Paradiset (2003)

5/10

stensson28 April 2003

This Swedish action movie (or maybe it is a thriller) is of no interest for those who don't live in a Swedish environment and don't read Swedish evening papers. The first part, "Sprängaren", was better. The intrigues at the editor's office was more funny there, more ironic and with more interesting people.

The Yugoslav gangsters here are nothing more than evil characters like those in Donald Duck. Helena Bergström is all right in the main part, but doesn't she have any other ambition than to appear in her husband's, Colin Nutley's, films? He has got quite a register, but that doesn't mean he is good on everything. Especially not in making thrillers.

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6/10

Not bad but Sprangaren was better

kausix77715 September 2012

I will not trash this movie. I did not find it bad at all. It had some action, some suspense, some romance and drama. It had the potential to be a very well balanced film. And the acting and character building is good here, possibly better than Sprangaren. Yet, I did not like it all that much. Why? The action appeared mindless and the film was not dependent on that. A major suspense link was killed in the middle of the movie. Perhaps, the Paradiset link could have been explored in more depth, especially given the title of the movie. The introduction of romance and drama was all right but not what I expected from this series. In the end, it is still a one time watch for someone who appreciates a balanced genre movie with a lot of character study. But this is not really an action movie, a suspense movie or a thriller.

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5/10

Not a great version from the book

george-dyson15 November 2013

I had read the book before viewing this movie and I found that so much of the plot had been removed in making this movie that it became unintelligible. If I had not read the book I don't think I would have much of an idea what it was all about.

I wouldn't criticise the acting, but because the flow of the movie was uneven, the acting may have unfairly been made to also look choppy.

I think the movie could have been longer to more fully develop the story that Marklund wrote.

I was hoping for a better translation of the book to film - but I would certainly encourage anyone to read the book before watching the movie just so you know what is happening and why.

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3/10

Almost as boring as Sprängaren

SweVoyager3 March 2003

.., but not quite. It has a few glimmers of hope, but overall it's just a mess of boring characters (that strangely seems a lot more alive in the book), bad script (again nothing like the book) and strange (or should I say bland) casting. Well, better luck next time Mr. Nutley!

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8/10

I liked it!

DannX681 June 2005

How come that most people hate this movie? It is as good as "Sprängaren", and Helena Bergström is one of the best actresses in Sweden, if not THE best!! Also, it was funny to see Lisa Nilsson in a movie.

Are people so used to high octane US-action, that those more subtle, character-driven movies now seem boring??

Anyway, both I and some of my friends here in Denmark like those two movies a lot.

And about you have to have read the book to understand it?? Not true, I don't think it was that difficult to follow. But then again, I really don't have a short attention-span. Give it a try.

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Terrible

mooshpit3 July 2003

Well, just 5 minutes ago I ejected the DVD from my player, and I'm now considering burning my ol' Samsung 511 just because crap like "Paradiset" have defiled it.

I don't know what's wrong with us Swedes. It's as if our taste in movies descends to the pits of hell when the origin of the movie is Swedish. The acting in this movie embarassing (why do swedish actors always stutter?) and the story is a bit incoherent. It's almost a requirement to have read the book. I HAVE read the book and I must say that even then I found the story a bit confusing.

Please, don't repeat my mistake and see this piece of crap.

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8/10

Fast action, Hollywood type movie lovers will not like this movie. I loved it.

oz_52 May 2017

Again a good example of Nordic Noir where characters, their weaknesses,struggles and psychology play a part at least as important as the movie thrill factor. This type of movie feel is in stark contrast with much of today's heavy, blunt Hollywood machinery where one has to leave any desire for subtlety out of the watching door. Good for the more evolved side of the brain. Loved this movie.

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