Movie Review: "The 13th Warrior" (1999)Based on a rarely-known book called "Eaters of the Dead" written by famous "Jurassic Park" author Michael Crichton (1942-2008), firstly published 1976, to a no-major-selling success or critical acclaim, nevertheless fascinating in its conception by following leading character an abandoned Arabic Prince by the name "Ahmed Ibn Fahdlan" to Nordic region of today's Scandinavia, meeting a tribe of Vikings, learning their language just through listening, before one night at a magically-captured bonfire scene by cinematographer Peter Menzies Jr. the ear of Ahmad, in a match-making portrayal by actor Antonio Banderas, as the words changes to full comprehension, when the Arabian finally gets accepted into the circle of childhood-close fellow Vikings, led by international casting choices as Vladimir Kulich, in fully convictions as Viking leader and actor Dennis Storhoi as Herger, the Joyous, who unfortunately does not get enough screen-time to make a mark in motion picture history, when the "Band of 12" set out then with "Ahmad" as "The 13th Warrior" to avenge a beastly R-rated ambush assault in a peace-loving Vikings' village by mask-wearing, black-magic indulging rival tribe of Nordic warriors fevering toward an ultimate showdown rain, thunder and mud.This adventure movie directed by John McTiernan should have become the ultimate Summer hit of 1998 after principal photography closing in November 1997 without holding back the barriers of a pressingly 100-Million-Dollar production budget given free by Disney Enterprises affiliate Touchstone Pictures to distribute worldwide, when a much more passionate writer-turning-director-again Michael Crichton, known for directing in 1970s with fair classics as Science Fiction thriller "Westworld" (1973) and heist-period-crime-story "The Great Train Robbery" starring Sean Connery and Donald Sutherland, who then must reshoot entire sequences for another rumor-has-it amount of 60-Million-Dollars a couple of scene for a delayed Summer release of 1999.Another time at the end of 1990s, when an editorial of just 95-Minutes gets presented to the U.S. American audience on premiere weekend of August 27th 1999, who then understandably felt cheated by such visually epic material, which deserved an 135-Minute-Editorial at least with splendid directed character arcs, sword fights of splintering blades and metal to slashing beastly flesh and an emotional as accurate warrior-to-redemption sub-story to let "The 13th Warrior" become one of "IMDb Top 250" movies, which is "The 13th Warrior" not, but nevertheless worth an initial watch of exotic adventure entertainment or even a revisit for genre-lovers.Copyright 2018 Cinemajesty Entertainments LLC

Ahmed Ibn Fahdian (Antonio Banderas)is extradited to the north by the Sultan after he falls in love with his daughter. On this journey, he stops at a Viking village and learns that a nearby kingdom is being terrorised (after the son of the King visits the village and asks their leader Bullwyf - Vladimir Kulich for help). Bullwyf and his associates agree to help the little boy and Fahdian is randomly selected as the 13th warrior and helps both Bullwyf and the boy's family to defend their kingdom...I've actually just re-read my summary for the film and deduced that it doesn't make much sense, but to my recollection that is exactly how the story is established so I can only apologise and reiterate things exactly how I saw them...Part of the problem with this film lies with its vague narrative; Fahdian is conscripted as the 13th warrior because the 13th warrior must not be from a Norse or Northern background. Oh how convenient? Of all the villages, in all the tents in all the world you just happened to walk in to mine... Quite why the 13th warrior cannot be a Norse warrior is anyone's guess - maybe it's explained in Crichton's novel, but hell it's certainly never explained in the film. I also found it strange that Fahdian seemed to be able to understand the Norse people's language and his explanation for understanding them is because he 'listened' - what that's it?? I've listened to people speak in other languages, but I'm still struggling with English so this makes no logical sense. OK, so the script has some ropy elements to it, but I was encouraged when I saw McTiernan's name on the open credits and felt sure that I would bear witness to some top quality direction... Nope the directing that I witnessed was actually very average; there were nowhere near enough action sequences, an unnecessary and unbearably long and dull set-up. The film is also way too serious and the fantasy/sorcery element was overdone and not particularly interesting.To be fair, the 13th Warrior isn't a total waste of time; there are a few decent action sequences (where McTiernan seems to have remembered some of what he was capable of with Predator and Die Hard) and the story is serviceable and moves along at an OK rate - at times it does have an old-fashioned adventure feel which always ensures that it's watchable.However, like I've said considering that this is the brainchild of talented people like Michael Crichton and John McTiernan it's hard not to feel a bit disappointed in this rather wishy-washy action adventure film - particularly knowing how great their films have been individually prior to this rather average collaboration.

This is a screen adaptation of Michael Crichton's fictional melding of the legend of Beowulf and the journal of the Arab visitor to earliest Viking Age Scandinavia, Ahmad ibn Fadlān ibn al-Abbās ibn Rāšid ibn Hammād.Antonio Banderas did an excellent job as the lead character, ibn Fadlan/"eben." The explanation of Grendel and his mother ... who looked like a teenage actress, actually ... is more plausible than ... but not as good as ... the legend. The depiction of the Vikings' lifestyle remains true to idb Fadlan's writings. The sense of honor and humor shows a noble people living in and dealing with a harsh, primitive environment and the resulting society.The depiction of Beowulf is powerful and complimentary. He doesn't say much, but every word has impact.The sympathetic treatment of Islam is intriguing. Scandinavia is right now trying to reconcile Muslim immigrants with indigenous Christians and nonbelievers in religion. The outcome of this is ... problematic, as the 2011 terrorist attack by one disaffected young Norwegian male here in Norway evidenced.Every young (or old) person of the Northern European heritage should see ... and consider ... this film.

The 13th Warrior (1999): Dir: John McTiernan / Cast: Antonio Banderas, Diane Venora, Omar Sharif, Vladimir Kulich, Clive Russell: Savage blood bath of fear as cannibals behead victims in all its gory detail. It doesn't make one bit of difference what number Antonio Banderas is. We know he is suppose to fight off these cannibals and basically kicked their asses. These warriors come across a village that live in fear of cannibals known as the Eaters of the Dead. They attack when the mist is out and take the heads of the victims. The warriors realize that they may have to seek out the cave of the enemy. Predictable, repetitious and extremely graphic. The visual elements succeed and director John McTiernan provides tension. This would seem fitting material for him, having previously made Predator. Both films are similar in that faceless warriors are killed by a nearly unseen force, and it boils down to one person to make the difference. Banderas labors under flat material. He never emerges as a personality. He fears, trains then goes out and fights. During this retaliation more warriors are slain in graphic detail. Diane Venora, Vladimir Kulich and Omar Sharif are wasted in cardboard appearances. This film is so relentlessly graphic that it is about as much fun as witnessing a live birth. Pointless encore of brutality and disgust that should be placed in a grinder. Score: 2 / 10