Does it really matter that the characters that have implicitly died in the first part somehow come back to life in this sequel? This happens in films a lot, doesn't it? Jason and Michael Myers always get killed but they keep returning again and again, so why can't General Kotov (Nikita Mikhalkov) do that? I don't have any problem with this, really.

Secondly, although the events in the sequel take place only approximately seven years after the events of the first film, the characters seem to be at least 15 years older. However, this is not a problem either. In "Curious Case of Benjamin Franklyn" Brad Pitt's character kept changing every single minute and no one complained about that, and, moreover that film has even won several Oscars.

The real problem of the film is that it lasts almost 3 hours, during which a lot of things seem to happen, but at the end you realize that almost nothing has happened. The same story could have been told and shown more efficiently in 1 ½ hours. The film has no integrity. It is rather many small films with nothing or very little in common (in terms of style, spirit, pace, genre). In fact it has almost nothing in common (in terms of style, spirit, pace, genre) with the first part which is by all means a much better film. On the other hand each (or almost each) little episode is executed quite well, and perhaps a better editing could bring these little films together more successfully into one good film (insted of the messy and uneven movie that it is now).

Too many famous actors have cameo appearances, and this is the case where quantity does not necessarily mean quality. Some of these appearances do work well (another great performance by Evgeny Mironov) while others are disastrous (Maria Shukshina).

Finally, one of the main reasons why the film fails to be a good film is uncertainty of the director in taking the decision regarding the genre he wants to fit his film in. At times the film is a war drama on the edge of corny melodrama (influence by Saving Private Ryan is noticeable) turning from time to time into an epic tragedy (Schiendler's list influence) and all of a sudden turning into Inglorious Basterds (influence by this Tarantino film is evident). This could have worked had Mikhalkov not taken his work so seriously. Too much pafos is not good, but could be bearable. However, pafos mixed with comedy is something awkward and indigestible.

The final scene with a dying soldier wanting to have a look at girl's breasts before he passes out, was probably meant to be dramatic, thought provoking and tear jerking. However it is utterly ridiculous.

Overall, a great film by Great Nikita Mikhalkov. Not.

It is difficult to imagine, but! If anyone of the Cannes-2010 Jury read this, please, do not give any prize to this trash with "great movie" label. Do not defame my country.

So, the "masterpiece"... Every film starts with its slogan nowadays. This time it was "The Great movie about the Great war". Let's even forget Mikhalkov is not overly modest. But, if you dare to touch such important subject before the 65th anniversary of the Great Victory and declare your product "Great", it must be great.

And what we see? All the movie is full of stupidity, Mikhalkov's fantasy and himself. Several separate novels (bad plots). About what? Who knows! There are good Nazi military men and bad soviet civil men and women. Stupid soviet people force Nazis to bomb Russian Red Cross ship, or, for variety's sake, burn 100 or 500 peasants. Nazies even cry when they are forced to do so! And only Mikhalkov's Kotov does the right things. He is everywhere. He - but not any sense. There is no need for the voluminous review to summarize, Utomlyonnye solntsem 2 are: nazi ass, trying to defecate down from 400 km/h plan, and "show me your tits". Great...

BTW, "burnt" may sound better for English-speakers, but the right translation is "Tired by the sun" - not "Burnt...". And you are really tired after watching this movie...

Yes, at last !!!! I waited since so many years now, to see an objective film from Russia bout the great patriotic war. 99% of those I already watched were not. They were patriotic, yes, but so far from actual facts. Russian fighters were the best and Germans a bunch of idiots!!! Bunch of idiots who provoked 25 millions of deaths in Russia....Russian audiences don't like truth but fake and lies, PURE PROPAGANDA. That unfortunately belongs to Russian culture. Yes, I persist and sign, this tremendous film is very unusual from the Russian film industry. The best over th best will remain though GO AND SEE, directed by Elem Klimov, back in 1986. One thing though I find lousy is that the Russian soldiers characters fighting on the front, seem to well fed, with plump cheeks. So far from the awful truth which those brave warriors had to face. The Red Army was not that good in 1941 and 1942; it was not till 1943, after Stalingrad victory and the massive American help with food, equipment and weapons, that the Russian Army could make it, because of the millions of fighters and equipent warfare. But never forget that the German Army was the best army in the world, if you consider the tactical point of view, and also equipment, professionalism of the soldiers and officers, and above all, DISCIPLINE. In the Russian army, only Joukov brought some brutal discipline, fighting against alcoholism and deserters. Between June 2nd 1941 and october of the same year, there were more than 670 000 desertersin the Red Army....All those facts are mostly "put under the carpet" in Russian war movies.