Very well executed

Very very predictable, including the post credit scene !!!

Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

This is a very good film, or, mini series, of almost 3 hours duration. The historical background of Krakow occupation and Jews' sufferings is shown very well, and the Nazi atrocities are not muted or bypassed here. The main role is played by Pyotr Adamczyk and he did a great job as a the young Karol, and then a mature cardinal, and then, a Pope. There are some weaker parts, though. Of course, such a long story requires a longer film, which could make it almost impossible, but to press into so much in a 3 hour spell is a bit hastened. Then, there are certainly some weaker parts of some actors and come on, there are some obvious caricature-quality Communist figures shown almost like clowns or mere idiots. Saying that, I must admit, that this film is 1000 times better than the 2006 sequel, which is a real bore. This one is vivid, brisk, dynamic and often very very elegant work. Great film, yes, but still, for John Paul II's fans

The film concerns about the majestic figure , the Polish Pope Karol Wojtyla (Piotr Adamczyk ) brought to the life at much expense and with sense and thought since his youth in Poland , the early years , until his appointment as Pope of the Catholic church in Rome (1978). The movie starts on October 12 , 1939 when the evil men Nazis get taken the world , Nazis have invaded Poland , they've destroyed the Polish air forcé , 500 plane pulverised before they could take off , bombed cities , radio station , Churchs... Meanwhile Karol looks after his father but he wants to join the Army . They flee but the Russians have invaded the border . Hitler and Stalin made a pact , the Red army has betrayed to Poland and now they don't take prisoners . Hitler appointed Hans Frank (excellently played by Matt Craven) chief civilian officer for occupied Polish territory and then Governor-General of occupied Poland . Hans Frank described his policy in this post : ¨Poland shall be treated like a colony : the Poles will become the slaves of the Greater German Empire¨ . He destroyed Poland as a national entity and exploited its human and material resources for the German war effort . Frank ran Poland in imitation of the Nazi state . He ordered the killing of Polish Intelligence (represented by the professor played by Kenneth Welsh) and Military officials in an attack of destruction and hatred against the Polish universities and the Catholic Church . Frank warned that Jews and Poles could be sentenced to death for any act of force against the German or for damage to a public installation , he confiscated Jewish and Polish property , he expropriated valuable paintings for his own house and he allowed huge quantities of food to be smuggled from Poland to Germany . At a time when most Europe was hungry , Frank set an elaborate table at the Governor's palace in Cracow (as happens in the film when is invited the priest well played by Raoul Bova) . By December 1942 more than 95 percent of the Jews in Poland had been transported to extermination camps . The future Pope must confront these adversities and misfortunes , he suffers cruel experiences but the God's faith and the love is the cure for the badness . Then he assisted the holiness call and goes into the seminar and as priest he serves his first mass . After that , he's appointed bishop and Cardinal and continuing consoling the mankind , renovating the moral sense and thoughts ,giving hope and fighting for human rights . Later on , he was elected Pope , the first no Italian from 1523.The film captures splendidly the goodness and generosity of the immortal Pope well played by Piotr Adamczyk . When John Paul II returned to Poland for the first time after his election seven year old Adamczyk was in the crowd . It's followed by a sequel (2006) by similar actors and director , dealt with his fruitful pontiff (1978-2005) and the pastoral journeys he made to America , Mexico and many other countries , making an intense diplomatic labour and problems that were taking place in the Catholic church , including the 1981 attack by Ali Agca . The motion picture was magnificently played by an excellent plethora of actors . Special mention to touching , evocative musical score by the classic Ennio Morricone . The picture was finely directed by Giacomo Battiato , a specialist on accurate biopic , as he directed autobiography stories about Giovane Casanova , Benvenuto Cellini and Stradivari.

The movie is absolutely great!!! It contains some weaknesses like quite cheap special effects (attacks of German fighters, explosions,...) but these are not things that made this movie important and great. Some will say it is catholic propaganda but what else can say people that has nothing interesting to say. There are a lot of good and very good movies showing brave people who fought against evil with guns, words or irreconcilable attitude. This one is first I have ever seen where a man is fighting back by humble acceptance of everything what life had given to him. You need to be a Pole to understand life under communist governance and the importance of church and people like Wojtyla.

WOW!! Um.... I can't say it any better than that. If possible, I would have given it a 20 out of eleven because it was that well done. No extreme graphics or technological advances or anything like that, just incredible accuracy and acting. I would rate it up among the movies such as Lord of the Rings I, II, and III, Chronicles of Narnia, and other such epics. Though it is not about a warrior, it is about Karol Woytowich, who had the heart of a warrior and the restraint and love of Christ. Like with the movies I ranked it with, you feel the passion of the main character and those around him. In a day of digital effects making or breaking a movie, it was great to see a movie that didn't need them. There is a clear message displayed not through merely words, but through action of the characters as you watch their experiences unfold. You are able to unlock the mysteries of the deep, profound, and personal faith of Karol as you watch this movie, understanding what made him so great. I would recommend it for all.