Rating: 
Summary: From the epic Age of Epics...
Review: I've always had an admiration for this film, ever since catching it once or twice on the Saturday Afternoon TV Movie. Is it corny? Sure, but who cares? We see so much of the color and spectacle of Viking life, it's easy to forget that these are all actors living in the Viking village built above a fjord in Norway. Douglas and Borgnine are the perfect, living embodiment of Vikings, too! Borgnine's Ragnor is unforgettable in his over-the-top, fun portrayal of a man larger than life.
As others have mentioned, the art direction is beyond compare, with highly researched and accurate detailing wherever possible. Exteriors were all shot entirely on location in Norway, lending even more authenticity to the film by showcasing the beautiful mountains and waterways of the Viking homeland. The great Mr. Welles narrates the opening segment, and it was a pity he did not leave us with extened remarks at the end of the film to tie everything together (a minor quibble from an acknowlegded Welles fan). Included on the disc is a thirty minute restrospective by director Richard Fleischer, as he shows us rare still photographs, and explains what the cast and crew went through to film this Viking epic. One shot in particular that I have always loved in this film is the man high atop the horn tower, signalling the return of the Viking king, as his boat sails the blue water far below. Another shot I like, at the end, the camera is on top of a castle pinnacle, and we see it pan around to follow the actors below on the walkway. Here, in two of the stills, we see how these shots were captured by Fleischer, and I was struck by the fact no director today would have the guts or imagination to try either. Everything blazes off the screen in the perfect DVD transfer. After watching this epic on DVD, you'll feel the urge to cry out... "Odin LIVES!"
Rating:
Summary: Spectacular Adventure
Review: " The Vikings" is a well made old fashion adventure movie in every sense of the word- smart script, solid direction by Richard Fleisher, breath taking photography (this is a must see in letterboxed DVD) and Douglas, Curtis and Leigh in the movie star glory . The film is action packed, realistically bloody and surprisingly sexy.
Rating: 
Summary: Most worth it!
Review: Just as good as in 1958 but much, much more appreciated. Great transfer to DVD! Excellent music! Rousing well-filmed swordfight followed by Viking funeral at movie's end. If only 'Gladiator' had been half as good.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent Saturday Matinee
Review: My wife and I both enjoyed this movie. If you like adventure sword fighting movies like Robin Hood or Braveheart you will probably have fun with it no matter what your age. It has Viking ships, rampaging norsemen, dangerous sea chases, sword fights, hungry wolfs, a nasty king, and a great siege of the castle battle. Considering this movie was made in 1958, the sets, costumes, and music were very well done. The transfer to DVD was done with loving care as it looks like it could have come fresh from the theater.
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding!
Review: This is the greatest Saturday afternoon movie that was ever made (even though I saw it on a Saturday night in 1958 when I was nine years old). From the fascinating prologue narrated by Orson Welles to the climatic fight between Kirk Douglas and Tony Curtis, "The Vikings" will engage and entertain you. "The Vikings" was beautifully shot on location by Jack Cardiff who received an Academy Award in 2001 for life-time achievemnet in cinematography. The beautiful music score is heroic and elegiac. The acting is slightly over-the-top, but the wonderful cast (Ernest Borgnine, Frank Thring, James Donald, and Janet Leigh) makes it all fun. I have this film on VHS and still love it today.
Rating:
Summary: A fair look into the Vikings
Review: Writing a review for a movie like this is difficult. Appraising the title on the standards of the 21st century, this movie would have little appeal (and if you are one of those types, this movie is a one or two star movie at best). But, if you are appraising it from the period in which it was made, this movie has many merits. This movie was no epic, nor did it have a major budget (such as with Ben-Hur), and it also lacked some clear writting and historical accuracy, all of which keep this movie from being a five star review. What this movie did right was in what it attempted. How many Viking films predate this movie? More important, how many accurate historical books on Vikings predate this movie? While you can count the former in your sleep, the later is an important question. There were many Viking histories from before 1958, but their accuracy, given modern information, was questionable. More important, the sagas that are now the basis for most Viking studies were few and far between in english. This means that the movie had little to go on in comparison with some titles like Viking Sagas and 13th Warrior. Furthermore, while the movie could have been just as easily set in the Wild West, the creators desided to give viewers something original. This meant that they also had to ground it in something familiar. To do so would call into question some historical accuracy. In a final detail, the Vikings were a rough people. The 1950s, in comparison, were a very tame time period. To capture the Vikings accurately would have alienated 99% of the viewers in 1958. So, while the movie has its short comings, it is still an excellent movie so long as you understand it is 40 years old.
Rating:
Summary: It's a movie, not Cinema
Review: For all it's flaws an entertaining film. Loosley based on the story of Ragnar Lothbrok, it was this film which actually kindled an interest in me of the real Vikings. If you are looking for a history lesson, go to the History Channel or buy one of the several excellent books available here at Amazon. However, if you are looking for pure escapist swashbuckling entertainment then get this film. So don't use this as a reference for your term paper, but get this film, a couple of snacks and escape the real world for a little while (for that alone maybe I should give it 4 stars).
Rating:
Summary: The Vikings
Review: How anyone can rate this at less than 5 star beats me. OK, so the storyline is cheesy, the history ludicrous, the acting (what there is of it) madly hammy, and Janet Leigh's astonishing cantilever bra not only defies historical reality and belief, but gravity itself, but the whole thing sweeps along with such incredible gusto that you really don't care. It is a total hoot, and seldom if ever have I had the sense that everybody involved in a movie had such a whale of a time making it. Stunning scenery, outstanding cameratography, a great battle and a thrilling climactic duel. Plus a decently literate script with a line or two to die for ('I think I'll go and watch that slave drown' springs to mind, as does the dialogue revolving around Leigh's bodice being too tight for her to row). Compare The Vikings with the stupendously dull multi-Oscar winning (how? why? what was the jury *on*?) Ben-Hur of the following year. All anybody who isn't certifiably insane wants to watch the latter for is the fantastic 10 minutes or whatever of the chariot race. As for the turgid remainder (even the sea battle is pretty cruddy), forget it. Now with The Vikings, 90 minutes or so of unremittingly rollicking entertainment. Disengage brain, slot video/DVD into player, line up beers and *enjoy*!
Rating:
Summary: Three good reasons to see this movie
Review: 1. Janet Leigh looking great.
2. Beautiful scenery
3. Wonderful musical score. And remember the moral of the movie: don't anger anyone holding a falcon.
Rating: 
Summary: A Viking Nightmare
Review: Even though I haven't seen many good films about the vikings this is by far the worst. It could be a rather good comedy, sadly it is not! From the opening scene to the end this film is a total nonsense. The only thing this film doesn't have are helmets with horns (even though Kirk Douglas does wear a helmet with a giant eagle on top when attacking the 14th centry English castle in the final scene). What we can see though is an anglo-saxon ship from the 15th century (something wrong?), I just wondered where the gun-deck was, some wrist-watches etc. Still it was rather amusing to watch so I give it one star!!
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