Movie Review: Army of Valhalla

Army of Valhalla (Stara basn. Kiedy slonce bylo bogiem) a.k.a Ancient Tale: When the Sun Was God a.k.a The Old Fairy Tale: When the Sun Was God a.k.a The Old Fairy 

Zodiak Jerzy Hoffman Film Production Sp. z o.o., Telewizja Polska (TVP), Syrena Entertainment Group, Agencja Produkcji Filmowej, Zodiak, Poland, 2003. 

Based on historical characters and Józef Ignacy Kraszewski's novel "Stara basn."

Evil Prince Popiel (Bogdan Stupka) and wife Ksiezna (Malgorzata Foremniak) plot to murder Popiel's nephews to make their son the next prince. Then Popiel takes hostages to keep the tribes under his thumb. The witches predict that Popiel will be defeated by heroes and he will be eaten by mice. 

Popiel and Ksiezna

Viking archer Ziemowit (Michal Zebrowski), son of hero Piast, saves pretty witch Dziwa (Marina Aleksandrova) in the forest. Romance must wait as Popiel's thugs are hunting down the dissidents. Guardian Piastun of the nephews (Daniel Olbrychski) is ambushed in the forest and Ziemovit saves him too. Ziemowit wants to marry Dziwa but she is already promised to Gods. Ziemowit abducts Dziwa but she stabs him. What will now happen to the prophecies? 

Ziemowit

Dziwa

Guardian Piastun

I don't know if something is lost in the translation or did the movie change some details, as the film seems to refer the Guardian (Piastun or Piast) and Ziemowit's father as separate characters but historically Piast was Ziemowit's father. 

The tribes start rebelling against cruel Popiel. Popiel recruits mercenary Vikings to crush the rebellion and sends creepy spy Znosek (Andrzej Pieczynski) to get information. The rebels prepare for war but their no-tactic attack is brutally pushed back. They need heroes to lead them. Luckily Guardian is a tactical genius and Ziemovit was just wounded. There is also girl named Mila (Katarzyna Bujakiewicz) who wants Ziemowit and goes to Witch Jarucha (Ewa Wisniewska) to get love potions. That doesn't end happily as the Vikings attack just when the magic starts to work.

Znosek

Mila

Tribal army

Jerzy Hoffman directs historic epics that are criminally unknown outside of Poland. However "With Fire and Sword" and "Battle of Warsaw 1920" are available even as Finnish DVDs. The British DVD cover of "Army of Valhalla" looks like attempt to lure the viewers with stylized violence of "300." There are some gory battles but more in 1980s medieval war movie style, maybe Paul Verhoeven's "Flesh+Blood" or John Boorman's "Excalibur" would be closer to the depiction. However the cover is not completely misguiding as the big Viking warrior with the horned mask appears in the movie. Even without the axe he is a formidable character. He is legendary Viking Jarl Sigvald (Dariusz Juzyszyn) who actualy lived some hundred years after Popiel's reign. But this is not so much a movie about Vikings but historical fiction about origins of the Polish nation.

Jarl Sigvald

Macbethian historic adventure from pre-Christian Poland depicts the time when Odin-worshipping Vikings clashed with the Eastern European Sun-worshipping tribes and the Old Gods had not yet been subdued by Christianity. The story has bearded honorable warriors and fair maidens with decent amount of Pagan eroticism. Those who are bored with Hollywood spectacularism and special effects should try these European down to Earth historic adventures.

Harvest festival

Warriors of Odin

Popiel's castle

Rating: Good 

Starring: Michal Zebrowski, Marina Aleksandrova, Malgorzata Foremniak, Daniel Olbrychski, Bogdan Stupka, Anna Dymna, Ewa Wisniewska, Maciej Kozlowski, Jerzy Trela, Andrzej Pieczynski, Katarzyna Bujakiewicz, Ryszard Filipski, Jan Prochyra, Dariusz Juzyszyn, Marcin Mroczek, Michal Sieczkowski, Adam Graczyk, Maciej Chorzelski, Andrzej Krukowski, Krystyna Feldman, Krzysztof Zarzecki, Maria Niklinska, Wiktor Zborowski, Grzegorz Emanuel, Sylwester Maciejewski, Ryszard Ronczewski, Tomasz Zaliwski, Zdzislaw Wardejn, Marceli Nowek, Ryszard Jablonski, Jan Janga-Tomaszewski, Edward Warzecha, Jerzy Dukay, Arkadiusz Bazak, Jerzy Braszka, Mariusz Jakus, Eryk Lubos, Maciej Zakoscielny, Stefan Szmidt, Aleksander Skowronski, Stanislaw Wdowczyk, Zdzislaw Szymborski, Andrzej Shalew, Bogdan Miklaszewicz, Krzysztof Lukaszewicz, Andrzej Graziewicz, Sergei Motenko, Janusz Sadowski, Wojciech Tomasz Biernawski, Mieczyslaw Janowski, Aleksander Pociej, Michal Chorosinski, Mariusz Drezek, Andrzej Kobylas, Marek Cichucki, Sylwester Zawadzki, Karolina Gruszka, Jerzy Hoffman, Robert Koszucki 

Director: Jerzy Hoffman

Movie Review: Häxan

Häxan a.k.a Häxan: Witchcraft Through the Ages a.k.a The Witches

Aljosha Production Company, Svensk Filmindustri, Sweden, 1922.

Benjamin Christensen's cult film "Häxan" is a historic-cultural lecture in seven parts.

The first part tells about ancient world views. The evils in the world were thought to be caused by evil spirits and demons. The witches were thought to be in allegiance with Devil.

Witch has enchanted a man's shoe

Second part depicts a witch boiling various magic potions in her dwelling. Grave robbers bring her raw ingredients i.e. corpses of executed criminals. One customer orders a love potion. Elsewhere physicians also do some grave robbing to study the anatomy of human body. They are mistaken as witches. Poor old witch Apelone (Wilhelmine Henriksen) dreams of flying to Devil's castle and attending a witches' gathering.

Witch in her house

Some incredients are not fresh

Physicians beginning an autopsy

Third part shows the witch judges starting a witch hunt. Fear and superstitions made people believe in weird things. People saw witches and devils everywhere. Anna (Astrid Holm) accuses an old woman Maria the Weaveress (Maren Pedersen) of putting a spell on his husband who is now dying. The Pater Henrik (Johannes Andersen) orders a witch hunt. The inquisition arrests the old woman.

Finding out if a man has been cursed

Pater Henrik, Witch Judge

Maria the Weaveress is arrested a witch

Fourth part shows the torture and interrogation of the accused witches. While tortured the old woman confesses fantastic sins such as flying to attend the Black Sabbath and kissing Devil's butt. Facing a death on a stake she also pulls some of her enemies with her including those who first accused her.

Fifth part: every accused witch has informed ten other witches. Many families have lost their family members. Those who oppose arresting witches are of course themselves witches.

Young Monk John (Elith Pio) has fallen in love and become obsessed with Anna's sister (Karen Winther) so naturally she must be a witch. After purging the town of "witches" the inquisitors move to next town.

Young Monk John

Monk tries to make Anna's sister confess

Anna's sister

Sixth part examines further reasons for accusitions. Some of the witches' confessions are completely absurd. Sometimes people practicing folk magic and natural healing were thought to be witches.

Tools of torture chamber are examined more closely. Who wouldn't confess the most preposterous things when tortured? In nunneries nuns torture themselves for mortification of the flesh. The religious fervour causes many nuns to go crazy. They begin to see devils and commit blasphemous acts.

Boot torture apparatus

Actress test thumbscrews

Nun sees the Devil

Seventh part is set in modern times. Most of the witches were poor old women. In medieval times having a physical deformity or mental illness gave a suspicion of person being a witch. Witch mania has much to do with bad nerves, obsessions or sexual frustrations. Christensen draws parallels to the psychology of the 1920s. With the development of psychology these symptoms were referred as hysteria. Today's people do not fear devils or witches anymore but superstitions still exist. Weirdly acting people are not burned at stake anymore but locked in asylums.

This version is the 2006 Swedish Film Institute restored version that can be found in a DVD collection box "Svenska Stumfilmsklassiker." It contains Matti Bye's soundtrack with musicians Bye, Kristian Holmgren, Lotta Johansson and Lau Nakkarinen. The ambient music works well and brings tragic tones to the dramatic scenes.

Benjamin Christensen found the topic for the film after finding the notorious medieval witch hunting manual Malleus Maleficarum. Christensen spent years 1919-1921 finding source material for "Häxan." It was the the most expensive Scandinavian silent film. The director appears himself as the lewd tongue-wagging Devil. The movie's structure is very unconventional and experimental. The representation consists of lecture type documentary with medieval woodcuts and paintings, acted scenes and some stop-motion animation. The acted scenes with partially intertwining stories combine fantasy, horror and drama. The visual style is impressing with imaginative sets and differently tinted colour filters. The film has a bizarre and unique atmosphere.

Benjamin Christensen as the Devil

As the film criticises church's violence against women, it was opposed by Catholic Church and banned in many countries. The dark subject is lightened by occassional dry humour as when a young actress tests thumbscrews. The movies (then) shocking, blasphemous devil worshipping scenes and even raunchy scenes have inspired also the exploitation and nunsploitation moviemakers of the 1970s. However these later movies focused mostly on shock values instead of the social criticism and humanist message of "Häxan."

Rating: Excellent

Starring: Maren Pedersen, Clara Pontoppidan, Elith Pio, Oscar Stribolt, Tora Teje, John Andersen, Benjamin Christensen, Poul Reumert, Karen Winther, Kate Fabian, Else Vermehren, Astrid Holm, Johannes Andersen, Gerda Madsen, Aage Hertel, Ib Schønberg, Emmy Schønfeld, Frederik Christensen, Ella La Cour, Elisabeth Christensen, Henry Seemann, Alice O'Fredericks, Knud Rassow, Ellen Rassow, Holst Jørgensen, H.C. Nielsen, Albrecht Schmidt, Karina Bell, Karen Caspersen, Holger Pedersen

Director: Benjamin Christensen

Movie Review: George and the Dragon

George and the Dragon a.k.a Dragon Sword

ApolloMedia Distribution, Carousel Picture Company, Ravenhouse Entertainment, USA, Germany, UK, Luxembourg, 2004.

George (James Purefoy) and Tarik (Michael Clarke Duncan) are returning from crusade. In England dragon kidnaps Princess Lunna (Piper Perabo). Her fiance knight Garth DeGurney (Patrick Swayze) tries to find her. Lunna does not want to marry Garth so she probably would rather stay hidden. Father Bernard (Jean-Pierre Castaldi) escapes angry mob and meets George. George returns to England with Bernard and Tarik goes to search for mercenary El Cabillo (Val Kilmer).

George and Tarik

Father Bernard

Val Kilmer

By the way Piper Perado looks like Hilary Swank:

King Edgar (Simon Callow) hires George to find the Princess. Picts are attacking so George and Garth must fight them. As the searchers are separated George continues the adventure with young lad Wryn (Rollo Weeks) and old bloke Elmendorf (Bill Treacher). El Cabillo's posse comes to England trying to find something to loot.

Garth DeGurney

Wryn and Elmendorf

Princess Lunna

Spunky Princess becomes pals with the dragon and adopts the suddenly orphaned dragon's egg. Transportation of the gigantic egg would be a nightmare even to professional movers. Luckily there is always a soft object (Elmendorf or George) to break the fall.

George and egg

As it is proper for a adventure movie there is a budding romance of George and Lunna, and also Garth is a power-hungry baddie. The ending ties together the loosely connected story threads introduced earlier in the story. As in the legend George confronts the dragon, but with a twist.

The story has little to do with historical St. George, "George and the Dragon" is "Princess Bride"- style tongue in cheek adventure produced by SciFi channel (Syfy). El Cabillo replaces the Dread Pirate Roberts. Characters are fun and the good actors make the production standards higher than in the usual Syfy fare. During the end credits there is a blooper reel.

Rating: Good

Starring: James Purefoy, Piper Perabo, Patrick Swayze, Michael Clarke Duncan, Bill Treacher, Jean-Pierre Castaldi, Rollo Weeks, Paul Freeman, Stefan Jürgens, Stefan Weinert, Phil McKee, Caroline Carver, Simon Callow, Joan Plowright, Carl Chase, Jamie Treacher, Bill Oddie, Peter McCabe, Dean Gregory, Bernd Pietsch, Chas Warlow, Andreas Meidinger, Jim Probyn, Thoralf Koegst, Leslie Woodhall, Orhan Kümürcü, Lynne Roche, Giles Deu, Margot Due, Jean Alesi, Jason F. Burks, Erkan Gündüz, Caroline Koch, Véronique Koch, Val Kilmer, Serge Mauro

Director: Tom Reeve

Movie Review: Dragon Crusaders

Dragon Crusaders

The Asylum, USA, Wales, 2011. 

Pirates attack a village in Britain. Templar Knights hiding from King Edward witness the attack. [Historical note: King Edward II ordered the suppression of the Templars in 1308 after the order was accused of heresy] The knights are leader John the Brave (Dylan Jones), witty archer Eldred the Strong (Feth Greenwood), pessimistic Sigmund (Tony Sams), young Maldwyn (Simon Lloyd-Roberts) and some others. Although they are fugitive, they decide to help the villagers. Pirates are trying to loot the castle but warrioress Aerona (pocket-sized martial arts champion Cecily Fay) guards it effectively. 

Arrr! says the pirate

John the Brave

Aerona

The surviving pirates kidnap mysterious girl Neem (Shinead Byrne). Neem casts the Curse of Anathor that causes collateral damage. The knights and the pirates will turn into gargoyles. As the knights are good they will not change immediately. Only Gerald (Gary Crosbie) who was left to guard the village stays unchanged although he has not long time left to enjoy it. Gerald turns into a zombie. Soon the forest is full of undead pirates and villagers. 

Eldred

Gargoyle

Neem

The knights and the ladies have to travel North to meet evil sorcerer Black Dragon (Steve McTigue) to remove the spell. Also Neem stole a spell book from the Black Dragon and the sorcerer sends Calvain (Christian Howard) and gargoyles to get it back. Luckily there are some friendly witches along the way to help.

The heroes investigate the spell book

Maldwyn

The Black Dragon

Filmed in Wales in nice castle locations and with local actors. Cecily Fay also sings the Celtic songs in the movie. Also the other of the female stars can sing and has performed in musicals. Here's Shinead Byrne singing:

Compared to "Dragonquest" the effects are much better. Actually the movie is a major step for the Asylum, as it is quite seriously made medieval adventure. As an professional athlete Cecily Fay can fight convincingly but the budget limits the credibility of the other action scenes. Also the pirate ship looks quite modern. There is also some bad editing, but it gets better near the end. However fun characters and decent story outweigh the flaws. This is an enjoyable fantasy B-movie with brave knights, pretty ladies and big dragons. One of the Asylum's best films to date.

Rating: Good (for a low budget fantasy film)

Starring: Dylan Jones, Cecily Fay, Feth Greenwood, Shinead Byrne, Tony Sams, Simon Lloyd-Roberts, Charles Barrett, Christian Howard, Gary Crosbie, Ambrose Flemming, Mark Richard Hayes, Mike Lockley, William Huw, Kathy Francis, Iona Thonger, Steve McTigue, Carys Eleri, Nia Ann, Paul Jame, T. Barrie Clarke, Jason Davey, Chris Hunt, Joe Ormond, Andrew Powell, Paul Roberts, Neill Scullard, Ian Walker, Aneurin William, Rhodri Williams, Jason Beeston, Anthony Dawson, Sally Dawson, Dylan Kennedy, Andrew S. Mason, Melissa Zeta Nortcliff, Matt Saxon, Chris Shortmen, Dennis Carr, Pat Coope, Tom Dawson, Han, Celyth Jones, Sara Lois Jones, Gary Pritchford, Peter Smith, Gwyneth Davies, Carys Jones, Sherry Jones, Gwyneth Thomas, Alys Parry Jones, L. James, Emma Hanks, Ann Owen, Hugh Owen, Rebecca Owen, Nick Rukin, Emma Baury. Connor Evans. Dafydd Griffths. Lara Hesketh, A. Jackson-Andrew. Abigail Jones. Glyn Jones. O.A. Jones. Owain Jones. Lucas Kirby. Lorenne Kinnear. Gemma Lawman. Amber Wynne-McGerrin, Olga Mendel, Ian Morris 

Director: Mark Atkins