There are flops that say “It’s a shame, but it happens.” The 13th Warrior does not belong in this category. The 1999 historical action film lost up to 130 million dollars at the box office (via Filmsite). Enough to ruin studios or end careers. He is very good at it. It will be broadcast on Tele5 on Saturday evening and is an ideal (new) discovery for anyone tired of football.
On TV: Colossal action flop tells a unique story
In The 13th Warrior, the Arab poet Ahmad Ihn Fadlan (Antonio Banderas) is exiled from his country and meets Nordic warriors on a Baltic coast. The group around leader Buliwyf (Vladimir Kulich) is supposed to save a village from cannibal monsters. Fadlan joins them as “the 13th warrior”.
Watch the German trailer for The 13th Warrior:
The 13th Warrior – Trailer (German)
Fadlan’s journey with the Vikings is brilliantly staged from the beginning. The protagonist learns the language of the Norsemen in a series of unique campfire scenes, in which a kind of ancient Scandinavian slowly turns into understandable German (or English). Once the language barrier is overcome, the sword can be used.
The masterfully filmed action scenes were praised even in the many negative reviews (via The Guardian ). When the Vikings rush into battle in the fortified village based on the Seven Samurai model, the film really builds up atmosphere. Torches, mud, sludge, flashing swords and terrible faces in the darkness.
The 13th Warrior deserves a reassessment
The film lives from its atmosphere: the barren Viking village surrounded by eerie hills, the dark caves of the mysterious cannibal tribe. Lighting and costumes create a captivating world.
The fact that it is not a masterpiece is due to the film’s torn soul: Author Michael Crichton and director John McTiernan fought over creative control. The result, for example, is an ending that couldn’t seem more contrived.
What is lacking in plot is more than compensated for by the excellent performances of Banderas, Kulich and acting legend Omar Sharif. The 13th Warrior is flawed, just like a diamond in the rough. Perhaps it is fortunate that it was such a historic box office failure. 23 years later, this could spark just the right curiosity among action fans to give the film a second look.
When is The 13th Warrior on TV?
Tele5 will broadcast the adventure film on June 29, 2024 at 20:15 Alternatively, you can stream The 13th Warrior at any time with a Disney+ subscription.