Buena Vista Pictures Distribution
On the weekend of August 31 , 1999 , a fiddling moving picture that took the public by surprise sustain its place atop the box seat office . The flick , M. Night Shyamalan’sThe Sixth Sense , premiered at the start of the calendar month and would eventually gross over$600 million worldwide , rendering most of its competition moot . It was in this circumstantially competitive clime that John McTiernan ’s historic epicThe 13th Warriorcame out , and the resolution could n’t have been more different than Shyamalan ’s minuscule moving picture that could .
By now , The thirteenth Warrior‘s story is well - bed . A trainwreck in passably much every imaginable metric , the film was widelypanned by contemporary criticsand grossed only$61 million worldwideagainst a production budget of $ 160 million . The 13th Warriorwas one of the year ’s most notorious fizzle , but how does it guard up in 2024 ? It might not be fairish to callThe 13th Warriora masterpiece , but it ’s evenly unjust to take for it one of the 10 ’s unsound . The truth is somewhere in the middle because , for all its fault , there ’s genuine value inThe 13th Warrior , making it a astonishingly underrated gem from the ’ ninety .
Buena Vista Pictures Distribution
Between ‘historical’ and ‘fiction’
free-base on Michael Crichton ’s novelEaters of the Dead , The 13th Warriorfollows Ahmad ibn Fadlan ( Banderas ) , a court poet who is deport from Baghdad after having an affair with the wife of a flush nobleman . Appointed an “ ambassador ” to the Volga Bulgars , he soon find himself with Norsemen from the Volga River after his caravan is attacked by raiders . There , Ahmad is reluctantly included on a quest to protect a northern land from attackers described as “ an ancient wickedness . ” Joining 12 other warrior , Ahmad venture into the wild , experiencing a animation - changing escapade that tests his wit and courage .
DescribingThe 13th Warrioris a tomfool ’s errand . present ostensibly as a diachronic military action epic , the pic often believes itself to be something entirely different . It ’s best discover as a patch of historical fiction , although it flirts with the fantasy genre at point — indeed , the motion picture ’s most notorious flaw at first glance is its unfitness to spoil its vindicated desire to explore the vague supernatural factor of its taradiddle . Indeed , Crichton based the second one-half of the novel onBeowulf , the Old English larger-than-life verse form about the titular fighter who slays monsters and firedrake during his pursuance .
Like the novel , The 13th Warriorattempts to maintain some sense of historical genuineness ; it does n’t exhibit its story as instantly true , but it does n’t say it ’s fable , either . In doing so , the film attempt to have its cake and eat it , too . It suggest at the presence of older , supernatural energies that guide seers and empower the primary antagonist , the “ Wendol , ” bear - skin - wearing savages who garner their dupe ’ head and are plain free-base onBeowulf‘s primary antagonist , Grendel . Thus , The 13th Warriorcan’t help but feel like a half - baked pie . you could taste the flavor , but something is missing : the very necessary elan of spice that enhances the fragrance .
Crichton ’s intentions were stately and admirable . Updating one of the oldest poem in English history and attempting to drudge it in reality is no easy exploit , and his approach is actually quite canny . Ahmad ibn Fadlan was a material historical figurewho indeed traveled with Vikings and wrote about them extensively . However , the temptingness ofBeowulfrelies on its mystical , supernatural , and borderline terrific element : the monstrous Grendel , his tease female parent , the mighty flying lizard , and Beowulf ’s unlimited strong suit of will . In short , not a single individual in the earthly concern was clamour for a naturalistic reading ofBeowulf . It ’ll be like seeing Zeus without his lightning or Odin without his fishgig — what ’s the percentage point ?
Who needs perfect when you have… well, this
IfThe 13th Warriormessed up its narrative approach , it at least made up for it in sheer , quaint , and awkward spectacle . I ’ll be true here : The thirteenth Warrioris not a great motion picture : It ’s uneven , curiously - pace , amateurishly written , and often fecklessly staged . Yet , this inexperient approach gives the film an apprehended and often delightful tone that makes the story more believable . After all , these 13 warrior are suppose to be close to a ragtag crew doing their salutary to defend a small realm from a horde of savages , and the flick really sells that ; so what if half the warriors ca n’t be secernate apart from each other ? The five that get defined personalities are the one who make it until the last , anyway .
The 13th Warrioralso does n’t get enough course credit for its influence on Hollywood ’s depictions of Viking culture . Although never as popular as , say , the Greeks and Romans , the Vikings had their fair share of moving picture during the peak of the blade - and - sandal genre of the 1950s . Yet , they remained largely off from the mainstream , withHrafn Gunnlaugsson ’s Viking Trilogyas the only noteworthy pictures beforeThe 13th Warrior . Because they take in from Ahmad ’s real Ketubim , The thirteenth Warrioris also quite honest at depict Viking refinement , from their costume to their overall behaviour . Its democratic Viking appeal has also been recited elsewhere , too , includingThor : Ragnarok , with movies and shows often treat it as evangel .
in conclusion , the film ’s now - ill-famed production yield un an all - clock time Hollywood scandal . Director John McTiernan wasreplaced with Crichtonhimself after test audiences respond poorly to the motion picture during other screening . Crichton change the ending and the score , causing the film to be check over a twelvemonth and inflate the budget to stratospheric heights . The tale is still fascinating to many , especially since it prevent being brought up . A year ago , McTiernan sit foran interview with Home Cinémaand disregarded Crichton ’s contribution as “ minimal , ” proudly standing by his film and claiming it is , indeed , his film .
An underrated gem
The 13th Warrioris a classical lawsuit of a pic trying to be something it ’s not . It ’s clearly ’ 90 mush with above - average output value and a big name as the whizz . Yet , it very evidently aims to be one ofthe best epic movies of all time , Lawrence of Arabiafrom the view of the noncitizen rather than the Europeans — it even operate so far as to cast Oscar nominee Omar Sharif in a miniscule role . To its credit , this bizarre pridefulness does n’t really hinder it ; if anything , it get it weirdly charming , like when you see a tiddler wearing their parents ’ clothes .
There ’s no shame in have up to one ’s nature , or at least there should n’t be . There ’s nothing better than a vitamin B complex motion picture that have sex what it is and wears that label proudly . Some ego - knowingness is missing fromThe 13th Warrior , but that does n’t make it any less entertaining . If one hold out into it expecting a riveting , larger - than - life sentence , and rewarding historical epic , I ’m afraid they will leave rather foiled . However , if one comes seem for an unserious , often accidentally comic yet undeniably harbor action adventure with unexpected fondness , thenThe 13th Warrioris a good choice .
The 13th Warrioris not a pure movie , despite its best drive . However , it is a worthwhile movie ; whether you like it will probably come down to their willingness to overlook certain defect and lodge with a venally slow plot , but there are just as many bright spots here , including seeing Antonio Banderas away from his Latin - fan roles for a alteration . We live in the eld of nostalgia , and it ’s about blamed prison term that we rediscoverThe 13th Warrior ; it could n’t happen to a more worth movie .
The 13th Warrioris uncommitted torent or purchase on Amazonand other digital vendors .
