Harry here with results from a test screening last night of EATERS OF THE DEAD. I don't care what piece of crap title they put with it, I'll always think of it as having Eaters of the Dead as it's name. A far cooler title by about 923402934298 times. What sort of whus in the marketing, studio suit department decided to change the title. Well, this has been a film plagued with problems for awhile now. Hallenbeck and crew saw this flick about a billion years ago it seems, and Joe trashed it within an inch of it's life. Then reshoots/additional shoots were scheduled for once Antonio Banderas finished his directoral debut.. did this screening include the new stuff? Has that stuff even been filmed? I don't know, so hold back judgement for a while. Remember this is a Spring to Summer 99 flick now... buuuummmmmmmmmmmmmmmeeerrrrrrr! Let's just hope the film got more violent than the PC version Joe was griping about. Here we have one positive, one negative!
Hello Harry. Long time reader Troz here with a review on The 13th Warrior, a.k.a. Eaters of the Dead. The screening was held on September 1st at the Pacific Winnetka 20 theater in Chatsworth, CA. My overall impression of the film was a good one, although I have not read the book.
The movie started off a little slow with a narration from Antonio Banderas. I can only assume that it was from previous screenings that this narration was added because it felt like it shouldn't be there. The first 20 minutes would have been much more intriguing to me had there been no narration to clue me in on what I would've figured out a minute or two later. Other than the slowness caused by the narration, the opening was good. The last 30 minutes is where this film really shines. I don't want to give anything away but I must say that I wasn't going to appease my bladder by leaving the theater (a sin to me)...
The actors all did a wonderful job portraying the Vikings. Unfortunately, all their names escape me at this moment but all gave wonderful, engrossing performances.
The locations selected for this film fit wonderfully and created a dark environment. They give the film an atmosphere, creepy at times. I don't think there could have been a better selection of location.
This print was very close to the final product. There were few problems with the film, which doesn't mean much, but I think it was almost a finished product because of the fantasic score by Jerry Goldsmith. This was not a temp track. Mr. Goldsmith was even in attendence at the screening, so I assume that the film is near completion.
Overall, a very good film with a good atmosphere. "Better than most but not as good as some" says it pretty nicely. Worth taking a look at.
Troz
And now for the negative review from Groucho...
Hey there Harry. I write to you from sunny San Fernando Valley, the porn capital of
California. I just stepped out of the theater where I saw a preview screening of The 13th Warrior, based on Michael Crichton's Eaters of the Dead. I urge your readers to save their pennies and wait for this to appear on video.
The movie starts out with enough potential but quickly diminishes into yet another Crichton film flop. I have read every book Crichton has written, except Eaters of the Dead, and each one has somehow managed to be a huge film disappointment. Except for Jurassic Park of course because Mr. Spielberg can take my grocery list and turn it into a tear jerker. But I digress.
The 13th Warrior is a poor example of filmmaking. The plot is thin as a Kate Moss and the characters are as interesting as wet cardboard. Antonio Banderas plays Ahmad Ibn Fadlan, an Arab (with a Spanish accent) who is chosen by Vikings to be The 13th Warrior in a fight against an invisible enemy who eats away flesh and may not be human. Well, it turns out that there is not a lot of flesh eating and the invisible enemy turns out to be mountain men who think they are bears. The battle scenes are cutting room floor rejects from Braveheart that have been darkened just enough so you can't get a feel for the action. Boys and girls, stay away from this one. Still, if you are starving for Norse men fighting a supernatural enemy, read Beowulf.
I remain, Groucho.
