Must See Movie...

Fantastic!

I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

This is one of the few movies I've ever seen where the whole audience broke into spontaneous, loud applause a third of the way in.

Rare Exports, Inc. (2003)*** (out of 4)Short film that takes a look at a rare group of hunters in Finland who hunt one of the most deadly and rarest games in the world. The targets are elderly men who stalk the wild who the hunters eventually capture, train and release throughout the world as the creature known as Santa Claus. It seems this short was pretty much overlooked when it was originally released but it picked up steam and led to a semi-sequel as well as a feature-length film in 2010. There's no denying that this is an extremely well-made film and those who like their movies with a touch of surrealism will certainly want to check this out. What I loved most is how the movie really plays out like an introduction to a real comedy and I must admit that the narration was masterful in its serious tone and it really sets a wonderful mood for the picture. The scenes of the old man being hunted were extremely well edited and the scenes where they finally break him down were just so wrong yet at the same time so funny. Seeing Father Christmas hunted, beaten and eventually broken is something I'm sure many would be offended by but the film is just so well made that you can't help but laugh. I've always felt lines were meant to be cross and this one crosses it and makes up a few new ones along the way. The hype of the film has reached an all-time high and it lives up to it.

An elite trio of expert hunters venture into the woods to track and capture an especially rare and dangerous prey for the Christmas season. Said prey turns out to be a feral and savage species of portly old guy human beings who after they are caught are cleaned up and put through a brutal training process in order to be turned into Santa Clauses who are then shipped all over the world. Director/co-writer Jalmari Helander deftly crafts a wonderfully wicked black comedy pip that milks an extremely sick, yet fresh and original premise for maximum queasy belly laughs (the sight of a wild naked old man running through the chilly forest with darts sticking out of his body is both funny and disturbing at the same time). Tommi Korpela, Jorma Tommila, and Tazu Ovaska are completely convincing as the three ace hunters. Otso Tarkela is likewise believable as their crazed prey. Jean Noel Mustonen's sharp cinematography offers a wealth of striking images (the shots of the lush wilderness are particularly breathtaking). Kudos are also in order for the marvelously melodic and majestic music. Best of all, Jonathan Hutching's deep and commanding gravelly voiced narration rates as the yummy cherry on an already deliciously dark and demented cake. A terrifically twisted treat.

Meet a set of hunters. The best in their trade. As they learned from their fathers and their fathers before them, they track down and domesticate a very special prey.This is a film with a nice twist. The story is good, but at times it is a bit slow. Well written with good narration, but not 100%. The build up is a bit too long I think, but then again the pay-off is good.As for acting it's good. The narrator does a great job and the three leads and Father Christmas fits their roles perfectly and deliver a good performance.The cinematography struck me as really nice. Very nice composed and well chosen shots. It's all very delicious to look at. Hat's off to Jean Noel Mustonen. Also I might mention the sets and costumes witch are really nice. They look good and create a really nice setting.All in all a funny and well made short. I'd not give it a full 10, but it's a good 7, no doubt.

While this is a very entertaining and humorous short film, it is also worth mentioning that it is a ad for Woodpecker Film showing their flair, know-how and expertise. This company has produced a lot of advertisements, some music videos and a like. Some of the ads are for Finnish military, drinks and food stuffs.Watch some of them at Woodpeckerfilm.fiThe movie it self is a work of genius, using Finnish landscape and popular beliefs, so to speak, as the source for the mid-movie surprise. The narrator is very convincing with the low movie trailer type voice and makes for a funny emphasis.