Max Manus: O Homem da Guerra

Although being a Norwagian WWII film, Max Manus has that international appeal because it's about something the whole world experienced.

Following Max and his saboteur friends is a real pleasure and a very realistic depiction of the occupation of Norway. It's the first time i have seen a Norwagian film of this "epic" quality and i hope we get more in the future.

If you have seen a lot of WWII movies don't think this will be just another one. This one gives you a take on the more hidden parts of the war and follows a small resistance group trying to save their small country from one of the biggest empires the world has seen.

So in conclusion i would recommend anyone interested in good foreign films or just good historical films in general.

Awesome film based on a true story about a small but significant resistance group in Oslo Norway during WW2. and the most prolific member is Max Manus with his daring operations and back breaking escapes from the Nazi's. in terms of Norwegian films in general ,this film differs from the rest because of it's massive budget and interesting source material. the thing that really surprised me was the detail and skill of the cgi effects from making Oslo look like it did 60 years ago to various explosions and action sequences. foremost this film is for people familiar with the story's of Max Manus and his daring exploits. Aksel Hennie did a great job portraying Manus. i didn't like Hennie before but i do now. A must see for any Norwegian or war enthusiast.

I'm not sure where to start but my anticipations for this film were sky-high, and boy were my prayers answered! I have difficulty seeing how the story of Norwegian resistance fighter Max Manus could be told in any other way. The friendship in the tight-knit group of saboteurs and resistance fighters in Nazi-occupied Oslo is portrayed with great warmth, comedy and boyish charm (most of these guys were basically just kids!), and the original and very special relationship between Max and his future wife Tikken is both credible and beautiful. Together with some intense action-scenes this all makes for a great WW2-film that takes you through every emotion.

Almost refreshingly it's told in a straightforward manner, none of those new fashionable gimmicks where a storyline is suddenly turned on its head just for cheap effect. The fact that this film is very close to reality - according to both Manus' widow Tikken and Gunnar Sønsteby, one of the legendary resistance fighters portrayed in the film - makes this even more fascinating.

An honest sweeping war drama deeply rooted in reality and history, that should interest any fan of WW2-stories, anywhere in the world.

And why watch fictional heroes like gladiator Maximus Decimus Meridius when you can enjoy real life ones like Maximo Guillermo Manus? :)

The film evolves around Max Manus as one of the central heroes of the young Norwegian resistance during the World War II. Together with Gunnar Kjakan Sønsteby, Gregers Gram and the other brave youngsters not willing to see the free Norway become a part of the German Nazi empire The Third Reich.

After the fun flick "Bandidas" no one expected Joachim Rønning and Espen Sandberg to be able to do such a correct and true told story of one the Norwegian resistance heroes. But they have managed to make a great film, without messing up in any way.

We get the feeling that the heroism was not just a one-sided thing. For every action the resistance made, more civilians had to die. Max Manus, brilliantly played by Aksel Hennie, was an adventurer, and very lucky to be one of the survivors, more than once thanks to the cold-minded Gunnar Kjakan Sønsteby, warning him about the reality of it all.

The film also shows the psychological effects on the adventurer, who got to be a heavy drinker during the war, and after. Being a hero is just a part of the whole story.

A strong part of this film is the human relations. The boyish ways and friendships. The love-story is beautifully made. One can really relate to the persons. That's good acting as well! Some find Fehmers girlfriend as unnecessary. I don't agree. This is to show that the Nazis had both charm and feelings too. This gives balance as well.

Some have been criticizing the Norwegian resistance for being young silly adventurers. Some of this might be a little bit true, but what they did, and what the sacrificed, is impressive. Most of us would not even think of trying, or dare, to do anything as to stop an invasion of a big and threatening force. Thank God for the likes of Max Manus. He never stopped believing that the Germans could be beaten, even though he was far down after losing his friends one by one in the battle for freedom.

A solid mark is given for true storytelling of brave young spirits, making Norway what the country is today.

So many war films are just Hollywood idea of how chisel jawed clean cut Americans defeated the Nazi hoard across Europe.

Not so Max Manus.

For once a war film with a proper story that isn't just a story but all true. After watching this film I went straight to the library to look him up.

A remarkable chap and a credit to his nation.

A great boys own adventure, no gooey love seen, not full of gallons of fake blood and thousands of rounds being fired. Just a no nonsense as it happened film.

Go see it.