Not the same old action adventure movie
Added 3/17/2010
I found this movie to be a bit of a surprise, a good surprise. Where it is probably not completely historically accurate to the facts presented, I was aware of the Native American tribe of indians from Minnesota that had a large number of blond, blue eyed members. Add that to the fact that amid being ruthless warriors, the Vikings were first class explorers. Stories that have a sudo historical back-drop I find interesting, as you take a leap of imagination into the story. The story moves right along starting with meeting Ghost as a little boy and following him along as he walks his path toward becoming a brave. It is during this time you learn that he is not really accepted, nor is he ever really likely to be, as he is from both worlds.We learn that he has not really made peace with the fact and that of course is what he must do. I totally bonded with Ghost, I totally understood where he was coming from. From that point on our characters are flung into chaos. The Pathfinder declares that Ghost has not yet earned the right to become a brave which in turn sends he on what I believe to be his mystery walk. He stikes off on his own saying goodbye to the only family he has known. Of course disaster stikes and the Vikings have not only come back but they attack savagely and brutally. Please note that if violence offends or bothers you please skip this movie it only gets more pervasive through out. This brings Ghost back to find most of his family and tribe slaughtered, and his father hacked down in front of him. It is a nice touch that Ghost cries over his dead mother and finding his dead sisters' doll, it makes us the audience have to relate to Ghost as a human being which is not usually the way that it is in action movies. From this point forward vengeance with a capital V becomes Ghost's path kill as many as he can and die trying to kill even more. Brutal, savage, fast paced is what this movie becomes and you can not help become elated as the bad guys get killed. Though we do have a love triangle through out the first half of the movie so do not be fooled into thinking that this is only a slice and dice of the baddies type movie. Karl Urban and Moon Bloodgood are very believeable together. Also the Pathfinder joins them on this mission or maybe that should be folly, so there is a generous sprinkling of Native American mysticism added to the mix. The Vikings are pretty much presented as mindless killing machines not anything more of them is presented which is a shame, as there is a lot more to vikings than that. I liked Clancy Brown much better in Highlander, he was able to create the Kurgan and make him his own. In this movie it was like they said be a bad a__ Viking and that was what he did, he didn't seem to put his own spin on it. I could be wrong about that but to me that was how it seemed.Come on Clancy you can play such a good bad guy show us your evil side. The scenery is spectacular and is used well to enhance the story. I throughly enjoyed Karl Urban's portrayal of Ghost. I could really relate and feel for his character, a tortured loner struggling to come to terms with his own past, so he can finally move his own life forward while at the same time having to deal with the multitude of problems that the Vikings have created for him. The physical side of his role is an equal joy to watch. His sword work is excellent as well as the fight scences, but then would you expect less of E'omer. Lord of the Rings was a good training ground for action adventure and he put into play all that he honed on Lord of the Rings. A solid action adventure movie all the way around, you don't have to think to much just sit back and enjoy the ride. And for all of you Karl Urban fans check out this movie if for nothing else but how he is costumed. I know I did a double take.
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A Violent, Brutal Wonder
Added 3/15/2010
When "Pathfinder" hit theaters a few years ago, I wanted to see it very badly. Unfortunately for me, it quietly came and went before I had the chance to see it. I heard almost nothing about it after it left theaters and began to lose interest in viewing it. Luckily for me, I managed to catch it on HBO awhile back and was instantly hooked. I sought out a copy of the DVD (which I had actually skimmed over for a long time thinking that it wasn't worth it), and was happy to find an unrated version of the film.
The story itself is rather simple. A young Viking boy is abandoned by his father when he refuses to kill a "savage" child on a scavenging excursion in what would become the New World. He is taken in by a North American tribe and raised as one their children. Fifteen years pass and the young boy is still a part of the tribe. He is called "Ghost" and gets along very well with his adopted family. He isn't, however, given the status of "Brave" because he still cannot find out which world (Viking or Native American) he truly belongs to. The opportunity to find his true path comes quickly when another raiding party of Vikings lands near his home and destroys the village. From this point on, it becomes a story of survival for Ghost as he attempts to help his surviving tribe members escape to safety while he stays behind to take on the Vikings alone.
Karl Urban ("Doom," "Star Trek") plays Ghost and does an excellent job of it. He is joined by Moon Bloodgood ("Burn Notice," "Eight Below") as Starfire, Russell Means ("The Last of the Mohicans", "Pocahontas") as Pathfinder and a nearly unrecognizable Clancy Brown ("Highlander," "Carnivale") as Gunnar, head of the Vikings.
The cast do an incredible job of acting, particularly since there is very little dialogue in the film. The natives speak English and the Vikings speak Icelandic. However, you could easily watch this film with no audio and know exactly what is going on.
For history buffs, you'll have to throw any and every fact you know about Vikings out of the window, as the producers intentionally utilized the Hollywood version of the Norsemen (and hockey pads) to provide familiarity for action fans. Horses are also thrown into the mix, so that's another falsification that will eat away at you as well.
The film is very violent. The unrated version features more action and a bit more blood, but is otherwise the same as the version on HBO.
The DVD comes with a few decent featurettes that range from the development of the story to the actual filming of the movie. Also included is a very brief look into Clancy Brown who, in my opinion, has never really received the recognition he deserves for his film and television work. Deleted scenes are also included.
I believe that this film deserves a few more looks from action and adventure fans. Granted, it lacks the so-called witty dialogue that litters most action films these days and actually takes a little time in developing the characters and plot, but it's a very good action film that shouldn't be ignored.
I also think that fans of films such as "Gladiator," "Brotherhood of the Wolf," and gritty horror films such as "Wolf Creek" will enjoy this film.
Highly underrated, highly recommended.
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Vikings and Indians? Don't know but it works! Blu-Ray review!
Added 1/16/2010
I see the reviews and of course some people are up in arms about historical accuraccy. Again I say, if you want historical accurracy in your films go to History Channel (and lately they have been pretty loose with it)! The premise is simple and it works: Young Viking boy stranded, raised by Indians, Vikings return to conquer and destroy, Viking-Indian boy leads the fight against them! A great action film with some excellent visuals and stunts. Simply enjoy! If you like movies like Apocolypto this is will satisfy! Karl Urban and Clancy Brown are awesome and make the movie.
NOW FOR MY BLU-RAY THOUGHTS: The picture is definetly sharper as is the sound. All the special features have been carried over. WORTHY OF OWNERSHIP.
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Pathfinder
Added 1/13/2010
A thousand years in the past, a young Norse boy is left behind after his clan shipwrecks on the Eastern shores. Despite his lineage, the boy is raised by the very Indians his kinsmen set out to destroy. Now, as the Vikings return to stage another barbaric raid on his village, the 25 year-old Norse warrior wages a personal war to stop the Vikings' trail of death and destruction. Forging his own path, his destiny is revealed and his identity re-claimed. This is a great movie. This movie is about belonging and forgiveness were very moving, and the action/adventure scenes are excellent. There is very little dialogue and the characters come through in the eyes of the actors. If you can sit still for something a little more serious, you'll be rewarded.
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First Vikings & Indians and then CONAN THE BARBARIAN
Added 12/16/2009
A strange and dark film pitting native Americans against some really brutal Vikings. Visually terrific with the usual pro performances by Karl Urban (LOTR, STAR TREK), Moon Bloodgood (TERMINATOR SALVATION, 8 BELOW) ,Clancy Brown ( HIGHLANDER )and Russell Means (LAST OF THE MOCHICANS). Some terrific battle scenes and, in the unrated version, pretty violent. Makes me interested in seeing how this director, Marc Nispel, can reignite the long dormant CONAN franchise.
0 out of 1 people found this helpful.
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Not the same old action adventure movie
Added 3/17/2010
I found this movie to be a bit of a surprise, a good surprise. Where it is probably not completely historically accurate to the facts presented, I was aware of the Native American tribe of indians from Minnesota that had a large number of blond, blue eyed members. Add that to the fact that amid being ruthless warriors, the Vikings were first class explorers. Stories that have a sudo historical back-drop I find interesting, as you take a leap of imagination into the story. The story moves right along starting with meeting Ghost as a little boy and following him along as he walks his path toward becoming a brave. It is during this time you learn that he is not really accepted, nor is he ever really likely to be, as he is from both worlds.We learn that he has not really made peace with the fact and that of course is what he must do. I totally bonded with Ghost, I totally understood where he was coming from. From that point on our characters are flung into chaos. The Pathfinder declares that Ghost has not yet earned the right to become a brave which in turn sends he on what I believe to be his mystery walk. He stikes off on his own saying goodbye to the only family he has known. Of course disaster stikes and the Vikings have not only come back but they attack savagely and brutally. Please note that if violence offends or bothers you please skip this movie it only gets more pervasive through out. This brings Ghost back to find most of his family and tribe slaughtered, and his father hacked down in front of him. It is a nice touch that Ghost cries over his dead mother and finding his dead sisters' doll, it makes us the audience have to relate to Ghost as a human being which is not usually the way that it is in action movies. From this point forward vengeance with a capital V becomes Ghost's path kill as many as he can and die trying to kill even more. Brutal, savage, fast paced is what this movie becomes and you can not help become elated as the bad guys get killed. Though we do have a love triangle through out the first half of the movie so do not be fooled into thinking that this is only a slice and dice of the baddies type movie. Karl Urban and Moon Bloodgood are very believeable together. Also the Pathfinder joins them on this mission or maybe that should be folly, so there is a generous sprinkling of Native American mysticism added to the mix. The Vikings are pretty much presented as mindless killing machines not anything more of them is presented which is a shame, as there is a lot more to vikings than that. I liked Clancy Brown much better in Highlander, he was able to create the Kurgan and make him his own. In this movie it was like they said be a bad a__ Viking and that was what he did, he didn't seem to put his own spin on it. I could be wrong about that but to me that was how it seemed.Come on Clancy you can play such a good bad guy show us your evil side. The scenery is spectacular and is used well to enhance the story. I throughly enjoyed Karl Urban's portrayal of Ghost. I could really relate and feel for his character, a tortured loner struggling to come to terms with his own past, so he can finally move his own life forward while at the same time having to deal with the multitude of problems that the Vikings have created for him. The physical side of his role is an equal joy to watch. His sword work is excellent as well as the fight scences, but then would you expect less of E'omer. Lord of the Rings was a good training ground for action adventure and he put into play all that he honed on Lord of the Rings. A solid action adventure movie all the way around, you don't have to think to much just sit back and enjoy the ride. And for all of you Karl Urban fans check out this movie if for nothing else but how he is costumed. I know I did a double take.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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A Violent, Brutal Wonder
Added 3/15/2010
When "Pathfinder" hit theaters a few years ago, I wanted to see it very badly. Unfortunately for me, it quietly came and went before I had the chance to see it. I heard almost nothing about it after it left theaters and began to lose interest in viewing it. Luckily for me, I managed to catch it on HBO awhile back and was instantly hooked. I sought out a copy of the DVD (which I had actually skimmed over for a long time thinking that it wasn't worth it), and was happy to find an unrated version of the film.
The story itself is rather simple. A young Viking boy is abandoned by his father when he refuses to kill a "savage" child on a scavenging excursion in what would become the New World. He is taken in by a North American tribe and raised as one their children. Fifteen years pass and the young boy is still a part of the tribe. He is called "Ghost" and gets along very well with his adopted family. He isn't, however, given the status of "Brave" because he still cannot find out which world (Viking or Native American) he truly belongs to. The opportunity to find his true path comes quickly when another raiding party of Vikings lands near his home and destroys the village. From this point on, it becomes a story of survival for Ghost as he attempts to help his surviving tribe members escape to safety while he stays behind to take on the Vikings alone.
Karl Urban ("Doom," "Star Trek") plays Ghost and does an excellent job of it. He is joined by Moon Bloodgood ("Burn Notice," "Eight Below") as Starfire, Russell Means ("The Last of the Mohicans", "Pocahontas") as Pathfinder and a nearly unrecognizable Clancy Brown ("Highlander," "Carnivale") as Gunnar, head of the Vikings.
The cast do an incredible job of acting, particularly since there is very little dialogue in the film. The natives speak English and the Vikings speak Icelandic. However, you could easily watch this film with no audio and know exactly what is going on.
For history buffs, you'll have to throw any and every fact you know about Vikings out of the window, as the producers intentionally utilized the Hollywood version of the Norsemen (and hockey pads) to provide familiarity for action fans. Horses are also thrown into the mix, so that's another falsification that will eat away at you as well.
The film is very violent. The unrated version features more action and a bit more blood, but is otherwise the same as the version on HBO.
The DVD comes with a few decent featurettes that range from the development of the story to the actual filming of the movie. Also included is a very brief look into Clancy Brown who, in my opinion, has never really received the recognition he deserves for his film and television work. Deleted scenes are also included.
I believe that this film deserves a few more looks from action and adventure fans. Granted, it lacks the so-called witty dialogue that litters most action films these days and actually takes a little time in developing the characters and plot, but it's a very good action film that shouldn't be ignored.
I also think that fans of films such as "Gladiator," "Brotherhood of the Wolf," and gritty horror films such as "Wolf Creek" will enjoy this film.
Highly underrated, highly recommended.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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Vikings and Indians? Don't know but it works! Blu-Ray review!
Added 1/16/2010
I see the reviews and of course some people are up in arms about historical accuraccy. Again I say, if you want historical accurracy in your films go to History Channel (and lately they have been pretty loose with it)! The premise is simple and it works: Young Viking boy stranded, raised by Indians, Vikings return to conquer and destroy, Viking-Indian boy leads the fight against them! A great action film with some excellent visuals and stunts. Simply enjoy! If you like movies like Apocolypto this is will satisfy! Karl Urban and Clancy Brown are awesome and make the movie.
NOW FOR MY BLU-RAY THOUGHTS: The picture is definetly sharper as is the sound. All the special features have been carried over. WORTHY OF OWNERSHIP.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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