-Chapaev-

So after viewing our first REAL sound film, I was relieved. It was so much easier to follow, and just something that our culture is used to. It did a much better job getting me interested compared to Battleship Potemkin, for a few reasons. First off, we had a real main character, that could now talk and make us feel like he was actually there. I also think that this movie could appeal more to the ladies in Russia, because there was a love story intertwined in it. It wasn't too gushy, and it worked for this movie.

General Chapaev's character was awesome. I really liked how he made me not only understand what he had at stake (such a revved up reputation), but made me feel for him when they were ambushed and he had to make a decision to make or break his life. At the beginning of the movie, he seemed a bit rash, asking Petka to shush people outside so he could "think". Yet while the movie developed, we as the audience experience some of his private moments, like teaching his commander skills in battle, and meeting his Commissar. They had a rocky relationship at first, because Chapaev kind of thought he was too good for any old Commissar. It turned out that he gave some really great advice, and showed Chapaev that it was super important for him to be there. He helped in the intellectual aspect, which is something Chapaev was not expecting.

Chapaev also used sound to it's full potential in my opinion. He made sure his point got across, even if he had to scream extremely loud!! I feel as if he is not the original hero in this movie, but he is moved to becoming it throughout. He realizes he is not young like Petka and Anka, and he is not the smartest. Yet at the end, he tries to get away, and dies in battle like a true hero should.