The Wave

I would prefer to give this 7.5! This gripping action movie uses real life events, future and past to create a dynamic movie with believable and fully fleshed characters. The set-up is simple, a beautiful village set on a Norwegian fjord will at some point become victim the mountain partially collapsing which will lead to a catastrophic tsunami. This film follows one of the scientists, and his family, who has been monitoring the mountain as this happens. The effects are excellent, the dialogue interesting (especially the science of the mountain) and the characterisation good as we see the varying groups of people react too and be consumed by 'The Wave'. I was aching for the resolution and found the film a satisfying if slightly salutary exploration of what is likely to occur. The actors conveyed the shock, awe, and fear of what occurs and I cared about all the characters. An very worthwhile production, it's just a shame that so few cinemas in UK showed this film as it must have been incredible on the big screen.

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

Norwegian movies occasionally bring sleeper hit like the Troll Hunter, the wintry location is just perfect for things unknown. The Wave, while it may be strange to have on a mountain, is a good mix of visual cinematography, nice use of attractive vistas and simple yet engaging characters. The first act might feel a tad slow but the entirety is finely tuned compartmentalized sequences that fit together as good disaster movie.

The focus is mainly on a family of four on their last day in normally quaint city of Geiranger. Kritian (Kristoffer Joner) as the father is a geologist who admittedly too fixated on his job. Before they leave he spots some anomalies of the impending catastrophe. It's a predictable but still decent premise and while it starts rather slow, the time invested is used to familiarize audience with the characters and also the tourist attraction.

The Wave uses its setting very nicely, it capitalizes on the actual hotel and mountain, partially and understandably for promotional purpose. It's visually pleasing and involving scenery, better than most Hollywood attempts on the genre. For example, San Andreas doesn't feel as though viewer is engaged aside from excessive CG. This movie cleverly captures the essence of the place well.

It doesn't mean that there's a lack of special effect here, it's just used more appropriately. For those wanting a cool spectacle of force of nature, you won't be disappointed. Better yet, there are few scenes which really push the theatrical effect of human drama and graphical thriller so precisely, it's impressively daunting. Furthermore, audience would mostly likely relate to the family's ordeal more than investing on random calamity displays.

The Wave is a disaster movie done right, nearly every aspect of it come crashing down just at the right spot and time.

The movie is about a geologist that discovers some weird activity in the mountains in Åkneset (Norway) They discover that unless they evacuate the whole city in time, a piece of the mountain will fall into the water and create a monster wave of 80m that will crush everything in its path. So now the geologist played by Kristoffer Joner is doing everything in his power to save his family and his beloved small town.

Short review. Great special effect, good score, good acting. Predictable script and lacks depth, but is still good enough entertainment for the whole family :) There is nothing revolutionary or new about this, but hey! Isn't it always pleasurable when things are done right?

Ps, it's also interesting that this is actually something that has happened before and might happen again!

Final thoughts...GO CHECK IT OUT!

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