Leif's long ship somehow has a captain's cabin that Admiral Nelson would have envied - with eight foot ceilings.		That's Leif with the shield and winged helmet.
Helga is a typical Norse maiden, with a helmet for all occasions.  Alwin is a tad on the grumpy side, not enjoying his new life as a slave.		Leif's men hanging around the longhall.

In the days of King Arthur ... and Camelot.		Year-round Viking attire.
Prince Valiant delivers an accusation to the Round Table. Screen captures from Prince Valiant (1954)		Valiant fights to retrieve the Singing Sword.

Costume authenticity is a minor concern.

Ship authenticity is also a minor concern.

The longship sails into a Norwegian fjord.		Einar returns home - with loot and a captured princess.
Village life.		Ragnar sailing through the fjords.
The feast.		Assaulting Aella's castle.

The Vikings battle villains in "The Merchants of Venice".

A mystical weapon attacks their longships in "The Weapon."

 A rousing theme song: "They conquered the seas in their dragon ships...."

Screen captures from Tales of the Vikings (1959-1960)


Noggin The Nog (1960)
TV series from the UK, from 1960 until the mid-1970's. An animated, fictional children's series with Viking based story-lines and  characters. (Art Newto)

 Image from www.nogginthenog.co.uk

Jungfrukällan, AKA The Virgin Spring (1960)
I recall being rather shaken when I first saw The Virgin Spring "Jungfrukällan" in about 1960 or 61. It was an Ingmar Bergmann film in black & white and portrayed life in rural Sweden in early medieval times. No viking warriors or heroes with swords and shields, but it showed with some clarity how plain (and hard) life was in those days. Well worth digging it out from your local classic video store. (Mike Smith)


Gli Invasori, AKA Erik the Conqueror (1961)
The movie opens with a narrative scroll about how nasty the Vikings were, and then begins live action with the slaughter of a Viking village by an English villain named Sir Rutford. That's different.

Two Viking princes, Eron and Erik, are separated when their father, King Arald, is killed. One is raised by the English Queen Alice and the other becomes king of the Vikings (at least the Danes.) Twenty years later, they manage to fall in love with twin Viking lovelies while pitted against each other. Sir Rutford has a castle from about the 15th century they eventually join forces to attack. Not a bad plot to work with.

This is a Viking-related movie. It's 786 AD. The ships have red and white-striped sails. Once in a while, someone yells, "Odin!"

Now for the non-Viking part… No one bothered to do much research for this one. The Viking longships set a new low for looking squat and sluggish. The boats have modern oarlocks and their steering boards are attached to the port side. Iceland sends a representative to a Viking leadership council while being pretty much unknown to Europe for another 70 or 80 years. The costumes and props include just about everything but Viking, including heater shields, lances, horse chamfrons, medieval tabards, zippers, string mail, Celtic swords, Roman shields, Jason and the Argonauts clothing and an underground throne room left over from some Biblical Philistine movie. The Viking village seems to have been constructed from Lincoln logs. The helmets alone run the gamut: Mongol, Near Eastern, Middle Ages, Flash Gordon, and some apparently designed by Robinson Crusoe. About the only ones missing are Viking Age helmets - with or without horns. Not as good as it sounds.

The English attack a Viking village - in England - before Lindesfarne.  Now we know what triggered the Viking Age...		The Viking kings gather for a council.  With entertainment from the Vestal Virgins (seriously).
Erik adopts the yak hair vest look. A clear miss.		Queen Alice is fresh from her appearance in Sleeping Beauty.

Screen captures from Gli Invasori AKA Erik the Conqueror (1961)


L'ultimo dei Vikinghi, AKA The Last of the Vikings (1961)
The dependable Cameron Mitchell stars as Harald, who returns home to Norway with his younger brother Guntar after being away for years only to find their father murdered and King Sveno, played by the less-dependable Edmund Purdom, now ruling their lands. More complications ensue, including falling in love with the woman betrothed to the king. There are some vigorous battles including a siege on a later period castle, but the costumes are painful, Purdom's acting is bizarre and the DVD's film-transfer quality is terrible.

The ship's crew is nervous because they're only armored in knit coifs.

Harald wears a crypto-Celtic helmet; nothing else in the movie is more authentic.

Screen captures from L'ultimo dei Vikinghi AKA The Last of the Vikings (1961)


I Tartari, AKA The Tartars (1961)

Orson Welles collects a paycheck as Burundai, an improbable Tartar warlord, fighting Victor Mature as a more improbable Viking. (Therese Prieur) Screen capture from I Tartari (1961)

I Normanni, AKA Attack of the Normans, AKA Conquest of the Normans (1962)
Let's see. On one side we have a villainous Duke of Saxony, Cameron Mitchell, commanding men-at-arms in string mail, outfitted with kite shields, riding caparisoned horses, holding lances and defending a full-on medieval castle.

On the other we have blonde-wigged "Normans" wearing fuzzy-wrapped boots, shaggy furs and Mongol helmets, carrying round shields and wielding axes, sailing in longships modified from tug boats.

We have a plot from Robin Hood. "These Normans know the forests better than we do!"

We have attackers taking advantage of not terribly bright castle defenders. "Luckily, there's no moat!" We have a defender who lifts a heavy (anachronistic) spoked wheel and laboriously carries it about eight feet, apparently to prove its weight for us, instead of just rolling it to help block a door.

We have dialogue consisting mainly of exclamation points, "Victory is sure to be ours!", the usual plot twists, "You're not really my daughter!", and cinematic short-cuts, including pneumatic secret doors to hidden passages. "One of these stones must pull the lever!"

And finally, we have actors eager to wrap this up, with the lovers running to embrace each other while the skewered villain is hamming up his final death scene and hasn't even fallen to the floor yet. It's an Italian sword-and-sandal epic with the wrong swords and no sandals. Thanks to Tory for tracking it down. Screen capture from Conquest of the Normans


The Long Ships (1964)
Fun to watch and exciting, but a Viking movie only because there's a long ship and they have round shields. Richard Widmark is a prodigal Viking son and Sidney Poitier is a Moorish ruler. Memorable for the Moorish execution device called "The Mare of Steel" and a golden bell called "The Mother of Voices." Given the size of the bell, and their ability to move it at all, gold was apparently lighter centuries ago. Great music.

The Vikings defend against Moorish cavalry.		The Vikings raid a harem.
Someone will ride The Mare of Steel.		The Moors bring back the Mother of Voices.

Screen captures from The Long Ships (1964)


The War Lord (1965)
Charlton Heston is a Norman war lord sent by "The Duke" (?William perhaps?) to hold the land and defend it from Frisian invaders. The Frisians looked a lot like Vikings - not too unexpectedly since they lived practically next door to the Danish Vikings along the northern European coast - a lot closer than the Rus people lived to the Swedish Vikings. Weapons and armor looked pretty good, although the film was made during the era when mail was made of either knitted string or else cast from some material that had a shiny  and often blueblack surface finish and had a surface texture that looked like interlocked rings (Just like in the contemporary era film El CID). Also stars Guy Stockwell as his brother and Richard Boone as his troop captain, Bors. (Henrik Olsgaard)

Of all the movies listed here, this is one of my top candidates for a remake. Charlton Heston is perfect as the solid, undemanding Warlord for his Duke who finally finds something he wants for himself (Rosemary Forsyth.) But ... the production suffers from looking like it was filmed on a Hollywood backlot. Which it was - I've seen the 2/3 scale tower while on the Universal Studios tour. One of the few films that touches on the differences between the Christian Normans and the pagans they ruled. (Jack Garrett)

Chrysagon de la Crue arrives to survey his bleak holdings.		The tower he is to hold. The Universal Studios backlot looks convincingly authentic from this angle.
Screen captures from The War Lord (1965)

Här Kommer Bärsärkarna (1965)
The title means, roughly, Here Come the Berserkers.  From the short trailer I've seen, in Swedish, this was intended to be a racy comedy. Let's hope the former turned out better than the latter appears to have.

One of the funny or sexy parts, probably.		Horned helmets worn side-to-side apparently aren't funny enough.
Screen captures from Här Kommer Bärsärkarna (1965)

I Coltelli del Vendicatore, AKA Viking Massacre, AKA Knives of the Avenger (1966)
Worst Viking Movie Ever! A spaghetti western style movie set in the Viking age (complete with riding off into the sunset at the end). The hero uses a crossbow and throwing knives (a seemingly endless supply). We had so much fun watching it as a group, making fun of it as it went along. We were going to rate it against "The Norseman" with Lee Majors but the tape got eaten and the movie was never replaced. Hmmm... (Doug Erickson)


Hagbard and Signe, AKA The Red Mantle, AKA Den Røde Kappe (1967)
A Danish film. It is a Romeo and Juliet story of warring petty kings' families where the son of one loves the daughter of the other and they both die in the end, leaving the kings to grieve over the outcome. The red mantle is that worn by the son who asks it to be hung up first, before he himself is executed by hanging (for killing his lover's brothers), so he can see what he'll look like swinging in the breeze. His lover sees it from far off and thinks it's him hanging dead and kills herself in response. This was filmed in Iceland and the director stated in interviews at the time that he searched for the biggest Icelandic horses available, to use for the cast to ride. Unfortunately the props lacked a lot in this film. The only armor worn was simulated mail hoods made from the typical knitted string, painted grey. No helmets were seen at all, nor was any body armor. Clothing for the guys looked like machine sewn white, upper thigh length,  linen shirts with simple neck and cuff bands of ribbon or tape decoration (great for wannabe Danish "hippies" to wear after the filming was through). Combat was only on horseback between the King's sons wielding rather small looking swords. (Henrik Olsgaard)

The movie is based on part of the Saxonis Grammatici Historia Danica (Saxo’s chronicles of Denmark). The story plays out a bit like Romeo & Juliet, so we should have gotten a very exciting story about betrayal and revenge. There is action, and pretty good action for the time, but the film seems dated, although it looks great. (Allan Loftager)

Court is in session.		At least knit mail keeps their ears warm...
Screen captures from Hagbard and Signe (1967)

The Viking Queen (1967)
Actually about Romans in Celtic Britain. Based on the legend of Boudicca, queen of the Iceni tribe in around 60 AD. Apparently "Viking" in the title promised better box-office than "The Celtic Queen". A couple dozen white-robed druids make the most improbable warriors you're likely to see.

Iceni queen Salina prepares her troops to rebel against the Romans.		Druids, dread warriors of ancient Britain (!?!), attack the Roman legions.
Screen captures from The Viking Queen (1967)

Alfred The Great (1969)
David Hemmings as King Alfred and Michael York as the Viking Chief Guthrum he defeats in the end. I remember the armor was too uniform for all the Vikings warriors and that Guthrum's kit looked great and unique from all the rest. The use of the "Boar's Snout" in battle was notable. (Henrik Olsgaard)

If you can get past the first ten minutes or so, this movie picks up speed and becomes worth the effort. The character of Alfred, who avoids being an active leader of the English (Wessex, actually) for as long as he can, is frustrating and fictional, as is the plot device of surrendering his too-willing wife to the Danes. On the positive side, as Henrik notes above, the film actually shows a shield wall and the "Boar's Snout" in action. A good candidate for a remake. (Jack Garrett)

Screen captures from Alfred the Great (1969)


Tarkan Viking Tani, AKA Tarkan versus the Vikings, AKA Tarkan and the Blood of the Vikings (1971)

A Turkish movie aspiring to the level of the Italian sword-and-sandal epics. This one is about an heroic Turk who fights villainous Vikings (decked out in 70's era Day-Glo furs) and the god they worship: an inflatable pool toy monster octopus. A magnet passed among the props from the movie wouldn't collect anything. (Jack Garrett) Tarkan is based on a Turkish comic book. The day glow fur at its scariest is seen on the edges and bosses of the shields. The furry Viking clothes and unusual weapons are not at all accurate. (Tory Parker) (Thanks to Richard Hanson for the addition to the list) Screen captures from Tarkan Viking Tani (1971)		Apparently this is a longship conversion.
Sometimes you just have mixed feelings...		Jules Verne would have thought this was a good idea.

The Island at the Top of the World (1974)
A lesser Disney live-action Jules Verne-like adventure. In 1907, an airship expedition into the Arctic encounters a lost colony of Vikings (who speak Norwegian and Swedish). Scenic, but the special effects and acting are fair at best.


Normannerne AKA The Normans (1976)
A tour through a museum fades into the Viking era. This 86 minute Danish film lists Saxo Grammaticus the Danish historian (c. 1150 – 1220) as one of its writers. Ragnar Lodbrog and Rolf Krake are two of the main characters listed, further suggesting Norse sagas as sources for the movie. Can anyone comment on it? (Thanks to Allan Loftager for adding it to the list)


The Norseman (1978)
I did see a few minutes of "The Norseman" starring Lee Majors. This was probably more time than it deserved. The scene I saw featured a group of bearded men in horned helmets and bearskins who had sailed south from Vinland and discovered Florida. They were hiking down a wide white sand beach and through a swamp. Nobody was sweating, and I repeat, they were wrapped in bearskins. Anyone who has ever been to Florida knows that the only rational response would be to lose the furs within about 30 seconds. I can't comment on the quality of the acting, as there didn't seem to be any.  (Jaye Stoen)

Lee Majors delivers Viking intensity.		The local inhabitants provide a warm welcome.
Screen captures from The Norseman trailer (1978)

Útlaginn, AKA Outlaw, the Saga of Gisli (1981)
Iceland. It's been a while since I saw it, but it's fondly remembered. It's based on G¡sla saga, but it's so condensed that if you haven't read the saga, you probably won't be able to follow the movie. (William R. Short)


Hrafninn Flýgur, AKA The Raven Flies, AKA Revenge of the Barbarians (1985)
One of a trilogy of Viking films by Icelandic director Hrafn Gunnlaugsson. Self-advertised as the "Most authentic Viking film ever." The director claims his inspiration was Sergio Leone's Italian Westerns, and it shows. There isn't an authentic weapon in sight: the bad guy Vikings carry Khukri knives and the "hero" wins by having more throwing knives than anyone else. Worth watching for the Icelandic horses.

Slaves are delivered to their new owners in Iceland.		Gest, an Irish former slave, carries a secret.
Screen captures from Hrafninn Flýgur, AKA The Raven Flies, AKA Revenge of the Barbarians (1985)

I na kamnyakh rastut derevya (And on the stone, the trees grow), AKA Dragens Fange (Dragon's Captive) (1985)
A Russian/Norwegian film. A young Slav (probably from the area around Novgorod) is taken prisoner by marauding Vikings as they believe him lucky. This movie is a surprising find – accurate in most aspects and filmed on location. It follows the group of Norsemen as they return to Norway after a sea battle and spend the winter in the local village. Most of the aspects of everyday life make an appearance in the movie, including: pagan worship, a witch, a chieftain and his influential wife, a slave, the chieftain’s son and his promised-in-marriage sister (including the strife over her), an outlaw and a ransom. Spoken Russian and Norwegian also add flavor to this movie. Worth seeing – If you can find it. (Milan Petricevic, esol777).   Here's a YouTube link. (Dimitri Pirogov)

The long ship closes for battle.		Sea battle - sea dragons face each other.
After an exchange of arrows and spears, the boats are lashed together and the combat gets personal.		Oars up.  Vikings arrive at the Russian village.
Arrival in Norway to spend the winter after 'going viking'		Weapons training of young warriors.
Screen captures from I na kamnyakh rastut derevya (And on the stone, the trees grow) AKA Dragens Fange (Dragon's Captive) (1985)

Valhalla (1986)
Animated feature film from Denmark based on a popular Danish comic book series, which is based on the old legends of the Nordic gods. Thor and Loki travel to Midgård and where they spend the night with at human family. Due to Loki’s mischief, the two kids in the family end up going with the gods back to Asgård. Here we follow the kids trying to fit in, in the daily lives of the gods, and the adventures they get into. I’m not sure how the movie will hold up for new viewers, but it’s a childhood favourite of mine, so I hold it in high regard. The animation looks good, while it’s clearly not a big budget Disney movie. The movie spawned an animated tv-series focusing on Quark, a prominent character in the feature film. (Allan Loftager)


Berserker (1987)
A low budget horror that centered around a group of young adults that take off into the woods on a weekend camping trip. Around a bonfire the first night, someone tells the story about a Berserker and makes him come alive. (Greg Maisonville)


Ofelas, AKA Pathfinder (1987)
Not that horrible one that came out two years ago, but the original 1987 Norwegian movie. It's the retelling of a Sammi myth so not Viking but Sammi. However, the costuming is somewhat accurate and it was filmed on location. Don't watch it if you want to see swordplay and tons of action, although there is archery and falling off cliffs and a bear hunt going on. It's a peek into how the Sammi lived at that time. Worth seeing just 'cause it's a good story. (Grimm/Carol Norton)


DuckTales: Maid of the Myth (1987)

Billionaire Scrooge McDuck and his nephews travel the globe looking for adventure and treasure. Episode S01E21 - 'Maid of the Myth' involves Vikings, sort of. You can see the episode at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFZwzAZLKS0. Very very inaccurate, but so cute and funny. :) (Judit Stettner) Screen capture from DuckTales

Í Skugga Hrafnsins, AKA In the Shadow of the Raven (1988)
The BEST (Viking) movie I've seen. It was filmed in Iceland, using all Icelandic cast. It had subtitles, of course. The film was about a feud over a whale that had washed up on disputed land between two neighbors who were suing over ownership of the property, if I remember correctly. I saw it in the theater, and it promptly disappeared. (Al Boyle)

Second in the trilogy of Viking movies by Icelandic director Hrafn Gunnlaugsson. (Jack Garrett)


The Littlest Viking AKA Sigurd Drakedreper (1989)
Sought this one out mainly because it was filmed in Norway (and they ought to know about Vikings, right??) A children's story - intentionally. It's the saga of the second son of Jarl Haakon, derisively called Sigurd Dragonslayer for his frequent daydreaming.  His "modern" sensibilities aren't in tune with those of his clan.  It seems he's unhappy with slavery and the continuing feud with the clan in the next fjord.  Obviously a politically correct Viking. Nice views of fjords and period-looking Norse settlements.  The box has two NFL linemen (who aren't in the movie) wearing horned helmets and at the climax the boy throws a Franklin Mint Charlemagne sword into the fjord to end the feud.  Ju-u-u-st this side of being "Disney's Littlest Viking".

Sigurd and his mother put on their best finery to welcome the Jarl home.		Jarl Haakon and Sigurd's older brother Thorstein sail home into the fjord.
Slaves are part of the expedition's booty.		Sigurd's home - in the year 1000 AD.  Nicely done.

Screen captures from The Littlest Viking (1989)


Erik the Viking (1989)
Monty Python takes on Norse Mythology. Neither one really wins. I've tried to like this movie for two decades and haven't been successful yet. Maybe it's Tim Robbins as a pillaging Viking who's suddenly guilt-ridden over his career choice. Comes across as a whiner. Or maybe it's the labored humor in the episode set in Hy-Brasil. Oh, well. Some good bits as always in a Terry Jones movie.

Erik finds his heart isn't into going a-Viking.		His crew sails the 'Golden Dragon' from Norwegian waters...
... but it sinks off the mystical island of Hy-Brasil...		... and is then eaten by Halfdan the Black's ship...
... and refloated only to have Hy-Brasil sink...		... and then it sails off the edge of the earth.
Erik's Vikings enter Valhalla to seek the gods' aid in ending Ragnarok.		But they find the Norse gods not only act like children...

Screen captures from Erik the Viking (1989)


Embla, AKA Hvíti V¡kingurinn, AKA The White Viking (1991)
There's a good movie in Embla, the Director's cut of Hv¡ti V¡kingurinn, AKA The White Viking, the third in director Hrafn Gunnlaugsson's Viking film series. This version really isn't that movie. The film opens in Norway with Askur, a bland dim bulb young man, and Embla, his beautiful bride, who are no sooner married in a ceremony dedicated to Odin than the Christian church arrives to impose its will on the community. Complicating life further for Askur and Embla is Volondur, a powerful Christian who falls for Embla. The plot centers on Embla's efforts to remain pagan while fending off Volondur's increasingly threatening efforts to take her for himself. His primary strategem is to baptize then dispatch Askur to convert the Icelanders to Christianity. So far, so good.

The main concern with the film is its editing. Scenes stop at arbitrary points, leaving important events to happen offscreen and interrupting continuity for no apparent purpose. Askur sails to Iceland seemingly in the time it takes for characters in Norway to cross the room. In one scene, a longship makes landfall while a building burns. Volondur gets to the building, pulls Embla from it and is outside before his military escorts manage to get off the boat at a dead run. Later, Askur attempts a rescue of Embla that is so inept it defies credibility. In broad daylight, he swims across the inlet to Volundur's fortress, spending so much time lying in the shallows it's amazing the most lax sentries couldn't have seen him. It's unclear why he doesn't just walk around to the secret entrance after dark or how he even knows there is a secret entrance. Having found Embla, the two lovers are so oblivious to their surroundings they prepare to bed down rather than make their escape. Forced to interrupt the coupling, Askur gains one of the few swords in the film, yet casually walks away from it when it could have made a sigificant difference in the escape. Later, Embla wields it without an explanation of how she came to have it. And at one crucial point, with a little tension finally built up, the film abruptly cuts away to an unnecessary shot almost literally described as "Meanwhile, back in Norway."

The music is bizarre, alternately using a lone Ennio Morricone trumpet (the director has discussed his love of Sergio Leone's spaghetti westerns), a medieval flute and a honky tonk saloon piano. Not a coherent or successful approach, since the music rarely supports the events onscreen.

The film has its good features. It's interesting to see how incipient Christianity might have affected the Norse culture, although Christians may want to demand equal time. Uniformly, they are portrayed as cruel, snarling - and ugly. There isn't a lot of subtlety here. Volondur's pursuit of Embla has potential, as he shows some restraint and conflict in his desires. Sveinn M. Eiðsson, who also appeared as the baddy in The Raven Flies, the first film in the series, provides the only watchable acting. Maria Bonnevie as Embla is the other reason to watch the film; she's a beautiful presence, but the fact that she was apparently somewhere between fifteen and seventeen when the film was made makes the nudity more than a little unsettling.

These comments are based on the Region 2 (Europe) version. As far as we know, there is no Region 1 (North America) version available. (Comments by The Vikings of Bjornstad, collectively)


Royal Deceit, AKA Prince of Jutland (1994)
Stars Christian Bale, Gabriel Byrne, Helen Mirren, Kate Beckinsale and Brian Cox. Set in the 6th Century, this is the story of Amled, a Danish prince whose father, Hardvendel, has been assassinated by his ambitious uncle, Fenge. Fenge takes the kingdom and the queen Geruth. Amled feigns insanity while waiting for a chance for revenge. Sound familiar? It's a low-budget depiction of the legend behind Hamlet, stripped of Shakespearean language and trappings. Filmed in Denmark, the landscape, costumes and buildings are as accurate as we're likely to see on film. The belts are wider than they should be and the axes are high middle ages, but the rarity of swords (and even spears) is probably accurate. Everything is minimalist: the new king has a retinue of about ten guys who look like they're being paid minimum wage. No livery, no helmets and few swords. The king rides a fjord horse and the others walk. The few battle scenes are the "sword swings in silhouette, victim groans and falls" variety. The dialogue is clunky on occasion, the narration is annoying, the music is cringe-worthy and the acting (despite the quality of the cast) is a little forced. Given all that, it's still worth watching; you can't beat the plot and the reality of the Viking period must have looked very much like this. The only version I've seen is the Region 1 (North American) version, which runs 85 minutes; the European version is 103 minutes. Pity.

Screen captures from Prince of Jutland (1994)


Killian's Chronicle: The Magic Stone (1994)
A good story with occasional references to the Saga of Erik the Red. A well-written script. Generally effective acting. Completely convincing locations. Killian's Chronicle shows that a tiny budget doesn't mean you can't make a good movie. The chronicle in the title refers to the journal written by an Irish man enslaved by Vikings who is forced to accompany them far beyond Greenland to an unknown shore. There he finds danger, beauty, friendship and love. His possession of a critical navigational aid, a sunstone, makes him more important to the Vikings than he wants to be. But having it means he can return to Ireland, to prove he is no longer a slave.  A quiet film that perfectly captures how the first contact between the Norse and the "skraelings" might have looked - and the perils involved for both cultures.

The Vikings approach the shores of North America.

Trading starts off well.

Screen captures from Killian's Chronicle: The Magic Stone (1994)


The Viking Sagas (1995)
These comments are a revision, based on a second viewing of the movie; it benefits from having watched a lot worse lately...
The Viking Sagas was filmed in Iceland and is a pretty decent attempt at depicting the Viking culture a thousand years ago. Ralf Moeller plays Kjartan, who has recently returned from Norway, where his father Valgard the Wolf sent him to learn to be a farmer. (And at 6' 5" he's the largest farmer you're ever likely to see.) Unfortunately, the aggressive Ketil the Black has plans to extend his family's power over the local Icelandic chieftains.  In the effort he mortally wounds Valgard, taking the Ghost Sword, mystical symbol of Valgard's chieftainship.  Kjartan escapes from captivity in Ketil's camp, taking the sword with him.  Ketil's brother Mord has his own plans: marriage to the beautiful Gudrun (Ingibjörg Stefánsdóttir), who has recently developed an attraction to Kjartan.  Untrained as a warrior, Kjartan manages to kill Mord but is wounded in the process.

There are some interesting lines throughout the movie, including one heralding a medical breakthrough when Gudrun tells the injured Kjartan, "A virgin's blood heals even mortal wounds". Good to know.

A life on the run ensues for Kjartan, while he learns to be a warrior from the best: Gunnar the Easterner (and we're not told which East that might be.) But we are in familiar movie territory when Gunnar says to him, "Every drunken killer in Iceland will be looking for you." The challenge in their part of Iceland is that there are no trees and only one rock per hillside to hide behind. Kjartan loses the Ghost Sword when one of Ketil's men shoots an arrow into his back. Kjartan recovers from this wound also, but Gudrun is forced to fall back on other treatments at this point in their relationship.

Ketil kills Gudrun's father, mother and brother, but plans to achieve Icelandic supremacy by installing Gudrun as Lawspeaker, then controlling her using Gudrun's friend as hostage. At the Council of Chieftains (the Althing?) Gudrun asserts her new authority anyway, announcing that she's Kjartan's wife and bears his child. As it turns out, Kjartan needn't have bothered learning to fight with the sword; he responds to the hostage situation with a high-angle bow shot that would have impressed Robin Hood.

In the final battle, Kjartan regains the Ghost Sword and avenges his father. It's a victory for the farmers and chieftains, if not for diplomacy.

The Viking Sagas has a lot going for it: a magic sword, an unseen ghost, a witch, a prophecy, family feuds, burned farmsteads, Icelandic horses, Icelandic landscapes and Icelandic lore. The music is effective. The combat is average for this type of film. The direction is unexceptional, but gets the job done. The weaponry isn't bad, but is scaled up to lend more impact (no pun intended). The costumes are more generic Early Middle Ages peasant than Viking. For all the talk of farming, we never see a sign of any. But ... the overwhelming problem undermining the movie in every scene is the acting. To say it's wooden is an insult to trees. It's possible to enjoy The Viking Sagas, but it helps to be able to block out that part of a movie you usually pay most attention to.

Valgard takes 'The Walk' around a runestone, aiding his son Kjartan's escape.  Gutwrenching.		Mord forces Gudrun to marry him, but doesn't survive to enjoy the honeymoon.
Hrut the archer interrupts the geothermal festivities.		Gudrun the Lawspeaker holds court on the Lawrock.
Ketil leads with the Ghost Sword's undersized pommel against Kjartan's wallhanger shield, losing the weapon in the process.		Kjartan yells in triumph. Ketil doesn't object.

Screen captures from The Viking Sagas (1995)


Den Sidste Viking, AKA The Last Viking (1997)
Danish movie filmed in Estonia. Set in a time of civil war in Denmark, we follow a young boy whose father is at war with the king of Denmark. His father has to leave the village to build up an army strong enough to fight the king. While the father is away the king’s soldiers take over the village, and the boy and the villagers have to figure out how to stay alive in this uncertain time. The mixed scandinavian cast is pretty good, especially Kim Bodnia stands out with a great threatening presence. The movie looks good, and it gets better with each viewing, but it’s still not a great movie. (Allan Loftager)


Prince Valiant (1997)

Image from imdb.com

Set in the days of King Arthur, this half-hearted movie tells the story of a Viking prince and squire to Sir Gawain of the Round Table who retrieves Excalibur from marauding Vikings. Stephen Moyer stars in this German/Irish/British production as the heir to a Viking throne who spends most of his screen time staring blankly ahead. Katherine Heigl is Princess Ilene, a better action hero than Moyer's Prince Valiant, but someone seems to have told her the film was a modern romantic comedy. Uncomfortably close. Except for matte paintings of Viking ships, an overly-decorated runestone and a few Viking age helmets, the movie wanders between the 6th century legend of Arthur and the castles and armor of 15th century Europe, with stops along the way to gather Roman statuary and Chinese fireworks. Even the armor itself has similarly confused properties. Valiant has to be lifted onto his warhorse with a crane for a joust (!), but later washes ashore on the tide in full gear. Weapons penetrate or don't penetrate the armor pretty randomly. Ineffective is probably the single best description for the people and objects populating the movie. Armor doesn't armor. Guards don't guard. Castles are invaded in minutes. The primary figures in the plot are all captured and imprisoned by their opponents, some more than once. Only Thomas Kretschmann as Thagnar, the chief villain, seems to know what he's doing. The one undeniable pleasure throughout the movie is watching the transitions between comic-strip drawings and live action. And wondering who bolted the armor plate on the foam alligators.

The 13th Warrior (1999)
Well staged, but an unsatisfying plot. Antonio Banderas portrays Ahmed ibn Fahdlan, based on a real Arab observer of (Rus) Viking culture. Fascinating depiction of a well-oiled and experienced Dark Age mercenary force. The Norsemen, among them Buliwyf (the leader) and Herger the Joyous, are unforgettable characters. Many good lines, well-delivered. Here's one: the Arab poet is tossed a huge sword. He complains, "I can't lift this." The Viking responds, "Grow stronger." Another: the Vikings position themselves to investigate a farmstead. The Arab incautiously moves forward. Rethel the Archer, bow half-drawn, warns, "Don't ... step in front of me." The armor spans centuries before and after the period. The swords are period-appropriate, but scaled up to hand-and-a-half size. Some of the best music in movie history. For a few reasons why this is one of the best Viking movies, click here. 

Screen captures from The 13th Warrior (1999)


Beowulf (1999)
Included here due only to the title. A futuristic version of the story. Christopher Lambert can't act in this one either.


Stara Baśń, AKA The Old Fairy Tale: When the Sun Was God (2003)
I am going to rate Stara Basn as the best Viking movie. This is a recent Polish movie (Poles are good at making historically accurate movies and their sense of history is much better than in America or the rest of Europe-even if it's bit nationalistic). It's made by Jerzy Hoffman, who is basically the John Ford of Poland. It takes place in the 9th Century and tells the legend of the evil king Popiel and how he was overthrown by Piastun and the Viking-raised Ziemowit.

I don't want to give too much away but the Polish Jomsviking group was used as Vikings. Viking Age re-enacting is very big in Poland and they have a big following. With the exception of one horned helmet, authenticity overall was good. Hoffman always goes all-out for historical accuracy. If you saw his 17th Century flicks, you would understand. The movie mixes the Viking and Slavic pagan themes pretty well and the battle scenes are good. (Bruce Willis)

Popiel's fortress.		The villagers take the longships and brace for the Viking attack.
The Viking Jarl Sigvald prepares to challenge Ziemowit.		Dziwa and Ziemowit sail into the sunset.

Screen captures from Stara Basn AKA The Old Fairy Tale (2003)


Troy (2004)

Screen captures from Troy (2004)

Nope, it's not a Viking age movie.  The reason Troy is included here is that well choreographed sword and shield battles are rare in the movies.  The climactic battle between Achilles (Brad Pitt) and Hector (Eric Bana) may be the best on film.  The actors use their weapons well; this is deadly work and their characters are the best at what they do.  Thanks to the choreography and editing we get to see them do it.  Their armor is effective: Hector strikes Achilles and might have killed him but for the armor.  Their shields make a difference in the duel and aren't discarded at the first opportunity to turn the battle into a sword-on-sword battle as in other movies.  Both characters' use of the shield for both offense and defense is directly applicable to Viking age combat.  One specific movement to watch for:  several times when Achilles begins an attack, he is already moving his legs out of the way of the anticipated counter-attack.  It's a small thing, but it shows that the fight choreographer knows how to set up the kind of fighting Vikings would readily connect with.  Excavated skeletons of warriors apparently killed in similar combat frequently exhibit damage caused by sword cuts aimed below the shield (e.g., the battle of Visby, 1361.)  As a further bonus in Troy, the combatants fight with spears, another rarity in film. Achilles' adept use of the spear is particularly fascinating to watch.  Richard Ryan is listed as the sword master in movie's credits, but no one is identified as the fight choreographer.  Whoever is responsible has done an amazing job.  A last point:  Few movies provide a satisfying justification for one warrior's victory over another.  Here Achilles is shown not only to be a superb athlete, but also a warrior who trains constantly.  His success and fame aren't the result of magic, mystical parentage or the script's requirements; here he has earned them by adding hard work to natural ability. (Jack Garrett)

Since I like giving credit where it's due, here's a note from Mike W., one of our web page visitors:

"Re: your accolades for the Achilles/Hector fight scene, Richard Ryan was in fact responsible for the fight choreography, as he did for all sword work for Troy. That particular fight scene was nominated for a Taurus (stunt award) and MTV Film award (ref: www.safd.org/user/18). Don't you just love that VERY memorable leaping/downward-thrust "kill move" of Achilles??? He was asked to develop special fight moves for each of the main characters to help reinforce their individual mythologies.

"You'll be happy to know that Richard Ryan was also the Swordmaster, Asst. Stunt Coordinator, and Gabriel Byrne's stunt double for History's Vikings. How ironic, eh???

"You'll probably also be happy to know that he was stunt coordinator for Hammer Of the Gods (2013), which you've also referenced.

"BTW, Richard has worked on quite a few highly memorable fight scenes since Troy, including winning a Screen Actors Guild Award as part of the stunt ensemble for The Dark Knight. How about that very memorable fight scene in Sherlock Holmes (2009), where Robert Downey Jr. is in a fight pit (slow-motion... Holmes analyzes his opponent to develop his winning series of moves... "break cracked ribs, traumatize solar plexus, dislocate jaw entirely..."). Richard was fight coordinator there, too.

"Hope this was interesting!!" (Mike W.)

Yes, Mike, it was!! (Jack Garrett)


Berserker: Hell's Warrior (2004)
Time traveling immortal Viking vampires that wear sunglasses in discotheques... So overdone.

Directed by Paul Matthews and written by Paul Matthews who must take a double dose of the ‘credit’ for this film. I am always leery of films that are written and directed by one person, as this smacks of one person’s ‘vision’ being put to the screen without any artistic input from other sources. In this film, my trepidations are confirmed. Repeatedly.

Paul Johannson plays Barek and Craig Sheffer is in the role of Boar. Kari Wuhrer plays the roles of Anya and Brunhilda and she brings several redeeming aspects to the film, but more on this later. Berserker was filmed in South Africa (?) which is about as far from Nordic scenery as you can get on this earth. I expected to see thousands of Zulus on the ridgelines, but was sadly disappointed. Go figure. I counted two horny helmets, neither of which had horns that resembled anything from some known beast, rather they were of a dull plastic grey. In fact many of the other non horned helmets were made of plastic, Same for the armor too. I began to suspect that the production company used Toys R Us as their armory. (Here’s a bin of odd-lot stuff we can’t sell, pick what you want...) I loved the riveted pauldrons (riveted to what?) that reminded me of football armor. Aluminum swords that made scraping noises when picked up off of a table. Loved the folded beer can armor on the lower legs of some of the warriors, the shreds of chain mail draped over them was a nice touch. Much needed to protect the ankles if they ever encountered packs of hostile Viking Chihuahuas. In fact, there was lots of chain mail bits and pieces draped over various armor parts. Suspend your disbelief at the door and keep the location of that door in mind in case you want to leave in a hurry.

Barek and his father Thorsson lower sail in the South African fjords.		The battle with the berserker army is shaping up.
Berserkers and vampire valkyries - just the way you've always pictured them.		Barek and the berserkers fight the climactic battle in a Stockholm disco.  Where else?

The great Danish hall of Heorot is under siege.		The warriors leave their peaceful Geatland.
Hrothgar listens with skepticism to Beowulf's pledge to save the Danes from the monster Grendel.		Beowulf and his men find the hunt for Grendel more challenging than they had expected.
Grendel taunts his pursuers.		The mysterious Selma may know more than she has told the locals.
Grendel attacks the hall, but has to deal with Beowulf.		There won't be peace until Grendel's mother is defeated, with an ancient sword taken from her own treasure hoard.

This short film should be seen by everyone who thinks Lindisfarne was a tragedy. After watching it you may feel that the island monks were avenged.  Here's a link:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3Yw-yYv0q0. Enjoy. (Therese Prieur) Screen capture from Super Moine (2006)

Beowulf and his men come to Hrothgar's aid as the bodies pile up at Heorot.		Beowulf and Grendel battle to a disarming conclusion.
Beowulf meets Grendel's mother.  Since there's no family resemblance, it's just possible Grendel was adopted.		The battle with the dragon is an impressive climax to the film.

Vinland proves to be a hostile environment for the expedition. Screen captures from Severed Ways: The Norse Discovery of America (2007)

Doing what Vikings do best.

Screen capture from Lost Colony: The Legend of Roanoke (2007)

Colonists in the New World in the 1580's encounter more than Native Americans.  It actually features ghosts of the Vikings, but whatever, it's trash in every way. (Judit Stettner)

The village in Outlander is impressively created.		Unfortunately, it is only seen in very brief shots.
Running the shields - a challenge for everyone involved. Screen captures from Outlander (2008)		Facing the moorwen.

Battle is joined, minus the more accurately dressed re-enactors.  There may be a penalty, since one of the warriors has apparently stepped out of bounds. Image from http://www.avikingsaga.com/

The celebration is enlivened by the well known Norse belly dancers. Screen capture from A Viking Saga: Son of Thor (2008)/

It's nice to have a fenced yard to play in. Screen captures from Faintheart (2008)

Shield walls can be useful in many situations.

One Eye the slave is a mute killing machine.

Religious fervor and and out-and-out madness figure largely in Valhalla Rising.

The Normans. Screen captures from 1066: The Battle for Middle Earth (2009)

The Anglo-Saxons.

Aidan teaches Brendan how to make ink from berries		The Vikings.  What horned helmets?
Brendan and Aidan search for a place to complete the book. Screen captures from The Secret of Kells (2009)		Pages from the Book of Kells are presented in full, layered, animated glory.  Every component is shown in independent motion.

Erik's search for his girlfriend, now called Princess Evlynia, turns Lord of the Flies ominous. Screen captures from The Wild Hunt (2009)

We're not talking museum-grade historical costume authenticity.

A woman of English extraction born in the German city of Ingelheim in the ninth century disguises herself as a man and rises through the Vatican ranks. I think this is an excellent historical drama. It is from the creators of The Name of the Rose, and the atmosphere is very similar. The Vikings don't get much screentime, but I believe what they do in those minutes is authentic... There's a scene where Vikings break into a church and slaughter almost all of the guests of a wedding. (Judit Stettner) Image from http://www.cineimage.ch/film/paepstin/slides_scen.html

There are a couple of reasons to see this movie that have nothing to do with Vikings. The first is the quality of the animation, especially in 3D. It’s impressive and the texturing of the various surfaces (like skin and wood) is great to see. Water has always been a challenge to animators and here it is beautifully rendered. The second reason is how the flight sequences are handled. The soaring and dives are exhilarating and fun to experience. A third, Viking, reason, is how great the longships look sailing through the CGI seas with their sails fluttering in animated wind. Only a few very brief shots, though. That’s the good part.

If they weren't wearing horned helmets, how would we know they were Vikings?  (Full irony intended.)

The fleet sails. Screen captures from How to Train Your Dragon (2010)

Now the not-so-good. Apparently Viking children gain about 300 pounds and a Scottish accent upon reaching maturity. And have a horned helmet forced on them. Although the swords and shields are pretty effectively realized, the axes are all double-edged and from another era. The story itself is hardly original and you’ve seen it before. A crucial part of the film is the existence of different races of dragons. Unfortunately, the designs for the races vary so wildly, they look like they're from different movies (or cultures.) The more the movie focuses on dragons beyond the one called Toothless and the humans, the less entertaining and the more confused it becomes.

One odd note. Apparently a decision was made to include a severe injury that occurs late in the film that wasn’t in the book. The injury instantly jerks you out of the movie, pulling you back into our world of modern warfare and how similar injuries are dealt with. It’s an unfortunate decision to inject some “substance” into a mild entertainment.  (Jack Garrett)

Another reason for wanting to see HTTYD, unique to Bjornstad, is that Henrik Olsgaard and I spent a few hours at Lucas' SkyWalker Ranch helping their sound department with some of the sound pick-ups for that film.  A shield rolling across an arena... We did that.  The sound of an arm load of swords and spears being dropped into a Viking boat... We did that.  There was a host of other clanks and rattles also.  (Brian Agron)

And now the best movie comment we've seen anywhere - ever:
How to Train Your Dragon. It's more historically accurate if you watch it in 3D. (Beepbus)

Image from imdb.com

Probably as important as the movie's story line is the person chosen to portray the title character. Chris Hemsworth plays Thor and he seems an ideal choice for the role. He certainly looks the part and handles the acting requirements pretty well. Considering the fact he shares the screen with Anthony Hopkins, that is not a mean feat. Hemsworth even does comedy; there a couple of occasions when Thor's inflated sense of his own worth suffers some deflation and he manages them very well. On the other hand, the actor playing the pivotal role of Loki never achieves much of an impact. A real missed opportunity. As we know from the Batman movies, the villain makes all the difference. Keeping in mind that we discuss Viking movies on this site, I should note there is a shot of a Norwegian village around 954 AD. For about four seconds. In the dark. And the movie uses the names of a dozen Norse gods, locations and artifacts. That's about it for the Viking content. The realm of Asgard as shown in the movie deserves some comment. I never imagined that the home of the Norse gods might suffer from urban sprawl. Or at least I think it does, since the "cityscape" we see might be office towers, apartment buildings, cell phone antennas, space ports or maybe discarded egg crates. And they may be connected by streets or canals or bike paths or ... nothing. We just never see any of it close-up. As far as we know, the "Asgardians" (the movie's term), just get together in a large hall for Odin's occasional pronouncements. Other than that we never learn anything about them. There are a LOT of them, though.

Screen capture from The Saga of Biorn (2011)

Short animated movie about an old viking, who wants to die with honour, so he can go to Valhalla. The story is pretty entertaining and the twist at the end is great. The animation looks great, I highly recommend it – and if you don’t like it, it’s very short. Here's the link: http://vimeo.com/18011143 (Allan Loftager)

Screen captures from Ironclad (2011)
In 13th-century England, a small group of Knights Templar fight to defend Rochester Castle against the tyrannical King John. He's not happy about being forced to sign the Magna Carta. So brutal, but so good. :D Paul Giamatti is a genius. Among the mercenaries King John employs is a group of Northmen. Their leader is played by Vladimir Kulich who was Buliwyf in The 13th Warrior. (And OMG, I just found out that he had a role in the first season of Vikings, too! I didn't recognize him back then.) Trivia: his warriors are played by Hungarians; they were speaking and cursing in Hungarian. (Judit Stettner)

Why did he do that? For a 20 minute movie, the question comes up surprisingly often in this tiny independent film. We don't find out the whys - there just isn't time or effort expended on backstories.

The setting is the aftermath of English king Æthelræd's St. Brice's Day massacre in 1002 and the retaliation by the Danish king Sweyn Forkbeard. Five Vikings are left behind by their retreating forces. The film depicts what happens to them.

The costuming, including the rebated swords and butted, round cross-section mail will be familiar to re-enactors. The mail itself is a focus of the film, and should probably get a listing in the cast.  Fight choreography is only fair, with action not crucial to the plot filmed well while more significant actions are poorly done. Too often we are left wondering where the weapon landed and how serious the wound was. And perhaps the reference to there being a plot is an overstatement. The entire plot could be summarized in a short sentence or two, if we wanted to spoil everything for you.

The main complaint (other than there not being much dramatic point to the whole effort), is how the swords are used against the mail, especially with rounded points. On the other hand, this is the first film I've ever watched and then checked the credits to see who did the sound. Nicely done.

You can watch it here:
http://www.urbanapachefilms.com/2012/08/northmen/

England is proving to be a struggle for the invading Vikings

It's not too pleasant for the native Anglo-Saxons, either Screen captures from Northmen (2012)

Vikings is a series from the History Channel, following the adventures of Ragnar Lothbrok.  The series begins in 793 AD and draws heavily from an actual historical figure, celebrated in Saxo Grammaticus's Gesta Danorum, the Icelandic poem Krákumál and Ragnars saga loðbrokar, all set in the late 8th to the mid 9th century. The series tells the story of Ragnar’s band of Viking brothers and his family, as he rises to become king of the Viking tribes. As a Viking re-enactor and sometime historian, I'm impressed. The clothing is unlikely, but we've seen much, much worse elsewhere. The hairstyles apparently borrow from the Bayeux Tapestry's Normans and ... Mohawks??? Having said that, the list of "accurate" Viking cultural references is pretty impressive. We've seen a warp-weighted loom, a sun compass, a sunstone, a Thing, a trial, a judicial punishment, the fabled 'blood-eagle', raiding as a seasonal event, the taking of slaves, a longship under construction, the effort needed for tracking / hunting / preparing food, the limitations of food-stores during winter, villagers engaged in trades and crafts, oral transmission of history and myth, the negotiation of a bride-price, ravens, a spectral Valkyrie and even guest appearances from Odin, complete with floppy hat. One could quibble with something about the depiction of every one of these, but the filmmakers fearlessly put the results of their considerable research front and center. As an example, the raid on the abbey at Lindesfarne is filmed in an unspectacular, unflinching, and completely realistic manner. The historical event could have happened and looked exactly like this.	Image from the History Channel
The combat, choreographed by Richard Ryan, is exceptional, both single and massed. It's the best depiction of Viking age fighting I've seen on TV or on film. The writing for the series is excellent, as is the acting from Travis Fimmel, Katheryn Winnick, Gabriel Byrne, Donal Logue and the others in the cast. It's a creditable effort by the History Channel. Now could someone explain why the longship has its steering board on the left side?
Ragnar Lothbrok explains to his brother Rollo how the sunstone could aid navigation.	Vikings approach the monastery at Lindesfarne.  This scene would be repeated many times over during the next three centuries.
Viking ships head upriver - silent and deadly.	The raiders set up their encampment and repel the local forces.
The Viking shield wall braces for an attack.	The English hit hard.
The fighting at the shield wall is muscular, brutal, bloody.	And convincing...
Some win and some lose. Screen captures from the Vikings first season DVD	Advantage: Vikings.

Screen capture from Hammer of the Gods trailer

This UK production tells the story of Steinar, a Viking warrior who is sent by his father, King Bagsecg, to find his long-lost older brother Hakan. The movie is set in 871 AD, in the time of Alfred the Great, The Great Army and the Battle of Ashdown.  Unfortunately, we don't get to see any of those potentially interesting subjects.  Instead, we get a Dark Ages version of Heart of Darkness / Apocalypse Now. For some unexplained reason, Hakan has become part of a cult with some unsavory practices. Or maybe it was explained and my attention wandered. It had good reason to... Other than a few swords, some characters' names and a single misty image of a longship, there isn't much that's Viking about the movie. Charlie Bewley of the Twilight movies stars as Steinar, who finds more on his quest than he bargained for. The acting in the movie is better than one might expect, with the single exception of Elliott Cowan as Hakan, who apparently was asked to chew up the largely absent scenery.  The miniscule budget is masked somewhat by scenic vistas of the Wales countryside.  Bjornstad was asked to, and provided, historical background research for the movie. We weren't listed in the credits. Not sure how to feel about that.

		Images from www.movieweb.com
Archaeologists explore far northern Norway and find a runic inscription that reveals new knowledge about Ragnarok - the end-of-the-world battle of the gods recorded in the Norse sagas.  This family-friendly adventure includes a few scenes of Vikings and a bit of it was filmed in the Viking Ship Museum in Oslo. Touches of Indiana Jones, Jurassic Park, Alien and even a glimpse at the Cold War Soviet military. Interesting characters, a good script, beautiful locations and visual effects sufficient for the task. In Norwegian with English subtitles. Available On Demand as of December, 2014.

Dodging flying axes is easier when you're dressed for it. Images from www.movieweb.com		Fighting Thor today is bad enough, but it had to rain?
Yesterday the SYFY channel presented the film "Vikingdom" in which the hero, Eirick, dies right away! Huh? Yes, that's right, he dies and begins narrating the story, his story, which he says began the day he died. That's a new plot twist. It's not a great film, but it has some elements which aren't way too bad. The focal element in the film is the "Blood Moon" eclipsing the sun, at which point the realms of Helheim, Valhalla and Middle Earth are all open to each other and the Gods can travel between them and unleash the woes of Helheim on the earth, destroying mankind, more or less. Thor is already on earth seeking the "key" that can send him back to the realm of the gods, and lock him away from earth, where the new Christian religion is supplanting the old Norse Gods. Thor has a blood red beard and blood red long hair and wears a fur trimmed kilt and Tolkiensian helmet, and has a mother of a hammer with red (looks and sounds like fiberglass) handle. No mortal man can even touch the handle, much less lift the hammer to use it, without dire consequences. One of the good points of the movie is the steering board on our hero's ship is on the starboard side! The hull is covered on the camera viewing side by wooden strakes and ribs inside, but the oar holes seem to reflect a double layer configuration.  That may indicate it is really a steel hull covered boat with prop wood additions, for the camera to see, to make it look like a dragon prowed Viking boat (possibly it's really a steel hulled whaleboat). The helmets and shields are, for the most part, not so great, except the Jomsvikings, who have good and proper helmets. Eirick had been king of the Jomsvikings until the day he died. Eirick and his friends' swords are not from the Viking age, but a lot later. The 793 raid on Lindesfarn is led by Thor himself. Combat is typical of History Channel Dark Age-style combat, except they added CGI blade penetrations and body part off-choppings. The Jomsvikings begin being the "bad guys" when they take orders from the new King (our hero's evil brother) and attack the fortress the hero is holed up in.  They leap on top of the walls and fight their way over. Some carry round shields (with no central bosses showing) while others carry identical (they all were stamped out from the same plastic mould) shaped kite shields. In some scenes they fit them together with point to head so they cover the Jomsvikings perfectly from massed arrow volleys, which they then open every other shield, like doors, to allow them to return arrow fire. Later, after Thor kills the bad brother, they switch sides and return to following their former King, the "dead" hero.  Eirick had been resurrected by the Goddess Frey, with whom he had been lovers before he originally died, thus commencing his story and the film. There is a Guardian "Dog" the hero must fight which looks like a T Rex with a huge doglike fanged head. A couple of "Period" type farewell greetings or sayings are offered: "Wind to your back, Viking!", with a reply by the departing Viking of: "Clear skies above!" Another is: "Full wind with you!", again followed by: "Clear skies above!" P.S. I almost left out the most important part. One of the Vikings who join the hero's crew, near the beginning of his quest to stop Thor from allowing mankind to be destroyed, says his name is "Henrik"! Unfortunately when the hero and his crew fight the then "bad" Jomsvikings, Henrik kills only a few of the Jomsvikings, before he himself is killed by them. Too bad!  (Henrik Olsgaard)

Image from http://www.elfilm.com/picture/title/235198.jpg

"Inspired by true events. Cast into a violent and bloody world of murder, Hereward, a novice monk, must deliver the Holy Gospel of Lindisfarne - a book of great beauty and power - to the safety of the Iona monastery, while being pursued by a Viking death squad hell-bent on its capture. On his way to the monastery, he meets a fierce and skilled swordsman who answers his prayers and dedicates his life to protecting Hereward while he delivers the book. In the midst of their journey, they are confronted by Vikings ready to kill in order to get what they want, leaving Hereward and his protector at their mercy." (Lionsgate Marketing) Low budget, but watchable. I almost liked it (except for one particular scene that I found too brutal). (Judit Stettner)

"A group of Vikings is stranded on the Scottish coast. The path to safety is deadly - as a cruel enemy has already started the hunt for the Norsemen. "A troop of marauding Vikings, under the command of the young Asbjörn is heading for Britain's coast to plunder the gold treasures on the island of Lindisfarne. However, the Norsemen are caught in a heavy storm, which shatters their dragon boat on the rocks off Scotland. Stranded in the far reaches of the opponent's hinterland, their only means of survival is to make it to the Danelaw Viking fortress. Only with the support of Conall, a mysterious monk who prays with his sword, they beat a bloody swathe through the ranks of all those who stand in their way. Mercilessly pursued, the warriors travel through an unknown and hostile land, with the Scottish king and his mercenaries, the dreaded wolf pack, on their heels. But the belligerent Vikings set deadly traps for their pursuers and slaughter them mercilessly. For now the hunters are now the hunted ..." Adapted from http://www.spielfilm.de/kino/2997887/northmen-a-viking-saga.html A German/Swiss/South African film. Our collective opinion: not bad, just not very good. It's a chase movie, with improbable things happening (Where'd they get those saddles?) just to serve the plot.

Image from https://www.facebook.com/NorthmenMovie

Image from imdb.com

Just because a movie is listed here doesn't mean we actually have to WATCH it...  Something about a peasant boy named Erick who is captured by Vikings and ends up battling a dragon. Filmed in Bulgaria. If you have seen it, let us know if there was anything worth seeing. Thanks to Lyonel Perabo for the addition to the list.

In Dark Ages Britain, a group of young Saxons are captured by a clan of fearsome Viking warriors and used as prey in a ritualistic manhunt. (imdb.com) Viking version of The Hunger Games. Or something like that. I haven't seen The Hunger Games. (Judit Stettner) Image from http://blog.dvdpascher.net/index.php/b/2016/01/06/viking_l_ame_des_guerriers_la_critique

Vengeance is the driving force behind a shadow walker's return to Norman conquered Saxon lands after the Battle of Hastings and a brutal repression of its people by a cruel lord. (From imdb.com) Yesterday I watched Sword of Vengeance, it was awful. Because of the pale colours it almost seemed black and white, and practically the whole movie was in slow motion. The music irritated my ears badly (were the creators under the influence of drugs???), and the acting and dialogues were so awkwardly low quality, that I was feeling embarrassed... From the creators of Hammer of the Gods (2013). (BTW, have you noticed that Clive Standen (Rollo from Vikings) plays in Hammer of the Gods, too? And, on top of that, a quite similar character.) (Judit Stettner) Image from http://www.imdb.com/media/rm116386304/tt3622332?ref_=tt_ov_i

A movie made in France about the youth of William the Conqueror. The teaser is here:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUSiXgroX0g (Therese Prieur) Screen capture from Guillaume - La Jeunesse du Conquérant (2013)

The Last Kingdom is an adaptation of Bernard Cornwell’s best-selling series of books “The Saxon Stories”. The production of eight one-hour episodes is filmed in Hungary and the UK. In the 9th century AD many of the separate kingdoms of what we now know as England had fallen to the invading Vikings, and only the great Kingdom of Wessex stands defiant under its visionary King Alfred the Great. It is the last kingdom. This is the tale of King Alfred the Great and how he united the many separate kingdoms into what would become England. Judging from the first episode, it's a great story and the characters promise to be people we'll want to watch. The TV series Vikings does a better job of showcasing daily life and the Viking culture, although a first episode has other things to focus on. The Last Kingdom seemed rushed in places, but that's almost certainly due to trying to get past the setup and join the captured, orphaned and dis-enfranchised Saxon prince Uhtred as a young man living as a Viking. The weapons are fine, although some of the swords are a few centuries old for the period. The mail is curious: no rivets and it's not butted either. It doesn't move right and most characters leave their coifs down so their too-small leather helmets can showcase their faces better. The near-complete lack of nasals helps there. My main problem is with the clothing. Although the colors and cloth used are marginally better than those in Vikings, there are a lot of weird costumes that are pretty close to the Mad Max leathers in Vikings. I doubt the clothing would pass kit inspection from most Viking re-enactment groups.

Images from http://www.bbcamerica.com/the-last-kingdom/

Screen capture from Shieldmaiden

From the creator, Vilhelm Bergendal: " Shieldmaiden is a personal animation project born out of my love for viking folklore. It follows the adventures of Rota the young warrior girl, as she travels the world of Midgard in search of her Grandfather’s lost treasure. The setting is very much inspired from John Bauer’s dark forests, and from Scandinavian folklore and myths." "Although some excellent stories have been told about the historical vikings, many more about “fantasy Vikings” , and even more about the Nordic gods – I feel there aren’t many stories that portray the Viking world like THEY saw it. Very few Viking stories show the original Nordic folklore, the stories and creatures that Scandinavians grow up with and inspired many of today’s big fantasy worlds." You can see the first part of the pilot here. You can donate to help its completion here.

Image from twitchfilm.com, Screenshots from the trailer

Viking is based on the the historical document Primary Chronicle, the history of the Swedish Rus from about 850 to 1110, originally compiled in Kiev about 1113, and the Icelandic sagas of the Norwegian kings.  It is due to be released on December 22, 2016 in Russia. This is the most promising Viking movie trailer I've ever seen. The young Viking prince Vladimir of Novgorod is forced into exile to Sweden after the death of his father. His brother Yaropolk complicates things by murdering his other brother Oleg, and conquering the Rus Viking settlement of Kiev. An old warrior named Sveneld convinces Vladimir to assemble a Varangian armada, hoping to take Novgorod from Yaropolk, ultimately facing the forces of the mighty Byzantine empire. The trailer shows a ship, swords, shields, sieges and snow. A lot of snow. The costumes look reasonably authentic.  So does the snow. It's unlikely it will be shown in US theaters, so getting to see it may be a challenge for some of us. Thanks to Colin Adams and Ed Berland for the heads up.

Raising a new totem in an open air temple	Probably the siege of Constantinople
A quiet sail upriver	A confrontation
Every historical movie is allowed one really crappy helmet	A berserker at work
An ambush from the tree line	Viking determination

Beowulf is a series about courage, greed, betrayal, revenge, loyalty, power, man versus wilderness and, of course love. It is a series that explores the notion of good and evil, heroes and villains. However, beyond these wider political undercurrents and inner personal turmoils are the excitement, danger and sense of adventure that any great Western has. Epic fights, thrilling chases, raids, celebrations and battles are an essential part of the promise. (pogdesign.co.uk) Currently airing. (Judit Stettner) Image from http://www.pogdesign.co.uk/cat/Beowulf-Return-to-the-Shieldlands-summary

"Danish film producer Peter Aalbaek Jensen has announced that Röde Orm, meaning 'red snake', will be adapted into a movie. 'This will be the first good Viking movie ever.', says Aalbeak Jensen. Frans G. Bengtsson (1894 – 1954) published the beloved two-part adventure novel in 1941 and 1945. The book is about a Viking named Orm, or Red Orm because of the colour of his hair. Orm, a name meaning snake or serpent, is captured by plundering Vikings but befriends his enemies and helps them raid a fortress in France. He becomes a slave in Spain, but returns to Denmark and visits Harald Bluetooth for Christmas. Later, Orm becomes a Christian in England, moves to Sweden and starts a family. He takes his son on a journey to find a huge treasure that his brother has hidden. ... "In 1963, Jack Cardiff directed an English-Yugoslavian film adaption, the hugely popular The Long Ships, starring Richard Widmark, Sidney Poitier, Russ Tamblyn and Rosanna Schiaffino. That film kept only a few things from the books." We have a long time to wait before we see how this new effort turns out... Thanks to Thomas Mason for the addition to the list. Image and text adapted from http://vikingmoviesinfo.wordpress.com/2014/05/22/skarsgard-to-play-red-snake/

Image from roadsendfilms.com

It is the end of the 9th Century. Determined to find his missing son who has not been seen since leaving on a voyage of discovery years earlier, and intrigued by rumors of new lands rich with resources, a Viking lord gathers his countrymen and sails three massive longboats into unknown waters. After a powerful storm at sea, they make landfall in the New World. This is a series being put together in Oregon, but does not yet have a distribution deal or broadcast channel.  There are a couple of videos and some photos here: http://roadsendfilms.com/runestone/about.htm and here: http://vimeopro.com/roadsend/roadsendfilms/video/98787205 Thanks to Ed Berland for the heads up.

"Syfy is delving into the world of fantasy with a new TV series based on the epic poem 'Beowulf.' "According to Entertainment Weekly, the logline for the new series is an adaptation of the classic epic poem that further examines the hero's rise to power and his feud with the monster Grendel." Considering there's plenty of fodder already in the 3,000-line Old English tale, it's easy to see how Syfy expanding the world would allow a great TV series to unfold. "With shows like 'Merlin' well received by fans, it's easy to see the space 'Beowulf' could hold in the television landscape. This new series will be written by Matt Greenberg (best known for the films "1408" and "Reign of Fire") and producers Greenburg, Brian Hamilton, Michael Chechik, Andrew Cosby and Paulo de Oliveira. "Previously Syfy made a TV movie called 'Grendel' in 2007." Text and image from Zapit.com. Thanks to Ed Berland for the addition to the list. It's possible this could be a good series offering an authentic view of near-Viking culture. Not a bet I'd want to make, though.  With the development of Beowulf: Return to the Shieldlands, the odds we'll see this one have gotten longer.

www.deadline.com

Warner Bros, Appian Way Set Pitch For Viking Epic On ‘King Harald’ From www.deadline.com By Mike Fleming Jr | Tuesday August 6, 2013 @ 2:36pm PDT "Warner Bros has made a preemptive acquisition of King Harald, a pitch that Mark L. Smith is writing as a potential vehicle for Leonardo DiCaprio. The subject: Harald Hardrada, the 11th Century conqueror who has been called the last great Viking king. "King Harald will be produced by DiCaprio and his Appian Way partner Jennifer Davisson Killoran. King Harald was King of Norway for two decades, but his quest for power and thirst for battle led to his being exiled for a time to Russia and then returning in triumph. The film envisioned is a Braveheart-style story. DiCaprio, a history buff, has long been interested in headlining a Viking movie; he had once circled a film about Viking warriors that Mel Gibson was to direct."

This is as promising as it gets in the movie industry. Which, of course, usually means two years of anticipation followed by crushing disappointment.

© PA Images / Wong Maye-E/AP

'Lord of the Rings' producer Barrie Osborne planning Viking trilogy From DigitalSpy.com, published Friday, Aug 30 2013, 11:03am EDT | By Mark Langshaw "Lord of the Rings and The Matrix producer Barrie Osborne is planning a big-budget Viking trilogy for his next project. The studio executive is hoping to make a $100 million biopic of Viking ruler Harald Hardrada, who died when attempting to conquer England in 1066. "The movie will be about how Harald evolved from a teenager to a great leader who rallied his kingdom. There is so much to tell about Harald that it does not fit in one movie," Osborne told Stavanger Aftenbladet. "We need to create a trilogy. It will have the same structure as Lord of the Rings, where the hero travels through many countries and kingdoms." Osborne plans on making the movie in Norway and will be enlisting the help of local historians to ensure that the trilogy is authentic. It is unclear whether the film is the same project as Warner Bros's King Harald, which was announced earlier this month."

This is as promising as it gets in the movie industry. Which, of course, usually means two years of anticipation followed by crushing disappointment.   Oh, wait, we've said that before.  When two movie projects are announced this close to each other on the same theme, one dies, they join forces, or one becomes a quick, cheap, movie rushed to take advantage of the combined publicity.  With the juice behind these film makers, we'll see what happens with Harald Hardrada.

Image from http://1066themovie.biz

British director Robin Jacob (mainly historical documentaries) and his production team have been working on this for over five years.  It's hard to tell if the project is gaining momentum, though.  The materials available about the movie (e.g., a trailer and some shots of a 2008 re-enactor event) are of wobbly quality and aren't completely encouraging that the movie will actually be filmed and released.  The trailer shows a single spear-wielding Norman charging at the home-movie video camera from across a field.  In slow motion.  That's it. They have a script,  based on "Harold the King - The Story of the Battle of Hastings" by Helen Hollick.  They have a list of actors who have signed on and an intention to rely more on re-enactors than CGI for the battle scenes.  They have an interview with the director about the movie.  (He wears sunglasses throughout, even though it's filmed indoors.  Annoying.) There are a couple of links: http://1066themovie.biz/intro.htm and http://www.facebook.com/HaroldGodwinsson We wish them well.  1066 as a significant date in history needs a well-made large-scale movie. Nice poster.  But then, the Wenceslas helmet always looks good.

© Byron Purvis / Retna -- Charlize Theron

From MSN.com: "Charlize Theron developing Viking drama -- yes, that's right -- with ABC Oct. 23, 2012, 8:30 PM EST By Tim Kenneally, TheWrap "Charlize Theron tackled futuristic topics this year's sci-fi epic "Prometheus." Now she's going old-school -- very old-school -- for a new project at ABC. Theron is working with the network to develop "The Clan," a drama set in the Highlands of medieval Scotland. And because, when one thinks Charlize Theron, one's mind naturally drifts to Vikings, yes -- there are Vikings involved. "The project will follow the various clans of medieval Scotland as they battle each other, while simultaneously fending off Viking invaders. "Hotel Rwanda" director Terry George will write and direct the project, as well as serve as an executive producer. Theron's Denver and Delilah production company will executive-produce the project in conjunction with ABC Studios. Earlier this year, Theron sold a modern-day version of the Hatfields and McCoys saga to NBC. Hollywood Reporter first reported news of the "Clan" development."

Mel Gibson is working on a Viking movie on the scale of Braveheart or Apocalypto. Leonardo Di Caprio was involved at one point in its development.  According to Gibson in April, 2012, the script was being written by Randall Wallace, the writer of Braveheart.

Just as a guess, there will be blood - if the movie is ever made.

 
The Vanguard (Maybe?)
A rumored movie, so this is just a placeholder.

Alexander Skarsgård, the Viking vampire Eric Northman from True Blood, is expected to play one of two brothers banished to North America trying to get back to Sweden during the Viking Age.  We'll watch the progress with interest.  (Thanks to Carol Withnolastname and Thomas Paton for the heads up.)

Alexander Skarsgård gets practice portraying a Viking in a True Blood flashback.

His family killed, Eric waits a thousand years for revenge. Screen captures from True Blood (2011)