PATHFINDER: AN UNTOLD LEGEND
US, 2007, 99 minutes, Colour.
Karl Urban, Russell Means, Moon Bloodgood, Jay Tavare, Clancy Brown.
Directed by Marcus Nispel.
This is one for the ‘300 brigade’. It is based on a Dark Horse graphic novel and features warriors, battles and some mini-massacres. However, since it is set in the cold mountains of the northern American continent 600 years before the coming of Columbus, the warriors have to be fairly well clothed!
Actually, the film took its origins from a Norwegian Oscar nominee of 1987 of the same name. That Pathfinder film was set in Lapland and was part of the history of struggles in those Arctic regions.
This one moves the location. Vikings (indistinguishable from one another in huge horned helmets and masks) invade these icy territories massacring the inhabitants. When a little Viking boy is left behind, he is found (like Moses) by the local leader’s daughter. The local leader is the Pathfinder. The little boy grows up amongst the Indians. When the Vikings return, he fights against them, a lot of perilous adventures and battles. The daughter of the Pathfinder assumes her father’s role and Ghost (the grown-up boy) becomes their Watchman.
It is all done ( a bit like 300) in bleached colours and graphic novel tones. Which makes it all a bit hard to see – they could have done with a bit of global warming and light in that part of the world in those times.
Dialogue is minimal. Performances are ordinary. Events are a bit hard to follow in their detail. But there characters are not particularly engaging and neither is the film.
1.The audience for this kind of adventure? The basis in a graphic novel? The Norwegian film and the shift of location? Legends?
2.The title, the reference to the Indian leader, his role, his daughter, her assuming the leadership at the end? The role of Ghost? Preserver and watchman?
3.The use of Canadian locations, the coast, the mountains, the snow, the avalanches? The dark colour – the lack of light? The North American continent before Columbus? The atmospheric score?
4.The information about North America, the marauding Vikings? The centuries before Columbus? Speculation? Untold legends?
5.Starfire, the opening of the film, the Indians and the deaths, the white horse in the snow? Her falling down the cliff, the ruins of the boat, the dead bodies, the murdered Indians? Her encountering the little boy, the sword, putting it away? Taking him, affection, bringing him to the tribe? The meeting, the discussions, some wanting to kill him, compassion prevailing?
6.The boy growing up in the tribe? Of both worlds? Starfire as the mother figure?
7.The Vikings’ return, their size, masks and horns, armour? Their brutality? The ships? Trekking through the forests, the snow? The confrontations with the Indians, the battles, the ropes, the weapons? Swords and sticks?
8.Ghost, his role in the community, going out to confront the Vikings, Blackwing following him? Ghost trying to turn him back? Ghost and the confrontation with the Vikings? His being trapped, over the cliff, shouting for the avalanche? Confrontation with his father? His father’s despising him, disowning him? His death?
9.The effect of the battles on the tribe? Regrouping at the river? Starfire becoming the Pathfinder? Her father’s leadership, heroism and death? Ghost and his return?
10.The future of the tribes for centuries – tribal life, survival in the wintry locations, the Pathfinder as leader, Ghost and his two worlds, keeping watch and vigilant?
11.The graphic novel style of the film, colouring, darkness and light? Action and characters? The touches of brutality and violence? A satisfying untold legend or not?
