Everyone’s rushing to see *The Irony of Fate 2* (*The Irony of Fate* is a beloved Soviet New Year’s classic). But for some reason, the very thought that THOSE PEOPLE made a sequel sends me into a blind rage. The reasons for my rage are completely irrational. Judging by the trailer, the movie looks like some kind of ultra-vulgar mess with a drunk Ded Moroz (the Russian New Year’s gift-bringer, similar to Santa Claus). But then again, it’s only the trailer — maybe the film itself isn’t bad. Still, to me, making a sequel to a cult classic feels like some kind of desecration of New Year’s. For somewhat similar reasons, it also drove me up the wall when THEY made a sequel to the film *Officers* (a classic Soviet military drama). So yesterday I went to see *American Gangster* instead. Great movie — highly recommended.