The Viking's Daughter: The Story of the Ancient Norsemen (1908)
image source: Wikimedia commons	The story of Theckla, the daughter of Olaf, the Viking. Olaf returns from a raid with Alfred, a young Saxon prisoner. We can guess where this is going ... A silent movie I'd love to see. Thanks to Lyonel Perabo for the addition to the list. The painting at left, Idun and the Apples, by James Doyle Penrose, 1890, has nothing whatsoever to do with this film. It just seemed like a nice way to start the list...

The Viking (1928)
Worth watching, if only to see how much movies - and our perception of the Viking Age - have changed.  Leif Erikson here is an intrepid explorer who is determined to see what lies beyond Greenland.  As a Christian, he runs afoul of his father, Erik the Red, who habitually murders Christians for abandoning the old gods.  Complicating their lives is a Viking princess who falls for a recently acquired slave, formerly a prince from Northumberland.  The costumes are Wagnerian and hard to take seriously.  Leif wears string mail and carries swords ranging from a High Middle Ages blade to a Roman Gladius.  The climax is the discovery of the New World, here explicitly stated to be Rhode Island; the tower that still stands in Newport is attributed without waffling to Leif Erikson.  Unusual for being a silent movie in two-strip Technicolor with music and sound effects.  Worthy of note is that the Native Americans Leif meets either speak Old Norse or he instinctively speaks Algonquian - it's hard to tell which in a silent movie.
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.
Screen captures from The Viking (1928)

Prince Valiant (1954)
Silly fun. If you're going to go with horned helmets and furs for Vikings, you might as well go whole hog (to kind of mix metaphors.) Robert Wagner has fun bouncing on springboards and his Singing Sword would weigh about 25 pounds - if it were forged from steel.
In the days of King Arthur ... and Camelot.	Year-round Viking attire.
Prince Valiant delivers an accusation to the Round Table.	Valiant fights to retrieve the Singing Sword.
Screen captures from Prince Valiant (1954)

The Saga of the Viking Women and Their Voyage to the Waters of the Great Sea Serpent (1957)
Tracked it down and watched it. It's an early Roger Corman effort with such a low budget that it's pointless to pick it apart. The sea serpent is essentially a sock puppet. Worth seeing if only to check it off the list. Fun title, though.
Costume authenticity is a minor concern.	Ship authenticity is also a minor concern.
Screen captures from The Saga of the Viking Women and Their Voyage to the Waters of the Great Sea Serpent (1957)

The Vikings (1958)
Great adventure and the one against which all Viking movies have to be compared. Costumes are too Hollywoodish and the castle is off by centuries, but the setting and depiction of the culture are reasonably accurate. Kirk Douglas does a pretty good Viking. Worth watching to see him run the oars of the long ship, without a stunt man or CGI. See the "Making of ..." on the DVD to see how much research they did. It's impressive for the time.  To see more about why it may be the best Viking movie ever made, click here.
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.
Screen captures from The Vikings (1958)

Tales of the Vikings (TV Series) (1959-1960)
In this case, a television series. It starred Jerome Courtland as Eric and used scenes and props from the Kirk Douglas movie, The Vikings. It lasted just one season and only a few of the 19-or-so episodes are available. The transfers from original television broadcasts are poor, if you can find them at all.  The series is fondly, if dimly remembered by those who got a chance to see it.
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) Image from http://ouattheater.blogspot.com/2015/10/ jungfrukallan-aka-virgin-spring1960.html

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

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, wielding lances and defending a full-on medieval castle. On the other side, 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!"	Screen capture from Conquest of the Normans
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 to help block a door and laboriously carries it about eight feet, apparently to prove its weight for us, instead of just rolling it. 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 still 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.

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. How much would the bell have weighed? And how large a raft would have been needed to tow it behind a longship? Here's our just-for-fun analysis. 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)

Il Tesoro della Foresta Pietrificata (The Treasure of the Petrified Forest) (1965)
The connection to Wagner's The Ring of the Nibelung is established while the opening credits roll. Warrior women ride across the screen on matching white horses to a full orchestral version of The Ride of the Valkyries. It's a story about the evil Hunding, our hero Sigmund, his sister Brunhilde (a Valkyrie, hence the musical theme) and his lover Siglinde, and Erika (the latter's jealous sister). While Sigmund and Siglinde are together enjoying a romantic tryst in the forest, his Viking camp is attacked and his crew slaughtered by the enemy; upon learning of this, the hero takes out his anger upon the survivors (and even his girl!) The action is virtually uninterrupted throughout the film but little of it is engaging, with the possible exception of Sigmund's elaborate escape from Hunding's camp – swinging from ropes, supplied by a comic-relief dwarf sidekick, over the heads of his oblivious captors. The treasure of the title seems to be available only after maneuvering past a rotating double-armed multiple spear-pointed war machine turned by a human-powered underground windlass. Apparently the only attack tactic that occurs to anyone is to charge directly at it. Once found, the sword of legend was clearly designed to look impressive when held proudly aloft - but you certainly wouldn’t want to fight anyone with it. Available on YouTube - but only if watching overacting in Italian on unconvincing "forest" sets would appeal to you. Thanks to Lyonel Perabo for finding it for us.
The Valkyries arrive	Not like any rune stone we know of...
Screenshots from Il Tesoro della Foresta Pietrificata (1965)

Erik il Vichingo aka Erik the Viking (1965)
	"Viking chief Thorvald dies from a mortal combat wound. He realizes his son Erloff is not a worthy successor, but his will divides his property equally between him and Erik, the valiant son of his sister, who also gets his weapons and the mission to lead a sea-faring expedition to find new land for a settlement... After a long, perilous sea-voyage, they reach Vinland, a then subtropical part of North America, and after Erik valiantly saves the chief's daughter Wa-ta-wa from a brown bear, he makes friends with the brave but pacific Indians, Erik's Greek friend Angheropoulos even teaches them how to use the grapes for wine-making. However the desire of an Indian to marry Wa-ta-wa makes Erik and his supporters the ideal allies for another plot by traitor Sven's bloodthirsty party, which is after the Indians' gold..." Now that's more than enough plot for a Viking movie...or three. And, "subtropical North America"? The medieval warm spell must have been more intense than we thought. Here's a YouTube link to the movie - in Italian. Just to prove that Italian Vikings are every bit as tough as their more nothern counterparts, at 1:26:07, these Vikings set their sail with a headwind and row against it. Thanks to Lyonel Perabo for this one. Summary text and image adapted from imdb.com

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 would have. A couple dozen white-robed druids make absolutely ridiculous warriors.
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)
Alfred isn't sure he wants to be king	Take THAT, shield wall!
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)	Apparently this is a longship conversion.
Sometimes you just have mixed feelings...	Even Jules Verne would giggle.
Screen captures from Tarkan Viking Tani (1971)

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)

Prima Veras Saga Om Olav Den Hellige (Prima Veras Saga About Olav The Holy) (1983)
Described as "The unholy story about the life of Saint Olav the Holy from birth to the day he dies as the Norwegian King at the battle of Stiklestad in 1030." A period Norwegian comedy with modern bookends. Thanks to Lyonel Perabo for this one.
Launch the longship	There may be a problem
Image source: YouTube screen captures

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)
Image from http://blueprintreview.co.uk/2016/08/gates-of-video-hell-pathfinder-1987/
Not that horrible one that came out a few 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 (TV Episode) (1987)
Screen capture from DuckTales	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)

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)	Image source: Amazon.com

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 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.
Embla under pressure	Just oozes intelligence, doesn't he?
Image from http://chiadosecanudos.blogspot.com/2011/11/
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.
Is it madness - or brilliance?	Keeping it in the family.
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)
The Viking Sagas was filmed in Iceland and is a pretty decent attempt at depicting the Viking culture of 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, a 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 he 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 (Bruce Willis) am going to rate Stara Baśń 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)

Njáls Saga (2003)
	"Njal's Saga (also known as "Brennu-Njáls saga" or "The Story of the burning of Njáll") is arguably the most famous of the Sagas of Icelanders. "This documentary film includes: A 30 min drama film from the part of Njáls saga where it tells the Robbery in "Kirkjubaer" and the interaction between "Gunnar" from "Hlidarenda" and the brothers Otkell and Skammkell, plus a 30 min documentary about this part of the story and its many meanings." Source: https://nammi.is/brennu-njals-saga-the-story-of-the-burning-of-njall-dvd.html Judging from the trailer, this is a small budget effort. However, the setting and the reenactor contributions look to be first-rate. Note that the DVD mentioned on the link above is Region 2. Thanks to Lyonel Perabo for finding it for us.

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 AD.)  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. Nice touches that I liked... The Viking ship at the beginning of the film was well constructed and designed, even if the slight wind that rippled the sail was blowing counter to the direction that the ship was traveling. The small fires they had burning in the eyes of the dragons head on the prow of the ship was a great touch, considering that it was filmed at night, however when it appears that the fire had spread up the dragons nose (it is a wooden ship after all) I suspect making landfall was welcomed by crew. The several redeeming aspects of this film was getting to briefly see Kari Wuhrer’s bare breasts and butt, sadly not really worth having to slog through the film for the few seconds of reward. I liked the Valkyrie Vampires snarling and hissing like my cat does when she sees another cat in my back yard, however, sadly, no bare breasts or butts from them. In the film you are suddenly transported to modern times, which comes as a confusing surprise, and yes, you see that some of the scenes were shot inside of a discotheque with way too much blue and pink lighting and day-glo paint. And yes, Paul Johannson does put on a pair of sunglasses. Time traveling immortal Viking vampires that wear sunglasses in discotheques...you have been warned! (Brian Agron)
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?
Screen captures from Berserker: Hell's Warrior (2004)

Ring of the Nibelungs, AKA Dark Kingdom: The Dragon King, AKA a lot of other titles... (2004)
Drawing on the Völsungasaga and the Poetic Edda, this fair to middling TV movie uses the same source material as J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings and Wagner's Ring Cycle operas. It tells the story of Siegfried (played by Benno Fürmann) and Brunnhild (Kristanna Løken) and the cursed treasure of the dragon Fafnir. There is a Viking connection: Brunnhild here is the warrior queen of Iceland. Three hours long and I didn't get a chance to see the entire film, so I can't offer much more about it. Among other titles the movie (a primarily German production) has been known by: Curse of the Ring and Sword of Xanten.  (Thanks to DD for the addition to the list.)

Beowulf and Grendel (2005)
This version of the Anglo-Saxon epic poem is set in the 6th century AD, but is one of the best in its depiction of near-Viking costumes, weapons and culture. It's one of our favorites among the films listed here.  Filmed in Iceland, its landscapes are scenic, if desolate, and provide an effective setting even if they're not really representative of the Danes' homeland. There are some intriguing twists: it proposes a grounded and realistic view of how the Grendel legend might have begun - with a minimum of fantasy in its depiction of Grendel and family. It also introduces a woman outcast from the rest of the settlement whose mysterious involvement is gradually revealed. As the film starts, Beowulf the Geat (i.e., from part of modern Sweden) is already well known for his exploits. Beowulf and Grendel is an ironic and amusing view of how a hero sometimes struggles with his own legend. Gerard Butler plays Beowulf; he looks the part and does a great job. As the well-known story unfolds with its wholesale slaughter, despair, battles with monsters and eventual triumph, this version adds the mystery Beowulf feels compelled to solve and the growing discomfort he finds in his role as monster hunter. Beowulf and Grendel moves a little slowly.  It takes its time telling the story and showcases its beautiful Icelandic vistas as it goes.  This isn't an epic movie; it tells its story on a smallish budget and concentrates on Beowulf and Hrothgar having to deal with others' expectations for them.  It's the setting that's epic.  Add a few hundred years to the swords and helmets and this is what a Viking movie should look like.
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.
Screen captures from Beowulf and Grendel (2005)

Beauty and the Beast AKA Blood of the Beast (2005)
Jane March plays Freya, a Viking princess on a quest to free her father, imprisoned in the castle of a beast punished by Odin. Filmed in South Africa. Apparently not too many rand were spent on this production. Has anyone seen it?
Screen captures from http://www.peakviewing.co.uk/trailers/

Astérix et les Vikings, AKA Asterix and the Vikings (2006)
In this animated film, Asterix the Gaul has adventures with, and probably at the expense of, Vikings. How he managed to import Vikings to the neighborhood of 50 BC will have to be explained by someone who's seen the movie.
Screen captures from Astérix et les Vikings (2006)

Super Moine (Super Monk) (2006)
	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)

Grendel (2007)
Don't forget the "based on the poem" version (insert sarcasm here) Sci-Fi doozy "Grendel" with a mad as a hatter Deanna Troi as the queen and a Fred Flintstone Order of the Sacred Buffalo Grand Poobah helmet wearing Beowulf ... and don't forget his fully automatic exploding crossbow!! (Brian Gannaway) This one is so bad I took notes while I watched it.  Extended really snarky comments here.  (Jack Garrett)

Beowulf (2007)
Impressive animation, but over the top and very strange in its choices of (lack of) costume for Beowulf, Hrothgar and Angelina Jolie as Grendel's mother. Some aspects of the movie, like authentic period swords, some costumes and the dragon, are incredibly well done. Some images, like a horseman's spear, are there only to show off the original 3D presentation. Most of the epic poem survives, but it's overwhelmed by the marginally creepy facial animation and speculation as to why director Robert Zemeckis chose to have animated characters spend so much time out of costume.  And then there's the matter of Angelina Jolie appearing barefoot and in high heels at the same time ...
Beowulf and his men come to Hrothgar's aid as the bodies pile up at Heorot.	Beowulf defeats Grendel with his disarming wit.
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.
Screen captures from Beowulf (2007)

Pathfinder (2007)
I have to admit I couldn't sit through it: the five minutes I watched years ago were horrible. Very dark and the "Vikings" would look right at home on Mount Doom from Lord of the Rings. In a second attempt, I more recently watched the last 45 minutes.  It didn't improve. But here's something I'll pass along anyway: the sword fought over at the end has a runic transcription. It says, in (incorrect for the period) Anglo-Saxon/Elder Futhark runes, "Thunder Sword". Not in Old Norse; in English transliterated into runes. I've been around a lot of swords in my life and not once has the word "thunder" come to mind. I think that's entirely appropriate for this movie. Thunder has nothing to do with swords and Pathfinder has nothing to do with Vikings.	Eeeesh Image from www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2006/05/07/arts/07olse_CA0ready.html

Severed Ways: The Norse Discovery of America (2007)
In limited release. It is about the Viking discovery of North America and has received good reviews. (viking3713) Finished watching it last night and it’s sort of strange.  The cinematography reminds me of “The New World”—lots of walking through woods and fields to the accompaniment of ethereal music.  The sound track is oddly entertaining with everything from modern classical to heavy metal.   One of the Vikings is seen spinning his hair in true hair-band fashion accompanied by a heavy metal instrumental.  Not sure what that was supposed to represent.  He was either drying his hair or worshiping the gods.  I am assuming he was not listening to his i-pod! Costumes should be evaluated by someone with more expertise but I did notice the belts and baldrics were too wide (about 2”), and the Vikings wore a lot of fur, even on warm days.  Helmets and weapons were good; all appear to be from Hanwei. Still the movie was entertaining simply because you do want to see what happens to these guys.  (I won’t give it away)  The North American scenery is stunning and worth the price of the rental by itself.  There is no blood and guts at all, even in the violent scenes which are done much more like movies from the 30s and 40s.  On the other hand, I really didn’t need to see the graphic depiction of a guy taking a dump in the woods! (Fred Klink)
Vinland proves to be a hostile environment for the expedition.	Doing what Vikings do best.
Screen captures from Severed Ways: The Norse Discovery of America (2007)

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

Amsgård: En Vikingasaga (2007)
This is a Swedish independent film set in 986 AD. Worship of the Norse pantheon is slowly being replaced by belief in the Christian god. Lord Torfinn and his wild Smålanders in the village of Amsgård are having a bad harvest, and the men are looking forward to going to war. At the same time, resentment is growing for the neighboring farmers of Långbacke, who've already accepted the new faith. Everything is pointing towards a busy year for the villagers. Thanks to Lyonel Perabo for finding it for us. Image source: http://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=2345&artikel=1333813

Beowulf: Prince of the Geats (2007)
	This is an all volunteer movie project shot in six states and Norway with literally no budget. All goods and services were donated so 100% of all profits could go to the American and Norwegian Cancer Societies. The film, written, produced and directed by 4 time Emmy Award winning filmmaker Scott Wegener, portrays the Viking hero as the son of an African explorer who settled in the frigid north. Thanks to Lyonel Perabo. Image source: http://www.noblemansquare.com/LastRace/BPOG_STUFF.htmlwww.princeofthegeats.com

Outlander (2008)
Fairly successful blending of science fiction and Viking adventure. Exciting, well-written and intriguing enough to hold your interest. The setting and re-creation of a Norse settlement (in 705 AD) are effective and convincing. Clothing and weapons are only so-so. A lot of leather armor with modern buckles and a double-bladed axe demonstrate a wobbling concern for authenticity - which could be a little nit picky since it's mostly a science fiction film. It does leave the impression that forging a sword takes three blows from a hammer and can be done in under a hour. Oh, and a dozen people with wooden shovels can excavate a ditch in an afternoon you could park a semi-trailer in, and ring it with a stockade. Fight choreography is irrelevant since most of the fighting is filmed with quick-cut editing in near-total darkness. Jim Caviezel is effective as the visiting farmer/soldier who proves to be a better Viking than those who've done it for life. The biggest problem is the moorwen, a monster that only an art director could have created. I can't imagine what environmental/ecological niche a beast with its abilities could have evolved to fill. Since the character John Hurt plays is named King Rothgar and the "Shield Hall" he rules is called Heorot, this qualifies as yet another remake of Beowulf.
The village in Outlander is impressively created.	Unfortunately, it is only seen in very brief shots.
Running the shields - a challenge for everyone involved.	Facing the moorwen.
Screen captures from Outlander (2008)

A Viking Saga: Son of Thor (2008)
A Danish effort on a limited budget. Helgi is a young boy whose family is slaughtered by marauding Vikings.  Years later he meets them in the Eastern forests.  Complications ensue.  The settings look right - and there are ships...   But the trailer shows re-enactors and the principal actors fighting battles in alternating shots. Apparently they weren't in the same place at the same time. (Jack Garrett) A basically sound story set in the eastern Viking area. Weapons are kind of so-so, some fairly accurate and some obviously movie props. Most people are only in a single tunic and most necklines seem too big. Machine sewn seams are noticeable. Helmets, pants and mid leg boots are acceptable as part of the eastern styles. Belly dancers, really? Why? There is obvious reliance on re-enactors and about 20 re-enactment groups are credited along with historical locations from Ribe, Foteviken, and Trelleborg among others. (Tory Parker) (Thanks to Peter Ikin for the list addition.)
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.	The celebration is enlivened by the well known Norse belly dancers.
image from http://www.avikingsaga.com/	Screen capture from A Viking Saga: Son of Thor (2008)/

Faintheart (2008)
A British Viking Age re-enactor played by Eddie Marsan finds life in chain mail less challenging than life as a family man. A good story, good writing, good acting and engaging characters. The climax is unlikely and it's not hard to foresee the outcome, but it's a British comedy well worth seeing. The gear and the people in this movie look pretty familiar to some of us.  You either know someone like Richard - or maybe it's you. (Thanks to Rick Wilson and Ed Berland for the addition to the list.)
It's nice to have a fenced yard to play in.	Shield walls can be useful in many situations.
Screen captures from Faintheart (2008)

Valhalla Rising (2009)
It's set near the end of the Viking Age and starts out in Scotland. The main character, One Eye, is a mute human pit bull. He is basically chained up and forced to fight slaves for the amusement of his captors. He is sold to a Scotsman, kills the entire group (with a tomahawk!) and heads out with a boy who would bring him meals. They join up with a group of Christian Vikings going toward the Holy Land to convert the Muslims. The only person to wear (close to) correct kit through the movie is the Boy. Everyone else seems to wear something closer to the stereotype "Dark Age Warrior," even if they don't have horned helms and bunny fur. One Eye wears, of course, biker's leather. The swords, for the most part, look like Deepeeka or Hanwei. The movie is barely watchable, combining (the worst parts of) Erik the Red's Saga with weird "dreams" and a Crusading passion that wouldn't start for a few more years after the last Pagan Viking had been dead for 50 years. If you've spent more than a day or two researching the Viking Age, this movie is painful to watch. If you like movies for the story, this movie is painful to watch as it jumps and starts between times, places, and ideas. The only saving grace was the ship crossing to the "Holy Land." The characters are grumpy, cramped, dehydrated, and generally not in good spirits; the way you would expect to be if you were lost at sea for a month. The ship didn't look too bad either.  (John Kronberg)
One Eye the slave is a mute killing machine.	Religious fervor and and out-and-out madness figure largely in Valhalla Rising.
Screen captures from Valhalla Rising (2009)

1066, AKA 1066: The Battle for Middle Earth (2009)
This two-part UK television mini-series depicts the three momentous battles of 1066 from the viewpoint of the lower eschelons of the three warring armies: Anglo-Saxon, Viking and Norman.  For those interested in historical re-enactment, the film is a must, although greater attention to William of Normandy, Harold Godwinson and Harald Hardrada would have made a better educational experience.  Extras were provided by Regia Anglorum and the battle scenes have a different look than other films that rely on CGI or generic stunt players to fill the frame.  The budget is limited, but the screenplay and acting are both well beyond most similar efforts.  An attempt to tap into the success of the Lord of the Rings movies is unfortunate and undermines the substantial lengths taken for historical authenticity.  Extended comments and screen shots are here, since the film isn't generally available in the US.  These comments are based on the DVD Region 2 (Europe) version.
The Normans.	The Anglo-Saxons.
Screen captures from 1066: The Battle for Middle Earth (2009)

Hammer of the Gods, AKA Thor: Hammer of the Gods(2009)
A Viking warrior named Thor searches for a mythical hammer from his visions. Runs into werewolves.  An abysmal TV movie.

The Secret of Kells (2009)
This Academy Award® nominated animated movie tells the story of the creation of the Book of Kells, arguably Ireland's finest national treasure. The movie is visually stunning, with the complex, sinuous and geometrical forms of Celtic art in constant motion throughout its 75-minute length. The residents of the Kells abbey, about 800 AD, fear an attack from the dread Vikings.  The abbott feverishly prepares for the attack by building a wall around the community. Aidan, a master illuminator, has escaped from an earlier Viking attack on Iona with an unfinished illuminated Gospel manuscript. He gets help both from the abbott's nephew, Brendan, who turns out to be a talented illuminator himself, and Aisling, a mystical forest creature. When the devastating Viking attack occurs, the three are forced to flee with their uncompleted manuscript. It will be years later before Brendan completes the masterwork and brings it back to the abbey. Initially, the characterization of the Vikings as inhuman snarling beasts was annoying and a very, very tired stereotyping. But, during the course of the movie, this approach began to make sense to me - from the point of view of the abbey's residents. Unfair? Yes. A balanced view of Viking culture? No. But an accurate depiction of how the Viking threat would have been seen by many of their victims? Probably pretty close.
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.	Pages from the Book of Kells are presented in full, layered, animated glory. Every component is shown in independent motion.
Screen captures from The Secret of Kells (2009)

Wickie und die starken Männer, AKA Vicky the Viking (2009)
Live action movie about a young Viking boy and his adventures.  It follows a great animated series from the 70s, that spawned around 78 episodes broadcast in Germany.  The series is highly recommended and one of my personal favorites. The cartoon drawing style of the series was simply amazing and a source of inspiration for later classics, including manga cartoons.  Followed by Wickie auf großer Fahrt AKA Vicky and the Treasure of the Gods (2011).  (Davide Ramos)

The Wild Hunt (2009)
This is a modern movie set in the world of Live Action Role Play (LARP) and filmed in the Quebec location named Bicolline built specifically for role play. It tells the story of Erik, a former LARPer, who goes to find his girlfriend who is increasingly drawn into full-time make believe. To extract her, he joins his brother as part of tribe of Vikings within the game. Not a great movie, but worth the time if you have any connection to the world it portrays. Thanks to Annie for finding this one.
Erik's search for his girlfriend, now called Princess Evlynia, turns Lord of the Flies ominous.	We're not talking museum-grade historical costume authenticity.
Screen captures from The Wild Hunt (2009)

Pope Joan (2009)
Image from http://www.cineimage.ch/film/paepstin/slides_scen.html	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)

Timetrip: The Curse of the Viking Witch (2009)
A Danish film. Siblings Valdemar and Sille meet the scientist Benedict and his time machine. They begin an exciting but perilous journey back into the history of Denmark - to 963 AD. It appears that Benedict is in fact not an ordinary man: the Viking Volva (sorceress) cast a spell on Benedict and made him immortal. To travel back in time and do away with Volva and lift the curse, he needs help from Valdemar and Sille. Thanks to Lyonel Perabo.
Why do they look so uncomfortable? Images from http://www.97filmproduction.com/en/fiche-film.php?id=233 and http://www.allmovie.com/movie/timetrip-the-curse-of-the-viking-witch-v499175	Now, SHE looks like she knows what she's doing

How to Train Your Dragon (2010)
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)

Hetjur Valhallar - Þór AKA Legends of Valhalla: Thor (2011)
This animated feature is a fun romp. The official website description is, “An over confident teen with a magical weapon and a handful of imperfect gods join forces against an evil queen and her army of giants.” Don’t expect historical accuracy or much similarity to any of the standard mythologies of the Norse Gods. A German/Icelandic/Irish production.  (Tory Parker)

Thor (2011)
Thor works. It's an entertaining movie with interesting characters and, considering it's derived from a comic book universe, it has a reasonably involving plot. The story has some nice character development as Thor Odinsson learns lessons that will serve him well when he succeeds his father as king. A central idea is that magic, science and religion are all different ways of perceiving the same phenomena. It even refers to, without quoting, my favorite Arthur C. Clarke observation: "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic."
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 Tom Hiddleston,  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. The bridge between the realms, Bifrost, is conceived with middling results. It looks like it would be more at home in the Flash Gordon movie from 1980. But then, so would Thor's costumes and most of the characters. Thor suffers from the continuing problem CGI-intensive movies seem unwilling to resolve. When computer-generated entities fight, there is simply no sense of jeopardy created. Characters in Thor are battered, impaled and frozen, all with no lasting damage. Without being told what would actually damage or kill the combatants, we have to assume that nothing we see is going to hurt them. This prevents the most intense battles from generating any suspense, reducing them to an exercise in how many ways animators can batter a hero before bringing the increasingly pointless combat to a conclusion. In the movie, Thor even compounds the problem by telling us how effortless an epic battle against the frost giants is for him.  It's interesting to note that in the early days of monster movies, filmmakers always found a way to explain to the audience what would kill the vampire, werewolf, mummy or whatever. One way or another, we would learn what kind of wooden stake, silver bullet or holy water weapon to be on the lookout for. Otherwise, the death of a combatant can only appear to be at the whim of the script. We may get a surprise, but there certainly won't be any suspense leading up to it. We're cheated of much of the nerve-wracking excitement a well choreographed battle should bring. A second flaw Thor (the movie) has is the minion problem. The gods of Asgard slaughter dozens (hundreds?) of frost giants who are never even mentioned as losses - by either side. Even the ruler of the frost giants later discusses an end to the hostilities without the slightest mention of how many of his kind were lost. Those sent into battle should matter - to someone. It cheats us of the emotions that should rise out of the loss of a real person/entity, even an enemy. These vanquished frost giants are given no more reality than a kill counter in a video game. In the end, it's just a movie made about a comic book hero. Not much more, and no less. Click here to see Bjornstad interviewed about the movie for the Electric Company media web site.

The Saga of Biorn (2011)
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)

Ironclad (2011)
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)

Northmen (2012)
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 (TV Series) (2013)
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 and is succeeded by his sons. As a Viking re-enactor and sometime historian, I was impressed at first. 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 Lindisfarne 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. Annoying initial mistakes, like longships with their steering board on the left side, were corrected, but the costuming completely undermines  the show's value as a useful visual reference to the Vikings.  Beyond that, in the last season the filmmakers apparently tired of the whole effort and threw in a hot air balloon, front-hinged landing craft and even a stern-wheeler.  Ridiculous.
Ragnar Lothbrok explains to his brother Rollo how the sunstone could aid navigation.	Vikings approach the monastery at Lindisfarne.  Incidents like this would recur 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.

Hammer of the Gods (2013)
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.

Ragnarok AKA Gåten Ragnarok (2013)
	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. Incidentally, the runes central to this plot were actually discovered carved on a two-meter piece of wood among the remains of the Oseberg Viking longship, excavated in 1904-1905 AD.  Among the translations offered for the cryptic runic inscription: "Man knows little."  Frustration from a disappointed woman?  An assessment on all mankind from a long-suffering philospher?  Who knows?

Vikingdom (2013)
Dodging flying axes is easier when you're dressed for it.	Fighting Thor today is bad enough, but did it have to rain?
Images from www.movieweb.com
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)
A Viking Saga: The Darkest Day (2013)
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)

Northmen: A Viking Saga (2014)
"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

Viking Quest (2014)
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.

Viking: The Berserkers (2014)
	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 here.

Sword of Vengeance (2015)
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

Guillaume - La Jeunesse du Conquérant (William - The Youth of the Conqueror) (2015)
	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 (2015)
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.
Images from http://www.bbcamerica.com/the-last-kingdom/
Judging from the first season, 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. 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.

Shieldmaiden: An animation in progress (2015)
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.

Viking (2016)
Viking is misnamed. It's not about a Viking. There ARE Vikings in the movie, but they are almost always peripheral to the events onscreen. It IS the story of Prince Vladimir the Great who converted Russia to Christianity in 988 AD. He's the third and youngest son of Svetoslav, head of the Rurik clan of the Rus, who ruled in what are now parts of Ukraine, Western Russia and Belarus. The death of Svetoslav in 972 leaves the three sons with competing regions: Yaropolk holds Kiev, Oleg holds an area known as Drevlyane and the youngest, Vladimir, has Novgorod. In the ancient and honored tradition of princely detente, Yaropolk murders Oleg, and Vladimir's supporters murder Yaropolk. Vladimir hires Vikings to help him take and hold his father's lands - and maybe add some more. The story culminates with Vladimir's conversion of the Rus to Christianity. In between, there's a lot of mud, blood and snow. A LOT of mud. Viking is based on 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. The main problem with the version we saw - with English subtitles - was the poor quality of the translation into English. The subtitles were frequently badly worded and confusing, making it difficult to follow people and incidents. People pop up in the movie, check off their boxes from recorded history and then disappear, sometimes never to reappear. Scenes play out suggesting Vladimir's historical progression towards Christianity. We aren't really invited along. We just witness disconnected events, like his yearning to marry Anna, the sister of the Byzantine emperor Basil II. Was this part of some developing geo-political savvy on his part? Or are we really to believe it was because his brother's stunning widow, Irena, gave him a bracelet with "Anna" on it? We certainly aren't able to witness a single conversation or interior monologue about the project. Or see its outcome onscreen.	Poster image from twitchfilm.com, Screenshots from the trailer
Discouraged by their ineffectiveness, Vladimir pulls down the totems to his father's gods and replaces them with another totem. It's not clear whether it represents the Christian god or (more likely) another pagan deity. Another pagan god is mentioned, but it's not clear who the ever-present and perpetually muddy "priests" represent. We do know they like sacrifices, though. There are rousing battles, sieges, longships and a berserker. The battles are well-staged and epic in scale. Did I mention the mud? There are truly ridiculous moments, not the least of which involve portaging the longships to hilltops, then mudsurfing them downhill to attack the Pecheneg horse-borne invaders. A minor historical point the filmmakers chose not to include to avoid cluttering the story: Vladimir was believed to have collected eight hundred concubines as well as a few wives during his busy reign. For good or ill, the movie spends most of its time outdoors. The scale armor is ineffective, since pretty frequently warriors are killed while wearing it. The armor, helmets and the costuming are the same dull, dreary stuff we're seeing everywhere in movies and in TV series, no matter the culture or time period. Along those lines, being a Slavic/Rus prince must not pay well. Vladimir doesn't seem to have a habitation worthy of his title or a dress-up tunic. All we see are essentially combat outfits or undertunics. Irena - and a few Byzantine ambassadors - are the only ones who dress to fit their stations in the film. At one point, Vladimir has to take up a collection to hire the Vikings (Varangians?) as mercenaries. The sum total of the jewelry and coinage available to his people is enough to impress the Vikings sufficiently to rent him ONE Viking. A clear case of wage inflation in the 10th century. Ultimately a disappointing experience. It could easily have been better. Maybe by actually focusing on the Vikings... Here's the trailer.  Thanks to Colin Adams and Ed Berland for the heads up.
The aurochs hunt explodes from the tree line.  A brilliantly filmed scene.	The father of the betrothed has a reluctant daughter.
Polotsk has seceded from the Byzantine Empire. Vladimir agrees to apply pressure - for a price.	Viking determination - and a great helmet.
A quiet sail upriver.	Changing of the gods in an open air temple.
Every historical movie is allowed one really crappy helmet. This one is Vladimir's.	A berserker at work.

Beowulf: Return to the Shieldlands (TV Series) (2016)
Image from http://www.pogdesign.co.uk/cat/Beowulf-Return-to-the-Shieldlands-summary	"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." (That, from pogdesign.co.uk) It's also a series about throwing together LOTS of pieces that don't fit. That includes characters, sets, plots, landscape, cultures, and even races, human and inhuman. There's a lot of STUFF on display, but except for an occasional blacksmith or fisherman, no one seems to be building, herding, cooking, cleaning, dyeing, painting, weaving, carving, shearing, growing, tilling, trading, selling or hunting ANYTHING. People seem to have woolen clothes without sheep, leather pants without cattle, buildings without carpenters, wall art without artisans, food without crops, drinks without vintners or brewers and on and on. Let's hope no one wears out any of their not-from-any-identifiable-historical-period clothing. The only real occupation everyone appears to have is Purveyor of Drama. There are lots of plots and plotters. Heorot, the great hall of the Beowulf legend and primary set of this series, has a rough wooden exterior, a highly carved, polished and gold-covered interior - and a completely unmatched stone staircase to get into it. I've watched most of three episodes and I can't come up with a single reason to watch any more. (Thanks, though, to Judit Stettner for letting us know about it.)

Vikingane AKA Norsemen (2016)
Images from the Vikingane trailer
An 8th century comic soap opera - with swords and axes.  Why not?  Filmed in Norway by Norwegian television. Two seasons of episodes have been released. The series is being filmed in both Norwegian and English with bilingual actors handling two completely separate versions. "Viking is an epic and humorous drama series set in the Viking Age. The year is 790 ... we follow the everyday life of the Vikings in the village Norheim. Between power struggle, raids and battles in a tough time offers life of good friendship, celebration and love, while being challenged by new modern trends with the introduction of soft values and art, bickering and jealousy, relationship problems and troublesome sibling relationship we know from modern times." Quote from https://tv.nrk.no/serie/vikingane Good - in its own way. It looks great, from settings to costuming.  But, it's basically a winking look at Viking culture with the characters representing 21st century outlooks using a full range of our current politically correct and incredibly trite clichés.  Enjoyable if you're in the right mood.

Viking Legacy (2016)
This is an odd little micro-budget film that tells the story of a Viking prince who grows up in the shadow of his older brother. During a raid he meets a young woman; circumstances force him to make life-changing decisions.  Unfortunately, the movie is almost unwatchable: frequently, parts of the screen warp for no reason. It's as if the movie were projected onto a billowing sheet.  It's filmed in Wales and the scenery is a plus, when it isn't dilating or expanding. Thanks to Lyonel Perabo for finding it.      Screen captures from Viking Legacy
Don't you hate it when that happens?	Guess who wins...
Some random observations: Fights turn out differently than skills, weapons, editing and logic suggest they should Pursuers unaccountably turn up ahead of those pursued Clothes are new and clean but unhemmed People on the run leave things behind without a thought as to their survival value People find each other in a supposedly vast landscape without any effort at all Smoke from a campfire doesn't give away its location to pursuers Swords from the 16th century make an appearance A central plot element is played by a nicely bound, modern, book Confidential conversations are held in a soundproof canvas tent that just might be bigger inside than out Everyone fights better than the Viking prince, including the heroine and a nun The Vikings obviously wear aluminum mail, but luckily it is completely ineffective as armor

The Last King AKA Birkebeinerne (2016)
Here's a story based on actual Norwegian history. In 1206, two factions fight for the Norwegian throne. The Baglers are supported by Denmark and the Catholic church; their opponents include the son of the dead king Håkon Sverreson. Unfortunately, the claimant for the throne, Håkon Håkonsson, is just two years old. After an attempt on the child's life, two members of the Birkebeiner fighters take the boy on a long and perilous journey of over 225 miles through treacherous mountains and forests. "Birkebeiner" refers to the group's supposed bare-bones origins when they wore birch bark leggings or shoes. Cross-country ski races still commemorate the chase. The acting is fair, but not much more, and the writing is occasionally stilted, but the movie looks great and the story is involving. At least some of the actors seem to have been dubbed, but the English version doesn't suffer from it. Torstein, one of the primary characters, is played by Kristofer Hivju, the red-bearded Wildling leader from Game of Thrones.  The central story is the chase and the filming of the movie is excellent. There's more ski combat than in a James Bond movie. Here, a wide array of weaponry from the period is deployed, all in snow on skis. Other things worth noting that make an appearance: fjord horses, a cart, a sleigh, a sauna, a cranked lute (Hurdy Gurdy?), a mouth harp and the Northern Lights. It's set a bit later than the usual movie on this list, but 1066 didn't abruptly end the Viking Age in Scandinavia. One of the better "Viking" movies we've seen. Incidently, a children's book based on this same incident is on our Bjornstad Recommended Reading List.
Skjervald and Torstein set out to save the young Håkon Håkonsson.
Image from IMDB.com and screen capture from The Last King

Trace (2016)
This is a 33 minute Norwegian movie available on YouTube.  A lone villager travels a long, long, way across a forbidding landscape trying to get home with a treasure that a band of raiders is trying to take from him.  We expect that his efforts to make it home to his clan will bring a better future to them.  The nature - and extent -  of the treasure is only hinted at, but one page flashes glimpses of "SPQR" and "Legio X", while another has anachronistic architectural drawings of Viking ships.  Valuable in many ways, no doubt.  Purposely difficult to see clearly, though. The minimal dialogue is in Old Norse, subtitled.  The visuals are the point of the movie.  We see sweeping vistas of mountains, with and without snow. We get some well shot combat. Excellent drone video soars above the terrain and action.  Costumes, weapons and armor are well above average for most of the films we've seen.  There are some excellent visual effects and only a few that could have, or should have, been better.  (If you're only going to show one glimpse of a longship on the ocean, did it have to be thousands of yards away?) Some things to look for: an impressive longhouse, courtesy of the Lofotr musuem in Norway, a little magic, Northern Lights, a really questionable compass, a nose ring and something from Trondheim.  Dark, minimalist and hinting at stories we'd prefer to have had the movie focused on.  Worth watching, though. Here's a link to the film. (Thanks as always to Lyonel Perabo for letting us know about it.)	Screenshots from Trace

Dragonheart: Battle for the Heartfire (2017)
image from IMDB.com	This is an okay fantasy film and is a sort of sequel to Dragonheart (1995), but is set a couple of hundred years earlier, based on the presence of Viking raiders, in a place called Lundenwic, Britannia. It tells the story of two twins, the sister one minute older than her brother. These are twins with a few differences. Mehgan can control, but not ignite fires. Brother Edric has the strength of three men. Beyond that, they are bonded to a dragon in a way that neither they, nor we, immediately understand. Both are marked with scales as a symbol of the bond. In a male-dominated kingdom, Mehgan is denied the right to rule as Queen. In a nifty career choice, she becomes leader of a band of Vikings (See, it’s a Viking movie after all.) Conflict arises and is dealt with in predictable ways. The acting is better than average, the production values serve the film well, and there are worse ways to spend just under two hours.

Viking Siege AKA Attack of the Tree Beasts (2017)
images from IMDB.com	Let's see...the film was originally entitled Attack of the Tree Beasts. That's hardly encouraging. Apparently the tree creatures (Ents) from the Lord of the Rings books and movies have found something new to do with their time: besiege a group of people the movie calls Vikings. We do have attractive women in gear we wouldn't have described as Viking. We have most of the action taking place on one set. We have a handheld crossbow that must be belt-fed, somehow.  But ... it doesn't appear as if there are any Vikings. Maybe they're just lurking offscreen trying not to be associated with the movie at all. But now we're curious - has anybody actually seen this movie?

Viking Destiny (2018)
Here's a movie with a different slant on the old problem of not having a male heir to inherit your kingdom. Since the king's brother had a son at the same time as the king having a daughter, why not just swap the boy and girl and raise them as if they had been born to the other brother? What could go wrong? Naturally, just about everything. Most importantly, the daughter is better king material in every way. The movie picks up when the children reach 20 years old and the deception really starts to unravel. Not a bad plot line and the smallish budget isn't too much of a hindrance, given the focus on the two brothers, a few retainers and the children. The acting is fine and the settings work for the storyline. Costumes and weaponry aren't too bad.  Just don't expect raiding, longships braving the North Sea and mounds of treasure.	image from IMDB.com

Redbad (2018)
Redbad is nearly a good movie. At two hours and forty minutes, it’s certainly epic. The setting looks accurate, the scale is enormous, and the battles involve hundreds of extras. Redbad is a Frisian prince in the 8th century. (Note the DVD packaging says, “In the year of 754 AD” before launching into a summary of the movie. Since Redbad died in 719 AD, a movie featuring him 35 years later would be pretty dull.) The Frisian people are pagan, and the Christian Franks are pressing hard for domination of their lands. The Danish Vikings live alongside the Frisians on the shore of the North Sea and offer occasional military support. Redbad through much of the movie is a reluctant character. He doesn’t want the leadership of his people and is against sacrifices to their pagan gods, but doesn’t press the issue, preferring to wander away while things go from bad to worse. Reluctant heroes just don’t make great cinema. Events – and the action – usually flow around them. The audience is forced to wait for some crisis to happen that finally turns things around. Being tied up, set adrift on a raft and then saved by Vikings while his sister is married off to a Frankish prince does it for Redbad. The fighting for, and around, the village of Dorestad forces him to become a leader. The filmmakers decided (as told in the “Making of…” extra) that they would make the Christians the villains of the piece. This results in a real headscratcher. The film opens with Frisians sacrificing a lot of people - in fire - because of a crop failure. This is contrasted later in the film with two Christian baptisms. Those conversions are filmed as if being forcibly dunked in a vat of water by an ugly priest was more terrifying than being burned alive. Ya gotta be kidding. Just to intensify the “Us vs. Them” aspect, the Franks all speak in English in the movie. Everyone else, Dane or Frisian, speaks in subtitled Dutch. It’s a weird decision; with the three cultures in close contact throughout the movie, you’re frequently left with trying to guess which bearded long greasy-haired character you’re listening to. The combat is of a style I’d call “Sword cutting”. There just isn’t much fighting done by the lead characters. Their opponents attack, thoughtfully move their swords and shields out of the way and are dispatched with a single neat slice that allows the kill count to go up without all that messy choreography. A lot of people are killed in the battles, but it appears the coach didn’t stress Defense in the locker room. A great deal is made of shield walls. We see them formed and attacked in several battles. Ironically, with two shield walls drawn up against each other on the battlefield, the Frisians and Vikings break ranks and charge the Franks’ (kite) shield wall. No idea why – it wasn’t a good idea. We see a lot of longships; all except one show their sails lowered, whether they are sailing, anchored or docked. That would have made for exciting times when the wind came up. The clothing is invented for the movie. The notes say 2,000 costumes were created for it. According to the director, Roel Reiné, he didn’t want to make a “frumpy and dry historical film”. He “quickly abandoned the desire to make it realistic” and went for “bigger than life.” Gee, what a brave decision. All in all, a movie worth watching if just to fill in a little missing history with a fairly accurate retelling. There are Vikings, but there’s no raiding, treasure collection or exploring and precious little sailing. So, a Frisian, and not Viking, movie. Here's the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLfz6m6v6No	images from Redbad

Draug (2018)
image from imdb.com	"In the 11th century a missionary goes missing somewhere in the huge forests bordering the northern parts of Sweden. Among the rescue party chosen to find him is Nanna, a young woman on her first real mission and her first return to the part of the country where she was born. But what they will find deep inside those woods is something else entirely. Something dark. Something ancient. Something evil." Source: IMDB Here's the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAGWhPfiZdU It's a horror movie with 'dark' in the description. How surprising... Thanks to Lyonel Perabo (yet again!) for a movie to seek out.

Halvdan Viking (2018)
image from imdb.com	"Halvdan is not a proper Viking. He has a limp, and is regarded by the other kids as a strange loner with no friends; except for the village blacksmith Björn who's taken care of him since Halvdan's father left on a plundering trip. Across the mighty river there's an enemy village that has been in a feud with Halvdan's tribe for as long as anyone can remember. One day during Halvdan's lonely excursions to the river, he encounters Meia, the daughter of the enemy village ruler. A heart-warming and funny family adventure about bridging differences and forbidden friendships. unfolds." Source: IMDB A Swedish production. Here's the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAGWhPfiZdU Hmmm. Sounds like there might be a modern message or six cleverly hidden just below the surface. Incidentally, IMDB.com's trivia for this one suggests that the title has a double meaning: Halvdan is an Old Norse name which means "half Dane", but in modern Swedish it can also mean "of low quality". The poor boy seems to have a lot of weight to carry... Thanks to Lyonel Perabo for the movie entry.	image from imdb.com

Beforeigners (2019)
image from imdb.com	A comedy-drama television series developed in Norway and in limited release worldwide. People from three past ages: the Stone Age, the Viking Age and the 1800's, walk out of the ocean into modern Oslo knowing nothing about how they got there. One of the Viking women becomes a police officer, with the inevitable culture clashes.  Here's a link to episode 1 (not in English, as far as I know at this point.) Thanks to Lyonel Perabo for the entry.

The Huntress: Rune of the Dead AKA Viking Saga: Rune of the Dead (2019)
If you want to see what life was like for those who stayed home while others went a-Viking, this is your movie. The Huntress was filmed in the forests of Northern Sweden, and it is a stunningly beautiful movie. You'll need to focus on that beauty for the first half or more of the movie since it intends to show us how slow and uneventful life was deep in the forests of Viking Age Sweden. It accomplishes that incredibly well - at length. Small events, bits of understated dialogue and the lead character Runa's visions only begin to build up suspense well into the movie. Events then occur for which a lot of groundwork has been prepared. The father, Joar, has been away on a raid for two years. The family has had no word on his success, or even his survival. When he returns, he's a changed man. The family struggles to deal with the changes resulting from the lightly sketched events of his raid. An all-out effort has been made to film an authentic-looking Viking Age movie. The costumes are utterly convincing, the setting is convincing and even the later reality-bending events are very well done. The music is produced on what certainly seem to be authentic instruments. The minor things we'd quibble with are the non-hunting points on the inexhaustible arrows and the probably inauthentic jackets several of the characters wear.  The image provides the prime example of both. The village seems a little bereft of houses and lived-in clutter, but that could be entirely accurate. And when's the last time you saw a quern in operation? Worth seeing just to recognize the effort that went into it. It's intended to be one of a series of movies featuring the huntress daughter Runa.	image from Facebook

Valhalla (2019)
Image from imdb.com
A Danish live action movie which is an adaptation of the old comic books of the same name, but darker and grimier.  It seems at least in some part to take ideas from the tale of two servants of Thor. "The Viking children Røskva and Tjalfe embark on an adventurous journey from Midgard to Valhalla with the gods Thor and Loki. Life in Valhalla, however, turns out to be threatened by the dreaded Fenrir wolf and the god's barbaric archenemies, the Jotnar. Side by side with the gods the two children must fight to save Valhalla from the end of the world - Ragnarok."—Profile Pictures.  Here's a captioned link to the trailer. (Thanks to Lyonel Perabo and Roderic Oswald) It was a very basic depiction of the mythology but not Viking life or history. It followed the stories of a couple of sagas, had a very basic plot, had some real nice scenes depicting the mythology but they were also followed by some very hokey scenes. Kind of cute but I felt like it lost a lot in translation. (Will Lopez)

Pagan Warrior AKA Vikings vs Krampus (2019)
Vikings fight Saxons, then a mythical beast.  Set in 812 AD, or maybe, as the titles announce, "Three Days Until Yule Day December 1812". Somehow, life will be complete without having to sit through this one.  At your own risk, here's a link to the trailer.  (And thanks, anyway, to Lyonel Perabo)	image from imdb.com

Vic the Viking and the Magic Sword (2019)
image from the movie trailer	A Belgian animated film.  Wickie the Viking was conceived by the Swedish writer Runer Jonsson and first appeared in seven volumes in book form in 1963. My hopes aren't up too high for this one (see the image.)

Age of Vikings: Fated (2020)
This is a Kickstarter project undertaken by Grimfrost, the Swedish Viking goods merchant.  (They also sponsor Dr. Jackson Crawford's series of Old Norse YouTube videos.)  Grimfrost's mission statement: "The time has come to make a real Viking movie that is entertaining and exciting without sacrificing historical accuracy."  From a costume authenticity standpoint, they could have done without the animal skins on the shoulders of some of the actors…and maybe the Eastern kaftan on the lead. They plan a series of short (10-minute-ish) films/episodes. Thanks to Will Lopez and Ed Berland for finding this one. Here's a link to the first episode.  Moody and well-filmed.   Let's hope they continue the mission.	image from grimfrost.com

Viking Skøøl (2021?)
"Erik, Ylva and Ani are budding Vikings, confident that they all have what it takes to succeed in the ruthless Vikingskøøl. But the road to graduation is long! To get to the end of this adventure, fortunately they have the necessary stamina, courage and intelligence - but not necessarily all of these qualities at the same time..." https://vikingskool.fandom.com/wiki/Vikingskool# Scheduled to debut in 2019, the twelve episodes of Season 1 haven't been seen yet. Lost somewhere? Thanks to Lyonel Perabo for letting us know it's out there...somewhere.	image from vikingskool.fandom.com

The Saga of Olav the Holy (2021 - Cancelled)
Photo: Peter Nicolai Arbos - image from https://www.nrk.no/kultur/norges-neste-storfilm-stanses-1.15771189	King Olav II Haraldsson of Norway (c. 995 – 29 July 1030) was killed on the battlefield at Stiklestad; the film about his death has suffered the same fate. The Saga of Olav the Holy was to be Norway's major film for 2021. It has been cancelled. The film company, Storm Film, produced large-scale films primarily for the Norwegian market in the two prior years, focusing on big, national films for the Christmas season. The Covid-19 pandemic hit both of those films, bringing in far less revenue than expected. A survey conducted by Nordisk Film Distribusjon showed a clear trend of increasing uncertainty among audiences to visit cinemas from November 2021 onwards. In dropping the film, the producers passed up about seven million NOK in governmental support, about $778,000 USD. Thanks to Lyonel Perabo for sending a message about this one.

The Northman (2022)
The Northman is a tough call. It stars Alexander Skarsgård as a Norse prince named Amleth. Nicole Kidman, Anya Taylor-Joy and Willem Dafoe co-star. It’s directed by Robert Eggers. Historical consultants include archaeologist Neil Price (author of "The Viking Way: Religion and War in Late Iron Age Scandinavia" and "Children of Ash and Elm: A History of the Vikings") and literary scholar Johanna Katrin Fridriksdottir (author of "Valkyrie: The Women of the Viking World"). There’s no lack of talent involved in the movie. It’s based on a tale told by 13th century Danish historian, theologian and author Saxo Grammaticus in Gesta Danorum, (The Story of the Danes). That story was adapted by Shakespeare for Hamlet. The similarities collapse in a heap pretty quickly, though. Compared to Amleth's struggles with his lot in life in The Northman, Hamlet was a carefree lightweight. The settings of the story and the costumes are exceptional. Small details, like the tortoise shell brooches on the He-witch (suggesting the “feminine” aspect of magic) are dead on. He also wields an archaeologically accurate Völva's staff. Other nice touches include the unstepped mast while rowing the longships upriver and the mast-fish (to brace the mast when in use) shown within the longship. Nordic and Slavic people have recognizably different clothing, decorations and, occasionally, language. The Icelandic vistas are stunning, the weapons generally correct except for some sound effects like loud scraping metal on metal as a sword is slowly drawn from a leather covered wooden scabbard. Other artifacts in the film looked good as well: pots, chains, looms, Viking ship interior, exterior household goods. (Henrik Olsgaard) Norse mythology plays a vital part in the movie and it is truly entertaining to recognize the many subtle – or blatant - references to Norse gods, locations and objects. Dr. Jackson Crawford has posted several videos on The Northman. That, in itself, may be a comment on the film's impact on those of us who care about this era. He notes that the Younger Futhark runes used for the chapter titles and the Elder Futhark runes shown on the sword Amleth takes from a draugr (undead) are generally correct, but not completely. Dr. Crawford seems to be pretty forgiving about this considering the number and quality of the experts whose research is shown in the movie. We’re with him. Here's a trailer. And here's a long and wandering article from The New Yorker: It's worth plowing through, even though it gives away some of the movie's style and approach to its story. Having watched The Northman, three times now, I'm impressed with the many, many accurate references to Norse culture, mythology, weaponry, settings and clothing. Including a brutal stickball game of Knattleikr. But I've been searching for a way to describe my primary reaction to it. For those of us interested in Viking movies, it's definitely one worth experiencing and absorbing, but maybe the problem is simple: It's just not an "enjoyable" movie. It gives the over-used movie description “dark” a new, further, place to go. Vast expanses of Iceland are made to feel claustrophobic and confining. It’s an epic without adventure. Alexander Skarsgård, normally a very effective actor, is undone by the director.  Skarsgård's lead character, Amleth, doesn’t have a single conversation with anyone in the movie; his lines are spoken as if carved in stone (sorry) or from a sword and sandal movie epic from the 1950’s. An exclamation point after every sentence. And I don’t recall him smiling, even in those few scenes when professing love for someone. In an interview with Dr. William Short, his joint author, Reynir Óskarson, made this observation I have yet to completely agree with: "Good entertainment is not a history lesson, and a good history lesson is not entertainment." Personally, I choose never to assume that's an immutable condition. (Jack Garrett)
The warm glow of childhood memories.	If this is Hamlet, dad may not last to the end of the movie.
Uncle has a fur coat, a nice helmet - and some unnecessarily anonymous minions.	Yeah, didn't think so.
Slavery has its ups and downs.	Dafoe quotes from the Volsunga Saga.
It's only a matter of time.	If that's Oðinn, someone gets confused, dead or pregnant.
Everybody should have a headlamp - and a night light.	Uh, Valkyrie??? But it's certainly one way to make the most of a cameo appearance...
Going Berserk, or more accurately, going Ulfserk	Wolves - and Ulfheðnar - hunt in packs.
Incoming...	Someone's going to end up in the mud.

Vikings: Valhalla (2022)
Let's get the awkward part over with first. I like Vikings: Valhalla. Two seasons so far. It is entertaining, well made and involving. It does an incredibly good job of showing the world of the 11th century, from the heights of knowledge and refined court intrigue to the wilds of Eastern Europe overrun by bandits. The acting is neither great nor terrible. The writing gets the job done without embarrassment to anyone involved. The settings and sets are expansive and completely convincing. The extras in crowd or combat scenes look the part and contribute to the viewer's ability to become immersed in the world the series builds. Much like its predecessor, Vikings (2013), the costumes are designed to set the stage and perhaps satisfy a broader audience's expectations, but aren't remotely correct for the period. Nearly everyone wears strapped and riveted leather gear, regardless of their rank or job. The few characters who wear the mail that had become a military necessity by the 11th century are the masses of unidentified troops in the far background. No one whose name would show up in the credits wears a helmet to hide their faces or the apparently too boring full mail gear that we see in tapestries and images of the period. There are the usual minor annoyances that remind us we're not watching a documentary. At one point, two of our main characters, Harald Sigurdsson and Leif Erikson, are captured by the Pecheneg tribe, in what's now Ukraine, and savagely tortured. Apparently the horsemen are pretty inept at their task, because both of our heroes recover by putting on clean tunics. Mariam, an academic based on a real scholar from the 11th century, was born in Aleppo (in today's Syria), but teaches Leif to use an astrolabe stamped with Latin (or English) labels. Correct for the period and place? Maybe, but the lettering looked dramatically out of place - given who owned it. Weren't there astrolabes in the 11th century inscribed in Arabic? I'd bet on it. One of the mysteries of the show was something that will force me to rewatch it one of these days. The goal of one group of our adventurers is to reach Constantinople. The city. No problem there, but several references were made to "The Empire of Constantinople" Not the "Byzantine Empire". Was the show trying to slide around the proper name and avoid using it for some reason? Don't know, but maybe I missed an earlier reference to the name of the empire that was actually used at the time. And that leaves us with the most serious flaw in the show. It uses major names from history and then loudly plops them into the wrong places at the wrong time. Leif Erikson, mentioned above, was born ca. 970 AD. Canute the Great was born ca. 990 AD. Harald Sigurdsson, more commonly known as Harald Harðraða, was born ca. 1015 AD. In the show they are all shown to be about the same age. Worse, Leif Erikson was a Greenlander (which the show notes). The sagas tell us of his notable voyage to North America. Most of the second season of Vikings: Valhalla features his journey to Constantinople. I can find no reference to any such voyage ever happening. Apparently, the show's creators want to build significant connection to him with the viewers before he heads far, far west. And didn't mind trashing the show's credibility to do it. So, watch the show to get a sense of life in the 11th century. Enjoy the story telling. Then, go look up these important figures from history to find out what they really did. most images from imdb.com	Leif Erikson sails his longship - off the pages of history Parking a longship can be a real challenge for some people Image source: Vikings: Valhalla teaser.
Freydis and her brother Leif, children of Erik the Red	Freydis is an exceptional warrior
The astrolabe used by Mariam, the scholar from Aleppo	Leif steers Harald Harðraða's cargo ship on the way to Constantinople
Canute, called the Great. King of Norway, Denmark and/or England, depending on the moment.	Canute and Harald, who later became king of Norway. Timing is everything.
Earl Godwin takes Gytha to wife. We'll probably be hearing from their son later.	Irish slaves renegotiate their captivity
Freydis widens her horizons by becoming a priestess - but hangs onto the sword	A sacrificial longhouse ceremony

Röde Orm AKA Red Snake AKA The Long Ships (Maybe?)
	"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. "Röde Orm tells the adventurous story of one of the greatest heroes of the Viking era, which leads to a journey that changes the course of history. The filming of Frans Gunnar Bengtsson's Röde Orm ... is the most ambitious Nordic Viking film project ever." The planned release date is 31 December 2017... 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/ and https://www.moviezine.se/movies/rode-orm

Cowboy Ninja Viking (Shelved?)
	From Time magazine, 12 March 2012: "Universal has acquired the rights to the comic Cowboy Ninja Viking." And from The Hollywood Reporter, 8 August 2017: "Chris Pratt's Cowboy Ninja Viking Gets Summer 2019 Release Date. Pratt (Guardians of the Galaxy, Jurassic World) stars as a new kind of assassin who manifests the toughest skills of three different personas. The graphic novel is from AJ Lieberman and illustrator Riley Rossmo." So what are the odds we'll see our hero dressed in a wool or linen tunic, shod in turn-shoes, carrying a tri-lobed, single-fullered, two-edged sword, armored with a mail shirt wedge-riveted in alternating rows and wearing a spangenhelm with an ocular face mask? Yeah, me neither... Image from https://imagecomics.com/comics/releases/cowboy-ninja-viking-vol.-1

Runestone: A Possible Television Series (Maybe?)
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. Thanks to Ed Berland for the heads up.	Image from roadsendfilms.com
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

Beowulf: A Syfy Television Series (Maybe?)
	"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.

King Harald (Maybe?)
"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 - initially. Which, of course, usually means years of anticipation slowly sliding into forgetful disinterest.	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

Viking Trilogy (Maybe?)
"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.	'Lord of the Rings' producer Barrie Osborne planning Viking trilogy © PA Images / Wong Maye-E/AP From DigitalSpy.com, published Friday, Aug 30 2013, 11:03am EDT | By Mark Langshaw

1066 (Maybe?)
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.

Erik and the Gods (Maybe?)
This is a Viking film project in its very early stages. Edith Tvede Byg-Fabritius, a Danish film director, screenwriter and producer, is trying to get crowd sourcing to make a teaser that would develop support for a 35-minute prolog to develop support for one or more movies. The source material is the Danish four-volume book series, Erik Menneskesøn, about the teenage boy Erik, his travels through Norse mythology and Ragnarok, the war between the two families of gods that will end the world. Here's a link to the impressive approach the director has taken for the film. We wish the project the best and thanks to Joron Whitton for sending the link.

The Clan (Maybe?)
From MSN.com: "Charlize Theron developing Viking drama -- yes, that's right -- with ABC" © Byron Purvis / Retna -- Charlize Theron 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." Thanks to Bruce B for the heads up. If Charlize Theron appears in it, beyond just developing it, it will be worth watching.  (Years later there's nothing new on this so it may never materialize.)

Viking Movie, Untitled (Maybe?)
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)