Classic Norse Saga of the Magnificent Seven

Rating: 8/10 (26 November 2006)

Of course there are probably hundreds of anachronisms and faulty historical facts but I have to say that this film is one of my favourite fantasy screen sagas. It's a bit bloody and violent and the inclusion of an Arab diplomat in the Northlands is a bit spurious but to be honest it just works.
The plot is a bit basic, even B-movie, but what really brings the movie to life is the characterisation of the Norsemen Warriors - a good half-dozen who get a reasonable chance to develop their characters on-screen. Banderas is a likable, slightly effete, exiled Arab diplomat and neatly pulls off the educated philosopher finding his warrior roots. There's also a lot of humour - largely on the part of the extremely watchable Dennis Strohøi and the 'buddy movie' plot between his character and Banderas' is one of the film's best points. The hero Buliwyf is also not one-dimensional and he shows depth other than his ability to lead men and hack his enemies to death. Having said that there's a fair amount of hacking and slaying to watch but the battle scenes are actually pretty good, gritty, dirty set-pieces and the Norsemen by no means invincible. In a way I guess it resembles more the Magnificent Seven rather than the saga of Beowulf upon which it was loosely based. And that's probably the best comparison - village besieged by evil doers that the heroes finally vanquish but at no insignificant cost to themselves.
Throw in some nice touches to the Dark Ages world they live in (even if historically inaccurate in places) and some nice one-liners and you have a very watchable film in the tradition of the old Norse Sagas & a McTiernan buddy film.
Incidentally there is also probably the best on-screen language transition from having to use subtitles all through the film to suddenly everyone being able to understand one another that I've ever seen. Yes it's pretty unbelievable but it makes the whole film a lot easier to watch and is quite amusing at the same time ... So don't be put off by the bewildering Greek, Arabic, Old Norse and Arabic that the film starts out with.
As the man says: 'Ja være den ottende menne'