Review of Pathfinder (2007) by Amiya C — 29 Aug 2008

Pathfinder.

2007.

Action.

Rated: R.

Running Time: 99 minutes.

Starring: Karl Urban.

Directed By: Marcus Nispel.

Rating: 4 out of 10.

Outline.

A single man must save his people from the destructive nature of invading Vikings.

Review.

The Pathfinder is a man destined to lead his people to greatness. He fulfills prophecies and makes sacrifices that very few people in this world would. Yet with all these skills he couldnâ??t find a path to an interesting and exciting story. This film should be taken as is which is a non stop blood bath with a story so thin it reminded me of a Lindsay Lohan dress. Pathfinder starring the permanently scowling Karl Urban is a film with little redeeming qualities in terms of plot and cohesiveness. In fact about ten minutes into this film I thought I was watching Rambo in Medieval times. The film takes place in North America hundreds of years before Christopher Columbus arrived. The Native Indians that live there are being exterminated by Vikings that come in the guise of monsters and kill everything that moves. In one of the Vikings raids they leave a boy who is found by the Native Indians and they raise him as one of their own. Fifteen years later the boy has grown up and is known as the Ghost (Urban). The Vikings are back and looking to settle the land but the ghost has other plans. Pretty simple story with the Vikings attacking the Native Indians and the Ghost defending them. The landscape is a dark tableau of forest and mountains and this darkness allows the blood to be seen at almost every swing of a sword or chop of an axe. The blood comes out almost neon red in color and although fake looking was not the worst special effect I have seen. The editing in this film is awful with scenes jumping from one to another with no semblance of congruity. The Ghost must save his adopted people and he virtually takes on the Viking army all by his lonesome. I normally like movies that are action packed but this film pushes it way too far in that regard. Every possible scenario of killing someone somehow is accomplished in this film. From people being burned alive to drawn and quartered this film is not for the squeamish. The Vikings scour the land in ones and twos while the ghost picks then off at leisure. The editing is so bad that he seems to be every where at once while never having to walk. How ever the worst thing about this film is that the story is so weak there is no emotional connection to the Ghost character what so ever. He kills with out remorse and the blood is so prevalent that this film kind of numbs all good feelings that could be had. A love scene between the Ghost and a character Starfire was trying to show his good qualities but wound up just being a time filler. The film drags in the middle and is just tiring towards the end. The end battle scene is laughable as it pales to the blood shed that ran right through this movie. An avalanche that looks like it was taken from a national geographic film and then added into this film shows what little imagination the writers had in delivering quality killing scenes. The director Marcus Nispel went for blood shed and literally left the viewer over saturated with gore and violence. I cannot recommend this film as the only path it is legitimate path it will take you on is one you probably wont want to go.

T Factor + Like mindless action films then this could score higher on the rating scale.

T Factor â?? Do not like films that are overly violent then this could score lower on the rating scale.

If you liked this film reel recommendations: The 13th Warrior, King Arthur.