I'll grant that there's nothing particularly original to be found here. It's a fairly typical disaster movie - most notable, to me, for being a Norwegian movie with English subtitles. It follows the same basic storyline as any other disaster movie. It starts with a very long exploration of characters and it attempts to build some tension. So we become aware of the earlier quake that struck a small town in northern Norway and that left geologist Kristian scarred. There's then the disaster itself - the earthquake, which (as always) is only briefly portrayed. Then there's the aftermath, which largely revoles around Kristian trying to save his family. Standard. But I'll agree that it's a well done movie, with some great special effects and pretty decent performances all around.
Norwegian actor Kristoffer Joner was good as Kristian, who struggles to be believed when he starts to become convinced that a major quake is about to strike Oslo. I was a little uncertain about why every new scene seemed to have to begin with a note about how far from Downtown Oslo the scene was taking place. Why was that considered important? And I did appreciate that it was not an entirely happy ending - without giving anything away, not everyone survives who you expect to survive.
Still, it's a disaster movie. But I do appreciate a movie that teaches me something I didn't know before watching it. I wasn't aware that earthquakes (small ones) happen fairly frequently in Oslo and area, and this movie introduced me to the 1904 Oslo earthquake. The end of the movie plays on those things and makes note of the possibility of another major earthquake striking. All things considered I thought that - while a fairly standard entry on to the list of disater movies - this was well done and watchable. (7/10)
Norwegian actor Kristoffer Joner was good as Kristian, who struggles to be believed when he starts to become convinced that a major quake is about to strike Oslo. I was a little uncertain about why every new scene seemed to have to begin with a note about how far from Downtown Oslo the scene was taking place. Why was that considered important? And I did appreciate that it was not an entirely happy ending - without giving anything away, not everyone survives who you expect to survive.
Still, it's a disaster movie. But I do appreciate a movie that teaches me something I didn't know before watching it. I wasn't aware that earthquakes (small ones) happen fairly frequently in Oslo and area, and this movie introduced me to the 1904 Oslo earthquake. The end of the movie plays on those things and makes note of the possibility of another major earthquake striking. All things considered I thought that - while a fairly standard entry on to the list of disater movies - this was well done and watchable. (7/10)