SnoReptilePlenty Memorable, crazy movie

Inadvands Boring, over-political, tech fuzed mess

Doomtomylo a film so unique, intoxicating and bizarre that it not only demands another viewing, but is also forgivable as a satirical comedy where the jokes eventually take the back seat.

Matylda Swan It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties.

s3276169 Finland was the only country during world war two to fight both for the Axis and then later against it, alongside the Soviet Union. This films focus is opening stages of the war which sees the Finns fighting with the Axis. That said, this film looks only at the conflict between the Finns and the Soviets. It accurately displays the Finns role as defenders attacked by the Soviets and their defense against a much larger enemy force. This is an interesting, well acted film. It pulls no punches in showing the horrors of war and its easy to empathize with the Finns, whilst feeling sympathy for the men who die on both sides. This film occasionally shows a patriotic side, especially in the latter half of the film. Thankfully, its not overdone and doesn't descend into jingoism. That said it is a little corny at times and some scenes of this kind might have been best left on the cutting room floor. In summary this is a good quality film. Its polished and well directed. the sets are top notch and the battles scenes are convincing and at times, shocking. Its refreshing too, to see films that step outside the US/UK mold and for this reason alone, its worth a look. Seven out of ten from me.

magnusnordstrand I'm so looking forward to seeing this film about the Finns fighting along with the Nazis against the Sovietunion. To the remarks from "xaggurat from Vantaa, Finland", I just want to say, the Finns did what they had to do to keep Soviet out.. and the Swedes did what they had to do to keep the Nazis off Sweden and stay neutral and peaceful during WW2. Recent studies has shown that we Swedes where not so "neutral" with the allied as to training Police forces and granting US Air force to set up a base at kalax airport, among other thing. Beides, how would Germany invading Sweden helped Finlad during the War? I'm hoping to see a film about this subject matter in the near future...

xaggurat DVD was released lately and just saw this one. Åke Lindman, the director has made a life long career as a film maker in Finland. He started in 1944, when the war was still on. He acted furiously in 1955 version of The Unknown Soldier (Tuntematon Sotilas).In this light it is somewhat strange, that the movie is such a dull war movie, badly directed and worse acting. As a war movie lover and as a historical buff I was very, very disappointed. The soldiers are very nice, clean, almost cute and they don't like swearing. They fight calmly, intelligently, honorably and heroically. Russians have no role against them but do die. I bet the time has gild the memoirs of either Järv or Lindman.About the wartime politics in Scandinavia. I bet the Finns would have liked if their beloved neighbors, the Swedes, would have let the British troops, which the British Govt was sending to aid Finland _against_ the Soviets, through Swedish soil during the Winter War - so the Finns would have had a chance to ally with the British, not the Germans. But that must be because Sweden gave only pass-trough permits to the Germans during the WWII. Small country, which is forced to fight a war, has only so much options. Not every country can just maintain peace and sell iron and Bofors guns to every fighting side and grow rich, while others are being bombed.I give this movie 2 points, one for being a war movie and Heiskanen acted decently.edited addition: Recently watched another bad war movie, Windtalkers. Actually these two movies are very much alike in many ways.And there's no point to weap about heroism, bad movie is a bad movie, especially if it's message has something to do with heroism.

Phra7 This is a dramatized true story about a Swedish speaking unit in the Finnish army, during the Finnish "Continuation war" which Finland fought against the Soviet Union, in 1941-1944 to regain the territory that the Russians had gained in their attack on Finland in 1939-1940. Don't look for an elaborate plot, bigger than life storyline or any romantic involvement in this film. It doesn't really have a storyline and absolutely no romantic subplot. This is a description of a group of young men on the front and their escapades. Everything has been done with the veterans to achieve maximum authenticity. If that means that the movie is lame, so be it. I find it refreshingly different. However one needs to appreciate before watching this that this is a sort of drama documentary.The director who is also the producer wanted to make a true life film while the veterans still were alive. He has done this, but some viewers seem to have expected a Hollywood drama. You won't get that. You'll get grueling scenes as they happened. I rather enjoyed this movie.PS. The fact that about 80 % of the spoken language in the film is Swedish also seems to annoy some, but not the majority of the local Finnish viewers. But what can you do, this unit comprised of Swedish speaking troops, so this part needs to be accurate also.