romantic epic

Rating: 10/10 (23 December 2000)

I would think it would be difficult to upstage Antonio Banderas -- he is usually the upstager, as Armand in "INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE" in which Banderas upstaged Brad Pitt. In 13th Warrior, Banderas is upstaged by Vladimir Kulich or at least, I would call it a close draw. Kulich makes most other men look somewhat effeminate -- he really is a magnificent specimen of a male. His acting, in this movie at least, is insightful, focused, cool. He's so cool he even has "kul" in his name. I really did like this movie. But then I like costumes and manners and locales. Bloody stuff -- I have to look away during some scenes, especially if I am having any meal but nevertheless, the scenes melt together with a dreamlike quality and it's almost believable. There seemed to be some editing bleeps -- how did all those horses get onto that tiny ship and where were they? Below decks? But this is trivial. Could this be true? I remember reading something about this when I was very young. Who knows? Kulich is someone I will have to watch more closely.