The North Sea

North Sea is a little-known Norwegian disaster film. Norwegian cinema is not the most famous in Europe, not to mention the whole world. But North Sea is a great movie, something similar to Deepwater Horizon, but without Hollywood pathos and star cast. If you liked Deepwater Horizon, I advise you to watch North Sea. Yes, there is no star cast in North Sea, there is almost no action. Here is mostly a drama of several people, their suffering and sacrifices. But the film doesn't seem more passable. It's just about something else. I advise everyone to watch it, I understand that few people will know about the film. I was accidentally offered by a media service after watching Deepwater Horizon.

Wow, I must say that Norway has indeed been on a roll in the recent years in regards of disaster movies. First there was the 2015 movie "Bølgen" (aka "The Wave"), which was followed by the 2018 movie "Skjelvet" (aka "The Quake"), and now in 2021 there was "Nordsjøen" (aka "The Burning Sea").

I must admit that I have been thoroughly entertained by these movies, and "Nordsjøen" proved to be equally enjoyable. So writers Harald Rosenløw-Eeg and Lars Gudmestad definitely managed to put together a good storyline for "Nordsjøen". Sure, there wasn't a whole lot of destruction and mayhem in this movie, which was a shame, but "Nordsjøen" was a very well-written story-driven movie. And the story was spiced up with a natural disaster. So it was actually still quite enjoyable.

For me, then I felt it was a shame that there wasn't more focus on the destructive forces of the disaster, because I was sort of expecting that. But luckily then director John Andreas Andersen managed to put writers Harald Rosenløw-Eeg and Lars Gudmestad's script to life on the screen in a very enjoyable and entertaining manner.

The acting performances were good in "Nordsjøen". And I wasn't familiar with the cast here, but they definitely put on good performances to bring the movie to life. I was sort of expecting to see actor Kristoffer Joner here, as he was in both "Bølgen" and "Skjelvet", but he wasn't here.

Visually then "Nordsjøen" was pretty good, I liked the special effects and it definitely came off as being realistic and added a lot of flavor to the movie.

If you enjoy disaster movies, then "Nordsjøen" is well-worth watching.

My rating of "Nordsjøen" lands on a six out of ten stars.

Another Norwegian disaster movie which was a success in the Norwegian theatres. I wasn't expecting much from this, as the trailer seemed lame, telling the movie was overacted. I'm happy to say it was not. Before showing it abroad, they should make a new trailer, or it will be more lightly to bomb.

It started off with The Wave (Bølgen) in 2015 (Director: Roar Uthaug, Writers: John Kåre Raake and Harald Rosenløw-Eeg) which was 9/10.

Followed by The Quake (Skjelvet) (The Quake) in 2018 (Director: John Andreas Andersen, same writers as The Wave) which was 7/10.

Followed by The Tunnel (Tunnelen) in 2019 (Director: Pål Øie, Writer Kjersti Helen Rasmussen) which also was 7/10.

And now The Burning Sea (Nordsjøen) in 2021. (John Andreas Andersen, Writers: Harald Rosenløw-Eeg and Lars Gudmestad) which I think is 8/10.

Before this Norwegian disaster movies did hardly exist, maybe with the exception of People in the sun (Mennesker i Solen) from 2011 which has a funny approach and which I think is under-appreciated and I also loved to an 8/10.

The team behind The Wave was also behind The Quake, which is some kind of follow-up, and now this The Burning Sea, while The Tunnel was an exception.

Well, this is a step up, both when it comes to the catastrophe as well as in effects. The CGI is, like in them all superb. No wonder Hollywood searches Norway for CGI-talents, as all these movies are made on what would be a shoestring budget in Hollywood. The story is also good, and quite believable, though of course there are plot holes, and things that are not drawn out too much, hence the length of the movie.

I was on the egde of my theater seat along the way. Even if I didn't like very much the kid-story took too much place. Bu well done! I hope for more Norwegian disasters!

Yes, for American viewers it will remind "Deepwater Horizon" (2016) and others could probably compare it with movies about Chernobyl Disaster 1986 or 2021 Suez Canal obstruction. Anyway, yes this movies is about disaster that was caused nor by nature but by humans.

This movies has it strong sides like a good acting from the whole cast, interesting plot, and driven action without unreal things (like Dwayne Johnson failing out of the skyscraper, mundane routine in a movie "Skyscraper" (2018)). Unfortunately, this movie also has negative sides like copying American style of movies (examples above can be considered), obviously somewhere & somehow scenario is predictable, and "fancy" cultural contrast (It is not about Norway, it is about representation how scenes and certain actions showed).

Overall, it is a good movie and good story. The plot is interesting and has interesting twists. It is showing action from on side and beauty of culture from another side. Definitely, not a waste of time but sadly contain some vivid cliché. If it would had editing in regards of the scenario and cut in chronométrage, it could be 10 out of 10.

P. S: If you are in Greenpeace or in WWF, or fan of Greta Thunberg, you might have a serious "burnout" / "butthurt" particularly close to the end of the movie ;)

Good movie, a bit more promising in the trailer.

However, someone forgot to turn image stabilization on. Awful capturing... If you are into movies you'll realize it from the first second.