BRIAN VINER reviews Sisu: Road to revenge… it’s violent but exhilaratingly bonkers

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Verdict: Violent but exhilaratingly bonkers

Nobody can ever convince me that predictive text-messaging doesn’t have a sense of humour.

I was texting a friend to invite him to a pre-release screening of the movie Sisu: Road To Revenge, but my phone autocorrected ‘Sisu’ to ‘Sissy’!

Aatami Korpi (Jorma Tommila) is anything but weak. This rugged Finnish gold prospector and ex-soldier, known for his toughness, first appeared in the incredibly fun and ultra-violent 2022 movie, Sisu.

He single-handedly defeated more Nazis than an entire Allied tank division. Now, he’s turning his ruthless focus towards the Red Army, proving far more intimidating than Arnold Schwarzenegger – all to avenge his family’s brutal murder.

In 1946, Soviet soldiers are terrorizing the Finnish countryside, brutally murdering civilians. Among the victims are Aatami’s wife and two young sons, killed by order of the merciless Red Army officer, Igor Draganov (Stephen Lang).

The film begins with Draganov imprisoned in Siberia. A KGB officer, played by Richard Brake, orders his release, but only if he completes a mission: to eliminate a Finnish man.

The man Aatami most wants to kill is the man best equipped to kill him.

As all of this happens, our experienced hero is carefully taking apart the old wooden house, piece by piece, with plans to rebuild it somewhere else.

The movie starts like a home renovation show, but quickly turns into an action-packed, post-apocalyptic thriller similar to Mad Max: Fury Road. Ultimately, though, it feels most like a brutal, old-fashioned Clint Eastwood revenge western, just set in a different part of the world.

Aatami, much like Clint Eastwood’s characters, is a man of few words – he barely speaks at all, mostly just roaring when he’s angry. The character Draganov, played by Lang, strongly resembles Lee Van Cleef, and the music has a similar feel to the work of Ennio Morricone, though perhaps not his best day.

‘Sisu’ describes a remarkable kind of courage – the kind you find when there’s nothing left to lose. Aatami embodies this perfectly, constantly overcoming impossible challenges in increasingly over-the-top ways as he defeats wave after wave of Soviet attackers.

He manages to survive against all odds, and incredibly, his loyal Bedlington terrier companion does too, despite clearly longing for a quieter life back home.

If you enjoy this type of movie, you’ll probably have a blast – it’s just as entertaining as the first one. It’s broken up into sections, much like something Quentin Tarantino would create, and one is even boldly named ‘Motor Mayhem’.

Let me tell you, “Road To Revenge” is a wild ride! It’s over-the-top, genuinely funny, and packed with incredible action – we’re talking planes, trains, cars, and tanks! It’s definitely not for the faint of heart, but honestly, it’s not meant to be taken too seriously. Though, I have a feeling audiences in Ukraine will really connect with it – I predict it’ll be a big hit there.

 

Verdict: Brilliant sequel

The movie Wicked was a huge success when it came out last year, and its sequel, Wicked: For Good, is expected to be just as popular. While the new film explores the complex friendship between Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and Glinda (Ariana Grande) with more drama and emotional depth, it promises to be another box office hit.

Jon M. Chu’s film opens with a captivating scene: the building of the yellow brick road leading to the Emerald City. At the same time, the manipulative Wizard (Jeff Goldblum) and Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh) have successfully turned the kind-hearted, but misunderstood, Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) into an outcast, making it seem like she wants to destroy Oz.

When a furious Elphaba flies by on her broomstick, leaving a message in the sky that says ‘Our Wizard Lies,’ Morrible magically changes it to ‘Oz Dies.’ It’s a dramatic and complete rewrite – like editing a wide-screen panorama.

Glinda is aware her friend is being unfairly criticized, but secretly enjoys the attention the situation brings her, as it makes her appear virtuous. Though she doesn’t actually have magical abilities, she pretends she does, aided by a magical bubble created for her by Morrible – a bubble of fame, essentially.

It’s easy to see connections between the story of Wicked: For Good and issues in today’s world and society.

Erivo and Grande are both outstanding performers, and deservedly so. They shine in a particularly humorous fight scene and truly captivate audiences with their powerful vocals.

Fans of the original musical will find a couple of fresh surprises and some interesting changes, though I can’t reveal what they are. Overall, it’s a very well-made movie.

Both movies are in cinemas now. A longer review of Wicked: For Good ran in Wednesday’s paper.

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2025-11-21 04:14