The 13th Warrior

Rating:
Summary: The 13th Warrior
Review: The 13th Warrior was an excellent movie. A hoot. One of my favorite movies. Action, romance, mysticism, adventure, sexy heroes, loathesome bad guys. What's not to like? The story moved along at a good pace and over all it's a beautiful film. Certainly worth buying.

Rating:
Summary: Slice slice--cut cut movie over.
Review: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
An Arab (Antonio Banderas) is indiscriminate in love. Caught in the act he is exiled along with his scrawny looking horse to Viking land. There he uses his unique abilities as the 13 Th warrior to give an edge in fighting the dragon.
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Yep the best slices and cuts are on the cutting room floor. At least the story line must have been left there. All that is left is a series of bloody encounters. Take the Vikings out of their furs and place them in Edwardian suits and you have "Sleepy Hollow" (1999) ASIN: B00003CX5A. This movie has no resemblance to Beowulf and if any one says it does resemble Beowulf, you can be assured that they never read it. Oh! They both say "worm."

There is one redeeming value and that is the presence of Omar Sheriff who was in a better movie "Oh! Heavenly Dog" (1980) ASIN: 630024749X where he did not have to sit around looking dumb while waiting for the action. Actually Antonio Banderas was not too bad in "The Mask of Zorro" (1998) ASIN: 6305182493 where he had a chance to act instead of slashing quasi-mythical bears.

If you took the blood away this movie would more resemble "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court" (1949) ASIN: 6300186032 where Bing Crosby gets to ride his pony around the larger but slower Knights.



Rating:
Summary: Just Great Fun
Review: I went to see this movie in the theatres expecting very little. After all, I have never been a fan of Antonio Banderas and I can't stand Michael Crighton.

I was very pleased to discover, however, that the movie was interesting, had a basic, but solid plot and was better acted than I could have hoped. It definitely has a Beowulf feel to it and the cinematography, sound quality and mood music really made for a complete movie experience.

The battle scenes were impressive as were all of the sets and costumes, though I do agree that there were some anacronisms with regard to armor and weaponry, as stated in a previous review.

I don't think it was supposed to be a classic movie, just great fun. And it works.