Valhalla Rising (2009)

Directed by Nicolas Winding Refn
Written by Nicolas Winding Refn, Roy Jacobsen and Matthew Read
Starring Mads Mikkelsen, Maarten Stevenson, Gordon Brown and Gary Lewis

For years, On Eye, a mute warrior of legendary strength, has been gel prisoner by the Norse chieftain Barde. Slaying all of his captors, he soon finds himself on a journey with Christian Crusaders in search for Jerusalem. But when a strange mist plagues their travels, they find themselves in a strange new world, with no provisions.

With a strong and ominous first chapter, this film started off just right. There was action, mystery, violence and superb pacing within the opening ten minutes. It seemed that this film was going to have a quality more like Refn's "Drive" and less like his "Only God Forgives".

Then everything came to a screeching halt. The action became nonexistent, the mystery was boring, the violence was plagued by cartoonish blood splatter, regardless of the awesome makeup effects. But nothing was worse than the pacing. The pacing became less suspenseful and more yawn inducing.

With the entire third chapter stuck on a small boat in the middle of a misty ocean, the director decided to show long takes of people trying to stay awake. One can only presume it was his way of holding up a mirror so the audience could truly see themselves in that moment in time.

In an attempt to parallel "Heart of Darkness", I believe Refn was aiming for "Apocalypse Now", but with Vikings. The only problem is, nothing happened for a good twenty minutes. And once they found land, the explorers wandered around aimlessly and separated with no rhyme or reason.

Overall, my biggest problem with this movie were some very questionable choices. It felt as though Refn cared more about having striking visuals with an ambient soundtrack than he did an actual story. And unlike some art films, this Nordic epic had little to say.

I understand Refn has made strong silent characters his trademark, but that shouldn't mean everyone else around the characters should be as stoic. That is what was so great about "Drive". Everyone around Gosling's character talked and wouldn't stop talking.

But this film felt as though he had only a forty page script, and then just stretched it out over an hour and a half. And after as strong as a beginning as this film had, I had such high hopes. Unfortunately, they were not met.

My Rating: 5/10

'71 (2014)

Directed by Yann Demange
Written by Greggory Burke

Starring Jack O'Connell, Sam Reid, Paul Anderson and Sean Harris
A young and disoriented British Soldier is accidentally abandoned by his unit following a riot on the deadly streets of Belfast, Northern Ireland, 1971.

I don't know much about what happened in Belfast in the early 70s. Pretty much my extent of knowledge is that it was a bitter hatred and violence between Protestants and Catholics in the area and while it's not nearly as bad as it once was, the violence still occurs occasionally today. But this film really peaked my interest in the subject.

As all "behind enemy lines" stories go, Gary Hook must safely find his way back to his barracks without being detected. But this shows an entirely different side. While similar movies have a clear protagonist group and antagonist group, you can't really trust anyone throughout it's duration. So many unexpected things happen that you rarely feel at ease for the protagonist. It always feels as if he's in danger.

It is an intense, heart pounding story that grabs you at the very beginning and doesn't let go until the credits roll. Even when there was a lull in the action, I couldn't help but feel that something was afoot. It is a riveting thriller that explodes off the screen keeping you in a state of shock and bewilderment that something like this happened between adjacent neighborhoods.

My Rating: 7.5/10