Review of The Viking Sagas (2011) by Jeremy P — 09 Apr 2010

Can you say VIKINGS? For what this film does, we think it's a bit of a gem. There are no special effects and minimal acting. The production values are stripped down and straightforward. The cinematography is breathtaking, as are the details of the production.

The weapons, farms, and clothing all seem authentic. The story is not in the least anything remotely resembling what we find in a typical movie. However, there is a rhythm to the narrative. Bottom line is this feels like an authentic ancient narrative.

The action on screen is so basic it is essential to have a narrator explaining what is going on. What actually happens onscreen is reminiscent to what happens in something like Atanarjuat, except this is Vikings instead of Inuit.

What the filmmakers chose to do was execute a faintly literary narrative using contemporary cheesy action and sex. Interesting to us was the fact that even though there are a few moments of cheesy dialogue, it's not intentional, nor is it unnatural.

And while the sex scenes are composed in a somewhat eighties style, they are in fact not superfluous, and rather indicate something of the original customs and do fit in the narrative. The difficulty most viewers will have is the atypical narrative and the initial awkwardness of the attempt at mainstreaming what is essentially a 10th century Icelandic narrative.

Viewing this with academic eyes is pure bliss, for the action seems realistic, and the story realistic in terms of how small it really is. The fighting is between farms in a small coastal region. The scenery is extraordinary, and against it we see human figures in leather, wielding iron swords, riding small horses.

The women are strong and integral to this narrative of Northerners fighting for supremacy. It is pagan and we see a great amount of authentic-seeming detail. Yes, it is also extremely violent, and yet what else would happen if someone swung a large sharp sword at your neck, except you would lose your head? In the end, we love the machismo and warrior-mentality, yet this is all tempered by an authentic-seeming story and context, with equally brave and strong macho women, none of whom are really macho, but rather driven to fighting and vengeance in an sparse stony environment that would harden anyone.

Like the characters in the story, despite it's awkwardness, this one has a lot of heart.