The 13th Warrior (1999)

User Rating:

6.2/10   

Director:

John McTiernan

Writers (WGA):

Michael Crichton (novel)
William Wisher Jr. (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

27 August 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Fantasy

Tagline:

Fear reigns.

Plot:

In AD 922, an important emissary who is banished from his homeland. The nomadic outcast comes across...

Plot Keywords:

Viking | Arab | Warrior | Battle | Beowulf

Awards:

2 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Antonio Banderas	...	Ahmed Ibn Fahdlan
Vladimir Kulich	...	Buliwyf
Dennis Storhøi	...	Herger - Joyous (as Dennis Storhoi)
Daniel Southern	...	Edgtho - Silent
Neil Maffin	...	Roneth
John DeSantis	...	Ragnar - Dour (as John Desantis)
Clive Russell	...	Helfdane - Fat
Mischa Hausserman	...	Rethel - Archer
Oliver Sveinall	...	Haltaf - Boy
Asbjørn 'Bear' Riis	...	Halga - Wise (as Asbjorn Riis)
Richard Bremmer	...	Skeld - Superstitious
Tony Curran	...	Weath - Musician
Albie Woodington	...	Hyglak - Quarrelsome
Omar Sharif	...	Melchisidek
Erick Avari	...	Caravan Leader (as Eric Avari)

Also Known As:

Eaters of the Dead (USA) (working title)
The Thirteenth Warrior
The Vikings (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for bloody battles and carnage.

Runtime:

102 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Latin

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Malaysia:18SG | Germany:12 | USA:R (No. 36499) | Netherlands:16 | Argentina:13 | Australia:MA | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14A (Alberta/Manitoba) | Canada:18A (British Columbia) | Canada:18 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Chile:14 | Finland:K-16 | France:U | Hong Kong:IIB | Iceland:16 | Ireland:18 | New Zealand:R16 | Norway:15 | Peru:14 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:NC-16 | South Korea:18 | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | Philippines:PG-13 | Brazil:14

Filming Locations:

British Columbia, Canada

Company:

Touchstone Pictures

Trivia:

The Buliwyf's dog name is Rekkae (played by Connor).

Goofs:

Anachronisms: Hrothgar was a king of Denmark whose biography is unknown, but whose chronology was shortly after AD 500. Ahmed ibn Fadlan was an explorer who flourished circa AD 922. Ahmed's Islamic faith itself did not exist until after AD 622, so Hrothgar's court could not have encountered any Muslims to begin with.

Quotes:

Herger the Joyous: When they come, we form a circle in the center of the room, backs to one another.
Ahmed Ibn Fahdlan: I am not a warrior.
Herger the Joyous: Very soon, you will be.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Troldspejlet: (#23.2)" (2000)

Beowulf meets Die Hard

In the early years of the 10th century, an exiled Arabian nobleman falls in with a band of Vikings. Disgusted by their poor hygiene and their barbaric ways, he nevertheless reluctantly agrees to accompany them to a distant kingdom, where an unspeakable menace terrorizes the land.

This is an interesting interpretation of the tale of Beowulf, with the monster Grendel transformed into the fierce Wendol, a tribe of cannibalistic Neanderthals who have somehow survived long past their time. Despite the fact that Banderas is the title character and credited as the star, he is not the hero here at all. The band of 13 is led by the huge and intimidating Buliwyf (read Beowulf), a hero among his people who must battle both the Wendol and their deadly "mother." Alexander Gudonov lookalike Vladimir Kulich is the hero of this film, and delivers a strong, amazing performance. Banderas spends much of the film bumbling, stumbling, screwing up and trying to keep up with the Vikings, who look upon him with contempt but finally, perhaps grudgingly, accept him.

Okay, so it's not entirely historically accurate and suffers from production problems and an occasional overdose of testosterone, but it's not a bad movie by any means. The casting is great, with standout performances by the aforementioned Kulich as well as Dennis Storhoi as Herger, Banderas's translator and only friend; the handsome Scottish actor Tony Curran (in an unlikely kilt, but who cares?!?!) as the Celt Weath and the woefully underrated Richard Bremmer as the intimidating tattooed redheaded (and damn sexy!) Skeld. The film was worth watching for these three men alone, but then, I am female and perhaps a bit prejudiced in my opinions. These guys are HOT! But, I digress...

Beautiful scenery, tense and bloody battles and a claustrophobic climax in a bone strewn cave lift this movie well above average. There's something for everyone here; fans of horror, fans of action, fans of classic literature should all find something to enjoy about this film. It may not be the best film ever made, but its still one of my very favorites.