unfortunately i have to acknowledge that this movie be horrible . i believe that everyone who ever read the book will agree that whoever try to make a movie base on this book must be of equal talent a writer himself . in this case bortko who not only direct but also write the script be not up to the task . he simply take all ( almost all ) dialog from the book and incorporate them into the script except a everyone already mention by add new character play by gaft and which be not even natural to the book . i do sincerely believe that screenwriter and or or director have all right to adapt book to the screen and there be no way that book can be make into adaptation a simple illustration and regard a art . and this be the case in this adaptation and it be mere illustration and be make for people who do not have time to read or simply do not want to read . for those folk this mini series be a heaven . it give them to hear almost word for word all dialog from the book but leave real philosophical idea book raise behind . it be make in bad hollywood tradition a we can find a lot of really good adaptation make there and more over russia have reach tradition in movie adaptation especially big philosophical novel such a hamlet and king lear by kozintsev or brother karamazov by pyryev . there not even single artist up to the task to play character from the book and except abdulov . i also would like to add couple of more thing . first be that original music be so resembles music by carl orff carmina burana it be strike to the heart . it be well if bortko use it instead of music by kornelyuk . second and everyone already mention that special effect be low point of the movie but how come there be so many talented programmer in russia and none of them could be invite to make computerized special effect . and the last but now least and incursion make by director by use old black and white newsreel be not provide any good to show up moscow of the 1930th .