The Flick:

Out of the films directed by Renny Harlin that I’ve seen some are good and some are bad. I never would’ve foreseen the day when I would see a film made by him that could be viewed as being important. Not until I was given the film, 5 Days of War for review.

The story, though factious, is based on true events during a war between Russia and the country of Georgia that lasted five days. The film centers on a war correspondent (Rupert Friend) and his cameraman (Richard Coyle) who are in Georgia at a time when tensions with the two countries are heating up. After the Georgian president (Andy Garcia in one of the best performances in the film) calls for a cease fire, the Russian military invades. The two reporters are helped by a local woman (Emmanuelee Chriqui) who they meet after many of her sister’s wedding party get killed during a Russian air strike on the city of Gori.

After the trio find the woman’s father and, now widowed sister the group witnesses and videotapes atrocities committed by mercenaries lead by the Russian military. They are found out, captured and are threaten with torture if they don’t give up the whereabouts of the camera’s hidden memory-card. They do get away and the rest of the film sees them trying to find a way to get the footage out to the world media. Even though that same media is much more interested in the Olympics than what’s going on in Georgia.

Harlin has made something that looks and, much of the time, feels like the real thing. He was provided with the wherewithal to make the film look like it was being shot during the actually war. It’s an epic in every sense of the word. The film looks like it was made for ten times the 12 million dollar budget. All this with next to no CGI. It employees likable actors playing likable characters, but Harlin can’t escape his action roots entirely: there are, not one, but, two rescues when all hope seems lost, and it has a villain that could sit comfortably in many lesser action films. Though, this isn’t really a problem for me. This film was made, in part, to inform the world about what happened in Georgia since so little media coverage happened. Making it an entertaining film as well as informative doesn’t seem to be a bad choice after all.

At the end those movie contrivances are pushed aside when, just before the end credits roll, real family members of those who had died during the war tell us who they lost and how they were killed. These aren’t soldiers these folk are speaking for, these are regular civilians that were either hanged, got their throats cut, or were just at the wrong place at the wrong time, usually their own homes.

The Blu-Ray:

Audio/Video

As is expected from Blu-Ray discs, the picture quality is outstanding. The colors all come out looking natural, making the beauty of Georgia’s landscapes and cityscapes look like they’re just outside your window. The surround sound is as big as the film looks.

Special Features

Aside from some deleted scenes there’s a commentary with producer/director Renny Harlin. I’m a sucker for director commentaries, especially one as good as this one. Harlin details the history of how and why the film was made. He also adds some extra information regarding the war and some of its causes. Great stuff!

The Flick Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

The Blu-Ray Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

That being said, were going to show off some more pictures and clips from the newly released feature directed by Jean-Marc Vallée. The clips, and of course the whole movie includes the acting talents of Rupert Friend, Paul Bettany, Mark Strong, Jim Broadbent and Miranda Richardson among many others. Make sure you check your local theater listings to see if The Young Victoria is playing in your area. Need a little more convincing? Then check out Killer Film’s official review to start up your appetite. Of course, do not forget to check out these clips that include the more trying times of Victoria’s (Emily Blunt) start of power along with her blossoming love with Albert (Rupert Friend).

“Chess Piece”:

“Long Live the Queen”:

“Music in his Heart”:

“Meeting with Council”:

The Film:

After six years of being only a courtesan (a person who attends the court of a monarch or other powerful person) in the early 19^th century France, the aging Lea de Lonval (Michelle Pfeiffer) begins to have desires of love with the ravishing but yet very young, Cheri (Rupert Friend) who is the son of her longtime business rival, Madame Peloux (Kathy Bates). Although both Cheri and Lonval have lounged around for some time, it becomes apparent that they are falling for each other. When this is seen by Peloux, she arranges a marriage between her son and a young bride, Edmee (Felicity Jones).  Cheri becomes caught between the decision of his young wife and lifelong love.

Romantic movies are always prototyped as having the usual storyline of two people bound to be together from birth. However, Cheri has a slightly different tone with its obvious age difference between the two lovers. Being that Lonval is aging and Cheri is not yet in his twenties, the relationship is frowned upon. This stipulation adds a slight twist along with Cheri’s indecisiveness between the two women. These additions to the story do throw the viewer for a loop along with the sad conclusion. However, the actual way it was played out, didn’t catch the heart like so many romantics do. The main cast of Pfeiffer and Friend do a superb job of showcasing their talent in what is a “hit or miss” movie. The sincerity of their personal characters is almost perfect. The chemistry between the two seems to be a bit comfortable with each other despite the age difference which causes a difficulty as seen in a few scenes throughout the movie.

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars