Eskiya is not a terrible movie. Apart from the final 20 minutes, where the plot goes downhill and the action sequences are obviously too cheap, it comes off like a passable TV movie with portions of an average B-production. I liked the main actor very much, the flair of Istanbul is appealing and the wheel-chaired antagonist has a bit of a creepy, overacted Hector Salamanca vibe. (What is it with the female roles in this film, though?)
That such a thing pops up in IMDb's Top 250 is just utterly ridiculous and inexplicable other than by fanboy ratings. Give me a break.
I'll have to agree with Monty, Kasparius et al here. I found it mediocre at best. Granted, it may very well have kickstarted Turkish cinema once again, but that's completely erroneous when we're judging the film on its own merits.
@ngenc let me start my rant by saying I'm not American, in fact, the American Government supported a Coup that turned my country into a dictatorship for 20 years.
But the fact is your excuse is bulls**t. We see a lot of american movies in here simply because most of them get a WORLDWIDE DISTRIBUTION. So most american movies who are on these lists were seen by millions and enjoyed by most of them.
Just because this movie was a landmark in turkish cinema doesn't mean is one of the best films of the 90's or a film deserving of being on the Crime list.
I don't see dozens of South Americans, Africans, European or Oceanic films suddenly popping up on these lists.
What I do see is Turkish, Indian and Pakistanese films entering these list faster and faster when very few people actually saw said films outside their home country's!!!! HOW COME ONLY THESE 3 COUNTRIES HAVE HIDDEN GEMS???!!!!
A quite solid film for what it was: crime-romance entertainment. It's your average Hollywood-Oscar bait but with a melancholic, expressive behavior from Sener Sen and a bright cinematography too. It took a bit though before it geared forward and there are (typical I assume for a mainstream flick) explicitly moralistic overtones, yet this may have something to do with Turkey veering between East / West sentiments and the political code of Islam. It may not be a Ceylan or a Kavur film but it doesn't bother that much as a "Turkish popcorn" film.
While I have yet to see this film, I found a comment on Senses of Cinema that explains why it's rated so high and is considered of importance in the history of Turkish cinema:
Senses of Cinema wrote:
Director Yavuz Turgul is often described as creating a bridge between the old directors from the Yesilcam days and the new generation of filmmakers. His Eskiya depicts a Kurdish outlaw emerging from decades in gaol and journeying to Istanbul to seek revenge on the man who betrayed him and stole his childhood sweetheart. In terms of narrative, themes and characterisation, Eskiya is heavily influenced by Yesilcam. However, it also breaks away from the technical lack often associated with this earlier period of Turkish cinema. Along with its high production values and sophisticated editing techniques never before harnessed in Turkish cinema, Eskiya was also the first Turkish production to use synchronous sound recording. Dubbing during post-production was a salient feature of the budgetary-challenged Yesilcam days and filmmaking in Turkey right up until the early ’90s.
There are similar films in the annals of American and European cinema that could also be considered "mediocre" by most fundamental standards, but retain their slot in history because of what they contributed in terms of influence and advancement in the art.
I didn't find any good aspect in this movie. Very plastic characters, pathetic acting, and bad direction. It may not be appealing to any -- staunch Turkish movie lovers notwithstanding.
It doesn't suck for a great portion of the Turkish audience.
Here is what I react. The only mafia in IMDB is the American mafia. Imdb or best film lists are full of tons of mediocre American films. And add this the promotion budgets and the distribution network of the Holywood studios. No room left for the world cinema.
There are no things as Turkish, Indian or Russian imdb mafia. Its just their true opinion. There are many Turkish films in the Imdb bottom 250 as well, some of them were box-office hits. I can say that the votes of the Turkish viewers reflect the choices of the average Turkish film lovers. The Bandit was never the critics' favorite, but is definitely the people's choice, with some reason. I think just in the same category with Shawshank Redemption in this sense.
Add your comment
Comments 1 - 15 of 34
Torgo
Eskiya is not a terrible movie. Apart from the final 20 minutes, where the plot goes downhill and the action sequences are obviously too cheap, it comes off like a passable TV movie with portions of an average B-production. I liked the main actor very much, the flair of Istanbul is appealing and the wheel-chaired antagonist has a bit of a creepy, overacted Hector Salamanca vibe. (What is it with the female roles in this film, though?)That such a thing pops up in IMDb's Top 250 is just utterly ridiculous and inexplicable other than by fanboy ratings. Give me a break.
chunkylefunga
If this movie was American it wouldn't be on any lists.acoltismypassport
I'll have to agree with Monty, Kasparius et al here. I found it mediocre at best. Granted, it may very well have kickstarted Turkish cinema once again, but that's completely erroneous when we're judging the film on its own merits.Grossly overrated.
monclivie
I have no idea about Turkish culture and people, except that they like to bang white girls on vacation, but I really like this movie.mysteryfan
We are abusing turkish people, but we should abuse this stupid site first.Why the hell is this turd movie still in top lists?
They removed hababam sinifi and other Indian movies, but forget to remove this movie?
This site must be responsible for such bullshit lists, not the people who are doing fake voting.
Xondar
Don't trust the naysayers, this is an amazing film.SkilledLunatic
@ngenc let me start my rant by saying I'm not American, in fact, the American Government supported a Coup that turned my country into a dictatorship for 20 years.But the fact is your excuse is bulls**t. We see a lot of american movies in here simply because most of them get a WORLDWIDE DISTRIBUTION. So most american movies who are on these lists were seen by millions and enjoyed by most of them.
Just because this movie was a landmark in turkish cinema doesn't mean is one of the best films of the 90's or a film deserving of being on the Crime list.
I don't see dozens of South Americans, Africans, European or Oceanic films suddenly popping up on these lists.
What I do see is Turkish, Indian and Pakistanese films entering these list faster and faster when very few people actually saw said films outside their home country's!!!!
HOW COME ONLY THESE 3 COUNTRIES HAVE HIDDEN GEMS???!!!!
Dimitris Psachos Springer
A quite solid film for what it was: crime-romance entertainment. It's your average Hollywood-Oscar bait but with a melancholic, expressive behavior from Sener Sen and a bright cinematography too. It took a bit though before it geared forward and there are (typical I assume for a mainstream flick) explicitly moralistic overtones, yet this may have something to do with Turkey veering between East / West sentiments and the political code of Islam. It may not be a Ceylan or a Kavur film but it doesn't bother that much as a "Turkish popcorn" film.tommy_leazaq
Not a great movie but hell lot better than those Turkish movies in the 70s and comedy lists.Life as Fiction
While I have yet to see this film, I found a comment on Senses of Cinema that explains why it's rated so high and is considered of importance in the history of Turkish cinema:There are similar films in the annals of American and European cinema that could also be considered "mediocre" by most fundamental standards, but retain their slot in history because of what they contributed in terms of influence and advancement in the art.
iCheckFilms
I didn't find any good aspect in this movie. Very plastic characters, pathetic acting, and bad direction. It may not be appealing to any -- staunch Turkish movie lovers notwithstanding.monty
If you're a glutton for punishment, u gotta watch this classic.monty
There are a lot better Turkish movies out there than this dreck.ozgungenc
Sucks? Maybe. But according to what criteria?It doesn't suck for a great portion of the Turkish audience.
Here is what I react. The only mafia in IMDB is the American mafia. Imdb or best film lists are full of tons of mediocre American films. And add this the promotion budgets and the distribution network of the Holywood studios. No room left for the world cinema.
There are no things as Turkish, Indian or Russian imdb mafia. Its just their true opinion. There are many Turkish films in the Imdb bottom 250 as well, some of them were box-office hits. I can say that the votes of the Turkish viewers reflect the choices of the average Turkish film lovers. The Bandit was never the critics' favorite, but is definitely the people's choice, with some reason. I think just in the same category with Shawshank Redemption in this sense.
monty
Sure, this film may have had a big role in contributing to a renaissance for Turkish cinema, but it still doesn't change the fact that it sucks.Showing items 1 – 15 of 34