The 13th Warrior (DVD)

...it finally made it onto the cinema screens after Disney ummed and ahhhed about what precisely they should do with it, eventually throwing it onto the screens at the end of August - i.e. at the worst possible time. Consequently it didn't do very well, any interest in it having waned long before its release and its poor timing damning it to such a naff performance. A few months later it skulked onto video with even less ceremony and then disappeared ...
...to see this happen when the movie isn't half bad and even more shameful when the fantasy/medieval genre is so lacking in decent movies. Admittedly its production didn’t exactly run smoothly. McTiernan was commissioned to bring forth a movie adaptation of Crichton’s novel until somewhere along the line personalities clashed and McTiernan disappeared leaving Crichton himself to finish the movie off himself. Muchos editing later and Disney gets left ...

wampyrii 22.05.2002 · Read full review
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Review of The 13th Warrior (DVD)

...sure what to expect. Still, the premise looked interesting and my wife agreed to it because it had Antonio Banderas' name across the top. The plot centres on Banderas' character, an Arab poet called Ahmed, who fell in love with an important man's wife and had to leave his town. On his travels he becomes a sort of ambassador to other peoples and soon meets up with some Norsemen, who have ways that are strange and different to him (he even needs a ...
...become a reluctant conscript to the proceedings. He is considered weak and an outsider at first by the 12, but gradually gains their respect, even learning their language (in one night!) until they meet the foe and he has to prove his courage in the ultimate test, battle. The story is entertaining, always surprising you with something new, be it comedy or the excellent fight sequences. Antonio plays the reluctant hero perfectly, wincing at war and ...

pbyron 22.04.2001 · Read full review
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Review of The 13th Warrior (DVD)

...for ever…” Since the ages, the epic saga of king’s brutality or the fight of good against evil has fascinated directors all around the world. Benhur was a fascinating display of costume drama and has been the most cherished king…Saga. The best of these kinds of movies are the fantastic Orchestra of music, the horse stunts and the beautiful photography. But the negative part is they tend to become slow at times. Behind the ...
...the novel by Michael Crichton’s “Eaters of the Dead” is good, surprisingly fast paced movie compared to Braveheart and Gladiator. Though, this movie can’t be compared to Braveheart, it does has its own fair bit of fantastic and good moments. Story does it say’s … The movie revolves round the Arab, Iban Fadlan(Antonio Banderas) who is exiled from his country and has been made ambassador to far away country along ...

asyis 20.04.2001 · Read full review
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Review of The 13th Warrior (DVD)

...and unconventional warriors, meet on the journey of life and join forces to defeat an inhuman enemy on the adventure of a life time. Everything about this movie is fantastic from the choice of actors, some famous and some unknown, their acting and portrayal of a warrior race ( the Norsemen ) that is very much at odds with what we think we know or have been told about them and the very story itself, the defeat of a sick, perverse pagan religious cult ...
...of action and fighting in the film, this is not the main element of why I recommending it, the real bonus and must see element of the film is the way the characters develop and the constant surprises we see as we find out what they are really like and how they interact with each other and the task in hand. For example, we quickly find out that they are not the mindless, moronic, Neanderthals we think they are at the start. These men are very intelligent ...

Blackcat01 18.05.2006 · Read full review
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Review of The 13th Warrior (DVD)

...marvellous story hidden away in the depths of this film. Although based on the book "The Eaters of the Dead" by Michael Crichton I believe a goodly portion is also based on the legend of Beowulf. But I digress.... As a result of annoying the wrong people in his Arab society, Antonio Banderas' character, a poet by trade is exiled a far distant land. During his travels to his new home he is accompanied by Omar Sharif who puts in a cameo role as Banderas' ...
...is brought by longship to the encampment where upon the local seeress performs a ritual. The ritual normally specifies 12 warriors go forth to conquer the threat contained within the message that just arrived, however this time a 13th warrior is specified by the bones and it is, yes you guessed it, Antonio Banderas' character. They quickly sail for the village that sent the message to the encampment and on arrival notice that it has fallen on very ...

Guzman 19.04.2001 · Read full review
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Review of The 13th Warrior (DVD)

The 13th Warrior is a bit like the Magnificent Seven only there are thirteen of them and they are vikings! Starring Antonio Banderas as the 13th warrior - the other 12 are Northmen (aka vikings), the story involves them aiding a small village being torn apart by 'that which has no name' - a legend, of mysteriously merciless beasts that tear the heads of their prey. I never saw this film when it first came out last year I think but I have watched ...
...families and friends; of defending the weak and the defenceless against the terrors of the night, the mythical foes that fight like bears and only come in the mist. The fight scenes are quite excellent, director John McTiernan intermingling slow motion with real action; the blood is splattered freely about but not gratuitously so and there are no real horrific sights - it is only a 15 certificate after all. The story is simple but sound and the ...

rvb13 11.06.2001 · Read full review
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Review of The 13th Warrior (DVD)

The 13th Warrior begins with an introduction to our hero, Ahmed (played by Antonio Banderas)an ambassador that's been exiled from his homeland. Together with his entourage he comes across a band of Vikings (referred to as North men) and they join them in their camp. It's not too long before after a lot of what appears to be hocus-pocus, that a young Viking enters the camp and tells them of this Viking kingdom that is being attacked by a ferocious ...
...to return north and rid the kingdom of the threat, and to chose who is to go, they consult a soothsayer -an old bone-throwing woman who appears to be completely mad. She picks twelve Viking men whilst Ahmed looks on and then says that there has to be a 13th who is non-Viking for them to be successful. This turns out to be Ahmed. The movie continues with Ahmed integrating with his Viking companions and this, I found interesting as the differences ...

derek-j-a 18.06.2005 (19.06.2005) · Read full review
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Review of The 13th Warrior (DVD)

...big big Submarine heading to the states... ok... you want another famous title??? let's see... oh yes of course : "Last Action Hero" in 1993 with A.Schwarzenegger (why the heck did i choose this movie!... i had already many troubles trying to write this name properly earlier on!)...and a magic golden ticket So yes, John Mc Tiernan is now used to doing action movie, with famous actors as well (i bet you recognize the name Willis, Connery, Schaw.....Arnold!). ...
...he was doing...and what were the ingredients to make a good soup... movie! He choosed this time another famous name to play in this new movie : Antonio Banderas (famous for something of course... we might have seen him in Evita (1996), The Mask Of Zorro (1998), recently in Spy Kids...). The film called "the 13th Warrior" is released in 1999. Let me tell you about the story, year 922 (AD), Ahmed Ibn Fahdlan Ibn Al Abbas Ibn Rashid Ibn Hamad (it's ...

Peugeot106 20.09.2001 · Read full review
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Review of The 13th Warrior (DVD)

...competant actor. He definitely lifts The 13th Warrior out of the mire with his good comedic timing and hero-like integrity. The film itself is an interesting idea that Vikings had contact with Arabs. Is this historically correct? Possibly. All the actors do a pretty fine job but the plot looses direction a few times and has a couple of loose ends. I'm given to think that its a kind of Fantasy version of ID-4, check out the parrallels. However, the ...

stevesm 23.08.2000 · Read full review
Review of The 13th Warrior (DVD)

...a wonderfully powerful cast! As the deep and thoughtful chieftain Buliwyf, Vladimir Kulich was splendid. He played his part with dignity, power and intelligence. Another stand-out performance was that of Dennis Storhoi who played Herger the Joyous. Perfect timing and temperament. Really fun to watch. Antonio Banderas as the narrator of the piece and, incidentally, the 13th warrior was also fun to watch. He has a knack for humor and uses it well. ...
...they moved through-out the film as a team of men who valued each others strengths and talents. The camera work in this film is dangerous and thrilling. Our perspective is intimate and that lends a great deal of excitement to the movie experience. Thank you Mr. Menzes! The 13th Warrior is for anyone who believes in honor, valor and courage. Also, for anyone who likes Vikings, horses, battles, blood and gore or men. Women who like men will like this ...

ros145 16.07.2000 · Read full review
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Review of The 13th Warrior (DVD)

Another good American film. From the director of action movies Predator and Die-Hard, John McTiernan. Set in AD 992 an Arab official broodingly played by Antonio Banderas fall's out with his rulers and as punishment is sent to the north lands as a ambassador with the Norse barbarian’s. He is shocked by their uncouth way’s and immediately takes a dislike to their rough vulgar manner. The Norsemen receive a plea for help from another Norse ...
...enemy with no name. The Arab is 'enlisted' into a war party to help in the fight by the Norse wise-woman, who foretells that there need’s to be 13 warriors in the effort, of course there are only 12 volunteers…. Not taken seriously at first, he has to prove himself all the way, eventually the Norsemen accept him as the warrior he is. He refuses to accept the adversary is supernatural and slowly strip’s away the naive superstition ...

junfan 13.08.2001 · Read full review
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Review of The 13th Warrior (DVD)

...Ahmed, who was involved with the influential men`s wife and was sent far away as some sort of ambassador. The main part is - far away. On his way to nowhere he encounters some Vikings and, suprise-suprise, a boy-messenger appears begging for help against some evil forces. Vikings, all eager to have a good fight, went to pack their bags, but there is a difficulty - they need 13 warriors - a magic number for them and the 13th must not be a Viking. ...
...Well, here is the start. I am not going to retell you the story. Watch the movie! But I will tell you what is so good about it. Firstly - it is good entertainment. Literally - well done! With all bits and bobs in the right places it moves smoothly from on episode to another. Very watchable. Secondly - Banderas. This is definitely the movie to watch for his fans. Great acting, good humour and a fair share of heroism in his character makes you no ...

mart6011 22.07.2001 · Read full review
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Review of The 13th Warrior (DVD)

The beautiful locations where this film wasmade is its only redeeming feature and I mean that, based on the book by Michael crichton (probably spelt that wrong) but thats where the similarity ends, this film is just laughable, banderas stumbles across a band of renegades out to bestroy the bear creatures, which you can see are men dressed up, they only come aand attack at night, until the end, banderas learns a foreign language in about two minutes ...

mcpoeman 05.11.2000 · Read full review
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Review of The 13th Warrior (DVD)

...That must be the best film a have seen in years.Antonio Banderas plays a privileged young poet in Baghdad. After falling for a very beautiful and married woman, he is banished from the country to serve as Ambassador to everybody. He travels the land learning about other peoples and tribes and teaching them about Baghdad and the Muslim faith. We aren't given a timeline, but I assume it's the 11th or 12th century. After being chased by a group of Nomads, ...
...cultural exchange during which the Norsemen are summoned back home to rid the land of these creatures that can not be named. They consult a medicine woman who tells them that only 13 can go.12 norsemen and 1 no norsemen.So They ask Antonio Banderas to come with them.They pack up and head north.Their goal: report to aging King Hrothgar and offer their assistance in protecting his people from a scourge that is causing supernatural terror and decimating ...

Sasiska333 08.05.2004 · Read full review
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Review of The 13th Warrior (DVD)

The 13th warrior is an incredibly poor film. The reason I watched this film in the first place is because I am a fan of Antonio Banderas, loved the Mask of Zorro and Desperado to name but a few. The story is that there are vikings that have to stand up to their enemy, they need the help of Antonio Banderas to defeat him. Of course he agrees and then they embark on their quest. I felt that this film drifted in and out of conscientiousness as the step ...

westham 10.02.2001 · Read full review
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Review of The 13th Warrior (DVD)