THE THIRTEENTH WARRIOR
US, 1999, 110 minutes, Colour.
Antonio Banderas, Diane Venora, Dennis Storhoi, Vladimir Kulich, Omar Sharif, Richard Bremmer.
Directed by John Mc Tiernan.
The Thirteenth Warrior is based on a Michael Crichton story, The Eaters of the Dead, which in turn has its origins in the Nordic legend of Beowulf. The film seems to have been intended as an exploration into the history of the Dark Ages. However, with difficulties in production (although Mc Tiernan and Creighton were two of the producers), the film ends up as something of a matinee adventure. It is not always clear what is going on – and not always interesting.
Antonio Banderas was at a high in Hollywood at this time and appeared in many films, continuing to be a great success, even with animation characters like Puss in Boots in Shrek 2. The film has a Nordic cast although there is a place for Omar Sharif.
John Mc Tiernan began films in a small-budge way with Nomads, moved to Die Hard and made quite a number of action adventures including The Last Action Hero. He also made several romantic films including, at this time, The Thomas Crown Affair.
1. The interest of the film, the legends, the Dark Ages, east and west? Action? Adventure?
2. The locations, Tartary, the Vikings in Asia, the settlements? The return to the north? The world of the thirteen warriors? The pre-Mediaeval settlements? The man-eaters? The special effects? The battles? The musical score?
3. The title, the thirteen warriors, the explanation of the prophetess? Their being Norsemen – but one was to be from elsewhere, the Arab poet being included? Their mission, their battles, their deaths?
4. 922AD, the role of Ahmed Ibn Fahdlan, his being a poet, ambassador sent by the Khalif? The visit to Tartary, the encounter with the Vikings? Buliwyf as the chieftain? His lieutenant, Herger the Joyous? The information from the north, the attack on the settlement, monstrous creatures? The prophetess, the role of the thirteen warriors, Ibn Fahdlan and his being made one of the warriors?
5. The way of life at the settlement, civilisation in the tenth century, poetry, culture? The contrast with the primitive aspects of life, the monstrous attacks?
6. The settlement under siege, its isolation? The ruler, Hrothgar? The attacks, the man-eating monsters? Herger and the battle, Wigliff and his betrayal of his father, Hrothgar? The battles, Ibn Fahdlan and his success, the respect of the warriors?
7. The attack and the enemy manifesting itself, the tribe, the Wendol, only men, their wearing bearskins? The survivors of the attack, the trekking through the snow, the finding of the cave?
8. Buliwyf and his attack, the queen, the mother of the Wendol, her death?
9. The revenge fight, Buliwyf and the duel with the Wendol chief, the chief’s death, Buliwyf’s own death? The Wendol and their retreating after the death of the chieftain? The end of the threat?
10. Ibn Fahdlan, his not staying in the village, his returning home, his intention to write of these epic adventures?
