I'll put money on it now. Fedor Bondarchuk's Stalingrad will re-write all Russian box office records upon release. How can I feel so confident about a film still in pre-production? Simple.
First, Bondarchuk is a proven commodity, his films routinely topping the Russian box office chart. See hits like 9th Company and Inhabited Island for proof.
Second, this is poised to be Russia's first ever 3D film. Look what Avatar did. That's going to happen in Russia.
Third - and most importantly - Russian passions still run very high indeed on matters relating to WWII and the fight against Nazi Germany. And Stalingrad - a thirty million dollar action drama - will be spending buckets of money to bring what is considered the bloodiest battle in the history of warfare, a battle between Russia and Nazi Germany, to the screen in full detail. And while thirty million may not go that far in Hollywood, it's a huge figure in Russia, where Bondarchuk made his previous war picture - the stellar 9th Company - for a reported seven mil.
Details may be skimpy, but this is going to be huge.
First, Bondarchuk is a proven commodity, his films routinely topping the Russian box office chart. See hits like 9th Company and Inhabited Island for proof.
Second, this is poised to be Russia's first ever 3D film. Look what Avatar did. That's going to happen in Russia.
Third - and most importantly - Russian passions still run very high indeed on matters relating to WWII and the fight against Nazi Germany. And Stalingrad - a thirty million dollar action drama - will be spending buckets of money to bring what is considered the bloodiest battle in the history of warfare, a battle between Russia and Nazi Germany, to the screen in full detail. And while thirty million may not go that far in Hollywood, it's a huge figure in Russia, where Bondarchuk made his previous war picture - the stellar 9th Company - for a reported seven mil.
Details may be skimpy, but this is going to be huge.