New film - Norwegian interest - Age of Heroes

There's a new film out on May 20th called 'Age of Heroes' the first film in a triology. Please see below for a synopsis given by the film company:

'Age Of Heroes follows the exploits of Corporal Rains (Danny Dyer) as he is inducted into the newly formed 30 Commando unit in World War II. Rains and the rest of the platoon are put through intensive training under the watchful eye of Major Jones (Sean Bean), where their skills and endurance are pushed to the limit as they prepare for their first highly classified and dangerous mission: to parachute into occupied Norway and capture deadly new radar technology from the Germans which could change the outcome of the war.
The newly formed band of brothers are joined in their task by local insurgent Steiner (Askel Hennie) and beautiful spy Jensen (Izabella Miko). All their lethal commando skills are put to the test as they attempt to rescue Norwegian villagers, escape fierce gun battles and attain the radar technology from Nazi commander Teichman (Eric Madsen). Their plan is thrown into crisis when their pick-up is sabotaged by a traitor in their midst, and they must fight their way to the border. With the Nazis desperate to hunt them down and stop them, the commandos realise how important their mission is to the war effort, as the fate of the Allies” advance into Europe rests in their hands'.

http://www.ageofheroesmovie.com/

The trailer looks very interesting and I will certainly go and see it at the cinema, but of course the the film folk seem to have used artistic licence somewhat. 30 AU or 30 Commando as they were initially called, never actually served in Norway, although one officer was assigned to the possibility of missions to Norway. What is fact is that some British officers who served in Norway duirng 1940 later joined Fleming's 'Red Indians' (30 AU), as he called them, and served with distinction in Europe and beyond gathering intelligence and war material for the Royal Navy and other interested Allied parties. What is good is that Norway is placed in the spotlight as well as highlighting interest in 30 AU - surely one of the most secretive but unique and daring commando units ever formed.

Bob

Really interesting. I will look forward to the full movie

Thanks for the heads up Bob. I will definetively check this out. Always fun to watch a film where the pyro-crew has a solid budget
Atle

I will watch it for the Norwegian scenery and for fun. About as plausible as "Cowboys and Aliens" but hey at least as you say Bob it is about Norway.

For some very frustrating reason the film has not been shown in my area, so will now wait for the DVD to come out.

Regarding films: there are two very interesting documentries in the making, both of which are being made to a high calibre and both are Norwegian produced. The first documentry focuses on events during April 1940and involves veterans telling their story along with reconstructions, whilst the second documentry concerns the controversial SOE/Norwegian High Command mission - Operation Bittern. When further details are released I will endeavour to inform NUAV members.

Bob

Thanks Bob, keep us informed! Did not know anything about the film actually.

Though, I must admit that even if 1940-45 heroism should be portrayed indeed, of course - Norway had had a rather large share of it., filmicallly speaking. None the less.
B

I have now watched the film and can comment thus:

To best describe the film is diffcult but it's something like where 'The Dirty Dozen' meet 'The Heroes of Telemark'. Clearly, the film is made with a cheap budget, but it is watchable with good action scenes. Character are alittle weak in my opinion, but the Scottish training NCO steals the show for me and appears to be very believable. There are supposed scenes with Ian Fleming, but again they appear to be weak to me.

In summary: the sort of film you would watch on a wet Sunday afternoon.

BTW there is a very interesting section that focuses on interviews with two ex 30 AU men - for me this alone was worth the purchase price. These men were very special and it is clear in the interview that their work was very hazardous, but also unique. Superb images detailing the work of 30 AU support the interviews and allow the viewer a greater understanding of what this top commando group achieved. The only downside is that the narrator describes Ian Fleming as the DNI - Director of Naval Intelligence. In fact Fleming was PA, first to Adm Godfrey (DNI) and later Adm Rushbrooke (DNI). Fleming's rank was Lt Cdr RNVR.

Definetively on a rainy sunday. Saw the film, and enjoyed it, but more like a cheap "C" action. Much stupid stereotyping; Sadistic, hard drinking germans, that execute almost just for fun. The norwegian farmers make the pig-lovin felleas of The Deliverance look like intelligent and cleanshaven nerds. Why they had to be so damn dirty is beyond me. Also some scenes that are not logic at all. My wife left after half an hour. Not because the film was not good, but because of my ranting and complaining.

The story itself is beleiveable and realistic. At some point this actually happened during the war, a couple of times, just not in Norway. The location for the these radars were close to the sea, where you could use them efficiently, not way up in the mountains.
Found this interesting information on Commandoveterans forum:

"During the Dieppe raid men of the SOE’s Small Scale Raiding Force escorted 3 SOE agents and a radar expert to search and seize the Town Hall and the Freya German Radar Installation for documents. The radar expert mentioned, Flt-Sgt Jack Nissenthal, returned safely to England with 4 Cdo after the raid. Luckily for him, as the SOE bodyguard had orders not to let him be captured alive.
Jack Nissenthal had a cyanide tablet with him but just in case, he was to be shot by his guards if there was a chance he would end up in enemy hands. Tough choice to make but that's war."
Almost identical to the movie!

Cutstone's comments are absolutely spot-on, but what struck me most of all is what could be done if the film folk were to get their act together and to make a film that really does punch above its weight. There are enough well informed and knowledgeable people on this forum who would give sound and accurate advice to any film company intent on producing a top quality film...

So here's a challenge to any film director/producer reading this forum - if you want ideas/historical facts/exact or ideal locations/historically accurate uniforms/hardware...and extras, then ask away.