ReaderKenka Let's be realistic.

Pacionsbo Absolutely Fantastic

SanEat A film with more than the usual spoiler issues. Talking about it in any detail feels akin to handing you a gift-wrapped present and saying, "I hope you like it -- It's a thriller about a diabolical secret experiment."

Ogosmith Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.

apocsrevenge Where, oh where can a person in the United States see this film? Or, does anyone know if this film will be released in the U.S.? And for those of you who have seen this film, where and how did you see it???? Your assistance is greatly appreciated. Many thanks to those who have taken the time to review this film regardless of your opinion.

glowbrain As a sympathetic but apostate former Christian, I am intrigued by a specific sub-genre: dramatizations of the historical adoption of monotheism by pagan cultures. My guard does go up if the film is of the solemn hagiograhy variety, presenting the change as a solemn inevitability (ala most"life of Muhammed" stories.)To my mind, this film "Viking" smuggles a respectable monotheism epic into audiences' attention by disguising it as a visceral Game of Thrones style feud-fest. However, it nonetheless managed to retain my goodwill by packaging it with entertaining spectacles, mostly grounded in dramatically satisfying character motivations and arcs driving the conflict. In the process it averted hagiography (At least until the end when an aftertaste of sanctity seems to hover over the film. SPOILER: the protagonist turns out to become a Russian Orthodox saint.)However, that whiff may well be my own prejudice showing. To my less- encumbered cineaste's eye, the contrast between the smoky, muddy, bloody world of the Rus for most of the film, and the golden sunlit skies and mosaic-laden Christian universe that appears progressively more towards the climax, makes the religion appear impressively enticing, even to this apostate. It's an uplifting transition, one that ultimately reduces to a fake-out the cynical quote from Mao which appeared in the film's opening. I did find the film had some shortfalls, mostly common to other historical epics.It can be hard to distinguish one bearded or armoured character from another, both spear-carriers and variously expendable secondary characters, either in repose or in a rain- curtailed action scenes.The film is overlong, and displays intermittent awkward compromises between historical veracity and dramatic necessities.However, on balance, it still skillfully held my attention throughout; showcased some vivid cinematography and speed- ramped action; and generated moderate star-wattage from a couple charismatic performances.

katewings This film is about illegitimate son's long journey to success. Vladimir was the first one kill his brothers (was the first one to do so in known Russian history) and simultaneously marry multiple women while having harem full of virgins. This was before, during and after his new-found Christian faith. Was there something good in him? Yeah. He "loved his mother" who was a kind of slave to his grandmother Olga.Thanks to so-called "peacefull conversion to Christianity" it took Vladimir Lenin just a minute to say "f@ck it" 1000 years after the events - and so-called religious Russia ditched it without much regret. Good job, both Vladimirs! Another reason for me to be ashamed of my compatriots - they care more about Vladimir's myth as a saint than about the lesson Russians should've learned from it. You cannot force love in any translation of this word from Greek: love for a woman (eros), brother (philia), mother (storge) or God (agape). Vladimir only loved his mother (according to his own words in the beginning, not his actions).Modern Russian domestic vikings in the 90s have killed and robbed their own people to become "princes", just like Vladimir did. And now they're sponsoring Russian Orthodox Church because of her all-forgiving "you're OK, but give us money" motto. Funny that history repeats itself this way.This movie is so bad it's actually good.

niutta-enrico A beautiful movie about Vladimir I of Kiev and a fine chance to get more familiar with Eastern Europe's Medieval History.Shot with artistic talent and historical accuracy, the movie shows the clash between Scandinavian, Rus, Greek-Roman and Turkic populations at the dawn of the second Millennium.And Russian historians are among the finest on this period (those who have an interest in Byzantine History know very well who Georg Alexandrovič Ostrogorsky was) so I would not agree with those who complained on this matter. Calling the movie 'Viking' shows a sophisticated knowledge of Saint Vladimir's life. But it might be deceiving for greater audiences.