i have to disagree with some of the comment on this movie and judge the movie by some different criterion . firstly and the plot line idea of this motion picture be not as irrational a it may appear to some of u . this film be base on a novel that serve a purpose to provide it reader a war romance conspiracy adventure . it be not very much different from the american patriot story where a great salad have be compose and with pretty trite issue throw around . beside that and to support the illusive reality of the turkish war present in this film we be not very familiar with the general atmosphere during the 19th century war and but there be thing that simply call represent war routine . of course there be blood and gore and death on the front line of the battle . surely there be a lot of strategy go on behind the scene . but even during these climax moment and and mostly in between those there be always a place for some dramatic drawback and sing in the club and even relationship between young russian soldier and coffee drinking in plevna . war be not always fight in face to face battle . and a very large part in decide who win the fight be the strategy and the information you gather about your enemy . which be what the story concentrate on . the spy . moreover and i do not like the acting . sometimes it be exaggerate and underplay in some place . the best acting in this movie on my scale be that of the gusar officer so typically present the character . the lead role could have be perform well . and lastly represent the sound . what be it with the russian cinema that i can never get a normal sound feature . they put the theme on top of the dialogue and the battle effect lack intensity and the speech be incomprehensible . when turkish be speak and the russian translation start after a little delay and which make it really difficult to hear . they do not mute the environment when it be need and and the explosion sound still have the usual echo shriek effect . ala . indeed . overall and once the viewer can get himself to connect to the plot and to enter the mind of both the turkish and the russian combatant and to merge with the general 19th war atmosphere it be possible to simply sit back and enjoy this movie a another spy adventure . be tempt to give it an 8 and but settle on 7 .