Dynamixor The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

FuzzyTagz If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

Dirtylogy It's funny, it's tense, it features two great performances from two actors and the director expertly creates a web of odd tension where you actually don't know what is happening for the majority of the run time.

Dana An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

WakenPayne I have been growing to really REALLY love foreign-language War films. I like Stalingrad, Black Book, The Unknown Soldier (pick one!) and The Winter War to name a few. I mainly picked this one up because I have been getting into Finnish movies and the cast to this, based on what I've seen look like the kind where even if I didn't like it they'd be able to carry it.The plot is that Lt. Eero Perkola leads his squad through the Russian forest during the Continuation War and meets up with his fiancée, Kaarina - who has become a nurse with the hopes of at least trying to find out if he's okay. They meet for a night before both have to leave, when Kaarina leaves for another city's fiery aftermath they are ambushed by Russians. Eero finds out this news as he is given new orders to fight off Russians, so he has to continue leading his men while mourning the loss of his fiancée.Now the action, while very limited (I'm serious, there are 4 action scenes in this entire movie) is very very good. The last one in particular looks amazing. That one was perfectly paced, motion slowed when it needed to be and seeing the stunt-men run past the explosions are all done beautifully.The actors themselves do indeed do fantastic jobs. Peter Franzen does indeed do a great job here and while their roles are minor I found it great that we saw Irina Bjorklund and Tommi Eronen act as well. The main supporting players that I have never even heard of also do indeed put in stellar performances.If there is anything to complain about it would have to be the Catholic imagery, no this is not me attacking religion. I just feel that there was little purpose for it. There is a lot of it, especially within the first half of the movie and I didn't really find that much of a need for it. If I were to compare to another Olli Saarela film - The Priest Of Evil had Catholic imagery which was needed because the main antagonist thought he was God's right hand.There is only one other complaint and - yes, it's a nitpick. In this movie a character walks along a bridge and gets shot by Russian forces and he tries getting up and fighting only to get shot down even more until he falls into the water... He survives this whole movie. I'm not kidding in the very next scene he somehow was able to walk back to where they set up camp.Aside from that there isn't really that much to complain about. The cinematography is nigh-on perfect for the tone of this movie. It all looks really good but also gives off this cold feeling (even though for those who haven't seen this movie - it's not set in winter). It's not the best I've seen for a War movie (that would have to go to Max Manus: Man Of War) but it's pretty damn close. Then there's the music, It deserved the Jussi win. That's all I can say about it, it fits perfectly and the pieces all sound wonderful.So If you have seen the Finnish war movie classics like The Winter War and The Unknown Soldier then this movie doesn't exactly live up to those movies, in entertainment or emotional investment. However this is still a well made movie that despite a few small complaints is very much worth checking out.

korppoolainen I will start by stating this is a review about a movie, not about the conflict itself. I am sick of reading peoples personal opinions on the conflicts themselves, this site is about discussing movies not actual conflicts so you should watch a movie with a neutral standing. And you should certainly post without prejudice, because at the end of the day, it is just a movie!Although I watched this movie and to an extent enjoyed it, I can't really recommend this movie to anyone. Again let me illustrate the fact I am basing all my opinions on the movie itself, not the war it is based on! I don't wish to offend anyone, but the characters were mostly annoying, there was no cohesion amongst the soldiers or the commanding officers and the soldiers didn't for one second convince me that they were soldiers. Added to this there was zero discipline shown which even the poorest American war movie has a little of. I'm not sure if it was poor casting or poor script but it was unconvincing. And to me this was a let down.This is a 90% drama 10% action war movie, which needs seriously good plot, scripting, acting and very strong characters to keep you enthralled. It almost pulls it off, but there is something missing, as such this is a good movie - not a great movie. Also if the film was made to showcase the little known war, then it failed, because I am non the wiser now as I was before the movie. Also, these guys went deep into enemy lines to do re-con yet I failed to see any re-con being done? And the only way they could get word back to HQ was to send injured people back?I am married to a Finn so I watched this because I am interested in Finland, however to anyone who doesn't have ties to Finland, I think this is just another uneventful war movie. Which there are hundreds if not thousands of. Although as I said, this movie had the potential to be great, but something let it down, I can't put my finger on what, but after the movie I was left a little empty inside. For this reason I rate it 7 out of 10.It is worth a watch, but I couldn't say to people "wow, you must watch this film" because it brings nothing new to the table, there is nothing here that stands out or that hasn't been done before.

guggen A good portrayal of the Finno-Russian conflict. What is really thrilling is that it also, in my opinion, gives a good view of the Finish character referred to as "SISU". The movie also isn't plagued by the typical American film clichés. Don't miss this one, and I hope that subtitling outside Scandinavia is good enough to do the Finnish soldiers justice. Their temperament really comes alive with their lines.

Jarno Rukajärven tie is a great war movie (maybe it takes a Finn to really *feel* this deeply), the characters are beautifully depicted (again, elementary Finnish history knowledge will help here), but it is an even better love story. Anyone, who has really been in love, will be greatly moved by the development of the relationship between Eero and Kaarina. If you did not "get" the love story, see the movie again in e.g. 5 years..After seeing the movie in a theater in Helsinki, I resisted buying the VHS release, since I knew that DVD format would do MUCH better justice to the films wonderful cinematography and sound design. I picked up the DVD from Helsinki airport this month, and it really delivers! Dolby Digital 5.1 sound (the same format as I heard in the theater), and widescreen format video (enhanced for widescreen TVs). Subtitles are provided in many languages, and extras are also plenty (the Finnish menus have more extras than English). The disk is NOT region restricted, but will require a PAL capable player and display (Americans beware). The only improvement I could think of would be NTSC formatted version on the other side of the disk.