That's not to say that the film isn't occasionally funny, but most of the laughs aren't intentional (one hopes). Adapting Crichton's best selling novel, screenwriters William Wisher ("Terminator 2: Judgement Day," "Judge Dredd") and Warren Lewis ("Black Rain") don't offer much in the way of a substantial plot, character development or some much needed comic relief. It's just too bad that the same can't be said about the rest of the film. As such, his ever-moving camera and elaborately choreographed battle scenes do manage to hold one's interest.
McTiernan ("The Thomas Crown Affair," "Die Hard") is obviously quite adept at making action films. That said, the film - which is something of a combination of elements from other far superior pictures - does offer enough violent action scenes to keep things viscerally stimulating. Had this film come out before "Pulp Fiction," one could have easily understood why a character proclaimed in it, "I'm gonna get medieval on your ass." Yet, with a plot that offers little beyond a skeletal approach to storytelling - and simply leads from one bloody battle sequence to the next - the film will probably only appeal to audiences wanting a pure jolt of such mayhem, medieval style. Sure, there have been films where more people are killed, and others that are also far bloodier and more gory than this one. Although its humorous nature would be lost, that expression could easily be resurrected for Touchstone Pictures' release of "The 13th Warrior."īased on the novel "Eaters of the Dead" by acclaimed author and occasional filmmaker Michael Crichton (writer of "Jurassic Park" and "Disclosure," director of "Coma" and "Westworld") and directed by action guru John McTiernan - who knows a thing or two about keeping body counts high - the medieval-set film's only purpose seems to be seeing how many people can be killed during its 100+ minute runtime. OUR TAKE: 3.5 out of 10 In "Monty Python and the Holy Grail," there's a funny bit where a man walks through an impoverished medieval village shouting "Bring out your dead!" as bodies are brought out and thrown on a cart. VLADIMIR KULICH plays the leader of the warriors, a stoic but smart and seasoned fighter.DENNIS STORHOI plays one of his warrior cohorts who initially gives Ibn some grief about his size, horse and lack of fighting skills, but also proves to be a good friend and worthy ally.ANTONIO BANDERAS plays an emissary-turned reluctant warrior who joins the others in defending and thus killing many members of the attacking enemy.WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: R For bloody battles and carnage. WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT? If they're fans of Banderas or of medieval-based swashbuckler type movies, they just might, but it doesn't seem that this film will be much of a draw to most kids. Learning that most of the adult male population has been decimated by a mysterious enemy that only arrives in the shroud of fog and apparently eats its prey, Ibn and his cohorts set out to defend the village and its people.
ANDERSEN), who's not happy to see the warriors' arrival. As they arrive at the small, poorly constructed and defended fort/village, they meet the elderly leader, King Hrothgar (SVEN WOLLTER), his young wife, Queen Weilew (DIANE VENORA), and Hrothgar's treacherous son, Wigliff (ANDERS T. As the most worthy and seasoned warriors volunteer for the mission, including Buliwyf and Herger the Joyous (DENNIS STORHOI), Ibn finds that he's to go along since the thirteenth warrior cannot be from the North.Īlthough he's teased by the others for being so comparatively small and having a likewise smaller horse, Ibn is soon accepted into the ranks. When a young messenger arrives with tales of a village and its people under attack by a mysterious and feared enemy, an old soothsayer proclaims that a band of thirteen warriors must set off to protect the village and its people. Sent to a far-off land as an emissary with his manservant, Melchisidek (OMAR SHARIF), Ibn encounters a band of Norse warriors celebrating the funeral of their late king and the ascension of Buliwyf (VLADIMIR KULICH) to the throne. PLOT: In medieval Bagdad, Ahmed Ibn Fahdlan (ANTONIO BANDERAS) is a prominent poet whose fancy for a young woman gets him in trouble with a local official. QUICK TAKE: Action/Adventure: A reluctant emissary joins a band of Norse warriors who've been summoned to defend a small village from mysterious creatures known for consuming those they kill. (1999) (Antonio Banderas, Dennis Storhoi) (R)
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