The 13th Warrior (1999)

	Also Known As: -
	Year of first release: 1999
	Director: John McTiernan (Predator, Die Hard 1-3, The Hunt for Red October)
	Actors: Antonio Banderas (Desperado, The Mask of Zorro, Philadelphia), Vladimir Kulich, Dennis Storhøi, Omar Sharif (Doctor Jivago), Diane Venora (Heat)
	Country: USA
	Genre: Action, Adventure
	Conditions of visioning: 03.12.2012, Blu-ray, Home cinema
Synopsis: An Arab poet and ambassador (Banderas) is fated to accompany twelve Vikings on a mission to save a northern kingdom from the attack of an ancient evil.
Review: There is a strange fascination from cinema lovers about this movie. Maybe because of its director and the unexpected place the movie took in his career. Indeed, before he was more known as the master of 90's Action movies (Predator, Die Hard...). Or maybe it is because of the uncommon story, based on a book by succesful author Michael Crichton (Jurassik Park, Twister, Sphere). I didn't have any special memory of it (only remembering the beginning and the end), but the release of this French Blu-ray was the chance to correct that! The Blu-ray is delivered in a nice black cardboard package, and with an interesting booklet relating the background of the movie and the conflicts when it went out. Note that this release is exclusive to France, and from what I understood the reason is that it is in this country that the movie was the most successful. The image quality is good but not great for a Blu-ray, but I agree this is not easy to look good for a movie so dark and showing many gray landscapes. What I prefered in the movie is the uncommon story. There is not so much action but instead you get to spend time and like the group of warriors, and appreciate the odd place the poet takes in it. Some scenes are very strong in this Historic movie, at the limit of Fantasy and sometimes even Heroic Fantasy (leaning towards Conan the Barbarian). I am not totally fond of the movie but I appreciate the originality and the efficient storytelling and filmmaking by director McT.
Rating: 7 /10