Genres

Visitors Review

robbie-mcmahon256 2012-05-25 05:23:41

Amazing

This film is awesome, the script on Stalin's regime and how they foughtfor survival is in doubt the biggest struggle. The scenery that wasshot in this film was amazing. Peter Weir as the director is brilliantas he has brought this script and the theme and put it together reallywell. Colin Farrell and Ed Harris play both their parts really well as2 of the best actors of our generation even Saoirse Ronan who I haven'tseen before in film played a fantastic part as a young actress. Thescript brought the facts as how they should be portrayed well in themotion picture. This film is well worth watching, the courage thatthese strangers had is unbelievable and I think Peter weir shows in thedirection how far we are able to achieve determination. The ending wasbrilliant it shows a fantastic outcome,a very fulfilling experience.

2012-05-25 00:04:36

HOGWASH

Ostensibly, this is a cracking film. There are seven principal characters, mostly tough men, used to enduring the worst kinds of privation. Or so they think; but then things get worse. During their ordeal, their humanity shines through. They learn to care about each other and the film is an essay in human dignity.There is one big problem. The journey they undertake is so fantastic that it requires a solid foundation in fact for us to suspend our disbelief as to the rest. We are led to believe that the foundation exists, because the central character did after all escape from the Gulag Archipelagio in 1941, cross the Siberian waste, the Gobi Desert and the Himalayas on foot, and eventually find sanctuary in British India. However, on reading Wikipedia afterwards, I find that scarcely any of this is true. In that light, the whole film resembles the happy ending - it is all hogwash.I still liked the film though.Stephen Cooper

Neil Welch 2012-05-24 12:49:08

Impressive

In 1941, seven assorted inmates of a Siberian prison camp escape, pickup a teenage girl on the way, and walk 4,000 miles to freedom in India(well, some of them).This true life story is a straightforward piece of work, and standsprimarily on the drama inherent in the journey and the hardshipssuffered by the escapees. As well as its strength this is also itsweakness, because it never really draws all members of the fellowshipas strongly as they deserve to be drawn.One is left with memories of Ed Harris as the pessimistic American andSaoirse Ronan as orphan Irena as the dominant personalities. ColinFarrell is Colin Farrell, and Mark Strong makes a short appearance. Asfor the others - by the time you have sorted out who is who, and theyhave individually started to make impressions, the movie is over.But it is a gripping movie where you are constantly amazed at howinhospitable this planet can be, and how resilient people can be inchallenging the worst life can throw at them.And this film, too, contains one of those magic moments to treasure - amasterclass in dialogue-free acting from Harris, lasting no more than afew seconds, after Ronan has washed his damaged foot.

zvg-1 2012-05-23 23:19:06

A Soviet Schindler's List

This film tells two stories. The literal one involves a group of Gulagescapees that cross the whole Eurasian continent in order to escapefrom Russian oppression. The scenery is amazing, the acting is solid, but, as it has alreadybeen noted in other reviews, the action isn't driven by dialogue. Atfirst glance it could seem that some of the characters lack depth, itcould seem that the supporting characters lack complexity and historythat is so needed for emotional attachment.But to achieve full understanding of the film, some knowledge of thehistory of Europe is mandatory. When the metaphor provided by theliteral storyline is understood, the characters light up in acompletely different light. Suddenly the unrealistically long andhazardous trip takes the revealing shape of the 50-year-long Europeangenocide, repressions, suffering and struggle for independence; astruggle that has been wrongfully forgotten by many in the West.Thank you for telling our story.

2012-05-22 00:10:34

The Long Journey out of Hell

This review is from: The Way Back (DVD) During the Cold War we heard many inspiring stories of people attempting to flee the Soviet Union on foot, but "The Way Back" might be the first film that portrays one of those brave missions.In this movie, seven prisoners of Russian, Polish, and American descent escape the violence and brutality of a Siberian gulag and head toward freedom. The film is well-directed and the cast is strong--they see spectacular landscapes along the way, but also face challenges of trust, terrain, weather, and hunger and are tested to the absolute limit.There are questions about whether the film was really based on a true story, and the movie is somewhat long, but the film's length acts to symbolize how long and arduous the journey was. There might be no better way to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the fall of the Soviet Union than to watch this movie that shows the lengths to which people were willing to go to flee that evil empire.

aafreen-karim 2012-05-21 17:33:23

an impossible journey to survive

The Way Back: A story about a bunch of people falsely declared traitorsby Stalin's regime taken as prisoners. Some of them decide to runawayand break free. There is a dialogue by Ed Harris to Jim Sturgess(NeilNitin Mukesh's doppelganger) that he is ready to run from the prisonbecause he can take advantage of one of his weakness and that iskindness. And Jim asks how. and he says that if at any point he fallshe knows Jim won't leave him behind and he never does throughout themovie. This group was really a bunch of really decent people ,anartiste , a forgiving husband, a heartbroken father , a comedienne bynature and finally the young toughie-vulnerable-survivor girl who comeslater and wins everyone over. The Journey itself is soo sooo tough thatI can't believe that someone wouldn't just give up and rather die butthat is the strength of our survival instincts. These people born inRussia dealing with the snowstorms dressed in layers of clothing travelthrough mountains & Lakes, sun stroked- sand stormed -mirage filleddeserts in those snow boots with feet swollen to elephantic proportionsand skin burned to red-flesh eating anything they could lay hands onand sucking water from drenched piece of clothing staring death in theface. That kind of determination is not only tough to portray but I amsure must have been tough to shoot as well. When the girl dies itreally is one of the most horrible deaths I have seen on screen.Finally only 4 of them make it through and reach India where they arewelcomed with open arms and hearts..no passports no papersnotwithstanding. Thank God for a positive end to this real life story.The end where finally Jim goes back to Polanf to his wife when U.S.S.Rwas dissolved and meets his wife was icing on top of everything. Againa great triumphant story from history so kudos to the person who wentback digging to bring it out on screen. Very fulfilling experienceagain.

2012-05-19 15:25:57

"The way back" to great American cinema

Over the last decade, many have felt increasingly pessimistic about the state of modern American cinema, a growing wasteland of sequels, prequels, remakes, reboots, flashy effects and trashy writing. There have been a few diamonds in the rough, but for the most part, we have watched the art of film rapidly devolve into a soulless industry with strictly financial motivations, pandering to the market of the lowest common denominator.But the end of 2010 gave us hope for the next decade, with several strong releases, most notably this powerful offering from master film-maker Peter Weir (Gallipoli, Dead Poets Society, Fearless). Weir is at the top of his game, taking us on a journey which, despite its two-hour length, seems to end all too soon. As we follow a group of desperate Gulag escapees battling the cruel and beautiful indifference of nature, we witness not only an incredible story of human endurance, but also the true value of freedom and the price one is willing to pay for it. The performances were nearly perfect - Ed Harris, Saoirse Ronan, and Jim Sturgess are particularly brilliant. The characters are kept somewhat at a distance; we learn only enough about them as to establish a strong connection and human element, as we watch this band of relative strangers create intense bonds with each other during the ordeal. The dialogue is minimal but effective, giving the film a more realistic feel over-all. Cinematographer Russell Boyd, who has worked with Weir on such exquisite films as Gallipoli and Picnic at Hanging Rock, engulfs us in a stunning palette of landscapes across an epic expanse of Asia, from the snow-driven forest of Siberia to the vast emptiness of the Gobi Desert. The cinematography alone makes this film worth the price to see it on a large theater screen, if you can.Leaving the theater after this film, I truly felt a resurgence of faith in American film. Hopefully we won't have to wait another decade for another great Peter Weir film! The cast and crew of The Way Back have given audiences a wonderful gift, and I thank them for it.

2012-05-19 12:21:44

Another intimate epic from Weir

Peter Weir is great at capturing epic stories that somehow maintain a sense of intimacy. This is another example, with a group of prisoners escaping the Siberian Gulag and trekking thousands of miles to freedom in India in 1940. The cast is superb, the locations are stunning, and you can't help feeling sympathy for them as they suffer hunger, thirst, swollen legs, some deaths, constant danger from all around, etc. I still wonder if it was just one small group or if there were more, or if any other escaped. We do not know. We are also not told the fate of all those who survived the escape attempt.All in all, though, this is a must-see.

2012-05-18 23:23:00

This is about really true grit and love for freedom!

This review is from: The Way Back (DVD) Everyone who loves freedom should buy and see this movie. It is better than anything else I have seen in years!

2012-05-18 08:57:41

An inspirational tale of physical & spiritual endurance

I first came across THE LONG WALK - and the controversy about its veracity - several years ago on Radio 4. So when I heard Peter Weir was basing a film on the story I knew I'd have to see it - even if I've waited till DVD.The result is an engaging and visually impressive, if ultimately flawed, work. The most striking thing is its cinematography. It's no wonder that THE WAY BACK was part funded by National Geographic. There are some beautiful landscape shots photographed by Russell Boyd, with director Weir referencing everything from LAWRENCE OF ARABIA to his own GALLIPOLI. It's not just landscapes, however - elsewhere there are other striking images, such as the snow masks cut from wood.It's also an exhausting film. The pace is often elegiac and as the characters walk from Siberia to India, this viewer felt worn to her joints (especially in the gruelling desert scene). It's hard to imagine that human beings could endure such privitations. The result is deeply absorbing; I felt drawn into the narrativeNevertheless, the film does have its faults. Ed Harris and Jim Sturgess are both watchable but the supporting cast are not well drawn enough. I didn't even know their names, a problem exacerbated by their physical similarities. I also felt the film was let down by the ending which is weak and rather unsatisfying. The result of these criticisms is that THE WAY BACK isn't as emotional as it should be.That aside, this is an inspirational tale of physical and spiritual endurance; one to watch when you feel like getting away from the rat-race, or are in quiet and reflective mood.

Christopher 2012-05-16 22:06:22

a heroic story

The Way Back. It is an epic story about six or seven prisons escaping from Siberian gulag and walking 4000 miles to India. The trials and hardships on the way are grueling, some of them die, but a few made it. This movie keeps you on the verge of life and death all the way through. The characters of the escapees are tested. In that sense, it is a heroic story when men conquer all the adversity of fate in strives for freedom. Besides, it is a visually stunning movie. Peter Weir has his ways with the nature to show its both horror and beauty.

2012-05-16 06:00:19

Powerful and Gripping Storyline

This movie was far from what I originally expected. The journey, the sacrifices, and the cost that these prisoners were willing to make for the sake of freedom was truly inspiring. Every character was different from another, each carrying their own weaknesses and strengths. And yet every single one of them was bound by trust and loyalty.Ignore the historical facts and "what really happened" during this era. It's a good movie to just sit back and relax. Teleport yourself into their shoes and imagine what it would be like to trudge through bitter cold and blistering heat just to reach the borders of freedom. In the end, you will walk away with a bigger perspective in life and the genuine appreciation of the world we live in today.

2012-05-16 01:23:41

The Way Back

This review is from: The Way Back (DVD) This movie is a true story based on the book written by Slavomir Rawicz, called "The Long Walk". Having read this amazing account of the author and 6 fellow prisoners who escaped from a Soviet labor camp in Siberia in 1941, I felt somewhat disappointed with the movie. I must admit that the producers did follow the book fairly closely, but there is such detail in the book that can't be found in the movie. I recommend for the avid book reader to get their hands on this book. You won't be able to put it down. Slavomir Rawicz lived in England after the war, settling in Nottingham. He died in 2004.

tombrookes2007 2012-05-15 12:24:24

Average accents aside, this is a brilliant escape movie.

The Way Back is a superb little POW escape drama movie. Yes, it is slowand I guess you have to be in the mood, but this is a commendablepolitical prisoner film, with a good cast and some great locationshooting.Set in 1941, a group of Gulag incarcerated political prisoners aretrapped, and slowly starving to death in a Siberian woodland camp. Theyjoin up as a group to escape together, determined to better die tryingand free, than starving to death at the hands of the Russian/Germanalliance in WWII.The group of Polish prisoners are in the whole acted by British actorsand so the accents are questionable, but the performances are strongand the characters due muster up some aiding emotion, sympathy andfeeling. Their escape, based on true events, is believable, heart-feltand compellingly raw. Overall, a long-winded but rewarding tale of triumph over adversityamidst WWII creating an entertaining and mainly gripping prison escapedrama.

2012-05-12 16:54:07

Outstanding!!!

The Way Back is a delightfully depicted story of survival and human yearning for freedom in an inhuman world. Based on history and facts of WW2 and the communist regime. I wish I could give it ten stars. Highly recommended.

2012-05-12 13:09:45

Good

This review is from: The Way Back (Amazon Instant Video) Do you really read those 5 paragraph reviews? It was a Friday night, I chose this movie and I enjoyed it.

2012-05-11 03:03:03

The Long and Winding Road

The Way Back tells the "true" story of a group of people who escape a Siberian prison during WWII and have to cross 4,000 miles to freedom. I tried to catch this in theaters but it was gone after one weekend. I really enjoyed it for three reasons. The gritty and realistic approach, the excellent acting by the cast, especially Ed Harris, Saoirse Ronan and Collin Farrell at his very best, along with the beautifully shot landscapes. There is not a huge amount of character development, but there is enough to make you care whether they make it out alive. At just over two hours it's not full of action, but it is far from boring. Well worth a rental.

shattenjager777 2012-05-10 10:28:21

The Journey Away from Communism

Note: There probably won't be any spoilers, but I'm afraid to submit areview without clicking the box. I will mark any that come up.Peter Weir is one of the great directors in recent history, havingdirected three absolute masterpieces ("Dead Poets Society" (USA 1989),"The Truman Show" (USA 1998), and "Gallipoli" (Australia 1981)) and adecent number of good films alongside them. His greatest strengths as adirector have been his incredible facility with leading actors that hasoften lead to excellent performances from surprising performers and hisability to create a backdrop in seemingly all scenes that is realisticenough to accept and yet so perfectly controlled that it paints thepicture for his camera. Both of those skills are on display in "The WayBack." The film's story, while dull-sounding in the abstract, is aninteresting metaphor for many countries' (though Poland is the obviousexample here) long journey away from authoritarian Communism towardindividual freedom. *Spoilers* We see how Communism tore down the oldreligions and yet rather than its return, a new, western religion isattempting to take its place. We see how the definition of "freedom"becomes so weak that the characters consider the ability to die outsideprison walls "freedom" in Siberia. We see how wandering through thetightly-controlled, dangerous, cold, ruthless terrain of one type ofauthoritarianism in Russia shares similarities with the hot, wild,dangerous, dry terrain of another in Mongolia. We see how it's anearly-impossible final trek through dangerous mountains of doubt,asking for help repeatedly along the way that finally brings our heroesto the lush greens of freedom. *Spoilers Over* The acting isuniversally excellent, highlighted by Ed Harris, Jim Sturgess, andColin Farrell. Harris has the only dynamic character, one who beginsknowing only too well the value of hiding his emotions and slowlylearns that he no longer needs his mask. His performance is nothingshort of amazing. Sturgess, while not playing a very dynamic part,still has plenty to sink his teeth into and hits every right note.Farrell is a scene-stealer as a vicious-but-not-stupid true criminalwho doesn't know how to operate free and knows it.Perhaps the most memorable part of the film is the score. Burkhard vonDallwitz's score in this film is one of the best I've ever heard, withan impressive combination of variety and cohesiveness and absolutelypitch-perfect emotionality for every moment.Weir, as is his wont in later years, keeps the editing and camera workminimal. We have still camera shots with relatively little cuttingthroughout the film, which allows us to remain connected with thecharacters as they journey. There are notable exceptions in thebeautiful fly-by shots of the environs that remind us just how farthese men are going and the close, intense,steaming-but-still-freezing, loud environment of the mine that is shotwith quicker cuts, different colors, and more close-ups. His work isstunning.There are some problems with the film. The third act is rushed anddrives home the metaphor so obviously that it's almost laughable. Thejourney through Siberia is a bit repetitive. But those are relativelyminor flaws in a beautiful film. Peter Weir remains a genius.

2012-05-10 01:31:02

Good movie

This review is from: The Way Back (Amazon Instant Video) The movie was generally well done. My major complaint is that is was not as true to the book as it could have been.

2012-05-09 11:15:47

very good movie

This review is from: The Way Back (DVD) Great political movie with personal stories of fortitude, perseverance, and humanity. Another indictment of soviet deception and brutality. Excellent cinematography. Ed Harris was superb as usual. I liked the other actors in this movie also. Good feel of the Siberian forests. Well done.