Valhalla Rising: Review By Bane. Ferguson

Nicholas Rinding Refn the director of the critically acclaimed Pusher trilogy and the enigmatic frenzy of a film Bronson brings his peculiar artistic skills to the world of the vikings. Even though he couldn't care less about the history or principal topic. Here we see Mad Mekkleson star as the dead silent, stiff, broad shouldered warrior named One Eye. Part Warrior part Slave, but a God! Mysticism hangs about him, an unconcerning presence, of danger, but of leadership, and spiritualism. We see One Eye with a troupe of Vikings, tied up into a neck brace, a contraption that sees him fighting for bids and money, tied up, treated in a poor fashion. Soon after some bidding and done deals and little back story he is chartered off to be sold. But due to his ingenious techniques and determination he uses a previously found spear head to escape and take his freedom, to gain the title as a Warrior, a survivor. Through this a young- Scots lad who has been dealt the deeds for a long time of keeping the savage to keep and eye on Old Mr. One Eye. Through this the young-UN, lonely, departed follows, at first adamant, cautious, but the old brute is a softy at heart. During this escapade they turn up back to old camp, burnt, charred, ruined, carcases strawn and another league, set out upon a Holy quest, to gain peaceful prosperity and authority back into Jerusalem.

Soon a thick mist envelopes their ship, engulfing them, stranding them, parched, thirsty, driven into a corner with no cause. They turn nasty, blaming the boy for their misfortunes. After a dead set plan to bump the boy off, whom prays to more than one true God is cut short, and so is the mans ligaments who dared tried, as One Eye was up and flexing his muscles and hacking at nay of those daring to touch a hair on his head.

After much array of sulking they turn up to a lush landscape, to find nothing, or no one, lost, uncertain, all heeding the words that will never escape the savages mouth to contemplate them. Nurture them, put them at ease, this soul of compassion, but venomous skills. A god in a sense, or the devils own brand of toy. Has he come from the loins of the devil, or a fractured god?

But is this landmark they have floated into really truly as it seems? What is the meaning of them getting there? Who are these aboriginals who stalk and kill? Well these questions are nothing for you to worry about, as with all the others, as the whole point of this movie is, if I'm not mistaken, just a metaphorical message entwined with some cynical surrealism and passionate spiritualist film making.

Refn has said in interviews if he were to pitch this film he would say "its a drug on its own!" also that "If you don't try to divulge what the story is, or anything manner of fact you wont get this movie, but if you just watch it and take it as it is you will appreciate it!" Well that's all well Nic but yes many film fans alike and especially yours will appreciate the ambitious huge scope of what your lyrical out of this world concept is trying to convey but what we see by the trailer via poster is an action fulled monster of a viking movie. Not a movie that poses as a "DRUG!!!" or as a "Science Fiction film but not Sciencey!"

Throughout i tried to persevere, try to latch on, enjoy it, but waited and even muttered under my breath once or twice come on get on with it...actually edging on this film to be a huge spectacle, half expecting an epic battle or some underlined proof that there, in a little percentage on this earth, there may well be a point and logic or a story to this film that just needs to flourished, bloomed out. But nope! But through re watching it, replying key elements, this film is a triumph, not with just the acting from all, but the music, the cinematography, the set designs, the locations (namely in Scotland) and the direction by the old mad scientist himself. Conducting elements of all that's good in film except the main grip a story and making it viewable, different, unique original, vastly huge in scale and tone. Energetic, prancing about, gleaming with this beautiful grace and colour palette, with good visual hallucination sequences, elemental epiphanies, or general fight scenes, which scarcely are, but filmed with a malnourished thump! A tiny sip to get you're going then, here it goes, the sublime of the way its filmed, playing off the audience's mind, putting an idea there, to make you come up with conclusions and wait but never get rewarded. But you have been, by sticking with this film and enjoying it.