prejudices in some way. All in all it is a very intelligent social drama that actually laughs at today world we live in and what we all become in it which completely leaves the patterns of modern Hollywood movie and is not understood therefore. Remember the parallel characters in Russia and America like two friend mobsters, hard character taxi drivers and two girls TV stars. If you think of all these characters separately, you will understand that this is the world in which rare people like Danila never fit. And we might call that a 'point' of the movie, as people in the US like to say. Great directing, great acting and great music bring this movie to frame of the masterpiece.Cheers to all of you and enjoy the movie!

This movie is perhaps one of the highest regarded movies among Russians. Mere criticism of it brings out ultra-nationalistic hatred unlike anything you've ever seen. It does not surprise me that snippets of this movie posted on youtube elicit multitude of comments like: "F..k Americans" or "F..k Jews" or "F..k n....rs" etc., strewn around comments lamenting the untimely death of the actor.Imagine "American History X" shown to an audience of xenophobes, racists, and white supremacists WITH all of it's redeeming context taken out (e.g. punishment, lesson, redemption). What you're left with is a glamorization of this animal, criminal mindset. Brat 2, while being nowhere near "American History X" in any of it's aspects, manages to inspire and ignite ultra-nationalistic youth of Russia, even today.I found it impossible to care for these thugs, no matter how "nice" the anti-hero main character was portrayed. He's certainly no "Leon" from Luc Besson's "The Professional (or "Leon")".There are very few groups of people this movie managed to avoid insulting. While painting a stereotypical imagery of America/Americans, it also portrayed your stereotypical Russian punk that grows into a murderous thug. An image easy to embrace for many propaganda-fed simpletons that this movie was aimed at. Offered a "hero" for them that's easy to embrace and digest. A xenophobic, racist, criminal, alcoholic, thug with no regard for the law or basic human decency.I was watching the movie, expecting some secret revelation, some deep meaning, something other than action sequences tied with lame dialog, self-important soundtrack and body count to rival Arnie in "Commando". However, all I found was an insult of not just everyone that was obviously insulted... but Russian people as well. Don't waste your time on this movie.

This is the sequel to Balabonov's Russian blockbuster Brat, or Brother for our English speaking fans. It is a different movie, a little bigger in scope, but the formula stays the same.Danila returns this time to take on Moscow. After his friend is killed needlessly, events take him to America to make things right. I really liked this film too. The thing that differentiates Brat and Brat II from a typical film is that it is real, you can feel it. Balabanov shows a talent here for screenplay that has no false pretenses, the same as he did in the first film.Is America all about money and Russia all about Truth? In the best sense, yes. Seeing America through Balabonov's eyes is an nice reminder of where popular American values stand. Danila asks, "What is in English 'How are you?' Answer: "How are you?" "What, is everyone interested in how I am?" "No." "Then why do they ask?" "Just like that. In America everything is just like that, except for money." Isn't this ze truth?There is something intangible that makes Brat and Brat II magical. It very well maybe that you have to be Russian to understand it. The Russian and intelligent viewers will understand, also, that Danila comes back from a war. I don't know why it is written that he saw no action, but as usual, when a soldier comes back from war, they have seen men killed as a matter of course and have likely killed people themselves. This fact, along with the economic situation in Russia at the time would seem to mitigate somewhat Danila's propensity for killing. The fact that he is such a calm soul while murdering people left and right, ironically, also ads to his charisma. I am reminded when Margarita in Bulgakov's classic says, "I like it when someone does things well." All in all, it is uncanny how a story of a killer taps into the best of our emotions. Maybe it's the elliptical style, maybe it is the heartfelt motive, but more than not, I think, it's Sergei Bodrov.

Brat 2 (Brother 2) is a sequel to the 1997 film Brat (Brother). I am a fan of Bodrov and enjoyed all the movies he made and has acted in during his unfortunately short career. Without a doubt he was a revolutionary director and actor for Russia's film-making and this film presents him in one of his best roles. To me, this movie is special because I very much love its genre and the way it was presented. It is less realistic than Brat, but contains more action and more memorable moments. Anyone who is willing to look at a life of a simple guy who thinks his life is less important than that of his friends and loved ones will not be disappointed by the presentation of the film. Danila's character is very different and memorable; for me, he is truly an idol and every time I watch the movie I can only wish I had his big heart and bravery. Because I love this film so much I am giving it a perfect score, but disregarding my connection to former USSR I still recommend it highly. Brat 2 10/10.