Balkan Line

Truly great to see the other perspective than presented in MSM or Hollywood

Really good action films are rear on the big screen these days. There are dozens of comics and science fictions with baby plastic pistols and funny unbelievable deaths with no blood and zero realism. Though things are far way worse for Russian cinematography. It is crammed with stupid vulgar comedies and sob-stuff melodramas. If you want to watch normal action film it'll be 99% about the Second World War. So I was totally thrilled to learn that the new 20th century fox film describes twenty-year-old events in Yugoslavia. Moreover, the target audience is adults, not twelve-year-olds. It actually intrigued me. Finally, after watching first trailer I already knew the film's going to be awesome.

It turned out to be right. Balcan line gives us not only with a fresh interpretation of the historical facts of the confrontation between Russia and the NATO countries in Serbia, but also skillfully casts the main character's romantic relationships into the plot, turning one local conflict into a tragedy of all life for them. We sympathize Andrey who is ready to overcome any difficulties in the way of his beloved's salvation. Even if it is heavily armed Albanian terrorists. Unlike other recent Russian war films the romantic line is just a subplot, there are loads of hardcore, action and explosions. Conflict here is bloody and dirty as it was. It worth to be seen.

Ok, let's start with the positive. The film's photography and visuals are incredible. The cinematography is awesome. The story was interesting enough, and I really cared about the characters. The film has a good antagonist you simply can't help but hate (and boy, did he get what he deserved!)

Now my issues with the film. There are too many characters and therefore also too many back stories. Constant inter-cutting between scenes happening simultaneously was annoying and confusing. (It might be clearer with a second viewing). Showing scenes out of sequence further added to the confusion. There's also a lot of scenes that could - and probably should - have ended on the Cutting Room floor instead. This would have ensured a shorter runtime resulting in a faster paced film.

Based on fact, they just couldn't resist adding a fictional - and dare I say unnecessary - love story. *rolling my eyes*. In the end it was all good, though. The film's final hour is a spectacular thrill ride filled with action and suspense, and great visuals.

Fantastic movie portraying Albanian atrocities they refuse to admit. Don't listen to all the one star reviews, it's Albanian propaganda trying to hid their crimes.

This movie shows the other side,the one that has been silenced and it does it really well