Review online


Seems to be somewhat negative.. 2 stars out of 5.
Text in Finnish.

http://www.stara.fi/?p=7250

Also, a making-of article online:
http://www.mil.fi/ruotuvaki/?action=read_page&pid=105&aid=1725


I think what's partly putting the reviewer off, is that this isn't actually a traditional war movie, where the plot follows one person or one group of people throughout the story. In a story like that you always have to make stuff up and insert people into events that didn't actually happen to them, or insert fictional characters.

What the filmmakers wanted to do here, was to use a documentary-style approach and stick to actual facts of what happened, and as such you can't focus on one point of view in a chaotic battle like this, but you have to show what happened all around the battlefield. So the film is episodic, as the camera jumps around the battlefield, showing what happened from the point of view of many different units. The focus isn't on any particular person or unit, but the battle itself.

I haven't seen the film yet so I can't say if it works or not, but let's hope so. This might be an interesting experiment.

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Thank you for the links.

Yeah, I know how my people tend to work - when making a historical movie there will hardly be any drama in a Hollywood manner, but I kinda wish there would be. If you want history, read books. And if you want a movie, watch Saving Private Ryan.


The Apple Scruffs Corps, 05
Die Piepels, mach Schau! Mach Schau!

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Sounds good to me, that's how war movies should be made.

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No cheese in this movie, man.

The Apple Scruffs Corps, 05
Die Piepels, mach Schau! Mach Schau!

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Another review:

http://www.demari.fi/Article.jsp?article=9430

More articles:

http://www.aamulehti.fi/sunnuntai/teema/ihmiset_paajutut/6212987.shtml

http://www.aamulehti.fi/uutiset/kulttuuri/57144.shtml

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I just came from prewiew and it was a quite of experience to see this movie with real warheroes and veterans and have a chat with them after the film. I could have listened those stories for hours, and sorry my patriotism but damn, those guys are the real heroes!

About the movie itself I have to say that I mostly agree with those reviews, especially with stara.fi. Of course Tali-Ihantala is a great picture about what happened, how it happened etc.. And yes, it is well maid, most definately the greatest war movie effects in Finish film history. But that's about it, because the story is not that great.

Plot moves so quickly that after you might have got interested in some of the characters, they are allready gone, and the next one is on the screen. Like someone allready said, in this movie the lead role belongs to the battle. And even though I liked about the maps and stuff that maid audience capeable to follow the events correctly, I couldn't help the feeling of documentary at times.

Acting also suffered a lot because of the too anxious and hasty writing. No one neither shined nor floped. But if you're able to forget the lack of drama and great acting performances, you can sit back and enjoy nicely filmed warmovie about the Finland's most important battle with great music and beautiful but raw landscapes.

Happy 90th birthday Finland! (6.12.1917)

http://www.imdb.com/mymovies/list?votehistory

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Nice review!

The Apple Scruffs Corps, 05
Die Piepels, mach Schau! Mach Schau!

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It's about right that this isn't as much a movie than it is a documentary drama. If it is reviewed as a movie, it's bound to get thrashed in the press.

As a document it was well done, as it seemed quite authentic mainly because there were lots of veterans involved with the production. Especially the scenes involving tanks had a lot of effort put into them.

If you wan't to have a movie experience where you want to be entertained, this film probably isn't your cup of tea.

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