I went into this movie not knowing what to expect. I like Mads Mikkelsen, I like Viking-Era movies, even to the point that I enjoy some B-Movie fantasy-ish stuff. I went into this movie wanting to like it. Well that didn't work out.
Don´t get me wrong, I´d be OK with arthouse atmospheric. I don´t need to watch an action movie, nor was I expecting one. But whatever the expectations might have been, this did not meet any.
The whole script could fit on a single A4 and I feel like every line is delivered in an unnatural forced overdramatized way. The historical accuracy is laughable. The mythology references are misguided. Having watched some behind the scenes stuff made me think that the director doesn´t care about either the history or the mythology of the subject he is making a movie about which just makes me hate the execution of it even more. If at least there were anything to be gained in return, but no. I really don´t get the point of this movie or what is it trying to accomplish. The only redeeming quality are some nice shots of the scenery, but I'd watch National Geographic if I wanted that. So there, at least one extra point for the cinematography.
I guess the movie did stir some emotions in me and perhaps I am just too simple to get it. The movies of Robert Eggers are not your regular consumable fun movies either, there I can see the intention of the filmmaker and appreciate the execution. This just felt pretentious as if an edgy hipster were making an art movie just for the sake of self-indulgence and viewer torture. Don´t worry, people who don´t know better either will give high marks just to seem insightful. I heard that perhaps some of the cinematography holds meaning in the aspect ratios and composition, but I´ve already gave the cinematography it's due praise and I will not pretend the movie as a whole is better for it.
I would argue that what I saw was indeed 'art', but I hated it much like I'd hate a "painting" of a single dot in a white field. I really have some stronger words about this movie that would better capture my feelings towards it, but then I couldn´t publish the review.
Don´t get me wrong, I´d be OK with arthouse atmospheric. I don´t need to watch an action movie, nor was I expecting one. But whatever the expectations might have been, this did not meet any.
The whole script could fit on a single A4 and I feel like every line is delivered in an unnatural forced overdramatized way. The historical accuracy is laughable. The mythology references are misguided. Having watched some behind the scenes stuff made me think that the director doesn´t care about either the history or the mythology of the subject he is making a movie about which just makes me hate the execution of it even more. If at least there were anything to be gained in return, but no. I really don´t get the point of this movie or what is it trying to accomplish. The only redeeming quality are some nice shots of the scenery, but I'd watch National Geographic if I wanted that. So there, at least one extra point for the cinematography.
I guess the movie did stir some emotions in me and perhaps I am just too simple to get it. The movies of Robert Eggers are not your regular consumable fun movies either, there I can see the intention of the filmmaker and appreciate the execution. This just felt pretentious as if an edgy hipster were making an art movie just for the sake of self-indulgence and viewer torture. Don´t worry, people who don´t know better either will give high marks just to seem insightful. I heard that perhaps some of the cinematography holds meaning in the aspect ratios and composition, but I´ve already gave the cinematography it's due praise and I will not pretend the movie as a whole is better for it.
I would argue that what I saw was indeed 'art', but I hated it much like I'd hate a "painting" of a single dot in a white field. I really have some stronger words about this movie that would better capture my feelings towards it, but then I couldn´t publish the review.