Customer Reviews

Jack Frost - The Movie [VHS]

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

For some reason this film is distributed under the misnamed title "Jack Frost". It is actually "Morozko", a beloved folktale from Russia's pre-Christian past. This typically convoluted tale provided the origens of many stories [more recognizable to Westerners] in Grimm's fairytale collection. It is necessary to remember that this movie was made for very young children, and is intentionally simplistic. Its "good" characters are very sweet and pretty, its "bad" ones are very unpleasant and ugly, and its moral lessons very clear for little viewers. Keeping that in mind, parents and other adults can enjoy its gorgeous settings (snow, troikas, little heathen villages, Sacred Birches), its traditional folk costumes, charming pagan story, and magical characters like mushroom sorcerer and troll bandits. Too bad the dubbed English translation is so poor! Of course the "hunchbacked fairy" is actually the witch Baba Yaga, whose cat-familiar carries out her deranged commands, and whose enchanted hut stalks about on its huge chicken-legs. "Jack" Frost is actually Grandfather Frost, in pagan times the rather fearsome Slavic god of winter, and more recently a kindly "Father Christmas". Yes, this film does tell "quite a lot about Russians" -- as you watch, recall that this colorful, whimsical, little romp delighted families during "humorless" Soviet times in the so-called "Evil Empire"... I am certain the MST3K version of this film is absolutely hilarious! But to tell the truth, "Morozko" spoofs itself and is funny enough on its own -- even without the running commentary of Crowww and comrades.

A wonderful movie for both adults and children. Laughs and maybe some tears. Some tech details left off Amazon's page: languages: Russian, also dubbed English and French; subtitles: Russian, English, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, Italian, and Japanese. Remixed to Dolby 5.1 (variable quality, sometimes electronically reprossed for stereo, some mono); full screen; 84 minutes; among the extras: an interview with the grown-up lead actress (what a change!). There are two versions: one with the title MOPO3KO on the cover playable in all regions (my copy), and this one. The first you can find in Russian stores. If you're learning Russian, this is probably beyond second year, but you can follow the subtitles. Very good picture quality. Totally enjoyable. Now one of my all-time favorites. Buy it!

I'm really pleased that this is on DVD and that so many other reviewers share my feelings about this film. First of all, this is a fine movie for children to watch, unlike the garbage released today. But for older viewers this movie is all the more amazing. To put it lightly, this is a tripped out tour de force of talking mushrooms, huts on fowls legs, man-bear transformations, and a man with a very bad haircut. The most amazing thing about this film is that something completely bizzare happens in every scene. Example: when the hero finds his future wife(sorry I'm not even going to bother trying to transcribe the names) she is watering a dead tree stump, "so that it will sprout flowers." Later when he is turned into a bear(!) the flowers grow and reassure her that he is alright. I wish I could write stuff like this. The special effects are horrible, but would you want it any other way? I would recommend this film to any parent who wants an imaginative and clean film for their child, and those who enjoy classic/obscure/budget cinema.

This is one of the greatest kids movies made back in the Sixties. Plot is based on the 1000+ year old tale (yes, thats before Shakespeare and even before most of the Brother Grimms tales were first told). This is certainly not a movie for a Generation X-Y-Z kid("What do you mean they couldn't do no computer animation back there?!!!"). Think of it as a Russian "Wizard of OZ", an instant hit for it's time but now just a nostalgic piece of art, interesting for historians or real cinema fans. This is one of the few movies that is remembered 40 years after it was released (and who will remember 90% of today's "hits" even 10 years from now?). This is definitely not a film for wide audience today, but it doesn't make it less entertaining and you will definitely enjoy it.

I think that Jack Frost is a very good movie. It teaches many good things such as honesty and respect(episode of Ivan and mushroom-man). Teach us that lazy and wicked person will be finally panished, for example, as this happen to the stepsister. In the opposite, kind and honest person will be rewarded. Maybe, this fairytale seems silly for some adults but children will love it.

I saw this on television many years ago when I was in grade school and some of its unique, but odd elements (upbeat music, makeup, characters flying out of trees, sleigh)stayed w/ me- unfortunately couldn't recall title was. I caught the tail-end of the Mystery Science Theater 3000 broadcast and obtained the title. I highly recommend the DVD version "Father Frost" which uses a restored print. (I give DVD version 4 stars...

i saw this as a Mystery Science Theater 3000 feature (in case you didn't know, that's a now-cancelled TV program wherein a man & his two robots watched terrible movies & made fun of them, w/great success). anyhow, most MST3K movies provoke hatred in viewers because of their intense stupidity, but i only remember this one w/affection--it's absolutely adorable! made in 1964, filmed in Finland, i believe, w/gorgeous costumes & beautiful scenery. what a wonderful, silly, adorable movie!!!

this movie is great and one of my favorites. It is a good childrens' movie and a great movie for adults with an imagination, much for like those fans of "Nightmare Before Christmas!"ÿ

Unbelievably fantastic film! I cannot say enough about the feelings this film brings. I have ordered the DVD version and will not be able to review the quality as yet, however; I can say that when it arrives, it will be the first time I have seen the movie since I was 12 years old. For some reason, they stopped airing this treasure on television many years ago. I thought it was lost forever. Joyfully, it still exhists. In my memory, I would be genuinely gleeful when I saw the entry in TV GUIDE listing the shows upcoming airing. It is a tale that beckons us to the woods in search of fairies and trolls. It sends us to our bedtimes and dreams of talking bears, witches and flying over the snow in a magic sleigh. It brings to mind the innocent, sweet feelings of future romance for which all young girls yearn. Happily Ever After was just a gleen from a star when this this folk tale was born. It seems to me that the art of storytelling was alive and well in Russis in the 1960's. Many more movies are listed at various sites. And now, as an adult, I will be looking forward to receiving my DVD copy. I will also be researching more Russian Folklore in the future.

this is a truly wonderful film. it is an adaptation of many pagan/ pre-orthodox russian mythological tales combined into one sweet story with more happy endings than perhaps in their original forms. whoever said this tales doesn't "travel" well is.... misinformed. the story itself if very similar to cinderalla, snow white and sleeping beauty all rolled into one! morozko is a beautiful window into another culture in a time long ago.