The Winter War (1989)

Just perfect...

Great Film overall

When a movie has you begging for it to end not even half way through it's pure crap. We've all seen this movie and this characters millions of times, nothing new in it. Don't waste your time.

Not sure how, but this is easily one of the best movies all summer. Multiple levels of funny, never takes itself seriously, super colorful, and creative.

I am a totally WW2 fanatic and, generally, a war movie watcher,having viewed all the war films I could get my hands on, regardless of country, language or approach. generally speaking I think the Russian war movies are the best (despite the fact I really, really don't like Russia), because once you set aside the propaganda part (still present even in the latest ones) they are very realistic and gritty, not Hollywood Nazi hunting walk-in the-park style. But my favorite WW2 movie ever is Talvisota, and I watched it innumerable times. The reason? It is very realistic, both in filming and in story, and it really manages to make you feel the fear, frustration, boredom, desperation and slow gradual psychological grinding felt by the Finnish soldiers (and, indirectly by the Soviet ones, dieing in scores in endless frontal attacks). It also slowly grows on you, making you care for the characters, not as soldiers, but kind of as family members, and makes you feel bitter and sour about the absurdity of it all. As it stays true to the real Winter War, which was no Blitzkrieg, there are no tank battles or anything epic; just endless trench war, endless artillery bombardment, and endless waves of Soviet infantry, simply ignoring the horrendous losses and just wearing the Finnish down through sheer exhaustion. And that' s what the viewer feels, too, exhaustion and a slow loss of hope. Maybe i am a little biased, because I'm from another European country neighboring the USSR, invaded by them in 1940 and then fighting alongside the Nazi in a losing war, but I still think this is the best ww2 movie ever, describing perfectly what the soldier of a small army feels like when fighting a superpower. 10/10 for me, but don't expect it to be an Enemy at the Gates kind of movie, it's more similar to Brestskaya Krepost or Go Ji jeon.

This is by far the best War film I have ever seen. It truly grips you with the horrors (I have only seen the 195min version) and it is pulled off brilliantly.The story follows the Hakala brothers Paavo and Martti, Both have signed on to the army to defend against the Russians from invading. The truly unique thing about this film is that it actually humanizes the Russians whereas with other war movies it is always biased towards the side that won, most of the other movies set during WWII just say "every Natzi was evil" when not only is that an overused plot element but its just idiotic, most foreign movies are SO much better at making war movies - like Germany made Rosenstrasse a great attempt at filmmaking.This movie truly is one of the greatest of the genres (I have not seen the 125min US version nor the 265min Miniseries). This movie expresses the horrors of War in such a good way that after this I wanted to watch a light-hearted comedy to take my mind off it.Calling it the 81st best War movie is a little Harsh, since when in War movies do you see them not only take on the violence accurately but also focus on the Shellshock? How many times in a war movie does it set a character up for 2 hours only to see him being blown apart with his brother watching? How many times do you see a War film to find out that the side that they intended to root for win but neither the main character or yourself seem too happy about it? All the people that like Saving Private Ryan should watch this to REALLY see the horrors of War (only seen the first hour of SPR and that didn't make me feel the horrors of war as much as this did).EDIT: For anybody who's interested I have a recommendation, the 1985 Tuntematon Sotilas - It's not as good as this though.

This movie tells about the military conflict between the Soviet Union and Finland.It was fought between 30 November 1939-13 March 1940.Talvisota (1989) is directed by Pekka Parikka.The script is based on Antti Tuuri's novel.The movie has got the finest actors playing their roles.Taneli Mäkelä plays Private Martti Hakala.Vesa Vierikko is 2nd Lieutenant Jussi Kantola.Timo Torikka portrays Private Pentti Saari.Heikki Paavilainen is Private Vilho Erkkilä.Antti Raivio is Corporal Erkki Somppi.Esko Kovero is Medical Corporal Juho Pernaa.Martti Suosalo plays Private Arvi Huhtala.Markku Huhtamo is Private Aatos Laitila.Samuli Edelmann is Private Mauri Haapasalo.Vesa Mäkelä is Lieutenant Yrjö Haavisto.Aarno Sulkanen plays Captain Sihvo.Esko Salminen portrays Lieutenant Colonel Matti Laurila.Kari Sorvali is Sergeant Major Hannu Jutila.Ari-Kyösti Seppo plays Private Ahti Saari.Esko Nikkari is Private Yrjö "Ylli" Alanen.Ville Virtanen is 2nd Lieutenant Jaakko Rajala.Eero Melasniemi is Private Eino Nisula.Pertti Sveholm plays Private Antti Jouppi.Kalevi Kahra is Mr. Ylinen.Leena Suomu is Liisa Hakala.Miitta Sorvali plays Karelian Woman.Leea Klemola is Aino.Ahti Kuoppala portrays Ship Captain.Ilkka Järvi-Laturi is Private by the River Bank.Santeri Kinnunen is Private.Mika Nuojua plays Fleeing Soldier in his debut.Eero Saarinen is 2nd Lieutenant Lehtinen.Martti Tschokkinen is Storekeeper.The movie is filled with great battle scenes and uses some cool slow motion.This movie really shows the reality of war.You see men going in pieces in bomb attacks, you see the fear on these men's faces.In this movie the war doesn't look pretty.

'Make it just how it must have been' -- no doubt this idea was most prominent in director Pekka Parikka's mind when he produced 'Talvisota'.The result is an impressive tale about the Finn's unfortunate war against Stalin's Soviet Union in 1939-'40. Supported by authentic military gadgets, we see the men of the Finnish army leaving home, joining their army unit between hope and fear, and doing their duty when war did arrive.That's all this film has to offer. But it surely is enough. Everybody with military experience of his/her own will warm up to Talvisota's chosen human angle.However, there can be some criticism about this film's chosen narrow point of view. Just focusing on the Finns themselves, it leaves out any wider scope. History makes clear, though, that the Soviet's poor military performance against their tiny Finnish opponent did much to persuade Adolf Hitler to attack the Soviet Union himself. That happened one and a half year later, with disastrous results.