A Onda

What does it take to make a good disaster movie? Good F/X?, Complex storyline?, intricate scenes?, massive destruction?... nothing of the sort.

Good buildup and nice character development, that's it.

That's what this movie is all about. A simple story, yet, very powerful in the way it was made.

From the first 10 minutes you'll get the point, this is gonna be a movie focused on our characters, this are people living a simple life, yet, full of good intentions and surrounded by good company in a small town with an incredible scenery and this is gonna be a movie about them, having to deal with a disaster none expects. The disaster it's there as a test to their resolve, not as the main attraction of the movie, be aware of that before watching it.

The story unfolds at slow pace but with impeccable character development and directing, to match this we have a superb soundtrack that it's not excessive nor subtle and always, to the point.

Our main hero is very lovable and yet, honest and simple. If you're expecting a super-hero like San Andreas, you'll be sorely disappointed, yet, if you think what would you do if a massive wave hits your town, you will feel identified with our main lead here.

I love disaster movies and this is one of them, It never lost my interest. The movie ends as it starts, simple and yet, highly enjoyable due to being superbly directed through and through.

If you're fond of disaster movies which puts their characters in the first place, without super excessive heroic scenes and a believable script, you must see this one, you'll be surprised.

This IS the anti-Hollywood of disaster movies, thanks good for that!

First of all i must say Noway is good at making movies. I have seen lot of there stuff and its always top notch and The wave is no exception. Although there is lot of disaster movies around but not quite often you such and engaging movie which keeps your interest from start to finish. Story is simple but the way director execute it man just awesome. All the lead character was good in movie but Kristen steal the show completely. such a powerful performance by him. Story revolves around a small Norwegian town, which got hit by tsunami and aftermath of it. Gfx was also good although a bit more destruction would add more plus to the movie bottom line is if you are fan of disasters movies or not it should be on your watch list.

It's not a big secret what is going to happen here (at least for the viewer, the characters involved do get surprised of course). The English title is telling too (don't know what the original title means). Our main character is one of those who does have the right idea or premonition. Problem is, he is actually leaving, so he won't be able to help if anything happens, right? That's something you can ask yourself while watching the movie, though you'll be able to predict most of the things that will happen.

That doesn't make this less engaging. On the contrary, it is suspense filled, the viewer waiting for what this has been advertised of. And the effects will not disappoint you. The human story as predictable as it is, is engaging too. European catastrophe drama at its best

The science leading up to the mountain landslide and resulting tsunami, is far more interesting than the questionable survival techniques that follow. The beginning has breathtaking scenery and is almost all in daylight. Once the impressive c.g.i. tsunami is over, things shift into closeup images in almost total darkness, and the believability scale descends dramatically. I would say that the chances of an ending like we witness is many millions to one. Nowhere is the hypothermia factor even mentioned. Being submerged in what must be frigid fjord water for even a few minutes would most likely be fatal. "The Wave" is not a bad movie, it is just a film that stretches things a bit far. If you can look beyond that, then it is a movie worth watching. - MERK

Just caught this film in Austin during Fantastic Fest and had a blast. I've never seen a Norwegian movie before and I went in blind to this one.

The moderator introduced it as a "movie that would make Roland Emmerich cum his pants", and while it's not exactly on the same level as, say, Independence Day or 2012, the film is an absolute destructive experience that packs a punch. The premise, which is honestly quite simple, revolves around a geologist that begins to sense that something is awry when a mountain over a small town begins to give off strange activity in its movement. By the time he warns everybody, it's too late.

The film borrows from plenty of Hollywood clichés, but what it does well is build its suspense. Normally there would be a few action set pieces preceding the real climax, but this film takes its time to build the tension and it does so masterfully. There's an emotional connection to the lead and his family, and from the moment he senses that something is wrong, you want him and those that he loves to get out of town safely.

There's nothing new about the story or with the characters, but it's an impressive feat with dazzling cinematography and a pulsating score. I'd highly recommend checking it out if you're looking to be entertained.