The Wave (2008)

Powerful

Perfect cast and a good story

It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional

It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

I remember learning about "the wave" in school, we had watched the older made for TV movie. Rainer Wenger reminded me of some of the teachers I had in high school. Some of the students's attitudes reminded me of how we felt and acted in school. The teachers did, at times, get us to stand up and move around to wake us up, so it's not like Wenger was doing anything that would necessarily stand out at first. The trouble I had with this story-line were the bizarre fights and run-ins the students had with townie anarchists (only way I can describe them) and the ending. I doubt Germany has roving anarchists looking to fight teenagers. That part makes no sense to me. I thought the way Wenger was ending the experiment was realistic. He had the students reflect on their experience in The Wave and read some excerpts on stage in an auditorium. In real life, Ron Jones did enjoy the power of being the leader beyond what he imagined and it took him a while to come to terms with that. Wenger was much quicker to realize that and to admit that to the students. I also had trouble with how into "The Wave" Tim got. Enough to buy a gun, shoot a fellow student and himself? That's a fast progression to happen in a week. Even with those two troubles I feel this movie showed how fascism/autocracy could start and rise. We're all susceptible.

A dangerous movie based on the experiments of a history teacher Ron Jones in California called Third wave in the year 1967.This movie presented the dangers of imposing a particular principle on a society called autocracy than a place where people remain contended with their own life principles.Many films showed the dangers of a sect of people joining hands that causes danger to society like The Fight Club,A clockwork orange etc.Likewise this movie also represents the positives and negatives of such movements in society. The kind of film everyone should see during high school in order to start /thinking/. Maybe not a five stars masterpiece, but I still loved it. A must watch German thriller ,I say...My rating for "Die Welle" is 9/10 !!

If you ever faced the crowd you know how it feels being in control, being heard, being significant. But you might not get from the very beginning that this power comes with corresponding responsibility. Not only for the knowledge of the group, skills or proper understanding, but for the behavior, and ultimately - for their lives. Even clear and presumably right intention can lead to an unpredictable result.Which happened to Rainer Wenger (Jürgen Vogel), high-school teacher assigned with an ordinary theme for project – autocracy, who decided to launch a week-long play, inviting class to implement basic dictatorship principals. Brilliant play of Frederick Lau (as Tim), Max Riemelt (as Marco) and Jennifer Ulrich (as Karo) unfolds several scenarios people can perceive and react to new environment.This film sends clear message thereby serving as a manual and reminder for teachers – evaluate risks and keep your eyes on the ball. Always.

More than a great movie, the Wave is a great story. Although it is based on real events, I did my homework and the story of the movie is much older that the film would make you think. It is based on an experiment conducted in 1967 by an American teacher who wanted to demonstrate how easily a movement similar to the Nazis could get ignited again. The movie is socially magnificent. It shows you how a group works and functions in unity under certain circumstances, and how easily individuals lose their ability to think outside the boundaries set by the group they have formed themselves. What I enjoyed is the fact that there was tension throughout, and you kept asking yourself how far would the group go and when the teacher who started it would find himself unable to control the force of the Wave. The Wave may not be the best movie you'll ever see, but it's well worth a watch.