Flawed but fascinating retelling of the "Beowulf" story *spoiler's warning*

Rating: Null/10 (28 August 1999)

[This review contains spoilers]
Being familiar with both the novel that this is based on, "Eaters of the Dead," and the epic poem that book was based on, "Beowulf," I as a viewer can look at this film on many angles....angles perhaps the average viewer who has read neither cannot.
Antonio Banderas plays Ibn Fadlan, a Moor who is on a peace mission who gets tangled up with Viking warriors. While at their village, a small child arrives with news: a group of evil monsters called the wendol (or Grendle) have been slaughtering their people and eating them, and King Hrothgar has requested help. Twelve of the selected warriors, led by Buliwyf (or Beowulf), must be of their race, but as tradition goes, the thirteenth warrior must be from another land. Therefore, Ibn is reluctantly recruited, hence the title. And from then on, it's pretty much the story of the thirteen men's battles with the creatures, who turn out to be men who think they're bears (complicated). The warriors eventually battle the mother, and the familiar story of Beowulf comes into play, with the supernatural villians being replaced by really mean-looking norsemen.
Here is where the major flaw of the film takes place. The idea in itself it brilliant, about a realistic version of the "Beowulf" poem is played out through the eyes of a spectator. However, this film is victim to major cuts, which result in major plot conflicts being omitted. In the novel, Ibn is extremely unwilling to be a warrior, and the story is pretty much about how he, through watching Buliwyf, learns to become one of them. However, in this film, hardly any time is explored looking into the character of Ibn. He's simply there, and hardly any reluctance is seen in his character. Banderas simply plays the role as happy to be of service when he is selected to go with the warriors, but later on in the film, he is reluctant to fight. Therefore, the viewer has a hard time understanding the character of Ibn. In fact, it's all the other warriors, played by a bunch of unknowns, who have better defined characters (look for Stevens, the loony Irishman from "Braveheart," as the red-headed warrior...one of the major characters). It wouldn't have hurt the editors to include a few scenes featuring Ibn's reluctance in order to allow the viewer to understand him better.
The plot also has a hard time finding it's footing, though that's completely understandable. Considering the story of Beowulf never really had one steady plot, this film is pretty much what the poem is: series of battles interwoven with dialogue. So, that's forgivable. "Eaters of the Dead" handled that problem with showing Ibn adjusting to the ways of the vikings, and showing his relationships with the warriors, as he grows from reluctance to bravery. Since this film never really shows Ibn reluctant, that idea can't be used, so instead, this film must be judged as the poem is (unintentionally, I'm sure, but I'll let that one slide!).
But once those flaws are out of the way, what's left is an excellent, ingenious film with some of the finest performances, landscapes, and battling sequences ever put on film. Director McTiernan shows off his talents in all his full glory, showing tough, rugged battle sequences that are both stunningly real and over-the-top. Not since "Braveheart" have battle scenes looked so brilliant. The director also takes advantage of the landscape as well....I don't know about anyone else, but I'm ready to pack up my bags and move to the Norseman land!
The principle story is also clever. This is probably the most faithful film to be based on a work by Michael Critchon, and the scientific approach to "Beowulf" is well-handled. Especially at the end, when we learn *spoilers warning* that it is Ibn who wrote the "Beowulf" story in honor of the life of Buliwyf (an idea the book didn't include). And the final battle is moving and stirring: As the villians march for the warriors, there is an emotional scene and Ibn prays to Allah, and then stands up and joins his friends in a Norseman chant, praying to their gods for victory. The parallel shows that Ibn has truly become one of these men, and together they stand, fighting as one. Wow....What an incredible scene.
So while there are flaws, as a whole, this film stands as a fascinating retelling of the "Beowulf" theme....One that I think the original, unnamed poet would have been proud of.
*** out of ****