Valhalla Rising

Being a huge fan of Nicholas Winding Refn (The Pusher Trilogy, Bleeder, Fear X, Bronson), I had very high hopes for this film, and it did not disappoint! I see it has been marketed as an all-action adventure like 300, which is a mistake as it is far more similar to much earlier Kurosawa or Tarkovsky films (as several critics have mentionned)! It is a slow-paced, dream-like, beautifully shot, almost dialogue-free study on the circular nature of violence, man's innate savagry, and the effects of religion on the earlier, pagan peoples. While the violence is sparse, when it does occur, it is almost unbearably graphic (that this film is a 15 is hugely shocking!), realistic, and not made to look heroic or stylised in any way. The characters seem fully developed without any real dialogue for the most part, and while the storyline is relatively basic, it is also highly unique & original!
Mads Mikkelson gives a fantastic performance as the mute, one-eyed, central character, and his relationship with the boy is truly hypnotic!
To sum up: An intelligent, brutal, important & original film that everyone who loves good cinema should see!

Several words can describe this film .... Grim, tedious, painful, beautiful, original, powerful, brave, charismatic, brutish, insane & agonising to name just a few. It's certainly a movie you'll either love or hate although, for me, I'm somewhere in the middle. It is very hard work but it's enjoyable at times and the scenery is beautiful but you really need a lot of patience and if you're looking forward to an all action epic you'll be disappointed. This movie is Apocalypse Now with Vikings (and less script).

I think Mads Mikkelsen is terrific in the lead role even though he doesn't say a word all movie. This is certainly an intelligent movie, thought provoking and beautifully shot but also painfully tedious. I can't deny it certainly has something that just keeps you transfixed. Definitely an experience although it's subjective as to whether it's a worthy one. I don't think I'll be repeating the experience but I'd still advise people to give it a go. It should be praised for it's anti Hollywood style and bravery.

Although everything is a matter of taste, this film can only be misinterpreted but not faulted. An excellent allegory on many basic themes in life, especially religion, travels you to another dimension with the outstanding photography and stimulates your thinking processes in ways only an excellent film can.You can be disappointed only if you were expecting a guy who slaughters everyone and everything from the beginning to end.
Great film, surely one of the best this year..

1 hour and 40 minutes of my life wasted. Do not entertain the thought of watching this mind numbing sack of dross. You have been warned!

Beastly beginning with brutal gore and the turned into a storyless bore... avoid.