Sadly Over-hyped

One of my all time favorites.

A Major Disappointment

Pretty good movie overall. First half was nothing special but it got better as it went along.

It seems that humanity has learned it's lessons, history made it as clear as day what has its limits and what should never be done, ever again. But did we really learn anything? Or were we just some lazy students, observing facts and details but not really paying attention to what teacher said. That's exactly what we will figure out. if it was merely a doubt that we aren't safe from ugly sequels, real possibilities hit us, the viewers, like a wave.In the beginning there is a scene, where teacher starts to explain what autocracy is, obviously discussion touches the topic of Nazis, topic which is tiresome for most of the German students, one of them even points out that "It'll never happen again", because, it's seems that we have enough knowledge from past experiences. This student will later find out how horribly wrong he is, as teacher makes a project, which starts as funny simulation, and then, turns into terrible reality, which goes beyond anyone's control.

If you ever faced the crowd you know how it feels being in control, being heard, being significant. But you might not get from the very beginning that this power comes with corresponding responsibility. Not only for the knowledge of the group, skills or proper understanding, but for the behavior, and ultimately - for their lives. Even clear and presumably right intention can lead to an unpredictable result.Which happened to Rainer Wenger (Jürgen Vogel), high-school teacher assigned with an ordinary theme for project – autocracy, who decided to launch a week-long play, inviting class to implement basic dictatorship principals. Brilliant play of Frederick Lau (as Tim), Max Riemelt (as Marco) and Jennifer Ulrich (as Karo) unfolds several scenarios people can perceive and react to new environment.This film sends clear message thereby serving as a manual and reminder for teachers – evaluate risks and keep your eyes on the ball. Always.

More than a great movie, the Wave is a great story. Although it is based on real events, I did my homework and the story of the movie is much older that the film would make you think. It is based on an experiment conducted in 1967 by an American teacher who wanted to demonstrate how easily a movement similar to the Nazis could get ignited again. The movie is socially magnificent. It shows you how a group works and functions in unity under certain circumstances, and how easily individuals lose their ability to think outside the boundaries set by the group they have formed themselves. What I enjoyed is the fact that there was tension throughout, and you kept asking yourself how far would the group go and when the teacher who started it would find himself unable to control the force of the Wave. The Wave may not be the best movie you'll ever see, but it's well worth a watch.

At a German high school, a new age teacher is trying to make his students understand dictatorship by forming a week long experiment forming a form of dictatorship called die welle, the wave. But as the days past by, the small group grows stronger and bigger, becoming something more than a school project, something that can't be controlled. Strong massages are passed through the movie, without tiring the audience or boring them. The story line is honest and realistic, showing the characters as they are, with their broken families, their problems, their character's weaknesses, explaining at the same time the reasons why the wave had such an impact on them. The thrill grows more intense as the project starts to get over control, however that stops violently with the ending, that grabs the big 10 out of 10 of the film. Some technical weaknesses can be overlooked by the nicely written scenario though and the great performances. So 7 out of 10, because it is a strong movie, but it spoils at the end.