With big Hollywood names like director John McTiernan (Die Hard), writer Michael Crichton (Jurassic Park), and actor Antonio Banderas (Desperado), as well as a budget reported to be in the 100 million dollar range, you'd not be wrong to expect THE 13TH WARRIOR to rival BRAVEHEART for the title of coolest medieval movie of the decade. However, unlike BRAVEHEART--which actually managed to tell a story between the scenes of carnage--THE 13TH WARRIOR rarely rises above the level of a "hack and slash" gorefest.
Now, I like a "hack and slash" gorefest as much as the next guy (probably moreso, honestly) but there was an intriguing story in THE 13TH WARRIOR that got lost amongst slaughter. Based on Crichton's 1974 novel, Eaters of the Dead, the book tells the true tale of Ahmed Ibn Fahdlan, a 10th century poet who traveled north to live among the Vikings. It also pays homage to the classic epic poem Beowulf with the presentation of its bear-like demon creatures. Unfortunately, neither story is really explored in any detail, instead being pushed aside to show the viewer wave after wave of bloody medieval combat.
Banderas plays Ahmed, the poet sent to the north lands after falling in love with the king's wife. Shortly after his arrival, the Vikings learn that a northern village is under attack from a clan of demonic cannibal creatures. Thirteen warriors will be chosen to combat the evil, with Ahmed being the thirteenth. More a poet than a warrior, Ahmed will embark on the standard voyage of self discovery as the adventure itself will show him what he's truly made of. Basically, it's your standard Hollywood action film, just with a setting in the middle ages instead of the present day.
The performances are decent, particularly those of the Vikings, all of whom were played by Scandinavian actors. Banderas does a nice job portraying Ahmed as a reluctant warrior who'd rather be at home composing poetry in the desert.
Equally impressive is the film's cinematography. The film is full of shots of lush, green forest, often enshrouded in fog. It doesn't take a lot of suspension of disbelief to accept that this is supposed to be an uncivilized land from the distant past. Also worth noticing is the bear-people's underground cave city. It's a dark, damp, claustraphobic environment that really adds to the atmosphere of the scene.
THE 13TH WARRIOR isn't a bad film, it's just a film that fails to live up to its potential. Completed a full year prior to its release, it did poorly at an early test screening, causing Crichton himself to go back and re-shoot scenes and re-edit much of the film. At any rate, fans of Viking cinema, looking for well choreographed scenes of bloody combat will be pleased with the film. Viewers looking for an intriguing story to go along with the battles would be advised to look elsewhere, because like an underachieving child, THE 13TH WARRIOR never quite lives up to its potential.
Antonio Banderas is an important ambassador who is banished from his homeland for having an affair with the King s wife. During his travels he comes a...More at Buy.com Marketplaces
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