Alicia
I love this movie so much
Bob
This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.
Scarlet
The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.
Tweekums
After spending some time in Polynesia explorer/ethnographer Thor Heyerdahl has come to believe that, contrary to popular belief the Polynesians came to their islands from what is now Peru rather than from East Asia. Experts tell him that it would have been impossible as there South Americans never developed ocean going ships; he believes it would be possible to get from Peru to Polynesia on a relatively simple balsawood raft so sets out to prove it. After a struggle to fund and equip the expedition he, along with five other crewmen, build their raft, named the Kon-Tiki, and set off from Peru. Early on things don't go too well; they are hit by a storm; have an encounter with a whale shark whose sheer size could present a danger; potentially man eating sharks… they are also drifting north towards the Galapagos Islands rather than west towards Polynesia; Thor is convinced that they will still catch the predicted current that will take them to their intended destination.As with almost all such films plenty of liberties are taken to add to the drama; most notably the addition of more tension amongst the crew. As I didn't know too much about the expedition before watching the film this didn't really bother me but I can understand that it may irritate those familiar with the actual events. Judging this purely as an adventure film I found more exciting than one might expect from a story where it is known beforehand that the expedition made it to Polynesia. The various events are thrilling and look believable although the most impressive moments are when we see just how small the Kon-Tiki looks in the vastness of the ocean. While it is mainly an adventure there are some moments that may disturb some viewers; most notably when a shark is caught and killed; one character gets covered in its blood. The cast does a really fine job; most notably Pål Hagen as explorer Thor Heyerdahl and Anders Baasmo Christiansen as his second in command Herman Watzinger; the character in the film may not be like the real person but he is well acted. Overall I'd certainly recommend this to anybody wanting a good adventure film; having watched the slightly fictionalised version of the story it may inspire you to read up on the real story.These comments are based on watching the film in Norwegian with English subtitles.
krocheav
To anyone looking for a film that embodies all that resembles quality movie making - this might be as close as you could get. Superb images ~ superb sound ~ superb performances ~ superb music ~ superb script, direction and cinematography ~ it's all on show...the Norwegians can be applauded for this special achievement.Due to better than average, imaginative script writing, any age group can enjoy this journey. In the hands of lesser writers it could have been loaded up with unnecessary language and details - instead, it's been mostly kept lovingly on target (the involvement of original family members probably helped). If anything was perhaps not fully necessary it might have been the beefing-up of some menacing 'JAWS' type scenes, but this is in keeping with the expectations of modern audiences - those weaned on over-the-top action flicks and moronic computer games. The representation of crew member Herman Watzinger has also been re-engineered and includes situations added for 'entertainment' purposes. These modifications of course are a small price to pay for a totally rewarding, highly exiting movie experience - that perfectly captures the passion and commitment of Thor Heyerdahl and his diverse crew's determination to pursue his vision on both land and sea. Some have made comparisons to another superb movie, the magnificent "Life of Pi" but this probably has more to do with the look of the above-average CGI effects and the survival at sea themes - apart from these ingredients they are a totally different genre of storytelling. Don't miss this terrific film and if possible see it on the big CinemaScope screen - complete with big sound reproduction to get the most from the award wining sound track!ADDITIONAL NOTE: For those who have seen the interesting 1960 movie "As The Sea Rages" also known as "Raubfischer in Hellas" and based on the famous novel of the same name by Werner Helwig (see IMDb listing), the real life character that Clements the seaman (played by Cliff Robertson) is based on, was a crew member on other Thor Heyerdahl expeditions ~ these are also worth seeking out by interested movie historians. KenR
Anssi Vartiainen
Kon-Tiki proves that there's still a place in the world for explorers. For adventurers, brave men and women that are willing to push farther than anyone before them. It's a tale of assumptions proved to be correct, of mad undertakings, lost causes, heroic deeds and the burning will to test the limits of human capability.Kon-Tiki tells the tale of Thor Heyerdahl (Pål Sverre Hagen), a real life "experimental archaeologist", who wanted to prove that the Polynesian islands could have been populated over the Pacific Ocean instead of the original settlers coming from Asia. And to prove this he decides to cross the Pacific himself, using ancient methods. The story is instantly interesting and made all the better because it's based on real events and real people.The actors are also up to the task, with Hagen being unshakably convincing as the leading dreamer and resident mad genius. I also really like the production values. Pacific has rarely looked better than here, the ship itself feels authentic and the Polynesian islands are beautiful to behold. I also like that the story doesn't shy away from the more somber events, like the strain this attempt put on Heyerdahl's marriage.All in all Kon-Tiki is well worth a watch for all that love adventures, biographies and sea voyages. It's a beautiful film, both visually and thematically.
HannahToucan248
This Oscar-nominated Norwegian film follows explorer Thor Heyerdahl on a journey across the Pacific Ocean on a small balsa-wood raft. In it, he has to overcome sharks, stormy waters, and his own fears.I had skimmed by this on Netflix, but had always decided to skip it because the Metascore wasn't that high. 63? I'll pass; I'll just watch a best picture winner. Man, was I wrong. Don't let an critic reviews fool you - Kon-Tiki is a must-see.First off, the acting is great. From Thor's character to the rest of his crewmen, everyone showed a great deal of emotion and struggle on the course of their expedition. Whether leaving their wife or six-month-old baby behind, all had reasons to be homesick, which was clearly noticeable by all the hurt in their eyes.Also, it is really exciting. This is a true story, so the events are actually realistic, unlike many of the adventures in films such as Life of Pi. Thor and his crew battle both sharks and rough waves, and each time, their raft is far from unscathed. This is more than just a drama.The only reason I didn't give it higher was that it was pretty abrupt in the beginning. Thor decides to make the journey within the first ten minutes, so it seems without much motive there.Lastly, don't let anyone under the age of ten or eleven watch this. There is a shark scene that is intense and shows some blood and guts. If an under-ten-year-old is not squeamish or easily-bothered at all, it may be fine, but I'd recommend that they not watch it yet.
