I haven't seen the earlier versions, not to mention have read the book so I had nothing to compare to this masterpiece. And I think it was a good thing. Since have read too many negative reviews based on arguments about how this movie was too strictly or too insufficiently following the book, I want to say a few things.
PROS: -I am NOT a fan of Finnish film production, overall quality of the movies are just horrible (excluding couple of gems) but this film made me think otherwise.
-Cast did a very good overall performance, I am not even going to start to worship Eero Ahos' execution, other than 10/10.
-Special fx were normal standard in global comparison, in Finnish movie industry comparison 9/10 (maybe it tells smth that this movie is the most expensive movie ever made in Finland).
-Movie is 3 hours long, but doesn't feel like it; there was only one boring/stupid scene about getting drunk for like 20mins.
-I loved how the characters evolved during the movie.
-Sacrificing main characters is always a sign of a good movie.
-Small clever glimpses of humour from the main character Rokka.
CONS: -I know this is just a minor thing, but year 2017 and it is a rare case to see realistic recoil in rifles, e.g. scene where Finnish soldier executes Russian soldier with the Finnish version of Mosin- Nagant, which fires 7,62x54 cartridge. Is it just laziness or stupidity?
-The stupid long drinking scene...
-Sometimes cut scenes were too fast in the fight, which seems to be the most common curse of action movies made lazily.
ASENTO! LEPO! over and out!
PROS: -I am NOT a fan of Finnish film production, overall quality of the movies are just horrible (excluding couple of gems) but this film made me think otherwise.
-Cast did a very good overall performance, I am not even going to start to worship Eero Ahos' execution, other than 10/10.
-Special fx were normal standard in global comparison, in Finnish movie industry comparison 9/10 (maybe it tells smth that this movie is the most expensive movie ever made in Finland).
-Movie is 3 hours long, but doesn't feel like it; there was only one boring/stupid scene about getting drunk for like 20mins.
-I loved how the characters evolved during the movie.
-Sacrificing main characters is always a sign of a good movie.
-Small clever glimpses of humour from the main character Rokka.
CONS: -I know this is just a minor thing, but year 2017 and it is a rare case to see realistic recoil in rifles, e.g. scene where Finnish soldier executes Russian soldier with the Finnish version of Mosin- Nagant, which fires 7,62x54 cartridge. Is it just laziness or stupidity?
-The stupid long drinking scene...
-Sometimes cut scenes were too fast in the fight, which seems to be the most common curse of action movies made lazily.
ASENTO! LEPO! over and out!