Nice to look at, mediocre to watch

Rating: Null/10 (1 September 1999)

I'll probably be reiterating what many people have already said, but the 13th Warrior is a very good-looking film, and it is also well-acted... the story does leave something to be desired, but on the whole, it wasn't a waste of my time.
The look of this film was fabulous. The medieval setting, the mists, the landscapes and scenery all came together into a beautiful whole. It was almost enchanting to watch the shots go by, particularly if you like old Norse stylings.
The principal actors all did a solid job of portraying their roles... Antonio Banderas did well as the reluctant Arab, and while he may have been The Big Name in the cast, his character was not the dominating force of the film. The other warriors got a great deal of screen time, and were actually allowed to develop, instead of just handing the shot over to Banderas.
The plot was somewhat intriguing, and I often found myself wondering about the mysterious foes that the protagonists were up against, but on the whole, it was strangely anti-climactic. The final battle almost seemed too quick, and the ending didn't quite answer all the questions it had brought up. I left the theater with the feeling that they could have done far more with the plot than they ended up doing. But, if you like medieval settings and fierce battle sequences, then this is probably for you. 6/10