Pahat pojat

Gosh how this is one of those films that have made me load negative prejudices in my mind and then after seeing it, I start lauging to those thoughts because they were so wrong. This movie was an utter pleasent suprise. Rarely there are such great Finnish movies as Pahat Pojat. I was so suprised. The actors were natural, fun and sympatic. Even Jasper Pääkkönen who I have never liked. I´ve changed my thoughts about him now. The women actresses weren´t so good but that didn´t matter as the boys did so good. And Vesa-Matti Loiri! Gosh, how horrible he was made. He did a fantastic job.

What I really liked in this movie was that it is so colourful. It has action, great dialogue, romance and the best thing: humor. I laughed every five minutes! It also gets very touching at times too. That´s good for an "explosition movie". Pahat Pojat is for young people. It is rough and action packed, also light, warm and funny. See it!

When you take off the nice explosions and the "this is based on a true story but we just don't admit it"-attitude this doesn't give much.

There are all the basic elements of a film here, but the story telling as a whole just doesn't work. I guess they haven't heard about timing when doing this film, it's just action from the beginning to the end. No climax, no peaceful scenes. Just when you think you can really concentrate on the characters they throw some action on the screen again. It suffocates the relations between people and gives very one-sided view of the characters.

The action is mostly like "hey we could do this and this" and I found most of it unnecessary. There are also good things in this film though. It was partially filmed in my home town and it's always nice to see some places you know well. Also the director Aleksi Mäkelä's father showed in two or three scenes. The boys had trained their muscles very well and looked good. If I had been turned on by those sixpacks I would probably have gotten much more out of this film. Vesa-Matti Loiri was ok.

Aleksi Mäkelä has made some attempts to make a big budget action film in Finland and this film is a good practice ground, but it doesn't convince me yet. Hope he will some day make something really thrilling and new, not just average material mostly copied from Hollywood action films. It was also a bit fun to see Finnish businessmen, known of very different relations, producing the film. This is not only a film, it is also an investment. If I had to describe this with one sentence I would probably say: Finnish big budget action films have come and succeeded. Go watch it if you like but don't expect too much.

As I'm having a week of Finnish movies, I also watched this one. And I must say it was a way better than I expected (and I did expect a decent movie), actually it's the best Finnish movie I've seen on this special week of mine.

With all its well played and thus believable characters and their dialogs, an above average story, great camera work and the lack of stamps and cheap one-liners it surely is a great film experience.

I totally enjoyed the beginning and other parts concerning the father - though those scenes with their garbled filming and darker tones, background voices and echoes were more suitable for a horror movie and they weren't well balanced with the rest of it.

The usage of Finnish-only music was a good call as well.

I totally recommend it.

Pahat Pojat (Bad Boys translated in english) was marketed as a bad ass action movie here in Finland. And the gayish poster (the four lead male characters posing topless with their sweaty sixpacks shining) hinted of the toughness to come. First, the four men turned out to be complete idiots in the film (they rob a safe full of cash, but spent most of it on lottery tickets). Second, the hollywoodish action scenes (few and far apart) REALLY don't fit too well mixed into the conventional finnish filmmaking. They feel like fishes out of water. There's one very good thing though.. Vesa-Matti Loiri playing the boys' father. The best turn he has ever made in his career and he didn't even get nominated for a Jussi (local Oscars). Truly a shame. So all of you foreingers.. don't believe the hype. Try to find films like "Rukajärven tie", "Nousukausi" or "Joki" instead.

** / *****

I'm really angered by those who have posted degrading comments about this movie here. If you don't know know JS about cinema, it's your problem, right? Pahat Pojat being Hollywood-style could only be said by someone who's completely film-illiterate, or a young child. The story reminds a little bit of Hollywoodish stories, but then again, it's a true story so hush. It's also absolutely incorrect that this movie only applies to teenagers. The only thing I agree about those invalid comments is that, the "father" acts perfectly. He's so genuine that I wanted to punch him and then puke on his face. The character disgusted me that much. Congratulations for such an excellent acting! I think the young guys and their girls are also doing a great job. But the prize for the best actor goes to Eero. I've never seen such a perfect "weird young guy" depiction anywhere!

The FX at the explosion scene was really lousy, and that's disappointing to see in such a great movie. All in all, Pahat Pojat is a great movie, and I can recommend it to anyone who wonders how a movie would be with a Hollywood-like story but a European crew. It's totally comparable to Kaurismäki's The Man Without A Past. Weaker in terms of art, but much more entertaining. Yes, see it!