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Rukajärven tie (1999)
Though somewhat popularistic, it still does have some soul to it.
You don't always have to find the largest, most massive, confrontation to make something impressive. The ones that portray a war without a real individual's perspective tend to get so removed from real life that they tend to glorify war.
In real life war isn't a fast paced action flick. A movie made in Finland relies much more in its sense of "it could be real" then the average Hollywood product. Waiting is an essential, yet agonizing, part of war. When the action comes it can be over in 5 seconds. Waiting for that 5 sec is the definition of living on the edge. I enjoyed the tranquility of the earlier parts. In war, 10:1 odds in casualties are achieved by using the advantage when you have it. That means attacking from behind and taking out as many as you can before it's your turn. Yes it is cruel and brutal. Who said war is anything else?
The movie is also visually beautiful and the soundtrack tends to amplify the beauty of the scenery, but does not go overboard obvious as is the case with some classical soundtracks. The film has an enjoyable atmosphere to it. However, I'm forced to admit that the actual events make it a bit hollow and somewhat popularistic. If you can get past the shell, which I would give maybe a 5, you can get to the core of it all. With the ambience and feel of it all, I'd give the movie's guts an 8. I'd rather grade it by that.
If you are looking for an action flick for a friday night, this is not really it. Try maybe sunday.