Review of Kon-Tiki (2012) by Jens T — 19 Sep 2012

Finally it's here, the screen adaption about one of Norway's greatest explorers, Thor Heyerdahl, who had the theory that the Polynesian people came from South America by using simple tree rafts to cross the huge Pacific Ocean. This theory is heavily criticized by the other scientists, and Heyerdahl decides to take matters into his own hands by building the exact same kind of raft that the Polynesians used and sail, from Peru to Polynesia, with five other people, four Norwegians and one Swede. And their raft is named Kon-Tiki, after the Incan sun god. Together we follow them on a dangerous voyage through the Pacific Ocean, where obstacles like sharks and the wind is in their way. Ironically, blood samples of the Polynesians proves now that they are not related to the South American Indians. But Heyerdahl proved that it was possible for them to have travelled that long distant.

So what are my thoughts about the movie? Well I thought it was as good as I could have expected. Good three dimensional performances, who all have their own struggles, like their marriage, their jobs, and traumas from the war or childhood. There's the stunning cinematography, like great overlook pictures, and the fast editing. In other words it works perfectly well, so it passes. It's a good adventure movie that had to be made sooner or later. But it's not what I would call a masterpiece, because it's too safe. I might sound ironically considering there's already a documentary, but the Idea of cheaper filmmaking techniques would to me been more appealing, using nothing but a handheld camera, would have made us feel like we were on a raft to. But then again, it's an adventure movie that's supposed to entertain and shock us, and not challenge us, which supposedly was what Thor Heyerdahl would have wanted.

The Kon-Tiki documentary from 1950 won an Oscar for best documentary, and is to date the only Norwegian production to ever win the prestigious price. Could this feature film reprise that success, could Norway win its first Best Foreign Language Film Oscar? Well it's for the international audience to decide, but with a realistic view, I guess not, because compared to international standard it's just another adventure film, but it might pull off a nomination because of its connection to the award winning documentary. But what I guess is that the international audience will be as impressed as we Norwegians are. Thumbs up.