Viking DVD

Advantages: A swashbuckling charge down memory lane!
Disadvantages: It isn't very PC and nor does it have great depth.

...'The Vikings' is a 1hr 51min movie from the 50s starring Kirk Douglas, available at a very low price on DVD. Looking back in his autobiography, 'Climbing the mountain', Kirk Douglas had a lot to say about 'Spartacus'. I can see why because it was a huge movie with lots of gladiators forming an army to challenge even the mighty Romans. However, a film of his from the 50s that I loved dearly but which he hardly mentions, was 'The Vikings''. I like it more than 'Spartacus'. Directed by Richard Fleischer, 'The Vikings' was released when I was four way back in 1958. It did the rounds of cinemas quite regularly in Birmingham in the following years which is how it was that when I was eight I found myself, wide-eyed and in awe of this movie. Why? Because the world it depicted was colourful, exciting and filled with larger than life... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Great story, very well made, absorbing plot.
Disadvantages: A couple of places where pace of movie slows a little.

...of the women in the village happens to know an extraordinary amount about Grendel. "A LITERARY MONSTER MOVIE" Marilyn Smulders - The Halifax Daily News The story is very deep and often sad in parts. Grendel even keeps the skull of his dead father in like a shrine, in his cavern. Many times you see in the film that Grendel is full of emotion and can feel tremendous emotional pain. It is very easy to empathise what he must be going through and to hate the vikings. The film is very well made with great acting, and action scenes to equal the best action movies out there. Clothing and scenery are totally authentic. this is a very good film, that has obviously been well thought out. The DVD comes with a few deleted scnes and after viewing them, I agree they were better left out of the movie. The film also comes with a fancy cardboard outer... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Great battles and an interesting story
Disadvantages: Er, where are the extras?

...to get into and really builds up the tension during pre-battle sequences. The only question that actually has to be asked about this DVD is ‘Where are the Extras?’ It’s such a shame to see such a well put together film that doesn’t have a commentary or even a trailer. Some behind the scenes footage of the special effects would have been nice, as would an interview with Banderas about his character. It really lets the side down on what, despite this, is a very good film. With more battles and bloodshed than Braveheart, more beheadings than Highlander and more Norsemen than Eric the Viking, this film is fantastic entertainment for anyone who likes good old-fashioned storytelling with some great action sequences thrown in, shame about the extras, but if you can live without these then the DVD is still worth... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful