Movie Review:The 13th Warrior

Warriors wait in the dark. Fog hides the mysterious attackers that are coming. Doors are smashed in and strange creatures attack. The battle ends with the vicious marauders disappearing into the fog, leaving devestated warriors behind. This vivid scene is from the recent movie "The 13th Warrior." Loosely based from Michael Crichton's novel Eaters of the Dead, the movie has a lot to offer Fantasy fans. It has a strong plot, noble characters and a realistic setting that provides the film with a stunning impact.

The plot gives the movie a strong tale of action, darkness and adventure. Crichton used part of the story of Beowulf for the movie. Antonio Banderas plays Ibn, an exiled Arab, who is picked to join twelve Viking warriors on their quest to save a village from vicious attackers. He travels with them, learning their language and ways. From there, the film moves through quick scenes of bloody battles, desperation and dark terror. Outnumbered, the characters fight valiantly to defeat their foes, which allows the characters to grow.

When viewers meet Ibn, he is in exile from Baghdad to a village of Vikings. He is a poet turned warrior who grows during the movie to appreciate the rough but noble Vikings and their culture. The leader of the warriors is a brave, tough fighter. He shows curiosity and intelligence toward Ibn, impressed by Ibn's knowledge. Other characters act very human, and that helps in Ibn's growth. Actors that portray the Vikings are tall like the Northman of ancienct times. The characters are helped to be more realistic by a dynamic setting.

The realistic setting of the film adds power to it. Many things contribute to this. Scenes are filmed in firelight to give them natural looks. Costumes and sets are rough and worn, giving a real look to the era instead of fake looking sets. Battle scenes are well staged and authentic seeming. The warriors use weapons that were part of that time. Outdoor scenes are filmed in areas that resemble the deep woods and fiords of Scandinavia. All of these things combine to give viewers a memorable film to watch.

Fantasy lovers will enjoy this movie. Even though it doesn't have any fantasy elements, the film is full of adventure with a story of the ancient past that could pass for Fantasy. Some people will criticize this movie for its violence, but that is how life was like during those times. This movie is comparable to Braveheart for action and vivid battle scenes. The plot, characters and setting make the film a worthwile expenditure of time. In time, I believe The 13th Warrior will become a classic movie.

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