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The 13th Warrior Details

1999 Certificate 15
  • Rated:
  • 60
  • from 3008 members

Director John McTiernan takes viewers back to 900 A.D. in THE 13th WARRIOR. After courting "an untouchable" Muslim princess, Ahmed (Antonio Banderas) is banished and sent North as an emissary. When traveling from Baghdad to Saqaliba, he stumbles into an encampment of Vikings. At first repulsed by their Nordic ways, Ahmed soon .. Read more

Starring Antonio Banderas, Diane Venora, Omar Sharif
Director John McTiernan
Genres Drama

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The 13th Warrior cover art

The 13th Warrior

Director John McTiernan takes viewers back to 900 A.D. in THE 13th WARRIOR. After courting "an untouchable" Muslim princess, Ahmed (Antonio Banderas) is banished and sent North as an emissary. When traveling from Baghdad to Saqaliba, he stumbles into an encampment of Vikings. At first repulsed by their Nordic ways, Ahmed soon grows fond of the Northerners and joins their party.
When news is brought that a horde of flesh eating monsters are ravaging the land, the mystic Oracle ordains that a group of 13 must travel to fight their evil doings. Twelve Nordes rom the party are chosen, Ahmed, a Muslim, is picked as the thirteenth. Knowing that defeat is eminent, the 13 warriors must undergo indeterminable odds to battle and rid the land of the horrific flesh eaters.
The 13th Warrior is an epic tour de force created by two of Hollywood's most ingenious: Michael Crichton (JURASSIC PARK, LOOKER) and John McTiernan (PREDATOR, THE LAST ACTION HERO). Its sheer epicness and style make it an astonishing spectacle. Never before has such detail and large scale beauty been present in a Viking film.

Starring Antonio Banderas, Diane Venora, Omar Sharif
Director John McTiernan
Studio TOUCHSTONE HOME VIDEO
Run time DVD: 1 hr 38 mins
Certificate Certificate 15
Genres Drama
Language DVD: English
Released DVD: 08 Jan 2001
Production year: 1999
Format DVD

  • Critics' reviews (5) of The 13th Warrior

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  • 3 stars out of 5

    The Vikings gets a gruesome makeover in this horror adventure from director John McTiernan, based on Michael Crichton's novel Eaters of the Dead. Antonio Banderas looks decidedly uncomfortable as a tenth-century Arab emissary abducted by Norsemen to fight barbaric cannibals who are terrorising their compatriots. How the Arab adapts to a totally alien culture and uncovers the secrets of the feared “spirits in the mist” makes for a visually arresting, if half-baked, saga, though the initially promising fantasy elements soon evaporate into a rather mundane reality. The film is never boring — there are numerous epic battle sequences and graphic scenes of slaughter — but it's not really that exciting either and shows clear signs of production difficulties. Crichton re-edited McTiernan's final cut, reducing Omar Sharif and Diane Venora's roles to virtually nothing despite their top billing. Jerry Goldsmith's marvellously stirring soundtrack is a major plus, however.

    • Radio Times
    • Posted 29 Jan 2006
  • 1 stars out of 4

    Rollicking and gory historical romp, of a kind not seen since The Vikings; despite its claims to be based on fact, it is not to be taken seriously.

    • Halliwell's Film Guide
    • Posted 02 Mar 2006

  • Most helpful member's review of The 13th Warrior

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  • 12 out of 12 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    dark and very watchable

    Why do people think that this film is not worth watching. looking at the part that banderas plays how would you adapt if you could not speak someones language, give up and say i dont understand? he is an exciled poet, an artist that is thrown into a war that he must find answers to and does, he addapts to fighting for his life and others in doing so earns the respect of the vikings he has been chossen to acompany. the settings and scenery are on par with anything that has been produced for this type of fantasy film. But i do admit some of it was predictable maybee i just like this kind of film

      • the rooster from scotland
      • Posted 22 Apr 2005 03:41

  • Most recent members' review of The 13th Warrior

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  • 5 out of 5 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 4 stars [Highly rated reviewer]

    Enjoyable movie

    Although some of the storyline seems a little improbable (Arabian guy goes on a rescue mission with a bunch of Norsemen and learns their language by listening to them speaking), this movie is nevertheless enjoyable. With strong performances especially from Antonio Banderas, Vladimir Kulich and Dennis Storhoi (the latter two making believable Norsemen), the film moves along well, and has some humour and tension in equal measures. Slightly predictable, but still worth seeing.

      • TopDollar from North Wales
      • Posted 28 Mar 2007 20:14

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      • Director John McTiernan takes viewers back to 900 A.D. in THE 13th WARRIOR. After courting "an untouchable" Muslim princess, Ahmed (Antonio Banderas) is banished and sent North as an emissary. When ...