Why so much hype?

Better Late Then Never

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

Great example of an old-fashioned, pure-at-heart escapist event movie that doesn't pretend to be anything that it's not and has boat loads of fun being its own ludicrous self.

This was a favourite of mine when I was a kid and it's still a haunting and beautiful story. This adaption of Lindgren's story (which I owned too) has to be considered a success (if not wholly a triumph). In our sanitised world, a children's film that contains death, loss, pain, illness, treachery and sacrifice seems strangely out of place. It takes a heart of stone not to tear up not even 5 minutes into the film, and again at the end. In my opinion, children are very well capable of bearing the weight of death, in story as well as in real life. Maybe they have to be accompanied, but keeping such themes from them makes for a poorer education. The film itself still holds up remarkably well. The sets, the horses and the outdoor scenes are beautiful. The costumes are rather laughable and the monster looks as if escaped from Spectro-Man, but at the point where we first see it you're so deep inside the story it really doesn't matter much. The camera-work is simple, but effective. The acting is so-so, but mostly adequate. The music isn't good except for a few moments where it's really gripping.I heard that there's a new adaption of this book in development, and while I'm curious as to what better production values and a professional soundtrack can do for the story, I wish they'll stay with the dark and haunting mood and maybe even incorporate more of the book.

Sweden may be famous for a lot of things, but when it comes to cinema it isn't exactly the first country that comes to the minds of most of us. I know very little of Swedish cinema and I am not Swedish myself, so I'm probably not the right person to speculate on this, but it seems to me that even if Swedish films achieve success in their native country, outside they are largely unknown. This is a world and society much too focused on the always and eternally popular American cinema.This is deservedly one of the most famous Nordic films, as well as an fabulous mix of visual art. The beginning is in black and white, however colored in sepia tone - like in 'The Wizard of Oz' (1939). The fantasy sequences are colored, which means that most of it is like that. The ending is in black and white (this time the classic black and white, without sepia tone).This is a very artistic movie in other aspects as well. The cinematography is one of the most beautiful and magical I know. No need to say more, images speak for themselves and there is nothing like seeing with your very own eyes and get stunned.This starts off as a sad story about a cute 9-year old boy, Karl Lejon ("Skorpan"), who is dying from tuberculosis. His much older brother Jonatan promises him that someday they'll meet in a magical land named Nangijala. During a house fire, the older brother dies and the younger dies of terminal illness shortly after being rescued. Then, the movie "jumps" literally into the dreamy land and almost the rest of the thing takes place there. The two brothers are there, as the older promised (now as Jonatan and Karl or "Skorpan" Lejonhjärta). They live adventures, fight against evil knights and become local heroes.This touching film rightfully won an award for Best Direction in its country. No wonder Swedes are so found of this one. Unfortunately, like so many other really good movies, it's really hard to find. These so-hard-to-find movies deserve simpler access, to be better known and to be discovered/rediscovered.Lars Söderdahl is terrific as "Skorpan". Staffan Götestam is excellent as Jonatan. Allan Edwall has the same level of excellence as Mattias. The dragon Katla is clearly mechanical, which you can tell by the primitive animation and walrus-like, awful appearance. But it certainly intimidates.One final word for the soundtrack. The main theme is strong, emotional and beautiful. Combines well with the film's mood. The rest of the soundtrack too.I have no idea what is the title of this in my country.

When I first saw this movie at age of 6, I thought it was the most exiting movie I had ever seen. It teaches children about death in a good way, without getting silly.The storyline is that Karl (Skorpan or Crispy) Lejon is sick and knowing that he soon gonna die. His brother Jonathan tells him about the land Nangijala, a land of tales and campfires (sagornas och lägerledarnas land). Jonathan dies soon after that when trying to save Skorpan from a fire. And soon after that Skorpan dies too. When they first meet up in Nangijala it seems like heaven, Skorpan can ride horses and swim. But soon he finds out that the evil black knight Tengil has enslaved the the village next to them. Skopan and Jonathan then joins the resistance force.As I began this comment, this is a great movie. It is one of the most famous in Sweden, and EVERY swede I know love this movie. I just say too all of you; See this movie.

I think this film, and of course mainly the book by Astrid Lindgren, is one of the bravest children's movie I have ever seen. I remember as a child, seeing this film on video, and feeling totally absorbed with it, as I had never, until then, seen a movie that dealt with such issues for a child my age.Thoughts moving around life and death are issues that all kids are confronted with, and are issues which evokes questions in the minds of children. Many grown-ups are unable to handle questions from kids regarding death, in these cases I think this film is an exquisite piece of art.But of course the film is not all about death, it is also a movie about bravery, go about and dare to do what frightens you in life, and of course the life altering condition of love, the love between two brothers.It's interesting to hear how Lindgren imaginative work started for this book. She told a Swedish newspaper many years ago that it started out with her walking through a cemetery, which was something she liked to do, and seeing the grave of two brothers. Then a time after, that she attended a press conference for the casting of a film based on one of her books, after the press conference the leading actor (a seven-year old) walked down the stage and sat down in his older brothers knee and the older brother kissed him on the forehead, which was something she found very moving; by then she knew her next story was going to be about two brothers. The final imaginative episode was when she went with the train in northern Sweden, she told it as being a cold winter day, "a day when it was as beautiful as if it wasn't of this earth" by then she knew that the story was to involve the question of death, and a life after this.