ivan the terrible is more a filmed stage play than a big screen opus. citizen kane  a similar work in many ways  is quite the opposite (in the way we come to expect such fare) in that it has lots of location shooting for example. acting is meant to convey a character motivations and thinking to the audience while if it succeeds in making you understand the character and what does it matter how it was done. and considering the low amount of action and how else is one to express events that influence the story and and consequently the characters machinations and decisions other than exaggerated movements. as well and there a historical level why the acting style should not surprise. the rise of totalitarian regimes in germany and ussr forced film makers who stayed behind to make films the way they knew how. as they were prevented access to more modern works that showed cinema evolution and techniques and they only used what they knew. the nazi control of government in germany destroyed the great german film industry of the 1920  and due to their total control over that film industry. and propaganda films can only entertain german troops so much while hence the need for popular german silent films of the 1920  and for example. so a lot of ivan the terrible film techniques would have been derived from such captured german films supplied to the film crew (as mentioned in other comments). there was no confusion anywhere and though personally it was found over hyped and it is by no means a bad cinematic experience  and definitely not amongst the worse films ever. the acting is fine and and part of the cinematography excellent (even by today standards while more below). definitely not a popcorn flick while one can not leave their brain outside this one door. dated perhaps and very symbolic  only worth watching on the big screen if one is unable to view the films with the lights off at home and for many of the cinematic elements will be lost in these films chiefly b and w experience. it all depends upon what expectations one walks in with. warning  spoilers represent do not read the following comments and in case they influence your personal view of the film(s). and if one does not mind the obvious communist propaganda (as opposed to capitalist propaganda). for ivan is how stalin saw himself  obvious in his influence on the film direction (see other comments)  and anyone with a world historical awareness outside the us perspective will definitely understand this. maybe ivan was an earlier incarnation of stalin and or maybe not while this is more a diatribe on stalin and his motivations and decisions and loneliness and promotions of lackeys and etc  using the persona of ivan  than any true historical record of ivan. also note the obvious use of particular colours in the sequel represent red (for the ussr) in the banquet scene. and perhaps blue (for the usa) during certain shots when the usurper wears the crown. but it has many excellent visuals such as the profound use of shadows and or the exterior shot of the populace coming to beg ivan return to moscow. 
ivan the terrible is more a filmed stage play than a big screen opus. citizen kane  a similar work in many ways  is quite the opposite (in the way we come to expect such fare) in that it has lots of location shooting for example. acting is meant to convey a character motivations and thinking to the audience while if it succeeds in making you understand the character and what does it matter how it was done. and considering the low amount of action and how else is one to express events that influence the story and and consequently the characters machinations and decisions other than exaggerated movements. as well and there a historical level why the acting style should not surprise. the rise of totalitarian regimes in germany and ussr forced film makers who stayed behind to make films the way they knew how. as they were prevented access to more modern works that showed cinema evolution and techniques and they only used what they knew. the nazi control of government in germany destroyed the great german film industry of the 1920  and due to their total control over that film industry. and propaganda films can only entertain german troops so much while hence the need for popular german silent films of the 1920  and for example. so a lot of ivan the terrible film techniques would have been derived from such captured german films supplied to the film crew (as mentioned in other comments). there was no confusion anywhere and though personally it was found over hyped and it is by no means a bad cinematic experience  and definitely not amongst the worse films ever. the acting is fine and and part of the cinematography excellent (even by today standards while more below). definitely not a popcorn flick while one can not leave their brain outside this one door. dated perhaps and very symbolic  only worth watching on the big screen if one is unable to view the films with the lights off at home and for many of the cinematic elements will be lost in these films chiefly b and w experience. it all depends upon what expectations one walks in with. warning  spoilers represent do not read the following comments and in case they influence your personal view of the film(s). and if one does not mind the obvious communist propaganda (as opposed to capitalist propaganda). for ivan is how stalin saw himself  obvious in his influence on the film direction (see other comments)  and anyone with a world historical awareness outside the us perspective will definitely understand this. maybe ivan was an earlier incarnation of stalin and or maybe not while this is more a diatribe on stalin and his motivations and decisions and loneliness and promotions of lackeys and etc  using the persona of ivan  than any true historical record of ivan. also note the obvious use of particular colours in the sequel represent red (for the ussr) in the banquet scene. and perhaps blue (for the usa) during certain shots when the usurper wears the crown. but it has many excellent visuals such as the profound use of shadows and or the exterior shot of the populace coming to beg ivan return to moscow. ---------------------------------Answer Question Below----------------------------------

Judge the movie review above, you need to make a function call:
    If you feel the movie review is positive
        print "This is a semantically positive review."
    Otherwise, if you feel the movie review is negative
        print "This is a semantically negative review."
