Surprisingly incoherent and boring

Brilliant and touching

The film may be flawed, but its message is not.

A film of deceptively outspoken contemporary relevance, this is cinema at its most alert, alarming and alive.

This is one of the most underrated fantasy/action movies I've encountered. It has a great story with depth and historical accuracy underneath the gritty fantasy elements. The score is absolutely fantastic, one of the most epic I've ever experienced in a movie.Good pacing leaves this movie with little to no boring moments and even the talks-y scenes seem to have a constant suspense and makes you want to hear every word. The fights are fantastic, bloody and will make you clinch your hands. The adversaries are well written and you're often unsure about your thoughts about the nature of these beasts.I do wish they expanded and developed the love aspect a little bit more to flesh out the character of the main character. As it is it feels shoehorned in there like it was edited in at the last minute. I would have also preferred a non-existent love affair over the one in the movie.I have not read the book this is based off (Eaters of the dead) but the movie is most likely inspired by the Japanese classic "Seven Samurai", not enough to make it seem like a copy, but enough that if you've seen both you'll see the connection for sure.In all: Very good movie, entertaining and dark and gritty, you'll find your hands sweaty and your eyes not blinking during some parts of the movie and if you enjoyed shows like Vikings, King Arthur, 300, and even films such as Yojimbo, Seven Samurai, and The Last Samurai, you might very well like this one. Give it a shot despite the scores and keep in mind it might not have aged exceptionally but it's got that 90s charm.Expanding a little bit:A lot of Norse mythology went into this movie of course, it being inspired by the story of Beowulf, but I would have loved to see some other references in there. Though if you are Nordic you might recognize a word hear and there when the Norsemen speak their language, as it is based on old Norse which is a sort of mixture of Norwegian, Swedish and other Nordic/Germanic languages. The scene with the oracle is particularly interesting, if you can find a translation to what they're saying I'd love to read it. You can hear her making references to Valkyries (angels of death carrying away fallen warriors to Valhalla) to guide her in the ritual.

Movie Review: "The 13th Warrior" (1999)Based on a rarely-known book called "Eaters of the Dead" written by famous "Jurassic Park" author Michael Crichton (1942-2008), firstly published 1976, to a no-major-selling success or critical acclaim, nevertheless fascinating in its conception by following leading character an abandoned Arabic Prince by the name "Ahmed Ibn Fahdlan" to Nordic region of today's Scandinavia, meeting a tribe of Vikings, learning their language just through listening, before one night at a magically-captured bonfire scene by cinematographer Peter Menzies Jr. the ear of Ahmad, in a match-making portrayal by actor Antonio Banderas, as the words changes to full comprehension, when the Arabian finally gets accepted into the circle of childhood-close fellow Vikings, led by international casting choices as Vladimir Kulich, in fully convictions as Viking leader and actor Dennis Storhoi as Herger, the Joyous, who unfortunately does not get enough screen-time to make a mark in motion picture history, when the "Band of 12" set out then with "Ahmad" as "The 13th Warrior" to avenge a beastly R-rated ambush assault in a peace-loving Vikings' village by mask-wearing, black-magic indulging rival tribe of Nordic warriors fevering toward an ultimate showdown rain, thunder and mud.This adventure movie directed by John McTiernan should have become the ultimate Summer hit of 1998 after principal photography closing in November 1997 without holding back the barriers of a pressingly 100-Million-Dollar production budget given free by Disney Enterprises affiliate Touchstone Pictures to distribute worldwide, when a much more passionate writer-turning-director-again Michael Crichton, known for directing in 1970s with fair classics as Science Fiction thriller "Westworld" (1973) and heist-period-crime-story "The Great Train Robbery" starring Sean Connery and Donald Sutherland, who then must reshoot entire sequences for another rumor-has-it amount of 60-Million-Dollars a couple of scene for a delayed Summer release of 1999.Another time at the end of 1990s, when an editorial of just 95-Minutes gets presented to the U.S. American audience on premiere weekend of August 27th 1999, who then understandably felt cheated by such visually epic material, which deserved an 135-Minute-Editorial at least with splendid directed character arcs, sword fights of splintering blades and metal to slashing beastly flesh and an emotional as accurate warrior-to-redemption sub-story to let "The 13th Warrior" become one of "IMDb Top 250" movies, which is "The 13th Warrior" not, but nevertheless worth an initial watch of exotic adventure entertainment or even a revisit for genre-lovers.Copyright 2018 Cinemajesty Entertainments LLC

A nice, high-echelon, young Arab (Banderas) is sent as an emissary to the Bulgars in 922 AD. At the time, the Middle East was the center of civilization. While Europeans were living on a flat earth, the people of Egypt were measuring its circumference. They invented soap. They also invented algebra, for which may God forgive them.Banderas is more or less shanghaied into joining a band of Norsemen returning to their home to protect it against the people of the mist, the Wendlos. I don't know if the Wendlos existed or not but they do in this movie.Banderas is revolted by the slovenliness of the Vikings. And who can blame him. They pass around a bowl to wash their faces in, but they also spit in it and one guy blows his nose into it using the one-nostril side slip method. But, like a good cultural anthropologist, he adapts to the ways of his hosts without trying to convert them to his religion or his customs.I was watching this on YouTube and at this point, Disney blocked the middle third of the film because of some copyright dispute. Therefore, it appears, I missed Diane Venora, which is a damned shame. Although, come to think of it, they could have used Mia Maestro because they look so much alike. I wonder if they are one and the same person. Has anyone ever seen Venora and Maestro together in the same room at the same time? No? I thought not.The ending is a sword-slinging bash in the rain and the mud. The Wendlos are all bundled up in bear costumes and whatnot so it's hard to tell whether they're supposed to be human or not. Someone has suggested they were Neanderthals but that's out of the question. It's out of date by some 50,000 years for one thing.Guess who wins the slogging match? RIGHT, the Norsemen and Banderas, fighting the enemy together, drenched in blood. The Vikings were pretty destructive when you get right down to it but they left us a few souvenirs -- "skiff", "shirt," "Thursday", "Friday," and so on.

Ahmad Ibn Fadlan (Antonio Banderas) is a carefree poet in Baghdad. After falling for the wrong woman, he's banished to the barbaric far north as an ambassador. His caravan is attacked by Tartars and is rescued by a passing Viking longboat. Melchisidek (Omar Sharif) is his loyal companion. He is shocked by their customs. An ancient evil that must not be named threatens the Vikings and their seer prophesy that 13 warriors must be sent. The 13th must be no Northman and Ahmad is pushed into joining.I really like the idea of a cultured Arab trying to fit in with the crude Vikings. It has a bit of fun with the fish out of water concept. Director John McTiernan is too in love with the dark muddy battle. Most of all, the Vikings don't stand out as individual. Thirteen is probably too many. There is a long cinematic tradition with seven. If the group could be reduced, some of them have a better chance to stand out.