Amazon.co.uk Review
What happened to The 13th Warrior? Directed by John McTiernan (Die Hard), it's the tale of young Arab ambassador Ahmahd ibn Fahdalan (Antonio Banderas), who's banished from his homeland for loving the wrong woman. On his journeys he associates with a ragtag group of Vikings who are travelling back to their homeland to confront a nefarious threat that's cloaked in such superstition they're forbidden to speak its name. It is prophesied by a witch doctor that 13 warriors must confront the evil; however, the 13th chosen man must not come from the north. Suddenly Banderas is forced into the breach, somewhat against his will. More poet than battle-worn warrior, he must not only fight the aggressors but come to terms with the unfamiliar Norse culture. What follows is a vigorous and brutal adventure reminiscent of Kurosawa's Seven Samurai.
Sumptuous and invigorating battle sequences fill the screen from beginning to end as the brave Norsemen battle insurmountable odds. Sounds good. So why did this film, once known as the Eaters of the Dead, sit on studio shelves for two years? Presumably because of the thoughtless editing that trimmed down the film to its bare bones, crafting an actionfest out of an epic. It's not often that you crave for a movie to be longer, but The 13th Warrior would have benefited from fleshing out of its subplots and characters. On the surface it's good eye candy with some fine pulse-quickening moments, and Banderas and the accompanying cast turn in sympathetic performances, epitomising camaraderie in the face of impending doom. However, if you're looking for a good thematic tale from the Dark Ages (akin to Braveheart), you may be disappointed. --Jeremy Storey
Amazon.co.uk Review
It's no secret that the popular animated feature release Anastasia played fast and loose with Russian Imperialist history. Never mind that the movie's debut coincided with DNA proof--provided by Britain's Prince Phillip, no less--that Anna Andersen was not Tsar Nicholas II's daughter Anastasia and that Russian-discovered bones were indeed that of the Tsar and his brutally murdered family.
Anastasia's made-for-video sequel, Bartok the Magnificent, doesn't let historical fact get in its way either. Still, the animated adventure, which features Bartok the excitable albino bat (voiced again by Hank Azaria), is cute and funny, thanks to clever writing and great voice work. Bartok and his sidekick bear friend (an excellent Kelsey Grammer, who voiced Vlad in the original) have become street performers and become embroiled in the evil Ludmilla's plot to get rid of the next heir, a prince. While it's not a particularly fresh tale, Bartok the Magnificent is kept alive through Azaria and Grammer's well-timed and well-executed voiceovers. --N.F. Mendoza
Amazon.co.uk Review
What happened to The 13th Warrior? Directed by John McTiernan (Die Hard), it's the tale of young Arab ambassador Ahmahd ibn Fahdalan (Antonio Banderas), who's banished from his homeland for loving the wrong woman. On his journeys he associates with a ragtag group of Vikings who are travelling back to their homeland to confront a nefarious threat that's cloaked in such superstition they're forbidden to speak its name. It is prophesied by a witch doctor that 13 warriors must confront the evil; however, the 13th chosen man must not come from the north. Suddenly Banderas is forced into the breach, somewhat against his will. More poet than battle-worn warrior, he must not only fight the aggressors but come to terms with the unfamiliar Norse culture. What follows is a vigorous and brutal adventure reminiscent of Kurosawa's Seven Samurai.
Sumptuous and invigorating battle sequences fill the screen from beginning to end as the brave Norsemen battle insurmountable odds. Sounds good. So why did this film, once known as the Eaters of the Dead, sit on studio shelves for two years? Presumably because of the thoughtless editing that trimmed down the film to its bare bones, crafting an actionfest out of an epic. It's not often that you crave for a movie to be longer, but The 13th Warrior would have benefited from fleshing out of its subplots and characters. On the surface it's good eye candy with some fine pulse-quickening moments, and Banderas and the accompanying cast turn in sympathetic performances, epitomising camaraderie in the face of impending doom. However, if you're looking for a good thematic tale from the Dark Ages (akin to Braveheart), you may be disappointed. --Jeremy Storey
Customer Reviews:
The best Vikings vs. Cannibals adventure movie ever made!.......2008-02-01
The 13th Warrior is definitely the best Vikings vs. Cannibals movie. If that makes it sound like a down market schlocker, it's anything but, offering instead an imaginative account of what the real inspiration for the epic Anglo-Saxon poem Beowulf just might have been. Retitled (it was originally called Eaters of the Dead), re-edited, shelved and partially reshot by Michael Crichton, who replaced Graeme Revell's evocative world music score with an excellent old-fashioned adventure one by Jerry Goldsmith (part of which was used on Kingdom of Heaven's "Rise a knight" sequence), even in its final compromised state, it's a terrific adventure movie. It certainly boasts one of the best action scenes of recent years, with a fiery night-battle between the aforementioned Vikings and hundreds of bearskin-clad riders. On the minus side, this setpiece is so very good that the others fail to live up to it, especially the slow-motion final battle. Antonio Banderas is fine as the bewildered Arab ambassador drafted into helping a group of Vikings defeat an evil that cannot be named and Dennis Storhi immensely likeable as his translator/guide into the ways of the Northmen. Great fun, and a far from guilty pleasure.
Unlike the extras-free UK DVD, this German DVD includes brief soundbite interviews (including one with Michael Crichtron claiming the film was all McTiernan's work!), stills gallery and German trailer, though the German subtitles are unremoveable on the English soundtrack version of the film. The French DVD is generally a better bet - not only are the subtitles removeable but it includes a featurette, trailer and teaser trailer for McTiernan's original cut when it was still called Eaters of the Dead, though the 2.35:1 transfer is not quite as good as the UK release.
The best Vikings vs. Cannibals adventure movie ever made!.......2007-11-20
The 13th Warrior is definitely the best Vikings vs. Cannibals movie. If that makes it sound like a down market schlocker, it's anything but, offering instead an imaginative account of what the real inspiration for the epic Anglo-Saxon poem Beowulf just might have been. Retitled (it was originally called Eaters of the Dead), re-edited, shelved and partially reshot by Michael Crichton, who replaced Graeme Revell's evocative world music score with an excellent old-fashioned adventure one by Jerry Goldsmith (part of which was used on Kingdom of Heaven's "Rise a knight" sequence), even in its final compromised state, it's a terrific adventure movie. It certainly boasts one of the best action scenes of recent years, with a fiery night-battle between the aforementioned Vikings and hundreds of bearskin-clad riders. On the minus side, this setpiece is so very good that the others fail to live up to it, especially the slow-motion final battle. Antonio Banderas is fine as the bewildered Arab ambassador drafted into helping a group of Vikings defeat an evil that cannot be named and Dennis Storhi immensely likeable as his translator/guide into the ways of the Northmen. Great fun, and a far from guilty pleasure.
Unlike other releases, this French DVD includes a featurette, trailer and teaser trailer for McTiernan's original cut when it was still called Eaters of the Dead, though the 2.35:1 transfer is not quite as good as the UK release.
A little disappointing... ... ..........2007-11-14
I was drawn to this film having read that it features epic Braveheart-style battles between Vikings and Neanderthals. But this is not the case (alas), though it does have some interesting moments...
Although technically credited as `the star' of the film and the stories narrator, I think Antonio's Arab character was rather unimportant and unnecessary (though obviously he was the person to record these events in history).
I thought the start of the film was rather weak how they started their journey at a port, yet they decide to travel by horse and then make use of a boat that seems to conveniently appear from nowhere.
Vikings were actually able to transport their long-boats miles across land on logs and makeshift wheels (and often did), they were not known for their horsemanship skills by any stretch of the imagination.
Neanderthals were more ape-like in appearance than us, with flatter noses, thicker jaws, slightly domed foreheads. They were a lot hairier than us and had a different physiology (as they had to endure the ice age that our puny homosapien ancestors could not. Only at the end of the ice age could our ancestors travel north and manage to survive the freezing conditions).
The PEOPLE in this film were blatantly homo-sapiens. If they WERE supposed to be Neanderthals in this film then the make-up artist did a very poor job...
Having said all that, I liked how the Vikings were not portraighed as mindless barbarians here, its gives you glimpse that they had some very talented craftsmen with their own culture and traditions and they navigated across vast distances in their tiny boats.
However... Ultimately this is a disappointing film albeit with some promising ideas...
Long faces or Longboats?.......2007-07-13
Ever since I saw Kirk Douglas dancing on oars in the Vikings (1958) I have always enjoyed stories about the pillaging Norsemen. The reality of their culture; craftsmen, traders, explorers is often ignored by film-makers. They like to focus on the more exciting warrior side of our heroes with the horned helmets (no basis in fact for those helmets by the way, they just look good on screen). But, since I wanted to watch a movie and not sit through an anthropology lecture - thank god they do.
Adapted from Michael Crichton's "Eaters of the Dead" a variation on the classic story of Beowulf, this film consists of number of warriors banding together to protect a terrified village (sound familiar?). That's all you really need to know (just as well, because that's all there really is) the story moves from one set-piece to the other at a considered and suspenseful pace. In particular the scene of Banderas learning the finer points of Viking Politics through a duel is wonderful.
The performances are adequate; the warriors are suitably bombastic or sullen (only crime is Omar Sharif being wasted in a cameo). Banderas seldom does poor work and this is no exception. Playing the part of an outsider from the Arab world; he's our eyes into the mysterious world of the other characters. However the notable turn is by Vladimar Kulich as the Leader of the Viking Band, in my opinion a faultless performance.
In brief it's a lot of fun, but like most action movies you're going to feel like you've see it all before and you have. John McTiernan is an old hand at action/adventure and this film is workmanlike and enjoyable. The script hints at deeper ideas like xenophobia, just ignore them and enjoy the ride you'll have more fun.
DVD is a good transfer of picture and sound, which is what you would expect of a film less than ten years old. "Scene Access and Interactive Menus" are listed as extras so don't expect much.
"Lo they bid me take my place in the halls of Valhalla where the brave shall live forever!".......2007-03-27
John McTiernan's excellent presentation of Michael Crichton's story "The Eaters of the Dead" depicts an earlier time in our history, the days when Vikings roamed Europe and plied their trade overseas. The story centres around Ahmed Ibn Fadlan played by Antonio Banderas and his first contact with the 'North Men' lead by Bulwyf (Beowulf) played by the typecast Vladimr Kulich and follows his journey as he travels with them to face an ancient evil. Fadlan and Bulwyf and the other eleven warriors battle an unnameable horror in a far off Nordic kingdom that was shot in Canada but looks and sounds suspiciously like dark ages Scotland - one of the characters refers to a settlement in the next 'Glen'.
The story while alluding to the 'Saga of Beowulf' has a root in history in the tale of the 'Rus' as recorded by the real Ahmed Ibn Fadlan. Fadlan a scholar from Bagdad in the old kingdom of Persia was sent to the North to be an Ambassador to the King of Volga and recorded his experiences of a brutal civilisation of Viking Warriors (the Swedish 'Rus') with shockingly barbaric rituals and an existence based on superstition and violence. The movie tones this down somewhat but still maintains certain parts of Fadlan's writings.
Beautifully set and executed, this film is replete with battles, mystery and intrigue punctuated by some marvellous moments - a particular favourite of mine is when Fadlan says he cannot wield a Viking sword because it is too heavy; his Viking friend smiles, shrugs and simply says "Grow stronger". There were some inconsistencies though, certainly in costuming, but mostly a fine production. I would have liked to see some extras on the DVD, and in some places it is clear that the movie has been cut for length - what about the removed scenes?
A movie I watch time and time again if only to join in with the Viking battle chant before the 'Magnificent Seven' style last stand. A bloke's movie to be sure, but a terrific one.
Amazon.co.uk Review
What happened to The 13th Warrior? Directed by John McTiernan (Die Hard), it's the tale of young Arab ambassador Ahmahd ibn Fahdalan (Antonio Banderas), who's banished from his homeland for loving the wrong woman. On his journeys he associates with a ragtag group of Vikings who are travelling back to their homeland to confront a nefarious threat that's cloaked in such superstition they're forbidden to speak its name. It is prophesied by a witch doctor that 13 warriors must confront the evil; however, the 13th chosen man must not come from the north. Suddenly Banderas is forced into the breach, somewhat against his will. More poet than battle-worn warrior, he must not only fight the aggressors but come to terms with the unfamiliar Norse culture. What follows is a vigorous and brutal adventure reminiscent of Kurosawa's Seven Samurai.
Sumptuous and invigorating battle sequences fill the screen from beginning to end as the brave Norsemen battle insurmountable odds. Sounds good. So why did this film, once known as the Eaters of the Dead, sit on studio shelves for two years? Presumably because of the thoughtless editing that trimmed down the film to its bare bones, crafting an actionfest out of an epic. It's not often that you crave for a movie to be longer, but The 13th Warrior would have benefited from fleshing out of its subplots and characters. On the surface it's good eye candy with some fine pulse-quickening moments, and Banderas and the accompanying cast turn in sympathetic performances, epitomising camaraderie in the face of impending doom. However, if you're looking for a good thematic tale from the Dark Ages (akin to Braveheart), you may be disappointed. --Jeremy Storey
Customer Reviews:
The best Vikings vs. Cannibals adventure movie ever made!.......2008-02-01
The 13th Warrior is definitely the best Vikings vs. Cannibals movie. If that makes it sound like a down market schlocker, it's anything but, offering instead an imaginative account of what the real inspiration for the epic Anglo-Saxon poem Beowulf just might have been. Retitled (it was originally called Eaters of the Dead), re-edited, shelved and partially reshot by Michael Crichton, who replaced Graeme Revell's evocative world music score with an excellent old-fashioned adventure one by Jerry Goldsmith (part of which was used on Kingdom of Heaven's "Rise a knight" sequence), even in its final compromised state, it's a terrific adventure movie. It certainly boasts one of the best action scenes of recent years, with a fiery night-battle between the aforementioned Vikings and hundreds of bearskin-clad riders. On the minus side, this setpiece is so very good that the others fail to live up to it, especially the slow-motion final battle. Antonio Banderas is fine as the bewildered Arab ambassador drafted into helping a group of Vikings defeat an evil that cannot be named and Dennis Storhi immensely likeable as his translator/guide into the ways of the Northmen. Great fun, and a far from guilty pleasure.
Unlike the extras-free UK DVD, this German DVD includes brief soundbite interviews (including one with Michael Crichtron claiming the film was all McTiernan's work!), stills gallery and German trailer, though the German subtitles are unremoveable on the English soundtrack version of the film. The French DVD is generally a better bet - not only are the subtitles removeable but it includes a featurette, trailer and teaser trailer for McTiernan's original cut when it was still called Eaters of the Dead, though the 2.35:1 transfer is not quite as good as the UK release.
The best Vikings vs. Cannibals adventure movie ever made!.......2007-11-20
The 13th Warrior is definitely the best Vikings vs. Cannibals movie. If that makes it sound like a down market schlocker, it's anything but, offering instead an imaginative account of what the real inspiration for the epic Anglo-Saxon poem Beowulf just might have been. Retitled (it was originally called Eaters of the Dead), re-edited, shelved and partially reshot by Michael Crichton, who replaced Graeme Revell's evocative world music score with an excellent old-fashioned adventure one by Jerry Goldsmith (part of which was used on Kingdom of Heaven's "Rise a knight" sequence), even in its final compromised state, it's a terrific adventure movie. It certainly boasts one of the best action scenes of recent years, with a fiery night-battle between the aforementioned Vikings and hundreds of bearskin-clad riders. On the minus side, this setpiece is so very good that the others fail to live up to it, especially the slow-motion final battle. Antonio Banderas is fine as the bewildered Arab ambassador drafted into helping a group of Vikings defeat an evil that cannot be named and Dennis Storhi immensely likeable as his translator/guide into the ways of the Northmen. Great fun, and a far from guilty pleasure.
Unlike other releases, this French DVD includes a featurette, trailer and teaser trailer for McTiernan's original cut when it was still called Eaters of the Dead, though the 2.35:1 transfer is not quite as good as the UK release.
A little disappointing... ... ..........2007-11-14
I was drawn to this film having read that it features epic Braveheart-style battles between Vikings and Neanderthals. But this is not the case (alas), though it does have some interesting moments...
Although technically credited as `the star' of the film and the stories narrator, I think Antonio's Arab character was rather unimportant and unnecessary (though obviously he was the person to record these events in history).
I thought the start of the film was rather weak how they started their journey at a port, yet they decide to travel by horse and then make use of a boat that seems to conveniently appear from nowhere.
Vikings were actually able to transport their long-boats miles across land on logs and makeshift wheels (and often did), they were not known for their horsemanship skills by any stretch of the imagination.
Neanderthals were more ape-like in appearance than us, with flatter noses, thicker jaws, slightly domed foreheads. They were a lot hairier than us and had a different physiology (as they had to endure the ice age that our puny homosapien ancestors could not. Only at the end of the ice age could our ancestors travel north and manage to survive the freezing conditions).
The PEOPLE in this film were blatantly homo-sapiens. If they WERE supposed to be Neanderthals in this film then the make-up artist did a very poor job...
Having said all that, I liked how the Vikings were not portraighed as mindless barbarians here, its gives you glimpse that they had some very talented craftsmen with their own culture and traditions and they navigated across vast distances in their tiny boats.
However... Ultimately this is a disappointing film albeit with some promising ideas...
Long faces or Longboats?.......2007-07-13
Ever since I saw Kirk Douglas dancing on oars in the Vikings (1958) I have always enjoyed stories about the pillaging Norsemen. The reality of their culture; craftsmen, traders, explorers is often ignored by film-makers. They like to focus on the more exciting warrior side of our heroes with the horned helmets (no basis in fact for those helmets by the way, they just look good on screen). But, since I wanted to watch a movie and not sit through an anthropology lecture - thank god they do.
Adapted from Michael Crichton's "Eaters of the Dead" a variation on the classic story of Beowulf, this film consists of number of warriors banding together to protect a terrified village (sound familiar?). That's all you really need to know (just as well, because that's all there really is) the story moves from one set-piece to the other at a considered and suspenseful pace. In particular the scene of Banderas learning the finer points of Viking Politics through a duel is wonderful.
The performances are adequate; the warriors are suitably bombastic or sullen (only crime is Omar Sharif being wasted in a cameo). Banderas seldom does poor work and this is no exception. Playing the part of an outsider from the Arab world; he's our eyes into the mysterious world of the other characters. However the notable turn is by Vladimar Kulich as the Leader of the Viking Band, in my opinion a faultless performance.
In brief it's a lot of fun, but like most action movies you're going to feel like you've see it all before and you have. John McTiernan is an old hand at action/adventure and this film is workmanlike and enjoyable. The script hints at deeper ideas like xenophobia, just ignore them and enjoy the ride you'll have more fun.
DVD is a good transfer of picture and sound, which is what you would expect of a film less than ten years old. "Scene Access and Interactive Menus" are listed as extras so don't expect much.
"Lo they bid me take my place in the halls of Valhalla where the brave shall live forever!".......2007-03-27
John McTiernan's excellent presentation of Michael Crichton's story "The Eaters of the Dead" depicts an earlier time in our history, the days when Vikings roamed Europe and plied their trade overseas. The story centres around Ahmed Ibn Fadlan played by Antonio Banderas and his first contact with the 'North Men' lead by Bulwyf (Beowulf) played by the typecast Vladimr Kulich and follows his journey as he travels with them to face an ancient evil. Fadlan and Bulwyf and the other eleven warriors battle an unnameable horror in a far off Nordic kingdom that was shot in Canada but looks and sounds suspiciously like dark ages Scotland - one of the characters refers to a settlement in the next 'Glen'.
The story while alluding to the 'Saga of Beowulf' has a root in history in the tale of the 'Rus' as recorded by the real Ahmed Ibn Fadlan. Fadlan a scholar from Bagdad in the old kingdom of Persia was sent to the North to be an Ambassador to the King of Volga and recorded his experiences of a brutal civilisation of Viking Warriors (the Swedish 'Rus') with shockingly barbaric rituals and an existence based on superstition and violence. The movie tones this down somewhat but still maintains certain parts of Fadlan's writings.
Beautifully set and executed, this film is replete with battles, mystery and intrigue punctuated by some marvellous moments - a particular favourite of mine is when Fadlan says he cannot wield a Viking sword because it is too heavy; his Viking friend smiles, shrugs and simply says "Grow stronger". There were some inconsistencies though, certainly in costuming, but mostly a fine production. I would have liked to see some extras on the DVD, and in some places it is clear that the movie has been cut for length - what about the removed scenes?
A movie I watch time and time again if only to join in with the Viking battle chant before the 'Magnificent Seven' style last stand. A bloke's movie to be sure, but a terrific one.
Amazon.co.uk Review
Grizzly Falls is a gorgeous, hopelessly old-fashioned film that's unlikely to attract the viewership it ought to--none of the characters is particularly witty or clever; special effects, save a few stunts with a bear, are nil; and the irony level is at an all-time low. In other words, prying the kids away from Pokémon to watch this film may be a challenge, but it's worth the effort. Daniel Clark plays Harry, a lad of around eight who accompanies Tyrone (Bryan Brown), his thrill-seeking dad, on a mission to the Colorado Rockies, where he intends to be the first to capture a live grizzly. It's the early 1900s, so the means by which Tyrone plans to snare the beast aren't especially humane--at a saloon stop, he hires five tough guys, one with a team of hounds. Then the hunt begins. The hounds' punishing master quickly emerges as a villain; when he and two dogs are mauled by the grizzly, he exacts revenge by caging the bear's cubs. She, in classic righteous-mother mode, retaliates by dragging Harry into the woods. What follows is a desperate chase through beautiful countryside by tireless Tyrone and the blossoming of an impossible boy-bear friendship. Mizzy, as Harry comes to call the bear, protects him from dangers of the wild while leading the boy to her caged cubs, who are travelling east with the ornery houndskeeper. There's a showdown when the animal family is reunited, but Harry and Tyrone extinguish a series of confrontations handily, then move on to cement their own iffy relationship. The surplus of action scenes in this PG-rated film will wow kids eight and up, and only jaded viewers will summon the callousness to criticise its unapologetic portrayal of blind loyalty and courage at all costs. --Tammy La Gorce, Amazon.com
DVD:
- The Bishop's Wife [1947] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
- The Calculus, Vol. 1 and 2 Tutor: 8-Hour Video Course
- The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe [2005] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
- The Curse of Frankenstein/Taste the Blood of Dracula [1970] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
- The Family Holiday [2007]
- The Inn of the Sixth Happiness [1958] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
- The Lion King Read-Along DVD[1994]
- The Marrying Kind [1952] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
- The Matrix Revolutions [2003] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
- The Secret of Roan Inish [1996] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
DVD List
DVD