Comments on: Rerberg and Tarkovsky: The Reverse Side Of “Stalker” http://www.johncoulthart.com/feuilleton/2009/11/07/rerberg-and-tarkovsky-the-reverse-side-of-%e2%80%9cstalker%e2%80%9d/ • • • Being a journal by artist and designer John Coulthart, cataloguing interests, obsessions and passing enthusiasms. Thu, 11 Mar 2010 05:16:29 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: John http://www.johncoulthart.com/feuilleton/2009/11/07/rerberg-and-tarkovsky-the-reverse-side-of-%e2%80%9cstalker%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-128635 John Tue, 10 Nov 2009 23:48:18 +0000 http://www.johncoulthart.com/feuilleton/?p=6296#comment-128635 I wrote something about the Strugatsky's novel in <a href="http://www.johncoulthart.com/feuilleton/2006/12/07/the-stalker-meme/" rel="nofollow">an earlier post</a> linked above. I wrote something about the Strugatsky’s novel in an earlier post linked above.

]]> By: Bryan Alexander http://www.johncoulthart.com/feuilleton/2009/11/07/rerberg-and-tarkovsky-the-reverse-side-of-%e2%80%9cstalker%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-128632 Bryan Alexander Tue, 10 Nov 2009 23:08:29 +0000 http://www.johncoulthart.com/feuilleton/?p=6296#comment-128632 @Stephen, agreed on the Strugatskys. @Wiley, thanks. @Stephen, agreed on the Strugatskys.

@Wiley, thanks.

]]> By: Wiley http://www.johncoulthart.com/feuilleton/2009/11/07/rerberg-and-tarkovsky-the-reverse-side-of-%e2%80%9cstalker%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-128623 Wiley Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:28:20 +0000 http://www.johncoulthart.com/feuilleton/?p=6296#comment-128623 Bryan, the game and its sequels have entries on nearly every top list of frightening games I've seen in the numerous October issues of magazines I look through in bookstores. The only reason I've not played it myself is that my computer doesn't have have the advanced features for it, but everyone I know who's played it raves about it. Bryan, the game and its sequels have entries on nearly every top list of frightening games I’ve seen in the numerous October issues of magazines I look through in bookstores. The only reason I’ve not played it myself is that my computer doesn’t have have the advanced features for it, but everyone I know who’s played it raves about it.

]]> By: Stephen http://www.johncoulthart.com/feuilleton/2009/11/07/rerberg-and-tarkovsky-the-reverse-side-of-%e2%80%9cstalker%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-128622 Stephen Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:17:44 +0000 http://www.johncoulthart.com/feuilleton/?p=6296#comment-128622 While everyone is revisitng Tarkovsky and STALKER don't forget the wonderful Strugatsky brothers. ROADSIDE PICNIC is a wonderful novel. Also check out FAR RAINBOW and HARD TO BE A GOD. While everyone is revisitng Tarkovsky and STALKER don’t forget the wonderful Strugatsky brothers. ROADSIDE PICNIC is a wonderful novel. Also check out FAR RAINBOW and HARD TO BE A GOD.

]]> By: Bryan Alexander http://www.johncoulthart.com/feuilleton/2009/11/07/rerberg-and-tarkovsky-the-reverse-side-of-%e2%80%9cstalker%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-128493 Bryan Alexander Mon, 09 Nov 2009 13:12:36 +0000 http://www.johncoulthart.com/feuilleton/?p=6296#comment-128493 Ah, I can watch <i>Rublev</i> many times. Maybe it's my Russian DNA, but I'm astonished by its power and richness each time. Agreed on the <i>Solaris</i> remake. Was it Roger Ebert who asked why Hollywood doesn't remake bad movies, instead of good ones? I liked the Stalker game trailer (wasn't it "S.T.A.L.K.E.R."?), and will hunt for the game itself. John, re: American films, did you see Tarkovsky's student film, the one based on Hemingway's "The Killers"? Fun to watch it alongside the two Hollywood versions, at least the first one of which T. must have had in mind. Ah, I can watch Rublev many times. Maybe it’s my Russian DNA, but I’m astonished by its power and richness each time.

Agreed on the Solaris remake. Was it Roger Ebert who asked why Hollywood doesn’t remake bad movies, instead of good ones?

I liked the Stalker game trailer (wasn’t it “S.T.A.L.K.E.R.”?), and will hunt for the game itself.

John, re: American films, did you see Tarkovsky’s student film, the one based on Hemingway’s “The Killers”? Fun to watch it alongside the two Hollywood versions, at least the first one of which T. must have had in mind.

]]> By: John http://www.johncoulthart.com/feuilleton/2009/11/07/rerberg-and-tarkovsky-the-reverse-side-of-%e2%80%9cstalker%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-128492 John Mon, 09 Nov 2009 13:02:42 +0000 http://www.johncoulthart.com/feuilleton/?p=6296#comment-128492 I don't think I've seen Natalya Bondarchuk in anything else which helps make her character seem all the more unique. I've got all of Tarkovsky's films on DVD but don't watch <em>Andrei Rublev</em> very much, it's very long and rather grim. Still a great film--and <em>Stalker</em>'s Anatoli Solonitsyn plays the main character--but you need to be in the mood. Tarkovsky always comes across as very serious and intense, even in his diaries which are full of musings about art and philosophy, but he did like American cinema. I even recall reading that he liked <em>The Terminator</em> (!) but forget where I saw that mentioned. The bar and the Stalker's home are like something from <em>Eraserhead</em> so I think he might have enjoyed that film at least. As for Bergman, Tarkovsky's last film, <em>The Sacrifice</em>, is almost a slavish imitation, although Bergman never made very long shots the way Tarkovsky does. He used Bergman's regular cinematographer, Sven Nykvist, and one of Bergman's acting regulars, Erland Josephson; the costumes, location and general atmosphere are all very Bergman-like. I don’t think I’ve seen Natalya Bondarchuk in anything else which helps make her character seem all the more unique. I’ve got all of Tarkovsky’s films on DVD but don’t watch Andrei Rublev very much, it’s very long and rather grim. Still a great film–and Stalker’s Anatoli Solonitsyn plays the main character–but you need to be in the mood.

Tarkovsky always comes across as very serious and intense, even in his diaries which are full of musings about art and philosophy, but he did like American cinema. I even recall reading that he liked The Terminator (!) but forget where I saw that mentioned. The bar and the Stalker’s home are like something from Eraserhead so I think he might have enjoyed that film at least.

As for Bergman, Tarkovsky’s last film, The Sacrifice, is almost a slavish imitation, although Bergman never made very long shots the way Tarkovsky does. He used Bergman’s regular cinematographer, Sven Nykvist, and one of Bergman’s acting regulars, Erland Josephson; the costumes, location and general atmosphere are all very Bergman-like.

]]> By: Wiley http://www.johncoulthart.com/feuilleton/2009/11/07/rerberg-and-tarkovsky-the-reverse-side-of-%e2%80%9cstalker%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-128469 Wiley Mon, 09 Nov 2009 02:48:25 +0000 http://www.johncoulthart.com/feuilleton/?p=6296#comment-128469 Yes, ethereal is a fitting word for Natalya Bondarchuk, at least in that movie, hell the movie itself was ethereal. I am not certain if I've seen her anywhere else. Have you seen Andrei Rublev? I've heard its quite intense. I don't check the television very often, I'd like to catch it on IFC at some point if possible to know if its worth wasting $30 on those nice but costly Criterion editions. Tarkovsky has one of those rarest of talents amongst directors, much like Lynch, capturing and conveying a sense of mystery and unease to such an intense degree that its seems wrought with mysticism even when nothing remotely unearthly is present. Its unfortunate he did not live to see his country open up, I wonder what Tarkovsky would have thought of Lynch's films. As different as they are, yet both carrying such gravity and having such strong metaphysical currents. Or some of Bergman's or Weir's for that matter. Yes, ethereal is a fitting word for Natalya Bondarchuk, at least in that movie, hell the movie itself was ethereal. I am not certain if I’ve seen her anywhere else. Have you seen Andrei Rublev? I’ve heard its quite intense. I don’t check the television very often, I’d like to catch it on IFC at some point if possible to know if its worth wasting $30 on those nice but costly Criterion editions.

Tarkovsky has one of those rarest of talents amongst directors, much like Lynch, capturing and conveying a sense of mystery and unease to such an intense degree that its seems wrought with mysticism even when nothing remotely unearthly is present.

Its unfortunate he did not live to see his country open up, I wonder what Tarkovsky would have thought of Lynch’s films. As different as they are, yet both carrying such gravity and having such strong metaphysical currents. Or some of Bergman’s or Weir’s for that matter.

]]> By: John http://www.johncoulthart.com/feuilleton/2009/11/07/rerberg-and-tarkovsky-the-reverse-side-of-%e2%80%9cstalker%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-128440 John Sun, 08 Nov 2009 18:11:16 +0000 http://www.johncoulthart.com/feuilleton/?p=6296#comment-128440 Yes, <em>Solaris</em> was his earlier science fiction outing. He wasn't keen on the story but managed to inject it with his usual philosophical concerns, much to the annoyance of the author, Stanislaw Lem. I quite like Soderbergh as a director--I've praised his Kafka film in an earlier post--but that remake was a big mistake. Nice score from Cliff Martinez but pretty redundant otherwise; Natascha McElhone was no match for the ethereal Natalya Bondarchuk in Tarkovsky's version. Yes, Solaris was his earlier science fiction outing. He wasn’t keen on the story but managed to inject it with his usual philosophical concerns, much to the annoyance of the author, Stanislaw Lem.

I quite like Soderbergh as a director–I’ve praised his Kafka film in an earlier post–but that remake was a big mistake. Nice score from Cliff Martinez but pretty redundant otherwise; Natascha McElhone was no match for the ethereal Natalya Bondarchuk in Tarkovsky’s version.

]]> By: Wiley http://www.johncoulthart.com/feuilleton/2009/11/07/rerberg-and-tarkovsky-the-reverse-side-of-%e2%80%9cstalker%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-128412 Wiley Sun, 08 Nov 2009 06:00:48 +0000 http://www.johncoulthart.com/feuilleton/?p=6296#comment-128412 Solaris is by Tarkovsky as well isn't it? Stalker is great, but Solaris is closer to my heart. An actor as seemingly as intelligent as George Clooney should know better than to try remaking a film by such an untouchable director. Solaris is by Tarkovsky as well isn’t it? Stalker is great, but Solaris is closer to my heart. An actor as seemingly as intelligent as George Clooney should know better than to try remaking a film by such an untouchable director.

]]> By: John http://www.johncoulthart.com/feuilleton/2009/11/07/rerberg-and-tarkovsky-the-reverse-side-of-%e2%80%9cstalker%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-128349 John Sat, 07 Nov 2009 16:08:44 +0000 http://www.johncoulthart.com/feuilleton/?p=6296#comment-128349 No, I haven't played the game although I know someone--games writer <a href="http://rossignol.cream.org/" rel="nofollow">Jim Rossignol</a>--who enjoys it. I haven't watched <em>Stalker</em> for a while so it's time for a re-viewing. Dank and chilly autumn seems the perfect moment. No, I haven’t played the game although I know someone–games writer Jim Rossignol–who enjoys it.

I haven’t watched Stalker for a while so it’s time for a re-viewing. Dank and chilly autumn seems the perfect moment.

]]> By: Bryan Alexander http://www.johncoulthart.com/feuilleton/2009/11/07/rerberg-and-tarkovsky-the-reverse-side-of-%e2%80%9cstalker%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-128347 Bryan Alexander Sat, 07 Nov 2009 15:56:36 +0000 http://www.johncoulthart.com/feuilleton/?p=6296#comment-128347 I'd love to see this. Maybe over the winter solstice, along with a Stalker re-view, and reading one of the newer books about Tarkovsky. Ever play the Russian computer game of the same name? I’d love to see this. Maybe over the winter solstice, along with a Stalker re-view, and reading one of the newer books about Tarkovsky.

Ever play the Russian computer game of the same name?

]]>