Max Manus: DVD Review

Max Manus: DVD Review

Max Manus - Man of War

Released by Vendetta Films
Rating: R13

Released in the cinemas as simply Max Manus, this is the tale of one man's life in the resistance and his battle to conquer his own inner demons.

Having fought the Soviets in Finland, Manus (played by Norwegian Aksel Hennie) finds himself back in Norway just as the German occupation is underway.

Joining the growing resistance movement, he quickly manages to garner himself a reputation as a rebel fighting against censorship and spreading propaganda.

He then joins an elite squad who try to free the world from the Nazis and pretty soon, Manus is ensconced in a battle which has extremely high personal stakes.

Max Manus is a film of boys own war and to a degree, derring do. It's unflinching in its gritty portrayal of the Norwegian fight against the Nazis - and scenes of street side gun battles are bloody, violent and bleak.

There's a palpable sense of dread as Manus and his team take on saboteur missions - because of their initial lack of training and degrees of incompetence, you're never quite sure whether they'll survive or not.

There's a real emotional end too - and one which may shock you a little more than you had expected.

Rating: 6/10