The 13th Warrior

Rating:
Summary: Mythic purportions, entirely human characters.
Review: Ahhh, the world of adventure! The world of monsters and mystery. Antonio Banderas does a fine job of providing a masterful but humble platform for the telling of this tale of mythic purportions. The heroic deeds of men who must conquer the fear in their hearts as well as the forbidden monster made flesh before their eyes. A friend convinced me I had to see this telling of the tale of Beowulf, this feast of visuals from an age gilded by the fading of fearsome creatures into the mists of lore.

Rating:
Summary: Better then I expected
Review: Call me crazy, but I loved this movie. Antonio Banderas is Ahmed Ben.........(to long to include the whole name) who is banished from his homeland by the Caliph and (because of his family's position) given the position as an ambassador to a people in northern Europe. Where he was actually assigned is not real well defined, but he winds up in Scandanavia with the Vikings. From there he is chosen by a witch to be the 13th of a group of warriors that will continue north to battle an ancient and unnamed enemy that has a habit of eating their dead (Based of course on Michael Criton's "Eaters of The Dead).

While I have never been a huge Banderas fan, I think he does a good job of portraying a somewhat meek, learned ambassador turned warrior. While his accent may not hit it right on, I thought it well casted (the charectors playing the North Men were great). This the first Banderas movie that I've seen that does not have some beautiful women to carry him, and I think he did a good job.

It's been probably two years since I read Eaters of The Dead, and I've probably forgotten more of it then I remember. While The 13th Warrior does not go into great detail of this mysterious people (the Vendor-the eaters of the dead), I don't think it detracts from the movie, and, in fact, makes every thing a bit more mysterious.

In short, I really enjoyed this movie and have watched it more then once. On the other hand, if you have a DVD collection, and are not sure whether you want to add it, rent the movie and decide for yourselves. Personally, I have no regrets over purchasing this DVD.

Rating:
Summary: I haven't read the book, but I still LOVED this movie
Review: I thought the was an absolutely fantastic film. Now, I'm not going to shower with names and confusing plots, I'm just going to say that this is a good film. The main reason why is because it just keeps you interested. First, it starts with you wanting to know: Who is this Ahmalad? Who is this Arab? What's he all about? Then, you want to know, what will happen to him in the North? And then you get introduced to the Vikings, and a whole new set of characters is introduced. I think it's great how they make you interested in the characters.

Sprinkled with light humor (for the comedians), Filled with gory violence (for the guys), and an interesting story (for the bookworms), this movie succeeds on every level, plot, characters, cinematography. It's an entertaining film.

There are just two warnings before you go see the movie:

This is essentially a character film. It's about the characters and it's basically centered around them, so don't see the movie expecting an epic (like The Patriot or something).

This is an entertaining film. It's not to be taken very seriously. It's just for kicks. It's not a war movie either, so don't expect "Saving Private Ryan: 1354 A.D." (But there are certain scenes where it could be classified with that title...)

All in all, this a gory movie with strong characters and a believable story. I suggest you rent it soon, and get some popcorn.

And, last but not least, I must give credit to Michael Crichton (one of my all-time favorite authors) for creating a great novel on which this movie was based. Enjoy the movie!

A.A.

Rating:
Summary: Clever retelling of Beowulf
Review: If you can remeber the basics of beowulf from highschool than the plot of the 13th warrior will come as no surprise to you. Just compare the 13 (surprise!) acts in beowulf to the 7 acts in the film. Beowulf must defend Hrothgar just as the men defend the town of the film. Beowulf not only defets Grendel but Grendel's mother as well , who by the way lives in a watery cave. Clever theory on who the beowulf POET realy was and the actual events that could have happened.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful movie....mediocre DVD...
Review: This is the film version of Michael Crichton's book EATERS OF THE DEAD. Told through the eyes of a young Arab ambassador Ahmahd ibn Fahdalan (Antonio Banderas) this is basically a retelling of one of literature's classic epics, Beowulf. Fahadalan is banished from his homeland for loving the wrong woman. On his journeys he meets up with some Norsemen and joins their encampment (look for Omar Sheriff in a small part as Translater.)

When they hear of trouble on one of their lands, the norsemen consult their oracle who tells them that 13 warriors must confront the evil (and of course the 13th chosen man must not come from the north). Thus Fahdalan is coerced into joining their ranks. What follows is a thrilling action/adventure Beowulf style as the group tries to battle against insurmountable odds to defeat the cannabilistic "Eaters of the Dead".

Besides from being well written adventure, it is a wonderful glimpse into norse culture and mythology. John McTiernan shows us a time filled with brave but very human characters where fealty to your lord and land meant everything -- where fighting for the greater good was more important than any one man's life. This is a story of courage and survival that is at times mesmeririzing to watch.

It's main weakness is that it was unanble to fit in all the nuances and relationshop complexities that the book described so well. Many key definative moments and characterizations (most notably the cultures of the norsemen and their relationship with their new arab "little brother") are lost or edited out. This I believe was not so much the fault of the director but of the studio who rushed to get the film released. My other complaint is with the DVD version of the film, which SHOULD have included an audio commentary of some kind, and preferably some of the deleted scenes which would have developed the film more thoroughly. This it is worth seeing for fans of epic adventure and mythology. Here's hoping for a Director's cut of The 13th Warrior to be released soon.....

Rating:
Summary: A great midevil war story!
Review: The 13th Warrior is the best midevil movie to hit the screen since Braveheart. Truthfully I dont think that there was a good midevil movie to come along in between the two movies. This film has it all, great acting by Banderas, and his viking crew, the cast is greatly chosen, as well as the behind the camera cast. McTiernan is an excellent director who has yet to make a bad film. He has proved himself on all types of terrains, this just asserts him even more, in the forrest or the thick woods (The Medecine Man and Predator). This film has great action sequences one after another. The begenning is a bit slow, but that just leads up to the characterization. The sets are masterfully built, and the cinematography is great! This film goes highly recomended to midevil lovers, Banderas lovers, action lovers, and McTiernan lovers. If you in the mood for action and suspense, then this is the film to see.

Video God

Rating:
Summary: Gets better everyday
Review: If you like Viking/Barbarian ages and want a movie packed of action and mysticism, the 13th warrior will fill your needs completely. The movie isnt boring at all, steps right into the action from the first second and the story grabs you till the end. There are certain master touches here and there that make this movie so special, the example for the kings son men, the funeral of the viking king, the misterious barbarian tribe, all are very well implemented and not completely revealed. Not everything is understood but not all is not understood in the story, theres a certain mistery in the movie that keeps you coming back to watching it again. Its one of those movies that get better the more you see it, Antonio Banderas plays the part of a participative narrator, not the main role, the main role in the movie belongs to all the 13 warriors, to all the environment that surrounds us. Could it be better? I dont think so, the story is short enoigh for the movie lenght, and to strech more here and there or to explain more this or that would ruin its mistery. I think its a very good movie and not at all a "the 7 samurai" copy, its kinda dumb to compare all movies "go to village and rescue habitants" to the "7 samurai", this story has much more than that to be compared like that. All in all, a simple story made in a great action-paced and misterious movie, just great.

Rating:
Summary: Faithfully follows the book
Review: This movie is based upon, in part, upon a translation of Ibn Fadlan's manuscript of his travels with the Northmen in A.D. 922. The movie faithfully follows the book. Not long on dialog, and the plot could be thicker, it still is a worth while action packed movie. I have watched it numerous time and enjoy it again and again. Well worth the investment, and a lot of fun. Antonio Banderas ain't bad either! Neither are the Northmen.

Rating:
Summary: Worth a rental, but not more
Review: You have the feeling watching this movie that the makers had intended to do more with it, but just gave up. Plots are started and then dropped at the drop of a hat, and they go off and do something else. Romances, succesions are mentioned or started, and then they seem to get tired of that theme, and start running with something different. What they do go with isn't so bad per se, but when you imagine how much better it could have been, you start to feel cheated for what you did get.

The beginning of the movie redefined the term slow for me, taking fifteen or twenty minutes for anything to really happen. Actually, I wish they had done more with the way that Antonio Banderas' character is chosen for this mission. To my mind, there was hardly enough conflict there. What man in his right mind would let himself be dragged along on this adventure when he had no stake in what was happening without putting up more of a fight?

To be fair though, the fights themselves were impressive, and I thought for the majority that they were well handled. The end fight was a bit ridiculous though, as no explanation was really given as to why the men would retreat just because their leader was killed. They still outnumbered the Vikings by probably as much as 3 to 1 or so, so that didn't quite make sense to me.

All in all, I'd say this movie is worth seeing at least once, either on a rental, or waiting for it to come out on HBO. Judge for yourself.

Rating:
Summary: I might as well join in.
Review: The 13th warrior touched something in me and the movie has become something that I value a great deal and watch frequently. I have a health problem brought on by a blood transfusion, HVC. Mine has gotten worse and I am faced with the prospect of treating it. The treatment, it has been said, is worse than the disease itself. Shots and pills, making you sick with flu like symptoms for months.

This story with ALL its characters brings me strength and hope. These men fight something that is supposed to be supernatural, even if the words are not said, and they volunteer to go. They had to know they might not live. Then they bring a handsome poet as the last warrior and he becomes someone he never thought he could be, one of them, and he is grateful for the experience. Even Buliwyf takes the time to learn how to read and write, even if it is only one sentence. Maybe it was something he always wanted to do, but had not been able to, now he knows that he might die, so he learns. They travel together, live together and fight side by side. You don't know if they have worked together before and it doesn't matter. Helping is what is most important, saving the village because they were asked to. They seek no reward other than to do the job well and it does not matter if they live or die. So much courage, so many lives given so unselfishly. They feel it is a good day, when they give their life bravely to save others and they show no fear, "Fear profits man nothing." I am so very grateful for this story of strength, courage, hope and unselfishness.

"Lo there do I see my father, Lo there do I see my mother and my sisters and my brothers, Lo there do I see the line of my people back to the beginning, Lo they do call to me, they bid me take my place among them, in the halls of Valhalla, where the brave may live forever."

I hope anyone who reads this will recognize it and I hope that when the time comes I can face my demons as bravely as they did. Movies do a lot of things that don't seem to be mentioned in reviews. They teach, scare, impress, entertain and move you. They can also inspire you. As you sit in a theater you are taken to another time and place, with movie magic you can become any one you want for that time, take the best parts of the characters home and if you need more inspiration watch it again. It works for me.

As for the scenes cut from the movie I hope some day they put them back the way they were. It may be better it may not, but I would love to see the whole thing. I am planning on buying the book to at least be able to read it the way the author intended for it to be.