Many things I find good on paper but I am not that satisfied with in the execution. Unfortunately a rather forgettable watch experience. Intense at times, gorgeous to look at, loved the sound track, but the big picture does not get to me that well.
What I liked:
- the concept of soldiers on ice, skating over huge distances: intriguing, innovative. I like the general concept.
- the missions starting off that hectic with this bombardment, really gets into it with no hesitation
- the flashbacks/dreams were integrated quite smoothly and even had impact on the story. She probably heard sounds subconsciously and her brain processed it by showing her her daughter who warns her.
- I like how Nylund is the guy completing the team, it has a nice twist since they have at least a bit of a history
- they did a nice job of showcasing her commitment and going through everything to get these capsules to the lab. It shows quite early when she risks her life by diving for the capsules under the ice.
- many scenes I found visually very well done: the red, fiery sky when they leave the first station to go on their mission. The frozen ice with the many dead people sticking out and it's just this maze of hands, heads, legs etc.
Any time they were skating in the fog.
- the vibe when they are on this big ship/ferry. Very much dystopian. The disco ball and plushys showcase a great polarity from prewar to war
- there were many times they were shot at while on ice and this is quite intense since they are in such an open field and with limited movement options
- loved when they were in that igloo-ish and soldiers were approaching and it felt like a king of the hill game
- I liked how Nylund became very likeable and they worked together in the end. He held her when she collapsed after learning her daughter was not there. That was an impactful and great scene
- Her sacrifice was a fitting end.
- again: I was a big fan of the soundtrack
**What I didn't like:
-** the biggest issue first: we get zero details about the war, who they are fighting, which year it is. Zero world building. I didn't care at all about the biochemical weapon because I didn't care about the world this movie takes place in. Very bad.
- that whole scene where Edh meets Nylund for the first time and he leaves her in the car and she follows him against his order and it's such a weird set up. This scene made absolutely no sense and does not get explained. Nylund just respawns shortly after at base...
- the first introduction of the mission members felt quite weird and not informative or emotional. No goal.
- small thing, but this border/checkpoint pole had such a cheap plastic skull and they talked about it as if it were real. Looked sooo cheap..
- at first the weight distribution matters and forsberg dies because of it. Later on they are all on the same spot and it does not matter at all. Same goes for when Edh went alone on thin ice and had to be saved but then they went as 3 and everything went quite smoothly... Very inconsequential.
- speaking of inconsequential: you can't tell me the "enemy" is so incompetent that they have helicopters and their location and they try multiple times, send multiple soldiers but fail to stop them?? Wtffffff. I thought when they were spotted the first time that the mission must be officially over.
- I am torn on the dinner shootout with this elderly couple. I liked how she saw the gun under the table and how short this shooting was etc but we don't get to know their motives and it's so random also. Does not fit the story that well
- there was absolutely no build up to that reveal of the content of the capsules. It should've been such a big plot point. I wanted more discussion beforehand: what could it be that it literally wins us the war?? And afterwards I would've expected much more moral discussion
- apropos morals: I get how she loves her daughter and all. But she didn't even see her yet but wants to risk millions deaths for a reunion? With this virus spreading, who is guaranteing that her daughter does not get infected? I was a bit shocked that she didn't even hesitate a bit. She was not the type for "it's our orders" but she says exactly that.
- it would've been more believable if she had looked more at the picture of her daughter. She even asks to keep it in the beginning but it's never shown again. The emotional attachment is only shown via her dreams. It works kinda, but why in the world would you not use that picture more to bring that point across??
Many things I find good on paper but I am not that satisfied with in the execution. Unfortunately a rather forgettable watch experience. Intense at times, gorgeous to look at, loved the sound track, but the big picture does not get to me that well.
What I liked:
- the concept of soldiers on ice, skating over huge distances: intriguing, innovative. I like the general concept.
- the missions starting off that hectic with this bombardment, really gets into it with no hesitation
- the flashbacks/dreams were integrated quite smoothly and even had impact on the story. She probably heard sounds subconsciously and her brain processed it by showing her her daughter who warns her.
- I like how Nylund is the guy completing the team, it has a nice twist since they have at least a bit of a history
- they did a nice job of showcasing her commitment and going through everything to get these capsules to the lab. It shows quite early when she risks her life by diving for the capsules under the ice.
- many scenes I found visually very well done: the red, fiery sky when they leave the first station to go on their mission. The frozen ice with the many dead people sticking out and it's just this maze of hands, heads, legs etc.
Any time they were skating in the fog.
- the vibe when they are on this big ship/ferry. Very much dystopian. The disco ball and plushys showcase a great polarity from prewar to war
- there were many times they were shot at while on ice and this is quite intense since they are in such an open field and with limited movement options
- loved when they were in that igloo-ish and soldiers were approaching and it felt like a king of the hill game
- I liked how Nylund became very likeable and they worked together in the end. He held her when she collapsed after learning her daughter was not there. That was an impactful and great scene
- Her sacrifice was a fitting end.
- again: I was a big fan of the soundtrack
**What I didn't like:
-** the biggest issue first: we get zero details about the war, who they are fighting, which year it is. Zero world building. I didn't care at all about the biochemical weapon because I didn't care about the world this movie takes place in. Very bad.
- that whole scene where Edh meets Nylund for the first time and he leaves her in the car and she follows him against his order and it's such a weird set up. This scene made absolutely no sense and does not get explained. Nylund just respawns shortly after at base...
- the first introduction of the mission members felt quite weird and not informative or emotional. No goal.
- small thing, but this border/checkpoint pole had such a cheap plastic skull and they talked about it as if it were real. Looked sooo cheap..
- at first the weight distribution matters and forsberg dies because of it. Later on they are all on the same spot and it does not matter at all. Same goes for when Edh went alone on thin ice and had to be saved but then they went as 3 and everything went quite smoothly... Very inconsequential.
- speaking of inconsequential: you can't tell me the "enemy" is so incompetent that they have helicopters and their location and they try multiple times, send multiple soldiers but fail to stop them?? Wtffffff. I thought when they were spotted the first time that the mission must be officially over.
- I am torn on the dinner shootout with this elderly couple. I liked how she saw the gun under the table and how short this shooting was etc but we don't get to know their motives and it's so random also. Does not fit the story that well
- there was absolutely no build up to that reveal of the content of the capsules. It should've been such a big plot point. I wanted more discussion beforehand: what could it be that it literally wins us the war?? And afterwards I would've expected much more moral discussion
- apropos morals: I get how she loves her daughter and all. But she didn't even see her yet but wants to risk millions deaths for a reunion? With this virus spreading, who is guaranteing that her daughter does not get infected? I was a bit shocked that she didn't even hesitate a bit. She was not the type for "it's our orders" but she says exactly that.
- it would've been more believable if she had looked more at the picture of her daughter. She even asks to keep it in the beginning but it's never shown again. The emotional attachment is only shown via her dreams. It works kinda, but why in the world would you not use that picture more to bring that point across??
