5 Days of War

5 Days of War tackles a fascinating subject by focusing on war from the perspective of journalists. Recently, we've seen a lot of compelling films about war reporters, some great, some just average. It's not really about the horrors each conflict reveals—that’s a given in every war film—but more about what the film leaves you with. And that’s where this one struggles. Sure, it showcases the stunning beauty of Georgia, which I appreciated, and the action scenes weren’t bad either. But it all felt a bit too forced—our main character escaping death by a hair in nearly every scene, while also juggling a love story that felt out of place and unnecessary. The film had good visuals and decent action, but the weak storyline really dragged it down. Still, it did push me to learn more about the actual conflict, which made it clear that the film wasn’t even trying to be objective. It pinned all the blame on Russia. What really got to me, though, is how politicians always seem to decide the fate of a country with such beautiful landscapes and rich history, yet when war hits, no one seems to care. (09/04/2012)

A bit of journalism propaganda, but why not, I actually believed that national hero. The unusually personal relationship between the two main characters – thumbs up. The stuff Renny Harlin can film for 20 million – thumbs up again. It's not as grand and technically polished as other films with a bigger budget and similar theme, but within the indie style, it's a well-made thing, simple and straightforward. The basic things and values are said very clearly and without scruples. And the opening scene in the car is one of the best I've ever seen. (01/03/2012)