13th Annual War Games

Baphomet said:That Norman king has a certain swagger—almost like Clint Eastwood.😁

I remember reading somewhere in Hollywood that this guy was actually voted the most handsome man in the country when he was already sixty.

I found the film to be excellent as well. I particularly appreciated the cinematography; that intentional graininess and the moody, dark lighting. It’s a bit jarring until you adjust to it, but once I saw that visual style at the very start, my immediate thought was, "Alright, this is definitely set somewhere in the dark ages." Among the many scenes I enjoyed, I loved the moment where McTiernan shows how Banderas' character mastered the local tongue, or when Banderas asks the blacksmith to forge him a scimitar from a simple blade.

The way he portrayed that primitive tribe was also superb, crafted in such a way that you can truly grasp why people of that era would believe they were being attacked by monsters.

I’m actually quite eager to read Crichton's novel "Eaters of the Dead," which served as the basis for the film. Knowing his style, the book is bound to be filled with fascinating historical and archaeological speculation regarding medieval life. It sounds like a genuinely compelling read.

Jose Chase2 said:Good grief, someone get some soap and scrub that keyboard!😠 This movie is an absolute masterpiece. If they just released the Director's cut, we’d be looking at pure perfection. Poor Joe McTiernan—they stripped him of his vision in the editing room because the studio wanted it to feel more like Zorro, when he was trying to make it much grittier. It honestly scares me to think how legendary this would've been if he’d actually been allowed to finish it his way!

Maybe I just got that impression because I was multitasking on my PC at the same time.
😳

I'm definitely going to have to rewatch this.
😉

casualotter21 said:One of my favorite little moments—just a small scene, really—is when Joe McTiernan shows us how Banderas' character actually picked up Norwegian.

Yeah, I'm right there with you. Some critics in the States called it totally unrealistic, but honestly? I thought it was pretty cool.

An absolutely stellar film! I’m just obsessed with the visual identity of those warriors; there's a certain grit to the details that really buys into the "suspense of disbelief," if you catch my drift. Like, seeing Banderas actually sit down and learn their language while they're on the move? That was brilliant. The movie is surprisingly intimate in scope, isn't it? Given how much we usually expect from epic flicks filled with heavy armor, clashing swords, monstrous invaders, sorcery, and those massive, seven-foot-tall Nordic giants, it’s refreshing. It leaves me with this genuine feeling that this entire world actually exists—it makes you want to go out and explore it all!

Haha, hey Douglas Barnes13, you’ve basically been hired as my personal PR agent—every time I try to tweak something, you're right there to smooth it all out for me.👍

Jose Chase2 said:Haha, hey Douglas Barnes13, they've clearly hired you as my PR agent, because every time I try to say something slightly off-kilter, you're right there to polish it up for me.👍

You'll be soooooo-ryyyyyyyy! 😬

The movie is fantastic, but honestly, can people really be that cruel? To just put on a disguise and kill without a second thought?

Yes🙏🙏🙏

What really struck me about this movie was the way they captured the Norse world—the clothing, the gear, their whole philosophy regarding combat and death... It was fascinating. I particularly loved how Banderas showed such genuine dread toward an enemy he couldn't identify, right up until the moment he realized they were just men in disguise... 😈
I also appreciated that the narrative didn't just dump everything onto Banderas's shoulders. He isn't some lone judge over the situation; he’s just one warrior in the fray, while Bully is the one who ultimately goes head-to-head with the enemy leader.

All in all, it's a fantastic film. 😁

The Odyssey
The Odyssey
and the Odyssey
The Odyssey
to the beginning
The Odyssey
The Odyssey
The Odyssey
Where the brave may live forever...