Merolliv I really wanted to like this movie. I feel terribly cynical trashing it, and that's why I'm giving it a middling 5. Actually, I'm giving it a 5 because there were some superb performances.

PiraBit if their story seems completely bonkers, almost like a feverish work of fiction, you ain't heard nothing yet.

Roy Hart If you're interested in the topic at hand, you should just watch it and judge yourself because the reviews have gone very biased by people that didn't even watch it and just hate (or love) the creator. I liked it, it was well written, narrated, and directed and it was about a topic that interests me.

Payno I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

manya7-1 It would be hard for a film version to do justice to the book "Azazel": in my opinion the best of the Fandorin series, although "Death of Achilles" ranks a close second. The period costumes are enjoyable, as are the characterizations of Brilling, Bezhetskaya, Liza and especially Lady Adair. The actor portraying Fandorin, unfortunately, falls a little short of the mark--however, a larger than life character is hard to cast correctly.For once, the film follows the book (thank you, Mr. Akunin, for the script). Those who complain about the length of the film need to realize that this was originally a TV serial, each segment running 48 minutes as most serials do on Russian TV.Not the best it could have been, but definitely a warm-up for IMO, the best Russian serial of all time: "The Idiot"----a must see for anyone. Fortunately, the Idiot has subtitles in English, but the language is so beautiful (the 19th century idiom is delightful), one must listen carefully to appreciate.It will be interesting to see what Hollyweird does with "Azazel" in 2009. Milla Jovovich as Bezhetskaya: inspired casting choice!

datuchinio this film is really fantastic! Firstfully I have to say that the novel is written by Georgian writer not Russian, so it is the main reason ,why this film is so fascinating. this is very good story about Masons, and it is really interesting. I like acting in this film, especially the actor Basilashvili, he acts professionally , and of course he is Georgian not Russian. I think it's a good drama combined with detective plot. the end of the film is amazing, maybe the film is a bit long to see it ,when i saw it , I was really excited.So I want to add that this is the best Russian film, I have ever seen, and advise all film fans to see it ,they will enjoy it very much, but when they will see, they must foresee that without Georgian writer and actors this film would'Nat exist.

acheron-4 Based on Boris Akunin's novel 'Azazel' (English title 'The Winter Queen') set in Moscow in 1876. The novel started a long series quite popular in Russia.In 'Azazel' a young police officer - Erast Fandorin - investigates an odd suicide of some rich young man and finds a complex conspiracy, trying to take over most European countries - from Britain to Ottoman Empire - with the best intentions, of course. That may sound like a cliché, but the author made it all look and feel quite realistic, believable and compelling.The book was excellent. The script is good. One may argue that it follows the book too closely, and the film is too long. Fandorin is nothing like I imagined him, but this way he is closer to the book, so I can live with it. The actors play well. However they don't seem to agree on the exact genre: comedy, tragedy, drama, farce, detective, action or something else. That ruins otherwise good film.The biggest disappointment were the "bad guys" - especially the leader and the "mole". In the book it is possible to deduce the former fairly early, but the latter stays a mystery almost until the end. Here their intentions become obvious in a minute after they appear.

job4r2000 the book might be good, but the movie is quite disappointing.the acting is really bad. especially the main character is really annoying. since the movie was too long, there was almost no suspense for a detective story. sometimes it looks like a comedy, but unfortunately a bad one. the story is quite predictable. all in all, it is a waste of time. if you want to see a well done russian detective story, watch the old episodes of "adventures of sherlock homes".