The Northman - Viking revenge flick from the director of ‘The VVitch’ and ‘The Lighthouse’

[Ahriman]

Critical Drinker weighs in

 

[Ishtar]

Spoiler

I really like the element of fate/fatalism. Some reviewer (I think Noah Berlatsky) said "ah yes the plot" totally demonstrating why he's a degenerate retard. Amleth has a destiny he must fulfill, not because he wants too, not because he thinks its all going to work out in the end for him, but because the Norns have decreed this thread for his life(similar to the Fates or Moirai in Greek mythology interestingly). The vision scenes where he sees himself, his father and descendants on branches really demonstrate this well. His destiny is die by a burning lake, and slay his uncle, because the gods have said so. On the valkryie scenes-the first one is more supposed to be interpreted I think as in his head-but the second one is less ambiguous-he has shown himself worthy in the eyes of the gods.

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I really loved the mysticism, even if the wolf animism thing was weird(though props to Eggers for just playing it straight). Anya Taylor Joy is wonderful as always, (I really love the VVITCH), also the brutality was hard hitting and appropriate but the movie avoids fetishizing gore for gore's sake. It serves a purpose. The ironic thing about the whole plot is from a modern perspective, really just a utilitarian one its kind of silly-he's a successful raider, and he isn't even going on this revenge quest to gain a kingdom, as his uncle has been booted to Iceland-he's not getting any sort of material reward for this(Amleth), sure his descendants will be kings, but he isn't going to live to see it. After Gudrun's reveal, vengeance is redoubled, and his destiny is reminded to him. He even leaves the woman he loves. Which is another thing I think we lose in most modern media-even those that invoke the concept of destiny, the hero rarely if ever must give up anything to fulfill their destiny. Or if they do, its generally not that important to them/they get over it. Amleth doesn't, he foregoes having a comfortable life with wife and children-not even per se because that would be displeasing in the eyes of the gods, but because his destiny must lead him, he can not fight it. That's a somberness we don't often see anymore.

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Anyways, loved it. Heartily recommend.

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[wtfNeedSignUp]

I really liked it and I'll write a big wall of text about it tomorrow, but one thing that really stuck out to me is that it feels similar to the game Kingdom Come in having a very honest recreation of a time period with all the rituals, clothing and mythology.

Also because of my morbid curiosity I looked what leftists say about the movie and it's basically pure cope of "this is to reclaim Viking media from evil right wingers", which makes me feel sad how those people lost all ability to enjoy media without dragging it into politics (and nevermind the fantasy Vikings are entirely a westernised pop culture invention, so nothing is being reclaimed).

 

[Snigger]

Is Willam Dafoe physically incapable of being in a bad movie?

Edit: Fuck I forgot Death Note existed, I'll amend my statement by saying that he elevates anything he's in, even wearing drag.

 

[Honka Honka Burning Love]

Is Willam Dafoe physically incapable of being in a bad movie?

I dunno, I think Lighthouse is overrated as fuck.

 

[Ishtar]

I like the Witch more honestly. As far as Eggers’ movies go.

Dafoe’s role is kind of odd-he’s first introduced as a court fool, who the uncle doesn’t like. Then he is a shaman basically. It’s a bit incongruent, at least tonally.

Though the whole vision scene of him is great.

 

[Unarmed Gunman]

anime industry

man the fuck up

Pick one.

 

[wtfNeedSignUp]

Okay block of text time. I tried to avoid spoilers as much as possible.

The most interesting thing about the film, in my opinion, is the portrayal of Viking culture and religion. It just shows recreations of the time period without explaining to the viewer or trying to moralize it. The Vikings are brutal and vicious manly men, who ransack villages, enslave everyone fit/good looking/useful and burns to death everyone else. They get high as fuck before combat and pray to the gods for success in weird rituals. The religious scenes are the best scenes of the film. Bizarre as hell and are without the pomp we usually attribute to religion due to the prominence of Judeo-Christianity. As others have said, it also comes in the world view, they believe in a fate set in stone, so there is no fear in death since if you die then you were fated to die, be a king or a slave. A death in combat is both an honour and a shame that must be absolved.
I wondered in the start of the film if it's going to play a "is it magic or mundane" type story, but the amount of shit that happens make anything besides pure magic completely impossible. In some ways it's very ironic, since the hero's quest is not very glamorous but it is still entwined by prophecies and magical weapons.
The acting is great, with some great scenes that I won't spoil. The music is suitably epic, and the locations shot are amazing (it's pretty funny when characters describe fucking Iceland as hell, like holy shit how aweful a giant green expanse), and the film has moments of levity that help it flow better. The film has a fair share of gore but it's never too much and a lot of time it cuts away before you even have a chance to take it all in, making it far more effective.
Finally, I like the moral of the films compared to other modern media like TLOU2, to break the cycle of revenge, kill fucking everybody.

 

[CharcoalChkn]

I liked the movie. Kinda sad I was a bit zonked during it as it was my first outing after getting over Covid.

Spoiler

I really enjoyed the cultural/mundane things they added with out much explaination, I have never seen that game they played ever in my life and also had a lol moment when that kid got BTFO'd during it for being a little idiot.

Was also funny how many gasps/uncomfortable groans I heard from the audience when incest mum happened.

Ending scene had such a grand atmosphere and was super tense. Visually all round the movie was such a treat and I was very happy I made the effort to see it in cinemas.

I was distracted weirdly during the last fight scene at the lack of cock and balls flying around though. Forgive my naivety for I lack those parts but I presumed that it would be a problem if you were fighting bare ass naked.

 

[Ishtar]

Is it just me or does Robert Eggers have his movies end with the character ascending?

In the Witch-Thomasin at the end floats due to joining the coven and ascends to the top of the tree.

In the Lighthouse-Pattinson's character ascends to the lighthouse(he then falls down like Prometheus but still).

In the Northman-Amleth at the end is carried to Valhalla by a valkryie on a flying horse.

Its an interesting trope I've noticed.

 

[The Un-Clit]

New image of Björk

View attachment 3129329

This looks really good.

An old co-worker of mine was a MASSIVE Björk fan around 2000, after the Sugarcubes days but before her biggest solo hits. I wonder what he'd think of this role now?

If he's still even half the Björk autist he was then, I am sure he's watched this movie several times now with his dick in his hand each time. He seriously made Ricardo Lopez look like a restrained and casual fan at the time I knew him. Even made his EverQuest character a female dark elf shadowknight named 'Beyork' (real spelling blocked by the games filter).

 

[BrunoMattei]

An old co-worker of mine was a MASSIVE Björk fan around 2000, after the Sugarcubes days but before her biggest solo hits. I wonder what he'd think of this role now?

If he's still even half the Björk autist he was then, I am sure he's watched this movie several times now with his dick in his hand each time. He seriously made Ricardo Lopez look like a restrained and casual fan at the time I knew him. Even made his EverQuest character a female dark elf shadowknight named 'Beyork' (real spelling blocked by the games filter).

Did you show them the Bjork Stalker video?

 

[Internet War Criminal]

Did you show them the Bjork Stalker video?

10/10 kino, one of the best horror movies I've ever watched, incredibly compelling even if the finale execution was half-botched.

 

[The Un-Clit]

Did you show them the Bjork Stalker video?

That's the Ricardo Lopez I was talking about. Unfortunately I didn't know of him at the time I knew this guy.

Lopez's botched suicide was fucking darkly hilarious though. He wanted to splatter his brains all over 'the best of me' sign behind him but only used like a .38 revolver. It killed his ass just fine, but it's not near powerful enough to blow ones brains out. He should have used a shotgun or high powered rifle. However his final death gargling and listening to the blood pouring out on the floor from his ventilated noggin after was suitably horrible.

 

[Ishtar]

A few other thoughts.

Appreciate the ferocity of the Valkryie-it isn’t a sexualized depiction, they are supernatural beings that represent war after all. The savage grimace is striking and memorable.

Anya Taylor Joy’s background character culture is unclear-Siberian witch? It’s not clear. It’s obviously pre Christian Slavic.

The duel by the volcano while naked was awesome. The fact it’s so risky-two guys risking being burned by active lava flows under their feet while cutting each other to pieces is just so…hardcore.

What exactly led to the uncle being deposed? I barely heard the dialogue-higher king in Norway took his land or was it another war?

 

[BrunoMattei]

What exactly led to the uncle being deposed? I barely heard the dialogue-higher king in Norway took his land or was it another war?

Spoiler

Just before the king is killed he tells his brother that the kingdom will not be prosperous under his rule. Then just before the Northman becomes a slave he's told that the uncle's kingdom fell and he became a shepherd.

 

[Megaroad 2012]

Eggers is my favorite new director to hit the scene.

Is it wrong to call him maybe a modern Kubrick?

 

[Lensherr]

Saw it again today in XD. Liked it even more the second time. And I'm just gonna say it: Amleth and Fjolnir's climactic battle at the Gates of Hel is what Anakin and Obi-Wan's duel in Revenge Of The Sith should have been.

I dunno, I think Lighthouse is overrated as fuck.

Let Neptune strike ye dead Honka Honka Burning Love!

I like the Witch more honestly. As far as Eggers’ movies go.

Dafoe’s role is kind of odd-he’s first introduced as a court fool, who the uncle doesn’t like. Then he is a shaman basically. It’s a bit incongruent, at least tonally.

Though the whole vision scene of him is great.

I saw it as playing on the whole fool as secret wise man trope, where the archetypal jester has some great insight that others lack and he masks with his comedic antics. Remember, Hemir is the one who gives Amleth the vision of his fate that ends up dominating his life and propelling him on his quest, and catches on to the fact that Fjolnir and Gudrun are lovers, which is at least partially why he ended up getting killed IMO.

 

[Honka Honka Burning Love]

Let Neptune strike ye dead Honka Honka Burning Love!

Neptune can go bugger himself with his tridents, I am fucking sick to death of being told how every average drama is "The greatest movie ever"

 

[Power Glove]

I dunno, I think Lighthouse is overrated as fuck.

Overrated? Probably. Still a damn good movie? I thought so.