Outland (DVD)

Director: Howard McCain
Writers: Dirk Blackman & Howard McCain
Genre: Adventure - Sci-Fi - Romance - Action
Country: USA/Germany
Certification: 15+
Language: English/Old Norse
DVD Release: TBC

MAIN CAST:

James Caviezel (Kainan)
Sophia Myles (Freya)
Jack Huston (Wulfric)
John Hurt (Rothgar)


709 BC - a spacecraft crashes in ...
...of Herot in Norway. Kainan, the pilot, survives the crash, but his co-pilot doesn't.

Managing to swim to shore, Kainan passes out... when he awakens, it is to discover that his co-pilot didn't die in the crash, but just before - he was killed by a Moorwen, a vicious predator that had somehow managed to stowaway on Kainan's spacecraft.

Managing to salvage a few high-tech gadgets, Kainan downloads information from his ... more

Director: Howard McCain
Writers: Dirk Blackman & Howard McCain
Genre: Adventure - Sci-Fi - Romance - Action
Country: USA/Germany
Certification: 15+
Language: English/Old Norse
DVD Release: TBC

MAIN CAST:

James Caviezel (Kainan)
Sophia Myles (Freya)
Jack Huston (Wulfric)
John Hurt (Rothgar)

709 BC - a spacecraft crashes in a lake somewhere in the heart of the Viking kingdom of Herot in Norway. Kainan, the pilot, survives the crash, but his co-pilot doesn't.

Managing to swim to shore, Kainan passes out... when he awakens, it is to discover that his co-pilot didn't die in the crash, but just before - he was killed by a Moorwen, a vicious predator that had somehow managed to stowaway on Kainan's spacecraft.

Managing to salvage a few high-tech gadgets, Kainan downloads information from his portable pc into his brain - the history of Earth, the many cultures, and the language used in the area where he has crashed - and turns his tracking beacon on. Armed with his newfound knowledge of the planet, a nifty fire-blasting gun and a skin-tight futuristic outfit that's seen better days, Kainan goes after the Moorwen.

Coming upon a destroyed Viking village, Kainan attempts to find survivors but there are none... in fact, there are no dead bodies either, only blood... lots of it. Hearing a sound, Kainan dashes off to investigate, but he is knocked unconscious by a Viking warrior, Wulfric, who thinks he's the one who attacked the village.

Taking the stranger back to Herot as a prisoner, Wulfric tells King Rothgar about the devastation in the nearby village, a village ruled by their fiercest adversary, a man named Gunnar. Rothgar, fearing that they will be blamed for the massacre, tells Wulfric to interrogate their prisoner.

When Wulfric interrogates Kainan, demanding to know who he is and where he's from, Kainan tells him that he comes from very far away, and that he was hunting a creature - noticing a carving of a creature similar to the Moorwen, Kainan tells them that he was hunting the creature depicted in the carving... the Vikings all burst into laughter because the carving depicts a dragon. Although Kainan insists that the creature is real and that it was responsible for the destruction of the Viking village, no one believes him... until the Moorwen attacks the village.

'Outlander' is a wonderfully entertaining movie - the storyline is imaginative, the dialogue is short and snappy, and there are enough action scenes and creature standoffs to keep even the most jaded sci-fi aficionado interested.

There is a perfect balance between sci-fi surrealism and Iron Age authenticity, a balance that holds everything together and gives this movie a 'realistic' feel - something that I wasn't actually expecting. I was pleasantly surprised. At one point I even forgot that Kainan was from another world and that Moorwen wasn't your typical dragon - there is more of a fantastical feel to this movie than a sci-fi feel... something along the lines of 'Beowulf', '300' and 'Kingdom of Heaven'. 'Outlander' is more epic than intergalactic, and incorporates everything the action/adventure, sci-fi and fantasy enthusiasts love... not to mention the fact that there are more than a few sparks between Kainan and Freya [King Rothgar's daughter] to keep the romance enthusiasts happy, too.

The Viking villages, costumes, weapons, buildings and tools appear to be authentic; however, the accents are not...especially Wulfric's [Jack Huston] accent which is noticeably British. Disconcerting... you'd think the director would have done something about that, especially after having paid so much attention to detail--which brings me to the scenery, which was, to say the least, absolutely inspiring. From the bowels of the earth to the top of the world and onwards into outer space... 'Outlander' is a visual smorgasbord.

The acting is quite good, after all, the actors aren't exactly novices. John Hurt is spectacular as Rothgar--he plays a man who is well aware of his advanced years, and who is attempting to prepare for the inevitable as best he can... his priority being his lovely daughter, Freya. Although Rothgar is frail, he possesses a strength of character that is unwavering, even in the midst of chaos, and John Hurt highlights this quality--Rothgar may be old and preparing to meet Odin, but he isn't a weakling.

The lovely Freya is played by Sophia Myles--what a pleasure it was seeing her in this movie. I'm so used to seeing her as Beth in the vampire series 'Moonlight', that seeing her wielding a sword and wearing a Viking warrior costume was a bit unsettling, if not... somewhat out of character. Needless to say that my doubts about Sophia lasted less than a second--the time it took for her to deflect Rothgar's sword and challenge his authority. Freya is something of a firebrand, a rebellious princess who looks like an angel but can punch like a boxing demon, and her presence is a definite pleasure because, although she is a tough cookie, she smoothes out the movie's sharp edges with a gentle femininity that is never too far from the surface.

James Caviezel who plays Kainan, the soldier/warrior from another planet, has done a good job in portraying his character--Kainan is from an advanced world, and although he obviously has one up on the coarse and unpolished Vikings, he blends in by acknowledging and accepting their differences, and by showing them the respect they deserve. He doesn't just step in and expect everyone to fall at his feet because he's smarter or stronger, nor does he consider anyone to be inferior... Kainan is a likeable sort, respectful and soft-spoken, but that's not to say that he can't give as good as he gets. Kainan is a patient man, he knows to wait for the right moment--the silent type with an incredible strength of character. Kainan manages to win the respect of King Rothgar and even Wulfric who is aspiring to be the next king and to wed Freya--Wulfric's respect for Kainan is absolute, even when it becomes obvious that Freya possesses feelings for Kainan. There is none of the expected jealousy or rivalry in this movie as the characters are steadfast in their quest to kill the Moorwen... and that's as it should be.

Jack Huston, who plays Wulfric, is the 'pretty boy', the one with the looks, the charm, the melting smile, and the ability to hold his own--unfortunately, regardless of all those qualities, he's far too impetuous and is too busy rushing into the thick of things to take the time to actually use his brain. The good thing is that, although he may gripe and be quick to feel anger, he is quicker to forgive, forget, and take onboard the advice he's given. Wulfric is a solid character, incredibly likeable regardless of momentary bouts of shallowness, and my only gripe with him is his accent... I wish he'd made the effort to learn how to speak with an Old Norse inflection in his voice. Huston' posh British accent doesn't serve him well--it's way too obvious and puts the viewer off.

All-in-all, 'Outlander' was an incredibly interesting and entertaining movie regardless that it probably possessed a low-end budget--the special-effects were really good, and the Moorwen was fascinating to behold because he wasn't stolen from 'Alien' or 'Predator' movies... he is more a creature from the bowels of hell than a monster from another planet. The action scenes carry the movie along, and the characters possess 'real' depth. The story is believable regardless of the man-from-outer-space-meets-Iron-Age-Viking edge to it... possibly because Kainan loses all of his high-tech gadgets and weapons early on in the movie and quickly, and efficiently, steps into the Viking warrior role. Even though we tend to forget that Kainan is from another planet, one that is far more advanced, every now and then we are reminded of his origins and that is the beauty of this movie--it doesn't attempt to cram the sci-fi down your throat... it simply lets it happen.

There is something for everyone in this movie... be it sword fights, romance, monsters, spacecrafts from another planet, high-tech gadgetry, period costumes and wild chases. The scenery is breathtaking at times, the characters are believable and the story doesn't sink into the abyss of inanity after the first few scenes... definitely worth watching.

 

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