Trol

Warning: you will not - repeat, WILL NOT - read a very honest and objective review here. For as long as I can remember I've been obsessed with tales originating from Scandinavian folklore, fairy-tales, and historic sagas, and it's literally since decades that I've been waiting for a film like "Troll". Well, I've been waiting for slightly more than just one decade, more specifically since the release of that other massively entertaining (and even better) "Troll Hunter".

This is the stuff we watch films for, is it not? An ancient and humongous creature, looking & sounding exactly like you have always imagined it from stories and drawings in children's books, exploding - literally - out of a picturesque mountain landscape and promptly pursuing its way to the capital of Oslo (Godzilla-style) and destroying everything on its path! Awoken due to mankind's inability to leave Mother Nature intact and at peace. Artillery cannot harm it. Tanks cannot slow it down. Army helicopters are plucked out of the sky as if they were toys. And, still, the only paleontologist who comes with effective alternative solutions to save the nation gets overruled by obnoxious politicians. Again, ... do you think I'm biased?

Of course, I'm not blind for the script's many defaults. The supportive cast largely exists out of cardboard stereotypes, like the comic-relief prime minister's advisor, the rebellious hacker-secretary, and the GI Joe army hero. The sub plot covering the estranged father-daughter relationship is also quite dire, and I deeply regret the fact writer/director Roar Uthaug didn't have the courage to show more violence and bloodshed. Presumably to safeguard the PG-rating, the Troll even has a conscience and refuses to squish little kids.

But seriously, it doesn't matter all that much, because everything revolves around the massive troll. It looks astonishing! It's a truly magnificent sight how the creature merges with the landscape, how it shrieks in melancholy, or how it rapidly and menacingly approaches from the horizon. Awesome, awesome, awesome!

Another detail that had made "Troll" even more fantastic would have been a soundtrack by the genius folk-metal band Finntroll. Granted, they are Finnish instead of Norwegian, but their lyrics and melodic tunes fit this film perfectly.

I went into "Troll" expecting it to be as good and catching as "Troll Hunters" which was also a norwegian film but instead... and I hate to say this, but I found myself quite bored. This was not at all as mysterious and catching as "Troll Hunters" was which I didn't want to end but "Troll" I just wanted to end quicker.

Now, don't get me wrong, the troll was well-made and all, it actually surprised me but as for story and the characters go... This just fell flat honestly. I was pretty excited to watch this too, so I am disappointed it fell so flat. Also it focused more on the humans than it did on the Troll and characters acted so corny I wanted to rip my eyes out, I mean God sometimes they were so cringe. Sorry, but this was very disappointing and gets 4 stars from me and that's just because I liked the scenes the troll was in. (On a sidenote... The Troll could've been more ferocious, but that's just a personal taste)

The reviewers here are funny... the 'top review'er apologizing because he's norwegian and is ashamed that this film is from Norway... then there's the 'average film with a lot of LOGIC flaws'...i am, seriously, laughing as i type this...but it's great that the reviewers can be as entertaining as the film, right? Why stop the entertainment with the end credits... but anyone approaching this expecting shakespeare, weeeelllllllll...okay, but we already know the answer to the 'to be or not to be', as far as this being 'realistic'... it's a paint by numbers, substitute a troll for Godzilla type of story. I was amazed at the similarities...beginning with the myth...the way to handle the situation...the 'humanizing' of the creature... pop some corn and have some fun, if it seems like you're in the mood for what you think this movie will be like...it's not badly done...it's just, somewhat, trite if you've seen the movies this was modeled after...

How can I be taken seriously when on a day when wannabe movie critics are crazy trying to see the new Sight & Sound's #1 (probably boring stuff), I'm here with my Nachos and my Gin & Tonic watching a giant troll destroying a country? I won't and I don't care.

Troll entertains, has good effects, destruction, lots of clichés, stupid humor, a frenetic pace, mythology, and stupidity in equal measure. A perfect film for anyone who has no pretensions to be the next Roger Ebert and just wants to have a good time.

And because I need some extra characters, I will tell you: this is the European Godzilla!

This reviewer is always delighted to check the film output from Northern Europe, because you never know what to expect, and the surprise factor is always to the upside -- check out, for example, the Finnish X-mas film from 2010, RARE EXPORTS, affectionately known as the "anti-Santa" movie. TROLL 2022 follows a proven and reliable arc remarkably similar to Roland Emmerich's 1998 production of Godzilla which, in turn, is itself faithful to the standard "monster" formula from the 1950's -- monster appears, monster creates havoc, hero has to destroy monster. Tried and true. Competently done. Empathetic leads you can relate to. What makes this story especially interesting (and this is not in TROLL's PR package) is that there are a number of respected archeologists (including for example Michael Tellinger, who has single-handedly rewritten the history of southern Africa) who believe there is some degree of truth in the "petrification" myth, and have extensive documentation to back up their claims. Recommended. ((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))