The Northman (2022 movie)

[Elizabeth]

Shakespeare's Hamlet was based on the Tale of Amleth, which was written by Saxo Grammaticus, called "The Deeds of the Danes".












I saw this movie on April 29th.

[KYAnglo]

I'm rewatching one of my favorite movies, "Anonymous" which indulges the theory that Shakespeare wasn't actually that great Bard, but the works attributed to him were instead (ghost)written by one Edward De Vere, "Earl of Oxford" at that time.
That's not to say I necessarily ascribe to that premise.

[Elizabeth]

I think everyone with Northern European ancestry should watch the movie. It depicts how life was way back then for our ancestors.

[Winterland]

Well, at least they don't have the Black woman who saved the kingdom though her courage, like Netflix or BBC, or a Black/Hispanic Valkyrie like Thor. The movie directors probably had a difficult time in making a movie with an all white cast in Northman.

[renownedwolf]

https://www.firstthings.com/web-excl...b10VENovQJ2BuQ


I watched the film a couple of weeks ago, I really enjoyed it for the exact opposite reasons as in the link. The portrayal of a non-Christian culture done in such a way that doesn't give in to modern mores so much. There were many nods to John Milius' Conan the Barbarian including an homage to the original script that was cut due to budget at the time.

[GroeneWolf]

Indeed,


For me it was actually a bit refreshing to a see a movie like that without a boatload of anachronisms that make the main characters talk and act like idealised (in their eyes) white liberals. Or as proto-Christians, what might garner the approval of the author of that piece. Based on that site's about page. They just want movies that sell the idea of universal brotherhood/global citizenship.

Now back to the movie itself. Besides it being pleasantly free from (obvious and mostly from less obvious) anachronisms the musical underscore helped set the atmosphere. The dialogue made the story feel like it is about people who are grander then life. And I also enjoyed the elements that where about initiation, männerbunden and (North-)Germanic mythology and religion. This is definitely a movie I want to see again.

[renownedwolf]

Those parts were some of the best in the film, even though not going in depth the aesthetic certainly gave the right feel. I think that could pave the way for a film with similar themes that explore things like initiation rites, mannerbund and there more esoteric and mystical but done in more of a band of warriors rather than the lone wolf thing we get in this.

[Hersir]

I watched it in cinema and enjoyed it. Strange to have the Välsgarde grave in Iceland etc, but still a cool movie. The most authentic Hollywood viking movie, Robert had consulted Kris Kershaw et. al. Cool to see the spear-dancing.

The same story is in part used in Hrafninn flýgur.

[renownedwolf]

Another great thing about the film that I might add is that the 'elite' in the film arent really that much better off than the slaves they rule at times. They are all pretty much subsistence farmers if they haven't been on consistently successful raids. The main 'villain' who deposed his brother (not that there really is a main villain in the film) ends up in a shithole in Iceland after being ousted by the next more powerful king.

[KYAnglo]

I've watched "The Northman", finally. As far as "Viking" films go, brilliant! I can't recall any that might come close in my memory besides "Beowulf and Grendel". An admittedly low-bar.