It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

It's funny, it's tense, it features two great performances from two actors and the director expertly creates a web of odd tension where you actually don't know what is happening for the majority of the run time.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

This is a European movie about European medieval times and it shows - no "cinderallisation" a la Hollywood, very reduced dialogue and a people's behavior and code of honor that sometimes feels very strange to us.What's left to say: great production, great cinematography, great acting. Sometimes the dark and melancholic tone of Michael Kohlhaas reminds me of Ingmar Bergman's great classic The Seventh Seal (1957).For sure, no movie for action-addicts, but like La reine Margot (1994) a great celebration on European history and culture.

I read another review of this film which described it as a "clunker", and sadly it's true. Based on a novel itself inspired by a true story, it's the tale of a horse trader who comes into conflict with authority. The problem with this movie is not just that it's slow and solemn, though both of these things are true, but that it's dramatically inept: the main events all occur off-screen, and we see how they affect the protagonist without ever really understanding the power relationships that have led to the critical decisions being taken. Pondering the ethics of rebellion, justice and loyalty can make for a good movie - think of 'A Man For All Seasons', for example - but this one is leaden and dull.

This movie is all about the question of justice, morals, and ethics within the context of choices. Kohlhaas had many options open to him, all of which were pointed out by different people.He was a prosperous man who could afford to lose 2 horses, yet he chose to believe that the impartiality of the court system must prevail. Influence and wealth had no place in Kohlhaas's world.He chose, along with his wife, to believe that negotiation was also an option and instead she found death.Even in his crusade for justice, he chose to murder one of this own men (who had stolen from villagers) to reinforce that ethics must still prevail in war.Kohlhaas was a deeply tortured soul who loved his family, his land, cared for his servants and was passionate about his horses. This is not a man who wanted to go to war willingly.Yet when directly confronted with the wrongs of this world, his soul could not rest. The ultimate irony is that in the end justice did prevail, however the means to that end required Kohlhaas pay with his life from the very hands of those who gave him justice.One must not forget the underlying political theme. This is during a time when institutions were a work in progress and if one man could attract a motley band of peasants and ex-soldiers for a personal crusade who else may come along and threaten the power base of the political elite.Justice had no choice but to been seen to prevail. Yet Kohlhaas had to die for his insolence of inciting fear of revolt against those who ruled the lands.Kohlhaas's story did not die with him and why it still remains popular today.The Director, Anders Thomas Jensen makes his audience work hard in this movie and it helped to do some historical research before watching it.This is a fabulous movie, raw and authentic.

I loved this film. No padding of any description, and only the salient points throughout.I have to say, I love films that just get on with it, without hours of Hollywood filler; people talking endlessly about things of no importance, that have nothing to do with the story, just to fill the time.There is none of the usual people giving each other long languishing looks, or making love forever, just because the story is so thin.This film is the complete opposite of that. It's a little 'slow' if you like constant action, as I do, however it's all to purpose and that makes it very satisfying. Mads is brilliant as always, and so is the rest of the cast. I'm going to track down the book now, it really deserves a read. The author took big liberties with a real story, but all's fair in love and literature. Especially philosophical literature!This director has brought it to the screen beautifully, although I will say it's not a film for those who are incapable of reading between the lines.