Unlike "Only the Brave" - which is one of the most honest and tragic movie about firefighters - this one is not based on a real story. So this is much more intense and entertaining. Very good looking picture and great acting of Kostantin Khabensky.
But it looks like producers watched "Only the Brave" and decided to do same stuff but more. More fire, more drama, add a dozen of kids, a pregnant woman and some over the edge heroic sequences that does match with physics. Not a total rip-off of the Braves, but you can clearly see where did they get their fuel.
But where slow paced "Only the Brave" made real drama build up and make you cry in the end - this one just all over the place. Where first movie shows in details the actual work of hotshots and what is their actual line of work - this movie kinda more about dealing with people then with fire. May be this is more truthful to Russia.
In any case this does not hit you with a drama as much as "Only the Brave" and gives you more entertaining experience more like summer blockbuster movies.
I see no point comparing it to "Backdraft" as some other reviewers - cause unless you've been living under a rock for last 30 years you've got more flicks to compare too. Backdraft is classics, but let it go already.
Anyway, I totally recommend to watch this movie. Great flick! But the best way to understand it is after "Only the Brave". Cause they definitely payed some ommage to it.
