Review of Valhalla Rising (2009) by Jeff R — 17 Dec 2010

Mix the violence and native beauty of Coppola's Heart of Darkness/Apocalypse Now...Terrence Malik's quiet scenery contemplations (without the voice-overs), Wrath of God's discovery and character studies, background sounds from any Ridley Scott movie, and you get this.

While it's billed as a Viking movie, take away a beard or two, and hand axe, and a long sleepy trip inside a long boat, and it could be set in any medieval story. It's original in that it follows no story pattern, with no discernible plot, the visuals are very good, and all the dialog could fit on a post card.

I didn't care for the ending much, however, I don't know how else the writer could have ended it, save for letting the lead just walk off into the sunset, ala Sergio Leone.